A Man of the Left

Friends,
I’m afraid it is necessary for us to ask you to show your support again.

There will be picket of
Subway
6 – 8 Great Victoria Street
Belfast
(the Subway near the Europa)
On Friday, 10th October, from 12.30 to 1.30

The issue:
Natalia Szymanska, a young Polish woman was sacked from Subway in her fifth month of pregnancy on a spurious charge of being in breach of the company’s health and safety policy.

The ICTU Migrant Workers Unit appealed the dismissal but the hearing was not conducted fairly by Subway and they upheld the decision.
It is unacceptable in this day and age that employers can still mistreat and discriminate workers in this way.

Sadly this is not an unfamiliar case.

Dasa Kacova was sacked on the spot from Delaney’s Restaurant in Belfast on January 17 2008 for asking why she had to remove her jumper at work on a cold day. Her case had been taken up by representatives of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in Belfast which organized a series of pickets.
On Saturday March 8th 2008 someone turned up at the picket calling us “Commie bastards” and starts pushing his way through. At first everyone thought he knew someone on the picket and was having a laugh. It turned out to be Mr. Delaney himself. He then called the police.
As a result of these pickets the owner of Delaney’s agreed to reinstate Dasa, reimburse her for loss of earnings, pay her outstanding holiday entitlements.

The picket is being organised B&DTUC and ICTU.