Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/513/3525
From The Socialist newspaper, 6 December 2007
Argos strike in southern Ireland
ON 1 December workers in Argos stores across Ireland took strike action to demand a 90 cent an hour pay rise. Most Argos workers earn €9 (9 euros) an hour. Argos' sales last year were over €8 billion and profits are up 50% in the first half of 2007.
One Argos worker, on the Dublin picket line said: "We've been fighting for two years, we've been to the labour courts and numerous meetings and they've left us no choice but to come out today."
The majority on the picket lines were young workers, some who had only been in the job a matter of days but saw the need to fight back against the bosses' attempts to effectively cut wages while living costs rise steeply.
A victory for Argos workers in Ireland would give other low-paid workers confidence to fight for better pay and conditions.
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In The Socialist 6 December 2007:
System change not climate change
Feature: The free market brings fire, flood and famine
Workplace news and analysis
Socialists and the trade union leaderships
What we think
Education
Compulsory school to 18 - a rosy future for young people?
International socialist news and analysis
Chavez referendum result a big setback
Annapolis - a framework for further conflict
Kosova: After the elections - before the explosion
Northern Ireland classroom assistants
Argos strike in southern Ireland
South African miners strike over safety
Socialist Party review
The socialist review: 'Taking Liberties'
Post Office and CWU
Keep the 'people's Post Office' public
Workplace news
Unison's right wing still witch-hunting
Manchester's striking mental health workers: Defending trade union rights
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