Sacked Belfast Airport Workers

Ken Loach speaks out in support of Gordon McNeill

adminairportworker — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:53:29 +0000

Dear Gordon,

Thanks for sending the latest information. I pass it on to journalists who might be sympathetic but what a disgrace that it receives such little national attention. It’s about time the left rallied round in strength. Dirty tricks by Union bureaucrats is nothing new.

All the very best,

Ken Loach

Court upholds Gordon McNeill’s right to protest

adminairportworker — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:17:36 +0000

Unite leaders forced to back down from their attempt to imprison him.

Unite leaders’ attempt to cripple Gordon with legal costs thrown out by the court

“I will now be returning to my lawful protest outside Transport House” Gordon McNeill

Next protest will begin at 1pm tomorrow (Thursday 4 September)

The case brought by the Unite leadership against sacked airport shop steward, Gordon McNeill, was heard in the Belfast High Court this morning. Unite were attempting to have Gordon imprisoned for breaking an injunction barring him from protesting at Transport House.

Unite were forced to back off from their attempt to put Gordon in prison, but only because they had been made aware of the huge repercussions this would cause throughout the trade union movement in Britain, Ireland and beyond.

Instead they attempted to use financial pressure to force Gordon into a settlement with the union on its terms. They tried to have the whole cost of the case awarded against him. But the Court threw this out and the costs of bringing this case will now be added to the tens of thousands of pounds of unnecessary and wasted expenditure clocked up by Unite’s leaders in their efforts to silence Gordon McNeill.

The Court also upheld Gordon’s right to protest on the pavement outside Transport House. This means he can legally return to the spot outside the building where the court summons was served on him last Friday.

Following the decision Gordon McNeill announced that he will now be resuming his lawful protest starting at 1pm tomorrow. After the case Gordon commented:

“The attempt by Jimmy Kelly and Tony Woodley to have me imprisoned and to take away my democratic right to protest has fallen flat on its face.

“I have made it clear all along that my protests are not an attempt to disrupt the work of the union. I am just trying to get the facts of this dispute across to Unite members and to the public at large.

“I will now continue to do so. All I am asking is that the compensation they gave my two shop steward colleagues is given to me but without the clause that would gag me from ever again commenting on how our trade union officials handled our dispute.

“As soon as they do that my protests will end. But I will not be bribed into silence and, until the gagging clause is removed, I have no option but to continue to protest and publicise this case.

“My campaign is not against my union. Bringing out the truth about what happened will strengthen the union as it means that bad practices can be rooted out. Covering up those practices will guarantee that they continue.

“Nor are the Unite leadership’s actions in this an attempt to “defend” the union as they would have us believe. Their only interest is to defend themselves by trying to suppress the truth about what they have done. They will never succeed in this.”

Court Protest this morning

adminairportworker — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:22:11 +0000

Part of this mornings protest outside court

Jimmy Kelly’s legacy

adminairportworker — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:41:14 +0000

: Jimmy Kelly confronted by protestors

Jimmy Kelly is determined to make trade union history by being the first union leader to put one of his shop stewards in prison. And, just to make matters worse, he wants it done for the crime of protesting outside an empty building!

This is not the first time Jimmy Kelly has tried to get Gordon McNeill thrown in jail. At the end of May, when Gordon was two weeks into a hunger strike and seven days into a hunger and thirst strike, Jimmy did his best to send him down.

On 27 May Jimmy served Gordon with an injunction to stop him protesting on the balcony of Transport House. At this stage Gordon was semi conscious and unable to move around unassisted.

Unconcerned about his medical condition, Jimmy promptly went to the court to have him imprisoned. Don’t take it from us that a trade union leader could act with such Thatcher-like inhumanity – read his own admission of what he did in his current court affidavit (paras 12 – 13, see www.belfastairportworkers.wordpress.com}

“12. As a result of the Defendants actions in May Committal proceedings were prepared and I swore an affidavit in support of having the Defendant committed, a copy of which is attached hereto and marked “JK2” at the time of swearing hereof

“13. The Committal proceedings were not pursued by the Plaintiff in May as the Defendant was hospitalised on or about 28^th May… “

So, sadly for Jimmy Kelly, the health service intervened before he could get his way. If at first you don’t succeed try, try again. Undeterred Jimmy Kelly has now come back to have a second go. It seems that he is determined to be remembered for something – even if it is only as the trade union leader who jailed a union activist for sitting outside an empty building.

Not a legacy everyone would want, but it doesn’t seem that anyone is able to save him from himself.

