Union Launches International Campaign Against Union Busting at J Murphy and Sons

UNITE, the UK’s construction union, has launched an international campaign to end union busting at J Murphy and Sons Ltd and its subsidiaries.

The dispute is a result of J Murphy and Sons Ltd’s Irish subsidiary Murphy International Ltd, last year wrongfully sacking four Unite members, including a Unite rep, in an act of union busting, Unite alleges.

The workers who were undertaking work at a site in the Republic of Ireland were dismissed after organising a meeting of 15 workers to discuss Murphy’s non-payment of travel and subsistence payments.

Union Busting

After a period of two months where all the workers were suspended without pay, the four workers were singled out and dismissed for not showing “remorse”. Despite pressure from Unite, the company has refused to reinstate the workers, the union reports.

Sharon Graham, Unite General Secretary

Unite General Secretary, Sharon Graham said, “Murphy’s behaviour is deplorable it is guilty of flagrant union-busting. No reputable employer should have anything to do with Murphy considering the manner in which it treats its workers.

“Unite will never allow such attacks on members to go unchallenged and it will leave no stone unturned until Murphy does the right thing and reinstates the workers.”

J Murphy and Sons

A spokesperson for J Murphy commented:

“We categorically refute Unite’s misleading claims concerning the nature of this case. The claims regarding the reason for the dismissals and allegations of union busting are factually incorrect.

“Murphy International Limited acted in response to unballoted, unnotified, and therefore unlawful strike action taken by a small minority of workers at our Aughinish site in Limerick, Ireland.

“Murphy has had a presence on site for over 40 years, enjoying good industrial relations on the site. All its employees who work on the site are members of trade unions. The company has always indicated that it is open to resolving this matter amicably and sensibly. We remain committed to maintaining an open dialogue with all parties around this issue to try to draw a line under this matter.  This matter is currently subject to legal proceedings in Ireland.”

Unite Campaign

Unite’s campaign will feature protests and demonstrations targeting Murphy and its key business partners, its customers and lenders. Initial protests this week have focused on Mott MacDonald, which is supporting the joint venture between Bouygues and Murphy for the Lower Thames Crossing.

In the Republic of Ireland, Unite’s campaign is focusing on Murphy’s bid for a number of Irish Water contracts. Unite has sent legal letters to the Irish government highlighting how the company’s actions are in contravention of Irish labour laws and therefore Murphy should be barred from bidding for public sector contracts.

In the coming weeks, the union says, unless the Murphy workers are reinstated, the campaign will widen further and will target the company on an international scale.

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