People Before Profit sent a delegation to the Vista Therm plant in Lurgan yesterday. They found the strikers in good form, full of energy and brimming with enthusiasm about a plan set to take Vista Therm’s parent company Carey Glass by surprise today. Over 40 strikers will be visiting Nenagh to call on residents to stop the abuse of these workers rights. Parent company Carey Glass denies responsibility for the actions of Vista Therm.
VISTA THERM – UNION BUSTING IS DISGUSTING
Unite the union posters cover streetlamps across Lurgan saying Union Busting Is Disgusting in English and Polish. Lurgan members of People Before Profit reported that management have reacted shockingly- taking the posters down and burning them in ‘bonfires’.
Vista Therm managers called police on the pickets- a scare tactic that should have had a discouraging effect but it only showed the workers their power. Vista Therm have sacked four union members, including reps, but the daily pickets continue and even some of the fired workers continue to lead. The Vista Therm is owned by Carey Glass in Nenagh. Neither brand is looking well. The struggle looks like it will be bitter and long. The workers are apparently very united. They demonstrated security and dignity and self-respect. They have a positive offensive footing and clear list of grievances some of which seem easy if not illegal to leave unresolved: pressure into medicating to encourage presenteeism, 60-70 hour weeks on 24 hour shift work, years without pay increases and then the attacks reported since the pickets started.
PAY INCREASES NOW
All those issues to one side, initially the claim for a fair pay increase. Vista Therm has progressively lowered starting pay despite rising costs of living. One worker with more than 10 years experience said ‘When I started I was making 13 or 14 pounds an hour. Now I am train in new staff. They start at 11. It’s bullshit.’
At the announcement of strike action Unite official Neil Moore was quoted on their website as saying:
“Our pay claim is for an extra 13.5% – and would cost approximately £655k. For these low-paid workers, that translates into an extra £59.40 a week but would offer genuine protection in the current cost of living crisis. Over the last five years, the profits of this company are sufficient to easily afford such a pay increase and still deliver consistent profits – there is no excuse for the approach of management. (https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2023/july/vista-therm-workers-vote-100-for-strike-action-for-union-recognition-and-a-pay-increase/ 7 July 2023)
The increase is not extravagant. It barely makes up for the strategic wage suppression and economy-wide cost of living increases.
UNION BUSTING REACTION
But the bosses seem to have taken the struggle of the mostly Polish staff as an offense. Workers say management have assumed a counter attack strategy. All the classic signs of an aggressive coordinated union busting campaign are there to see: attempts at intimidation, dissemination false information, job threats, rumours of job threats, actual firings, hiring scab labour, temporary reallocation of production to the UK and even an injunction against the union for protesting at the Carey Glass HQ in the south.
It seems clear that Vista Therm want to drop Unite and to leave the union bleeding. They want the union in their workplace broken permanently and an end to union recognition. It’s no wonder that the Unite officials have made this a key campaign. After the visit it is clear the workers are not going to let that happen.
WORKERS ARE WORTH MORE
Workers knew of legal tax avoidance being used by company heads. They knew their pay was being taxed at a higher rate than the company’s. They made the ironic connection between our party’s name and their boss’s strategy. ‘You won’t like them in there. They are Profit Before People.’
The pay increases that workers need is still the heart of the struggle parents had children there. Paying for summer camps was not a real possibility this year for the 90+ workers who worked the 3 shifts at the sprawling facility.
Gerry Carroll MLA said ‘These workers are showing the power of striking workers. They aren’t divided by nationality or creed despite disgusting attacks. They are united in their union and they are united in their fight. These workers make insulated glass. They work hard and should be paid well- and they are only asking to be paid fairly. What they make is what we need to build the energy efficient homes desperately needed north and south. These are the good green union jobs we want here. Everyone in Ireland has respect for these workers and even more so now with the exemplary unity they are showing on these pickets. They deserve at the very least to get that same respect from the employers who profit from their labour. I know I speak for everyone in People Before Profit and every good trade unionist in Ireland to say Victory to these workers. Vista Therm should get talking to their workers and give them the fair pay increase they deserve. Stop union busting. We back the call for a pay increase now.’
Even with scab labour the factory is operating at a very low capacity. The power of the workers have when they put down the tools and strike is clear. These workers are an example. Working people and certainly all trade unionists who know of the story should get in touch and send reps and support. This is one fight Ireland’s workers can’t afford to lose.
