Lloyds pharmacies strike
Deputy Coppinger raises the strike by mostly women workers in Lloyds pharmacies, calling for better pay, sick pay, an end to zero-hours contracts and union recognition. The Chair rules parts of the intervention out of order, and the Tánaiste points instead to the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, saying the Minister wants to progress it though it does not cover union recognition.
Tomorrow, workers in Dublin and in many other places will have to take to the picket lines again at Lloyds pharmacies. They are mainly women and they are low paid. They are striking for better pay, for a sick pay scheme that does not exist - imagine that, in a pharmacy - for better work conditions and against zero-hour contracts. They are striking for union recognition, something the Dáil has refused steadfastly to legislate for to support workers because the Government does not want to alienate multinationals from coming to this country. Will the Tánaiste join me in appealing to all workers and all other people to support the strike tomorrow, particularly people who came out and voted for women's rights in the repeal movement-----
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------and ask them to boycott Lloyds tomorrow in a one-day show of support for these women workers?
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It is to do with union recognition and zero-hour contracts legislation. You let every Tom, Dick and Harry talk about other types of things.
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It is about laws to help workers.
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What I can certainly respond on is the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which was published by the Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty, before Christmas and is expected to be on Committee Stage in the coming weeks. The Minister certainly responded on this issue on Tuesday and stated she is very anxious to try to progress this legislation before the end of the term.
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It does not deal with union recognition.