Workers and trade union organisers assembled outside a building site operated by Cairn Homes, on Hanover Quay, Dublin 2, this morning (Friday, 21st September) to highlight reports of subcontractors failing to comply with legally binding terms and conditions for employees in the industry. The group, who are members of the Construction Industry Committee (CIC) of the ICTU, included activists from SIPTU, BATU, OPATSI, Connect Trade Union and Unite. SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Regan, said: “Symbolic ‘red cards’ were distributed to workers entering the site and members of the public. On the cards the issues associated with non-compliance in the construction industry are outlined, including paying workers below legal pay rates, not contributing to pension and sickness schemes and employing people as bogus self-employed.” “A major issue is contractors not complying with the terms of the Sectoral Employment Order (SEO) for the construction industry”, said BATU Official, Brendan O’Sullivan. “An SEO is a legally binding instrument which governs minimum rates of payment, hours of work and employer contributions into sickness and pension schemes as well as other benefits.” OPATSI General Secretary, Billy Wall said: “The ‘Show Non-compliance the Red Card’ campaign was outside this building site at 6.00 a.m. this morning. Over the last few weeks we have assembled outside several other sites where there are reports of non-compliance. This is a campaign which will be stepped up over the coming weeks.” Connect Trade Union Official, Brian Nolan: “Subcontractors failing to meet their legal obligations to workers not only affect those directly involved but also means less taxes to pay for public services and good compliant businesses losing out on contracts because they are undercut by rogue employers.” Unite the Union Official, Tom Fitzgerald, added: “The message should be clear to rogue employers in the construction industry. Unless you change what you are doing the ‘Show Non-compliance the Red Card’ campaign will be paying your site a visit. Following that legal action will be taken to enforce compliance on your site.”
Workers show non-compliant building subcontractors a ‘Red Card’ in Dublin
