Worker claims inequality because he is Irish
Tribunal set to launch a landmark inquiry
Sunday December 02 2007
A worker has asked the Equality Tribunal to investigate a claim of discrimination -- claiming he has been discriminated against because he's Irish.
The landmark case has been taken by a worker in Clones, Co Monaghan who claims he couldn't get a job in the AIBP meat processing plant because of his nationality. Alan McDonnell of the Equality Tribunal said he could not remember any previous cases where an Irish person claimed they were discriminated against by an Irish company.
He said that once the equality officer is satisfied with the admissibility of the complaint, they will offer mediation first, and if that fails, an investigation and private hearing will be carried out.
Secretary of the Council of Trade Unions in Monaghan, Peter McAleer, said he was aware of the case, but stressed that it wasn't a racist issue.
"I know of Irish people who are not being considered for jobs. Their applications are being ignored while many people from different countries are being recruited."
"We in the Trade Union movement are also very concerned about the amount of exploitation against non-national workers generally. Their rights are as important to us as those of Irish," he said.
But he added that there were fears that incidents of Irish people not being considered for work could create racism and resentment in the local community .
"I would be concerned that if the dole queues are full of Irish people and all employment is given to non-nationals we may have a situation similar to France where racism and resentment was created," he maintains.
Following a recent investment of €10m at the plant, AIBP recently announced its intention to fill 120 new positions by August 2008 in addition to the 100 already employed at the factory.
The company is headed by beef baron Larry Goodman and has an annual turnover in excess of €1bn, in addition to being Europe's largest beef producer.
A spokesperson for AIBP said: "AIBP declines to comment and such matters are between the company and its employees."
- CLIONA CONNOLLY
