Sacked workers' hunger strike vow
SACKED airport workers have vowed they were prepared to die for their cause after going on hunger strike in protest over alleged treatment by their union.
Pensioner Madan Gupta and Gordon McNeill began their protest yesterday morning on the Unite (formerly TGWU) building in Belfast and when police arrived they threatened to arrest the men for trespass.
They later moved their protest to the ground outside the building when a third man and former colleague, Chris Bower, joined them.
Their protest centres on Unite’s handling of their dismissal in 2002 by former employer at Belfast International Airport, security firm ICTS.
From their rooftop position, former shop steward Gordon McNeill said he and Mr Gupta, 72, were preparing to stand firm and would take their case to the union’s headquarters in London. He said they were prepared to “die on the doorstep” of union general secretary Tony Woodley if previous union pledges were not met.
When the police arrived a number of hours into the protest, the men decided to come down off the roof voluntarily.
Mr Bower, who had been supporting the rooftop protest, then joined the hunger strike when the trio set up a tent outside Transport House in the afternoon.
By that stage Mr Gupta, who suffers from diabetes, was beginning to feel unwell due to the lack of food, water and his medication, according to Mr McNeill.
The men mounted the protest over alleged “unfulfilled promises” in relation to a 200,000 legal bill incurred after a court battle with ICTS over their dismissal.
“Not one of the promises they made us have been kept,” said Mr McNeill. “We have been left to pay half of our 200,000 legal bill, an impossible amount for low paid workers.”
“We are taking this drastic action because the leadership of our union have left us with no alternative. All we are asking for is justice,” he said.
“We also want a public inquiry set up to examine the union’s handling of this dispute. We are not entering into this protest lightly. Madan Gupta is 72 years old and suffers from diabetes. I am 38, but in poor health with a heart condition. We know the consequences of starting what this time is likely to be a protracted hunger strike but we are absolutely determined to face the consequences,” he said.
A statement from the union said allegations over reneging on paying the costs was “wrong”.
A spokesman said the union had complied in full: “There is very little chance that Mr McNeill or Mr Gupta will be required to pay a single penny towards the costs bill.”
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Weather for Belfast
Monday 28 May 2012
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