Congress Supports Right to Stay for Hunger Striker

8 Mar 2010

Congress General Secretary David Begg and TEEU General Secretary Designate Eamon Devoy have written to the Naturalisation & Immigration Service seeking a stay on the deportation to the Philippines of John Recto, the third man to join the recent hunger strike at Green Isle Foods.

They have called on people to show their support for John's right to stay by signing the petition.

Mr Recto has also received support from the Migrant Rights' Centre.

The hunger strike began in protest at unfair dismissals and the fight for union recognition at the plant in Naas, County Kildare, The dispute has now been resolved and the outcome was unanimously accepted by the workers.

However John Recto's work visa has not been renewed and he now faces deportation. He has lived in Ireland for eight years and worked throughout that period, apart from the six months he has just spent on the picket line.

His wife Liezel joined him with their two oldest children aged seven and six, five years ago. The children have lived virtually all their lives in Ireland. The couple's youngest child, one year old, was born in Ireland.