Don’t let Unite leaders jail Gordon McNeill

adminairportworker — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:30:29 +0000

Protest Outside Belfast High Court 9.30am Wednesday 3 September

Senior officials of the Unite trade union are continuing in their attempt to have sacked Belfast Airport Shop Steward, Gordon McNeill jailed for the “crime” of protesting outside an empty building.

The case will be heard in Belfast High Court on Wednesday morning. There will be a protest outside the court from 9.30am.

A protest was held at lunchtime today outside Unite’s Antrim Road offices. After the protest Gordon McNeill commented:

“I am dismayed that the top leaders of my union are prepared to see me go to jail rather than concede my basic and reasonable demand that the compensation they paid my fellow shop stewards should also be paid to me, but without the gagging clause that would prevent me from bringing out the truth about what happened in this dispute.

“It really is a low point in the history of trade unionism that the Unite leadership are prepared to imprison me because I sat on a garden chair outside an empty Transport House. I was interfering with no one. How could I have been when the Unite officials have moved from the building to the Antrim Road?

“Today, during our protest at Antrim Road, we had the unbecoming spectacle of Unite Regional Secretary, Jimmy Kelly, coming out of the building to shout insults at the protestors, making ridiculous accusations that we are “anti trade union scum”, and compared us with “fascists”.

“I would like to remind Mr Kelly that I have just fought and won a long battle with my former employer, ICTS, and, in doing so, have secured a victory for all trade unionists. My campaign is to defend my basic democratic right to free speech and my right to protest. It is Jimmy Kelly, along with Unite General Secretary, Tony Woodley, who are trying to deny these rights.

“If they succeed in adding their name to the long list of anti union employers and governments who jail trade union activists all they will have done is place an indelible stain against their own reputations as trade union leaders. My campaign for justice will continue.”

Jimmy Kelly’s affidavit and court summons

adminairportworker — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:25:55 +0000

summons-29aug08

kelly-affidavit-29aug081

Click on the links above and print out.

PROTEST – Belfast Mon 1st Sept

adminairportworker — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:35:36 +0000

Unite leaders enforce injunction to prevent Gordon McNeill from protesting at Transport House

adminairportworker — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:31:01 +0000

Court case to be heard next Wednesday (3rd Sept) at which Gordon will face fines or imprisonment or both

Protests to be called next week against the injunction

“Not only are the Unite leaders trying to deny me the right to speak, now they are also trying to take away my democratic right to protest” Gordon McNeill

Unite leaders this afternoon served Gordon McNeill with a court summons in order to prevent him from continuing his protest outside Transport House in Belfast. Gordon now faces the prospect of imprisonment or fines or both as a result of the injunction barring him from protesting in Transport House that was taken out against him by Unite Regional Secretary, Jimmy Kelly.

Gordon was peacefully protesting outside the building – which is closed for renovations – demanding that the Unite leadership pay him the compensation that they have paid his fellow shop stewards, Chris Bowyer and Madan Gupta, but without the gagging clause that would prevent him from ever again speaking about the role played by union officials in this dispute.

This protest has been because Gordon has refused to sell his right to tell other trade union members the truth about what happened to himself and his colleagues. Unite General Secretary, Tony Woodley and Regional Secretary, Jimmy Kelly have offered him £40,000 if he will sell this right.

As Gordon has said in a letter that is now being circulated throughout the trade union movement in Britain, Ireland and beyond: “The truth about what happened in our dispute is part of the history of the labour movement and, as such, is the property of the whole movement. It is not mine to sell.”

Now the issue is not just about the right to speak, it is also about the democratic right to protest.

PROTEST

In response to this vindictive attempt by union leaders to imprison a trade union activist, protests are to be organised next week at Unite offices throughout Britain and Ireland. There will be a protest in Belfast outside the Amicus office, AEEU House 26 Antrim Road (where all Unite officials are currently based) on Monday 1 September at 1pm.

After being served with the summons Gordon said:

“This just shows the lengths that the Unite leadership are prepared to go to keep me silent. Tony Woodley and Jimmy Kelly are so determined to shut me up they are prepared to put me in jail rather than allow me to protest outside an empty building!”It is a scandal that trade union leaders should use the courts to prevent a peaceful protest. They are setting a dangerous precedent that will be taken up by employers and by the government to prevent pickets and protests by trade union members or by communities.

