Congress General Secretary Owen Reidy said 'the decision by Twitter, given its recent takeover to restructure and lay off some staff in Dublin, is not in itself unusual. But what is appalling is the manner and approach the company has taken.
The social media platform has become incredibly successful, in no small part to the contribution of its employees globally. But the approach today, as reported is all about shock and awe, it's about destabilising and undermining workers' confidence and their capacity to react and challenge in any way, this brutal decision'
Owen Reidy said 'there are clear similarities with the approach recently taken by P and O Ferries which was roundly condemned by many. This action highlights the need for fair and strong labour standards globally. It again highlights the need for collective organisation and voice for all workers who choose it, including those working in social media tech.
These workers should have had the right to consultation and the consideration of alternative decisions. In most unionised environments including many global cutting-edge companies, collective engagement and consideration of alternatives take place before such a decision. This decision today highlights the need for stronger workers' rights and in particular the right for workers to organise and ensure that their collective voice is heard and heeded', he said.
