Ireland: Gama forced to pay overtime by Labour Court

Press Statement, Friday, 27th May 2005

GAMA

Labour Court Award of €8,000 per annum for unpaid overtime – a stunning vindication of worker exploitation revelations

However, award falls far short of what workers should have been paid for massive amount of overtime worked with GAMA.

After eight weeks of work stoppage GAMA workers have voted to accept a Labour Court proposal of €8,000 per year worked plus one month’s wages.

The Labour Court award of €8,000 per annum for unpaid overtime represents a stunning vindication of worker exploitation revelations

However, the award falls far short of what workers should have been paid for massive amount of overtime worked with GAMA. In fact GAMA workers were forced to work up to 84 hours a week in all kinds of weather.

Given that the workers have accepted the Labour Court recommendation, the Government now has a huge responsibility to force GAMA to pay the settlement within days.

For four years GAMA operated a ruthless machine of exploitation of its Turkish workers in Ireland. Never again must such a vile regime of exploitation be allowed in this State.

The trade union movement must now move immediately to a major organisation of all migrant workers to ensure this.

Joe Higgins can be contacted at (01) 618 3038

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