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NBRU - No sense of solidarity with your SIPTU workmates

category national | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis author Friday March 12, 2004 20:43author by NBRU - NBRU (Dissident)author address Clontarf Garage, Dublin 3

Sad day for Trade Unionism

Absolutely disgraceful. That's the only way to
describe the National Bus & Rail Union's (NBRU's) total lack of support for SIPTU's official 24-hour bus and rail strike next Thursday, March 18th.

The National Bus & Rail Union (NBRU) publicly confirmed on the radio this morning (Friday 12/03/04) that they (The NBRU) won't be supporting SIPTU's official 24-hour strike next Thursday and they are telling their members (us) to work normally next Thursday (Strikebreaking!). They all but told us to pass SIPTU's official pickets at bus and rail depots next Thursday. Where's the solidarity? No Union solidarity here. No wonder the NBRU are losing members in CIE to SIPTU. Part of the problem with the NBRU now is that the General Secretary of the NBRU, Liam Tobin, and the Assistant General Secretary, Michael O'Flaherty, are both ardent Fianna Failure supporters. Time to reclaim the NBRU, like the rest of our Unions. That's why we need grassroots, rank and file organisations like the Busworkers Action Group (BAG), and why the Busworkers Action Group should be supported.

Comments (4 of 4)

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re NBRU
author by real driver - nbrupublication date Fri Mar 12, 2004 23:13author address dublinauthor phone

The NBRU are not telling their members to pass pickets, Liam Tobin is NOT an ardent FF supporter.
Yes there is a mighty row within the unions members about Tobins comments. But no NBRU member will be passing the SIPTU pickets. The previous comments are wrong and misleading and should be removed as such stuff only makes It harder for NBRU members to win the solidarity we are trying for. Indymedia is not the forum for internal union arguments.

Why Not?
author by why not?publication date Sat Mar 13, 2004 01:41author address author phone

Seems like an external argument to me.

Why
author by Whypublication date Sat Mar 13, 2004 18:11author address author phone

Agree with previous comments by why not? This is an external arguement, coz apart from the workers involved there's also the small matter of the passengers. Also Michael O'Flaherty is an ardent Fianna Fail supporter, as he's told me that in person himself. Can't speak for Tobin, as I don't know him. The NBRU were holding a emergency conference in Galway today to discuss this. Anyone know how it went?

NBRU is a scab lead union
author by Out with scab leaderspublication date Sat Mar 13, 2004 22:28author address author phone

NBRU leaders are scabs, they are playing into government hands by undermining their comrades in SIPTU. They are blackleg scum and so would any bus worker that passes the picket on Thursday.

I believe there is a protest being organised outside the Dept of Transport on Thurs, it should be attended to protest against the NBRU scabs, the government and the SIPTU leaders who are happy to only negociate about the form privitisation takes.

The unions position shoudl be clear and it shoudl be the same as it's members, No to ANY form of privitisation! Not a penny off the pay not a second on the day - No erosion of working conditions!

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