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J.C. Campbell in Rostrevor presented a cheque for £5000 this week to the Newry on Ice workers. who weren't paid for their work during the Christmas period at the Albert Basin.
The car dealer contributed £100 for every car sold in it's premises from the 10th to the 31st of January.
Newry and district Trade Union Council assisted the young people who were employed by Newry on Ice to highlight the fact that the were left unpaid by this company.
The young people, worked throughout the Christmas period in cold, wet conditions, many of them as their first job. To then have a company treat them in such a dismal fashion is totally unacceptable. We supported the staff to highlight the situation to media, both local and national, and to Newry and Mourne District Council and after discussions with the council it was agreed that a recovery package would be investigated on behalf of the staff.
The unpaid workers were overwhelmed by the generosity of JC Campbell and local people who held a bucket collection.
It must not be forgotten that the company concerned have wronged these young people and a campaign will continue to ensure this is never allowed to re occur.
It is our belief that due diligence should be rigorously enforced when council land is to be used by companies in the future and proper checks be made in relation to such companies.
It is our understanding that such processes are now in place.
The disgraceful saga came to an end on Monday of this week when the young people involved received their individual cheques in the form of a donation to compensate for the wages they were owed.
The workers should be highly commended for the manner in which the took this campaign forward.
They were wronged by an unscrupulous company, but did not just lie down and accept this "thrashing by capitalism", they stood firm and challenged this and have had a very successful outcome.
Newry and District Trade Union Council will continue to stand up to all injustice levied at workers within the area.
