Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

They were dismissed because they asked for negotiation of their being underpaid by €4.50 an hour in relation to the sectoral employment order, SEO, specifying the legal rates that should apply for skilled jobs such as those at the plant and across Ireland. Their boss came in after half and hour and simply told them they were all suspended. The management suspended all the workers and emailed nine of them to bring them back, but these four were dismissed. They were dismissed because, in the previous dispute over the same issue seven years before, they stood up for their rights as workers and were threatened with sacking. In the minutes of the meeting, the four were actually told they did not show enough remorse for asking for a negotiation. This is a company that receives millions in taxpayers' money from our Government. Its behaviour brings home the issue of what we are doing about procurement. Why are we giving business to companies that treat workers with such disdain, have no respect for trade unions and no respect for workers' rights? This is what our Government is doing and what the British Government is doing. We have no control over the latter but we must address this matter.

We must also address the appalling unfair dismissal legislation, which is no use to these workers, because they will be waiting years to get their case heard and then they will be limited to a maximum of two years, or less if they secure a job elsewhere. This company took a calculated decision to victimise these workers to send a message to the rest that if they join a trade union and stand up for their rights, they will not get work in the company. Something needs to be done. I call for an urgent debate on workers' rights. These are decent working men. One of them broke down yesterday when he was making his presentation, because he has not had any income. He was not even able to sign on, because the Government made it clear he was sacked. That is what is happening in our country.