Costello to raise Greyhound dispute at PAC
26 August 2014
by Cllr Joe Costello
Speaking at a fundraiser for the Greyhound workers in the Parnell Bar, Parnell St, organised by Labour Youth, Deputy Joe Costello stated that the refusal by Greyhound to allow 80 staff return to work unless they unilaterally accept pay cuts of up to 35% is a continuing disgrace, and an attack on workers’ pay and conditions of employment that would be unacceptable 100 years ago.
Deputy Costello said: “The Greyhound staff have now been locked out for more than ten weeks since 17 June. Non-union agency staff have been recruited to replace the locked out workers, and clearly the intention of the company is to break the will of the trade union workers.
“Greyhound has refused to countenance the recommendations of the Labour Court in May, which stated that both sides should engage in talks over a 14-day period to agree a range of measures to restore the company to viability and resolve the dispute.
“The present action of Greyhound Company is a unilateral rejection of normal industrial relations, and would indicate a race to the bottom in terms of pay and conditions.
“Moreover, with Labour’s historic commitment to collective bargaining legislation on the cusp of introduction in the coming Dáil term, it is imperative that there be no deterioration in the standards of industrial relations in the meantime.
“We must all support the Greyhound workers in their campaign to regain their jobs. We must support their families by fundraising, as Labour Youth is doing.
“We must question the suitability of Greyhound to retain its license as a bona fide provider of waste management services to Dublin’s local authorities.
“When the Dáil returns, I propose to raise the matter on the floor of the Dáil. Moreover as a new member of the Public Accounts Committee, I will table a motion seeking that the provision of waste management services involving state bodies is placed on the agenda, and that the relevant stakeholders are brought before the Committee.”