Protest E-mails Needed Now! - 2 Shop Stewards On Hunger Strike Over Union Sellout

[BOZG]

I'm aware that another thread is already open on this issue in the Workers Action forum but I would request that the mods please leave this one open also, considering the severity of the issue.


Two sacked shop stewards in Belfast are currently on their 42nd hour of a hunger strike and have just began a thirst strike in the past few hours over the refusal of their trade union, Unite T&G, to honour promises made in September to cover the cost of their legal fees arising from a legal action they took against their employer over unfair dismissal. The Shop Stewards, along with other co-workers, were sacked after their Union official colluded with the employer and sold out their strike. Faced with no help from their union, they took legal action against their employer which they won but still face huge legal bills.

The General Secretary of Unite, Tony Woodley, along with the Irish regional secretary, Jimmy Kelly made promises that the Union would meet the costs of their legal challenge as well as compensate the workers for the financial and personal hardships incurred. So far, Unite has done nothing to honour these promises.

Following the commencement of their hunger strike, Union officials called in the cops to threaten them with arrest.



Emergency protest e-mails are need immediately:

[email protected] (Regional Secretary)
[email protected] (General Secretary)
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Phone:

UNITE T&G Transport House, Belfast
Northern Ireland and Britain - 02890 232381
From Republic of Ireland - 04890 232381
Internationally - 00442890232381


Jimmy Kelly, Regional Secretary, is also a leading member of the SWP.

Contact the SWP:
Dublin - 0035318722682
Belfast - 00447717123462
E-mail - [email protected]


Indymedia thread (http://www.indymedia.ie/article/87064)
RevLeft (http://www.revleft.com/vb/swp-member-sends-t75236/index.html)

[PRC-UTE]

Sending mine in now. Good work, comrade.

[BOZG]

Thanks man. Jimmy Kelly fucked off to Dublin for the day for a Regional Committee meeting rather than bother discussing with them.

[BOZG]

Rally in support of the airport workers:

Belfast
Today (Wed 9th April) 1pm @ Transport House, Belfast

Dublin
Today (Wed 9th April) 1pm @ ATGWU Hall, Middle Abbey St.

[Marsella]

Hunger strikes. :ohmy:

Are they common in Ireland? (I've never heard of one in Aus.)

[RedFlagComrade]

We have ahistory of them whenever people protest against authority.

[BOZG]

One shop steward has been hospitalised and is now on an IV drip, the other is still there but deteriorating.

Send, send, send people!

[BOZG]

Both have now been hospitalised. Doctor's have they said they both may have suffered irreversible kidney damage.



Update: Both likely to be released in the morning but I think they are likely to return to their strike.

[BOZG]

Gordon McNeill and Madan Gupta were released from Belfast City Hospital this morning and have rejoined their protest outside Transport House in Belfast.

Chris Bowyer, Gordon McNeill and Madan Gupta are continuing their hunger-strike against the advice of doctors at Belfast City Hospital who have warned them that they face possible death within 24 hours if they do not recommence eating.

Gordon McNeill, 38, who suffers from asthma and has a serious heart condition has been told that he is entering the first stages of renal failure. When he was taken to hospital his blood sugars were dangerously low. He is in a high state of ketosis and is at serious risk of a heart attack. In 2007, Gordon McNeill was admitted to hospital with an irregular heartbeat.

Madan Gupta, 72, a diabetic who has not taken medication since Monday morning has been told his potassium levels are dangerously high and has also been told he is entering the first stages of renal failure. Doctors have warned because of his diabetis his health is at very serious risk.

The Unite union continues to refuse to talk to the workers.

For more comments contact Gordon McNeill on 07934632366 or Dr. Ciaran Mulholland on 07703736713.

[BOZG]

Bump.

[Coggeh]

Sickening actions by Jimmy Kelly and Unite, must be held completely responsible for any and all harm the workers have been caused .

More support is needed comrades , get emailing .

[BOZG]

Union management has backed down and the shop stewards have received a letter from Unite solicitors committing to pay the legal fees as well as agreeing to negotiate compensation with all the workers at a meeting no later than April 30th. I'll post a full explanation when I have more details.

Thanks for everyone's support!