Use of British kitchens is an abuse
national |
anti-capitalism |
opinion/analysis 
Friday March 07, 2008 11:02
by Des - RSF
Foreign kictchens bought instead oof our own.
Use of British made kitchens a abuse of public funds
Statement by Republican Sinn Fein Vice President Des Dalton
The use of British made kitchen units in the publicly funded Respond housing development in Athy is an abuse of public funds. Already the sub-contractor on site is in breach of the terms of the Registered Employment Agreement according to the BATU (Building and Allied Trade Union). Workers have been laid off because of their membership of a trade union. Public monies have been used to subsidies ‘black economy’ exploitation, denying workers their right to sick pay, pension and social welfare.
Now it appears that in a publicly funded project a foreign company is being used to supply kitchen units despite the presence of a number of local companies. Also the question needs to be asked how many local young people have been offered either apprenticeships or employment in either the Respond housing scheme or the construction of the swimming pool in Greenhills?
The silence of Athy Town Council on these matters is deafening and it is time they and Kildare Co Council stood up to their responsibilities whilst public money is abused in this manner.
Ends.
Comments (13 of 13)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13Anyone buying a kitchen should think again.
Given that a lot of Irish people are losing their jobs at the moment I think it would be wise to shop at home. The abuse of workers is just another symptom of the neo-liberal agenda.
Thank you Des! that little article has inspired me to let people be aware that I have for a few months been on an ALL IRELAND DIET and I feel its time to extend these values into an ALL IRELAND CONSUMERIST LIFE FULL STOP. And the more people take on this same respect the more we promote All Ireland Abu! The British kitchen sink co. would do better to give their products to those in their own country who are in need of them and as a gesture of their good will,give them free too....it would be a gold star in terms of decreasing pollution of the planet that it would take to cargo the awful idea here.
I built my kitchen from (sustainably grown) iroko - is that haram too, or is English / British the only "foreign" that SF bigotry applies to? Personally, I was hugely dissapointed by the cultural damage when RnaG ceased its embargo on "foreign" music (i.e. English / British lyricists, excepting the Pogues and British-resident Irish tax exiles), but it is time to grow up nearly a century after independence. I also vote SF, but please base these statements around sound economic and ethical principles rather than national hatred. It's a pity we don't have any non-nationalist socialist candidates...
Buy local, build sustainable, minimise waste, maximise local economy and it works to pretty much the same end, without dredging up the rhetoric of hatred.
"Buy local, build sustainable, minimise waste, maximise local economy and it works to pretty much the same end, without dredging up the rhetoric of hatred."
Where is the rhetoric in the statement? "British" was only mentioned one time and it was hardly used in a hateful manner.
This statement is reiterating Republican Sinn Féin's support of the workers and the BATU in Athy.
Shameless Plug: If you're interested in discussing sustainable, localised economies and environmental practices, you're more than welcome to at the Irish Republican Bulletin Board.
The complaint against the 'British' kitchens is the title of the piece.
This is nothing to do with BATU's dispute.
RSF are not trying to help the dispute, they are trying to piggyback their 1930's era nationalist agenda onto the workers struggle.
With all due respect Anarchist, I think you might be commenting out of prejudice towards Sinn Féin. RSF have publically (and consistently) stated their support for worker's rights and trade unions, including BATU.
I am curious, have you ever read any Sinn Féin proposal documents such as Saol Nua or Éire Nua? Are there any specific points that you disagree with? I've included a link to Saol Nua in case you're interested.
Des, you are at a disadvantage here as you sound like a gent but it is the ladies who say if a kitchen is OK or not.
They don't care if the washing-machine is Bosch or Miele (German), or Whirlpool (US). They just want to have a washing machine that works. That in turn reflects on how they respect us men who provide (or not).
Nobody seems to care if any fixture, fitting or appliance is local, efficient or supports their own economy - new wealth obviously needs flaunting. Ever tried to view the range of (Irish) Qualceram toilets and basins? Or are those Italian, Spanish and Indonesian ones just so much more of a classy statement? Mine's local, but I had to order it from a catalogue.
Of course this wouldn't interest RSF because their brand of nationalism is only aroused by English / British foreign produce, although they probably never noticed their daily intimate interactions with their own Twyfords or Shires, or the Adamants installed in most public conveniences. A bit like all that "British Warship" hysteria in Cork that ignores any other military vessels contributing to global conflict and oppression, or that half the visiting British Naval vessels are actually on fisheries patrol in Irish seas and not bombing Iraqis.
In relation to the Kitchens. There are a lot of Irish people working at manufacturing Kitchens, and with the major turn down in the building industry these jobs are in risk. Its seems nobody in Ireland is producing bathroom furniture - so thats really not an issue. You dont hear Sinn Féin asking people not to buy Armitage Shanks, do you?
"You dont hear Sinn Féin asking people not to buy Armitage Shanks, do you?"
You just prove the point that this is a ridiculous anti-Brit rant, not a political argument for local jobs, local goods or sustainable employment - of course Irish businesses build bathroom furniture, bathroom fittings, toilets and plumbing. Try these: http://www.smurfitkappa.ie/ - http://www.qualceram-shires.com/ - http://investor.graftonplc.com/ - http://ie.wavin.com/master/master.jsp
But then the whole issue of housing, the housing "crisis" (a crisis with 30% of all properties unoccupied?) and the building downturn are based around the politics of greed, globalised growth and increasing social inequality. Who is complaining about the Italian, Spanish and Indonesian kitchens, the Turkish tiles, the Spanish paving stones, the deforestation wood decking?
Ranting about the "abusive British" contribution to inequalities driven by native behaviours doesn't get us far, especially when it is one of the largest export markets for Irish building products and skills. (yeah, we bought Shires, Plumbase, Jacksons, Buildbase, etc in the last couple of years - now more than a fifth of the Irish building trade in profit and employment).
The real housing crisis (homelessness and social housing lists) is worse than ever. The lack of appropriate shopping, healthcare facilities and schools in housing developments is worse than ever. The commitment on class sizes is now officially not public policy. The mental health panels promised in the 2001 act aren't in place, and mental health spending has gone down. Multinationals have been invited to co-site their "partnerships" on the grounds of our public hospitals (and run the newly-installed parking meters for patients and visitors). WE did all that, all by our selves - on a per capita GDP greater than Britain's.
Somehow I suspect that if the kitchens in question were air freighted halfway across the world from a hellhole sweatshop in some brutal repressive gawdforsaken country nobody would give a damn ?
As for Irish radio stations (especially RnaG given that theyre entirely publicly funded) playing CD’s by "Irish tax exiles” they shouldnt play a bloody note !
DIY Kitchener, I suggest that you have a look at the IRBB website, or just read Saol Nua, and you will find that Republicans are in general agreement with you. Except that "we" didnt buy those companies you mention. Some of those 5% of the population that "own" 40% of the nation's wealth did. Another little fact that you seem to ignore is that Britain is occupying part of our country, so we can be forgiven for being a little cool towards them.
Indymedia Ireland is a media collective. We are independent volunteer citizen journalists producing and distributing the authentic voices of the people. Indymedia Ireland is an open news project where anyone can post their own news, comment, videos or photos about Ireland or related matters.