New ICTU chief warns Cowen of rolling strikes

[lifeisagame]

By Ralph Riegel and Ann-Marie Walsh
Saturday July 11 2009
IRELAND's most powerful union boss yesterday lashed out at Taoiseach Brian Cowen, threatening a "workplace by workplace" era of bitter industrial disputes until workers' pay demands are met.
New Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) president Jack O'Connor was speaking after Mr Cowen warned disputes such as the electricians' strike were damaging Ireland's hopes of economic recovery.
Earlier, a walk-out marked Mr Cowen's keynote address to yesterday's ICTU conference in Tralee, Co Kerry.
More than a dozen delegates picketed Mr Cowen's arrival and then stood throughout his introduction, holding up placards and banners with slogans such as 'Tax the Greedy Not the Needy'.

Forget a good or bad Government, forget general election.
This antagonistic moron is going to bring this country to it's knees. Jest, you may, but believe me. This is your worst nightmare, O'Connor and Devoy have being orchestrating the Electricians Strike with Devoy winding up the workers from Dublin and O'Connor Dictating to the Unions at the Conference in Tralee.

This Strike was stage managed to co-inside with the Conference and more importantly to show the workers of Ireland that the Unions are back and going to take Employers to task.
However, the real truth is that they are Cowards and chose a time when the Industry of Ireland is at it's most vulnerable. Furthermore what they are doing is akin to Treason, they are trying to destroy what is left of our country.
I know, appreciate and agree that corruption in financial circles brought us to this point, coupled with the recession.
This is as Sinister if not more, ICTU is planning to shut down Ireland inc. Why, they are at their lowest ever level of Membership so that means they are almost bankrupt. Tactics for recovery, scare the hell out of Joe Bloggs and make him join a union, thereby solving their financial problems. They have zero interest in the Core Ethos of Unions, protect and maintain JOBS.
Watch this unfold over the next few weeks/months, hold what you have.
I am part of the world they operate in, business man, and have never seen them this intent before.
Gilmore, you will be unelectable when they are finished.
Finally, the one shining light, we employers have been learning to fight our way through this horrific recession and we know how to fight dirty to survive.
Do not be foolish enough to think I am just an eccentric crank, I wish I was and then would not end up in the middle of this.

[politicaldonations]

JAck o'Conoor is new head of ICTU ? We're ********************ed now!

[one acre capitalist]

Could we use the new anti gang legislation to lock this subversive up?

[drbob1972]

Do not be foolish enough to think I am just an eccentric crank, I wish I was and then would not end up in the middle of this.

you may not think your a crank, but when you start comparing unions and their leadership to the IRA, then your not exactly helping your case.

For what its worth i do see a looming stand off between the unions and the government in the public sector, however in the private sector i don't think it will be any where near as extreme, private sector employees generally tend to be far less militant (the job security of the PS/CS provides great protection for the militant elements) and a great many are not even unionised.

[bormotello]

Could we use the new anti gang legislation to lock this subversive up?

He will use Libel and blasphemy bill against you

However, ICTU general secretary David Begg warned that co-operation and social partnership are not helped by proposals from right-wing commentators for pay cuts and reductions in social welfare.
He said some of the cutback proposals from right-wing commentators left him convinced they had "ice in their veins".

New ICTU chief warns Cowen of rolling strikes - National News, Frontpage - Independent.ie

[one acre capitalist]

you may not think your a crank, but when you start comparing unions and their leadership to the IRA, then your not exactly helping your case.

For what its worth i do see a looming stand off between the unions and the government in the public sector, however in the private sector i don't think it will be any where near as extreme, private sector employees generally tend to be far less militant (the job security of the PS/CS provides great protection for the militant elements) and a great many are not even unionised.

Fair point. End jobs for life in the PS and you make the unions less militant at a stoke after they lose the strike though.

O'Connor is head of the largest private sector union though and he is the most militant guy around in a generation.

[drbob1972]

Fair point. End jobs for life in the PS and you make the unions less militant at a stoke after they lose the strike though.

i agree, the imbalance between the private and public sector created by job security and generous pensions cannot continue, there may be some specific rolls that its required for but for the majority of PS/CS roll's and functions they should be subjected to the same performance reviews, opportunities, remuneration and risks as those of us in the private sector, even more so with their demands for party and benchmarking.

O'Connor is head of the largest private sector union though and he is the most militant guy around in a generation.

he's something special alright, he rants and rails against the fat cats, the big earners, etc whilst being one himself, i'd have far more respect for him if he were a conviction unionist earning the AIW, and not a 6 figure paid lobbyist, or at least if he were honest that he was just a hired gun.

[lifeisagame]

you may not think your a crank, but when you start comparing unions and their leadership to the IRA, then your not exactly helping your case.

For what its worth i do see a looming stand off between the unions and the government in the public sector, however in the private sector i don't think it will be any where near as extreme, private sector employees generally tend to be far less militant (the job security of the PS/CS provides great protection for the militant elements) and a great many are not even unionised.

Point one I agree on OTT, point 2 I totally disagree, I am Private sector(manufacturing) we are going to be destroyed, I have been in IR many years and it is seldom you meet a person like O'Connor and his extreme behaviour. The man will destroy this country and he has Devoy as his puppet. I personally know them and will be stating same to both.
IBEC, that moron O'Sullivan ran but he never achieved anything other than profits for wine merchants. It was believed that McGinty would succeed, but McCoy was the Chosen one(must be giving O'Sullivan a Consultancy fee).
From a Senior source in IBEC, I was told that the reason McGinty was not new boy was that we have no projected IR issues in Ireland. Once again, as normal, IBEC blew it, dear god what a mess.

[X-ray]

Could we use the new anti gang legislation to lock this subversive up?

I think thats a bit harsh, he only ended up leader because the former gang leader resigned in disgrace. Bertie that is.

[toughbutfair]

There will be no stopping the economic crash until we crush the unions.

They seem to think employers are rolling in it.

loss making companies should be allowed slash wages by ten per cent without unions having the right to call a strike.