BENEFIT NIGHT FOR SACKED SHOP STEWARD

dublin | worker & community struggles and protests | event notice Sunday October 02, 2011 21:56 by OWEN MCCORMACK - TRADE UNIONIST owenmccormack2002 at yahoo dot co dot uk

Court case due on sacking of bus driver.

A benefit night with trad/ballads will be held for the Eugene McDonagh defence fund. The gig takes place in the Clifton Court Hotel on Eden quay on sat 22 October from 8 onwards.
A raffle with spot prizes and food will make for a great night out for a good cause.
Eugene was sacked by Dublin bus over an unofficial dispute in 2009. His Unfair dismisal hearing is due on Nov 2 and all proceeds will go toward expences for this case..

Eugene McDonagh was sacked in 2009 over an unofficial dispute at Harristown garage. Eugene was a NBRU shop steward who had publically opposed cost cutting at the company and attempts to cut services. He was the only worker sacked as a result of a dispute that involved over a thoudands driver.Many drivers where threatened with the industrial relations act and told their jobs were under threat unless they gave statements against their shop stewards. They were also told they could be sued by the company.

Eugenes union (NBRU) allowed the disciplinary process to continue despite verbal guareentees at the end of the dispute that no driver would face disciplinary action and evidence of widespread intimidation of drivers and breaking of proceedures.

This benefit night is part of a fund raising effort to support Eugene and his family and ensure he gets a proper hearing at the court.
Workers face a two year wait even to get to court for unfair dismissal hearings and this is no accident, it is part of a whole industrial relations machine that is weighted against workers.
Please support this gig and spread the word to other trade unionists and activists.
Owen McCormack
0872858388