Govt urged to help Gama workers
Unions authority ICTU today called on the Government to come to the aid of 350 Gama workers who claim they have been denied pay, food and accommodation by their bosses.
David Begg, general secretary of ICTU, which represents 50 unions in the Republic, formally asked Employment Minister Micheal Martin to provide the Turkish men with “emergency social welfare payments and accommodation” until the situation has been resolved.
The formal request was made in consultation with SIPTU, which represents the workers.
SIPTU officials believe that Gama has removed some 350 workers from the payroll, stopped their food supply and said they are to be evicted from their accommodation on Friday.
In a letter to Mr Martin, Mr Begg said today: “This presents an appalling vista of people being left homeless and destitute in a foreign country.”
“Given the urgency of the situation, I would appreciate if you could act on this request as quickly as possible,” continued Mr Begg, who has been in contact with the Government on this issue throughout the day.
A copy of the letter has also been dispatched to Social & Family Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan.
A spokesman for Gama said last night that the majority of its workers continue to work as normal despite the protests.
He added: “Most of the employees protesting have received substantial transfers into their personal bank accounts in Turkey over recent days.
“They have also been paid to date while refusing to work. They all have jobs to return to either in Ireland or Turkey and are refusing to do so.
“While they are off the payroll they are no longer the responsibility of the company.”
Gama said it had informed the Employment Department that the work and residency permits of the workers had expired.
The spokesman added: “The company regrets that these protests are continuing and being encouraged and that employees who are continuing to work normally are being intimidated.”
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