Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment. I will not name the employer, but we all know of one major retailer in the country which has shown just how vicious it can be when its employees make representations or make public their concerns.Ultimately, when people end up on the street and we see a march similar to the one we saw last Saturday week, with about 3,000 people walking down the street towards the headquarters of a particular retailer, they are not doing that lightly. We saw members of that trade union moved from their roles within the organisation to roles that held less esteem. We also saw members having their hours cut, and we saw how this employer, and others like it, worked its way around the legislation. For example, the incremental scale that exists within a particular employment is applied, but the hours are reduced to ensure that the salary never changes. As Senator Cullinane has said, it will be dealt with in the industrial relations Act, but it is also important to put it in here. Most employers in this country are decent people who set out to make a profit for themselves, employ people, and contribute to their communities. I compliment the Minister of State on his quick action in the Clerys case. That is something for which he is to be commended. However, some employers are fat cats, enjoying the rewards of their workers while treating them in a most despicable way. The amendment proposed by Senator Cullinane and his colleagues is worth serious consideration.