All across the western world, businesses are outsourcing their employees, all in an effort to increase profits. Part of the problem is painfully simple. Foreign countries, such as India and China, allow for low wages in an effort to attract jobs, and developed countries find it impossible to compete.
What's a worker to do? At Irish Ferries, the workers have taken a stand against outsourcing by refusing to go quietly. Management has declared that they cannot compete against other ferry lines, many of which are not Irish-flagged and therefore not bound by Ireland's minimum wage and benefit rules. In a truly grand gesture, the labor force has effectively shut down Irish Ferries. One ship is sitting in the dock, its officers barricaded in the control room until Irish Ferries backs down.
A grand gesture, lads, but the company is within its rights to register as a Cyprian concern and so operate under Cyprian labor laws. Even Bertie Ahern has admitted as much, telling reporters that there is nothing the government can do. Ireland's labor union is behind the protestors, lending them all the moral support they can use, but it is up to Irish Ferries to make the final call. In spite of union talks and agreements, a business exists to make money, not to employ people. Irish Ferries will do what management thinks is best to achieve that end.
For all their protests and blockades and vows, the ferry workers are essentially powerless. No one could stop Irish Ferries from leasing their ships to other companies. No one could force those other companies to maintain current employment or salary rates. No one can coordinate a world-wide boycott of Irish Ferries and any other concern doing business with them.
Made in China, and that shirt or toy or electronic device is quite the bargain. Perhaps it is not such a bargain as it seems.
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