Gas contract redundancies
Deputy Bríd Smith says redundancies linked to the takeover of a Gas Networks Ireland contract breach just-transition principles and involve intimidation of workers. Deputy Ryan says climate transition cannot excuse poor labour practice and points to the WRC and Labour Court for disputes.
The Minister may be aware that Balfour Beatty is closing down its operations in Ireland. It has had a contract for years with Gas Networks Ireland that is paid for by public money. That contract is being taken over by GMC, which is seeking 70 redundancies from the Balfour Beatty workforce. The Minister may not be aware that GMC is bullying and intimidating workers into taking redundancy on the basis that if they do not take it now, they will lose out in a year's time. One of the reasons GMC is giving for these redundancies is that they are a consequence of climate change. Does the Minister agree that this is unacceptable on two counts, namely, on the basis of just transition for workers and also on the principles of social dialogue? The company should be forced to negotiate with the trade union, SIPTU, for a decent transfer of business, TUPE, arrangement and for redundancies for workers if they want them, not because they are being forced to take them. GMC is receiving public money to carry out work-----
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-----on our gas infrastructure. It is a breach of the principles of just transition.
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We need a just transition and I do not believe that transition can be done on the basis that climate change and the switch away from fossil fuels gives companies permission not to work in a way that is within the spirit and law in terms of social partnership and looking after workers' rights in this country. I do not accept or agree with that. We have to rely on the institutions of the State, including the Workplace Relations Commission, the Labour Court and other mechanisms, where there is any question arising in such matters. I do not have the specific detail of the case the Deputy mentioned and I do not want to draw conclusions until I have a chance to look at it. There are mechanisms in place in the State to protect workers' rights and labour rights and they are the first place to which we turn. On the wider issue of just transition, we must intervene to make sure that where jobs in the fossil fuel industries are lost, we provide alternatives.