Paul Murphy demands reinstatement of the 'Murphy Four'
Paul Murphy urged the Taoiseach to call on Murphy International to reinstate the 'Murphy Four', four dismissed workers he says were targeted for union activity. He said the four have a combined 50 years' experience and described their sacking as a clear attempt at union busting.
Call for reinstatement
The deputy asked the Taoiseach to join calls for Murphy International to reinstate the Murphy Four and said he was in full support of UNITE's campaign for their return to work.
Details of the dismissals
The Murphy Four are four UNITE members dismissed from Murphy International. The deputy characterised their treatment as victimisation and said they were targeted for what he described as legitimate trade union activity.
Company revenue and workforce contribution
The deputy noted that Murphy International generated over £1.27 billion in revenues last year and argued that this revenue was generated by the workforce, including the dismissed members.
UNITE campaign and parliamentary backing
He highlighted a major campaign being waged by UNITE and emphasised parliamentary support for the union's effort to have the workers reinstated.
Taoiseach's response and industrial relations procedures
In response, the Taoiseach said he was not familiar with the dispute, would not appropriately join a call without knowing all the facts, and pointed to existing procedures to deal with industrial relations disputes of that nature.
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Thanks, Chair. Taoiseach, I want to ask you to join us in calling for Murphy International to reinstate the so-called Murphy Four. These are four workers with a combined 50 years' experience for the construction company Murphy International, who were sacked in what was a very clear and blatant attempt at union busting. Murphy International is a massive company, last year generating over £1.27 billion in revenues. That is revenue that was generated by the workforce, including the four UNITE members who have been dismissed. It is vital that companies are not able to get away with union busting, are not able to target those who are engaged in union activities and to dismiss them. They were victimised, they were targeted for what was legitimate trade union activity. There is a major campaign being waged by UNITE very impressively, and we are in full support of it to reinstate the Murphy Four. I have asked the Taoiseach to join that call to say that these workers should be reinstated. Thank you, Deputy. Taoiseach? I am not familiar with that dispute, Deputy, and it would not be appropriate for me to join or not join any call without knowing all the facts. But there are procedures to deal with industrial relations disputes of that nature. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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