Socialist Party Exposing Limerick's Low Pay Bosses

limerick | politics / elections | press release

Tuesday June 01, 2004 21:46

by Socialist Party

Last Saturday on the Socialist Party's campaign stall a Limerick
businessman, who was upset that his business was being 'Named & Shamed',
wanted the details removed from the display. When we refused he called the Gardai.

Press Statement

Tuesday 1st June 2004

Socialist Party Exposing Limerick's Low Pay Bosses
(And Policing Priorities)

The Socialist Party is asking the workers of Limerick to help them expose
employers who exploit their workers through low pay, poor working
conditions and the denial of trade union representation.

"Like in the campaign the Socialist Party ran four years ago, in the
months running up to the introduction of the minimum wage, we are asking
workers to 'Name & Shame' their bosses at our campaign stall on O'Connell
Street," said Ashling Golden, Socialist Party candidate for Ward 3.

"We are asking workers to reveal the wages they are being paid and other
conditions under which they work. Low pay is a serious issue for Limerick
workers, especially young workers."

Ms Golden continued: "Since its introduction, the minimum wage has
increasingly become the typical wage paid by many bosses. Younger workers
only receive the lower rates that are their minimum entitlements, with
bosses exploiting the loopholes for workers under 20 years of age."

"The current minimum wage rate is inadequate. It is not enough to support
someone trying to rent or buy a decent home, pay for healthcare,
transport, etc. The Socialist Party campaigns for a minimum wage of ?10
per hour (the European Decency Threshold), and for an end to the age
exemptions."

Last Saturday on the Socialist Party's campaign stall a Limerick
businessman, who was upset that his business was being 'Named & Shamed',
and wanted the details removed from the display.

Ms Golden said: "Our members asked him if the information we were
displaying was incorrect, that it would be amended immediately if it was.
However, he admitted that the information was in fact correct. On this
basis we refused to remove the information. At this, he called the Garda?
Within a few minutes a patrol car arrived, followed by another shortly
after. Seven Gardai were present."

"The swiftness and size of the Garda response to this trivial issue is a
stark example of the Gardai's policing priorities. There are many areas of
this city where it would take the Gardai many hours, or even a full day,
to respond to complaints. The 'good reputation' of one of Limerick's low
paying businessmen seems to be more important than the welfare of the
ordinary people of Southill and other areas. This incidebt highlights the
need for policing policies and priorities to be put under democratic
community control."

The Socialist Party have been raising the issue of low pay in the local
economy on the doorsteps in its election campaign, and will continue to
'Name & Shame' low pay bosses on its campaign stalls on O'Connell Street.