“If Tony Woodley and Jimmy Kelly think that, by approaching me with a bribe in one hand and a court order in the other, they will shut me up they can think again. I am appealing to all trade unionists to stand with me to defend the basic freedoms of speech and association”

For further information contact Gordon on 07934632366

Gordon McNeill resumes hunger and thirst strike at Transport House

adminairportworker — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:55:40 +0000

Start of protest delayed because Gordon collapsed and had to delay travelling to Belfast

Protest is over the Unite leadership’s insistence that Gordon signs up to a gagging clause before they give him a penny compensation

“I want Tony Woodley and Jimmy Kelly to be held personally responsible for whatever may happen now” Gordon McNeill

Gordon McNeill began his protest outside Transport House at 3pm this afternoon. The start of his protest had to be delayed for three hours because Gordon last night stopped taking pain killers and other medication in preparation for his hunger and thirst strike and was unable to travel.

Gordon is continuing his protest this afternoon and will begin a hunger and thirst strike at 10 am tomorrow morning. This protest is in defiance of the injunction served on him by Unite Irish Regional Secretary, Jimmy Kelly.

His protest will end as soon as Unite General Secretary, Tony Woodley and Regional Secretary, Jimmy Kelly agree to pay him the compensation they paid to his fellow shop stewards, Chris Bowyer and Madan Gupta, but without the clause preventing him from ever again speaking about the role of the union in the dispute.

Gordon today commented:

“Tony Woodley and Jimmy Kelly are offering me a bribe to keep me silent about the role of officials of my union. I will never accept these terms.

“I want them to pay me the compensation they paid my colleagues, but as a right not as a bribe.

“The full responsibility for what will now happen rests with Tony Woodley and Jimmy Kelly. The question that they will have to answer is why did they prolong this dispute by insisting on my silence on their role and the role of other officials of my union.

“All union officials should be accountable to the members they represent. But how can members make them accountable if they are not allowed to know the facts about what they have done? I am here defending the right of every Unite member to be fully informed about what their officials are doing.

“All my supporters have urged me not to go back to a hunger and thirst strike. My health has already suffered badly as a result of previous protests and I know the consequences of what I am doing. But I am left with no choice at this stage.

“I am in need of urgent surgery but have refused the operation until this is sorted out. I am not prepared to spend months recuperating knowing that at the end of it all I will have to start up my fight with my union leaders all over again. One way or another I want this resolved first.

“I am determined to see this through until I get justice. I invite Unite members and journalists to contact Tony Woodley and Jimmy Kelly and ask how they can justify paying bribes to members to keep them quiet.”

No Cover Up! Lift the Gagging Clause!

adminairportworker — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:41:27 +0000

Press Release 27 August 2008

Gordon McNeill to resume protest at Transport House from midday 28 August against the attempts by the Unite leadership to bribe and gag him.

Unite leaders, Tony Woodley and Jimmy Kelly, pay Chris Bowyer and Madan Gupta £40,000 each on condition that they never again criticise the role of union officials in their long dispute.

Gordon McNeill says: “My right to tell the truth about what happened is not for sale, not at any price. I want them to give me the compensation to which I am entitled as a right, not as a bribe”

Sacked airport shop steward, Gordon McNeill, has announced that he intends to resume his public protest at Transport House starting at midday tomorrow – (28 August). His protest will be in defiance of the injunction served on him by Irish Regional Secretary, Jimmy Kelly, barring him from protesting at Transport House.

He is doing so against medical advice. As a result of his previous hunger and thirst strikes, Gordon needs urgent and high risk surgery on his neck. He has restricted movement, is in constant pain and has been told that any blow to his neck could leave him paralysed.

He is refusing surgery until the Unite leaders responsible for his dispute, General Secretary, Tony Woodley and Irish Regional Secretary, Jimmy Kelly, remove the gagging clause from their settlement offer.

Gordon’s two colleagues, Chris Bowyer and Madan Gupta, will not be participating in this protest only because they have been paid £40,000 each by Unite on the condition that they never speak about this dispute again.

Gordon today said:

“I will never be bribed into silence. Unite members and members of other unions have a right to know what has happened to us. I have no right to sell that right and Jimmy Kelly and Tony Woodley are acting in a completely unprincipled way in demanding that I do so.

“I should be in hospital getting surgery that I urgently need but I am determined to get this dispute resolved before I undergo this operation. I don’t want to have to spend months recovering only to have to resume protests that might again damage my health.

The way to resolve it is simple – just pay me the compensation that has already been paid to Chris Bowyer and Madan Gupta but without the gagging clause. If Jimmy Kelly and Tony Woodley continue to refuse to do so, the question that must be asked is what is it that they are so concerned about that they are prepared to pay three shop stewards a total of £120,000 to suppress?”

For further information contact Gordon on 07934632366

Visit www.belfastairportworkers.wordpress.com