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S. E. A. Statements

Trade unionists in Derry should stand firm against the arrogance of Perfectseal management

Friday 11th June 2006

The Socialist Environmental Alliance congratulates the Perfecseal workers on the stand they have taken against an arrogant, bullying management.

The bosses at Perfecseal want to force workers onto a shift system which will be damaging to health and family life. Many believe that last week's sackings were carried out in order to re-hire the workers on new conditions on 24/7 shifts---or to hire replacements to work the 27/7 shifts.

In other words, management wants to impose drastic new work conditions without any meaningful negotiations or proper pay.

The SEA calls on local elected representatives not to sit on the fence but to declare their support for the workers in demanding and end to bullying and no changes to work conditions without agreement.

The Perfecseal workers have given a lead to all workers in the area. Workers are constantly told to keep their heads down and not to demand fair treatment in case they frighten jobs off. Take this to its logical conclusion and we'd have full employment in the north west, but with everybody working for nothing in chain-gang conditions.

It's reported that Perfecseal is about to receive £8 million of tax-payers' money to pay for its move to Campsie. Is public money about to be used to force through changes against the wishes of the workers---and even to fund the pay-off of existing workers?

Invest Northern Ireland should be told to give no further money to this company until it shows it can be trusted with it. That means proper treatment of the work-force whose labour has made Perfecseal the profitable concern which it is today.

In the meantime, the SEA will be doing what it can to publicise the workers' case and to raise fund to sustain them in the dispute.





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