A PROTEST was held in Winchester recently against construction company J Murphy and Sons.

Unite held the demonstration outside Sheridan House in Jewry Street on Friday September 8. 

It was held there at Mott MacDonald’s offices, strategic business partner J Murphy and Sons Ltd.

The union said that J Murphy and Sons Ltd’s "workers, who were undertaking work at a site in the Republic of Ireland, were dismissed after organising a meeting of 15 workers to discuss Murphy’s non-payment of travel and subsistence payments."

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Murphy’s behaviour is deplorable it is guilty of flagrant union busting. No reputable employer should have anything to do with Murphy’s considering the manner in which it treats its workers.

“Unite will never allow such attacks on members to go unchallenged and it will leave no stone unturned until Murphy does the right thing and reinstates the workers.”

A J Murphy and Sons spokesman said: “J Murphy and Sons acted in line with its legal requirements in response to unauthorised strike action at its Aughinish site in Limerick, Ireland. 

“The company has always indicated that it is open to resolving this matter amicably and sensibly. We remain committed to maintaining an open dialogue with all parties around this issue to try to draw a line under this matter. This matter is currently subject to legal proceedings in Ireland.”