Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 23:41:06 -0500
Subject: M-I: "Labor is the cause of Ireland, Ireland is the cause of labor"
From: jschulman-AT-juno.com (Jason A Schulman)


That's a quote from James Connolly.

--------- Begin forwarded message ----------

     Adams backs airline workers on Dublin canvas
    
    
    Sinn Fein President has backed Ryanair workers in their
    dispute over low pay and lack of union rights, and
    urged people to use other airlines while the dispute
    continues.
    
    Mr Adams was speaking during a canvas of the Dublin
    North constituency, where he was welcomed by party
    by-election candidate Paul Donnelly. Mr Adams visited
    Santry Woods with the Save Santry Woods Campaign and
    concluded his visit by meeting with striking Ryanair
    workers at Dubin Airport.
    
    Workers for the airline are in dispute with management
    over trade union rights, amid an increasing trend of
    non-recognition of trade union membership by companies
    in Ireland.
    
    "The Ryanair dispute also highlights the reality of the
    so-called Celtic Tiger economy with higher wages than
    ever for the already well-off and a growing gap between
    them and the increasing number of low paid workers.
    
    Mr. Adams offered his support to the striking baggage
    handlers, and said that his party would not be using
    Ryanair during this dispute and urged others to "think
    twice" about doing so.
    
    "This dispute clearly highlights the growing disparity
    between the already well-off and those on low pay in
    our society.  Increasingly we have seen the acceptance
    of growing economic division and the development of a
    low wage economy of 'yellow pack' jobs and temporary
    employment schemes.  This is not the inevitable shape
    of the Irish economy," he said.
    
    Ireland has the highest proportion of low-paid workers
    in the industrial world; 600,000 people earn less than
    #10,000 per year; and 4,600 people earn more than
    #100,000 per year.
    
    Mr Adams said his party message in this this
    by-election was its committment to "real social,
    economic and political change, to eliminating poverty
    and to offering an effective alternative to the
    corruption and failed politics which have been a
    feature of political life here in recent years".
    
    He praised local community worker and anti-drugs
    activist Paul Donnelly as "one of an increasing number
    of  community activists who are working on the ground
    with people to bring about change."
    
    "Sinn Fein was an all Ireland party with over 100
    Councillors, two MP's and one TD, he stressed.  "We are
    working side by side with people demanding positive
    change throughout our country.  We have taken our
    increased mandate in recent years very seriously and
    have used it to give a strong and determined voice to
    those we represent locally and nationally.   A
    tradition which Paul Donnelly which continue to
    follow."
    
    Adams appealed to first time voters and those who had
    not voted in previous elections to use their vote to
    "influence the direction our society will take.  By not
    voting you are accepting things as they are and are
    allowing your future to be decided by others."
    
    A vote for Sinn Fein was a vote for change, he said. 
    "Our message in this by-election in one of hope - hope
    for a new and peaceful future in a society of equals."
    

_____________________________________________________________

    
    Profile of Paul Donnelly, SF Candidate Dublin North
              
    Paul Donnelly lives in the Mulhuddart area of the
    Dublin North constituency.  He is married to Angela and
    they have a young family.  He is involved in a wide
    variety of work to improve the quality of life in the
    area.  The keynote of Paul's work is activism - he is
    active, voluntarily, on all the problems and issues
    which affect the community.  Some of the work in which
    he is involved includes:
    
    Having witnessed at first hand the devastation caused
    by the drugs epidemic in Dublin North he initiated a
    campaign against drugs and is currently Chairperson of
    his local Anti-Drugs campaign.  He is also a community
    representative on the  local drugs task force which was
    recently awarded #780,000 to fight the serious drugs
    problem in a multi-faceted way.  He has worked
    alongside communities to rid the area successfully of
    several drug pushers and is working towards the
    provision of  facilities to help end addiction and
    prevent young people from taking drugs.
    
    He is a member of SIPTU and is the health and safety
    representative in his place of work.  He previously
    worked in Aer Lingus in the early 1990s and is fully
    aware of the problems facing the workers in the
    company, particularly in Team Aer Lingus.
    
    Other projects on which he has been very active include
    the whole area of waste management where he has
    supported initiatives to minimise the production of
    waste and encourage recycling.  He has opposed the
    building of a national incinerator  and the extension
    of land fill sites in the constituency.  He was also 
    involved in the highly successful campaign against the
    imposition of water/service charges.  He has
    consistently called for an amnesty for those who
    defaulted on payment of this double tax.
    

_____________________________________________________________
Update from RTE (Irish radio), 2:30 MST Friday

Widespread disruption is expected at Dublin airport tomorrow as thousands
of
SIPTU members stop work in support of the striking Ryanair baggage
handlers. 
                                                           
Tonight contract cleaners and some security staff have left work and
there
has been some disruption at the airport - though flights have not been
affected
so far.  

*****




--------- End forwarded message ----------

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