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Over 100,000 march against bank debt and austerity
Up to 100,000 people marched in six Irish cities and towns on Saturday (9th February) in protest at the bank debt and one sided austerity policies.
More than 50,000 marched in Dublin where Congress general secretary, David Begg, told a massive rally in Merrion Square that the Irish protests against the unsustainable €64 billion debt will be brought to Brussels and Frankfurt and to governments across the EU.
He said that the “architects of austerity” would be informed that Ireland will no longer be the “Mr Nice Guy” or “poster child” of Europe and that the campaign against the bank debt would continue until the agreement reached by EU leaders in June last year to separate it from sovereign debt was honoured. He said that protests would also continue at home until the Government changed course on its one-sided austerity policies and adopted measures to stimulate growth and employment.
Up to 100,000 people marched in six Irish cities and towns on Saturday (9th February) in protest at the bank debt and one sided austerity policies.
More than 50,000 marched in Dublin where Congress general secretary, David Begg, told a massive rally in Merrion Square that the Irish protests against the unsustainable €64 billion debt will be brought to Brussels and Frankfurt and to governments across the EU.
He said that the “architects of austerity” would be informed that Ireland will no longer be the “Mr Nice Guy” or “poster child” of Europe and that the campaign against the bank debt would continue until the agreement reached by EU leaders in June last year to separate it from sovereign debt was honoured. He said that protests would also continue at home until the Government changed course on its one-sided austerity policies and adopted measures to stimulate growth and employment.
Comedian, Barry Murphy, entertained the Dublin marchers with his troika character, Gunther Grun while singers Temper Mental MissElayneous, Jinx Lennon, Knots and Mundy also performed at the rally.
In Cork, up to 15,000 people heard SIPTU General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn, call for an end to austerity policies which were inflicting pain and suffering on the most vulnerable.
Huge crowds also rallied in Limerick (10,000), Galway (5,000), Sligo (6,500) and Waterford (10,000) in a day of national protest that confirmed the deep anger of Irish working people at the bank debt despite the deal on the Anglo promissory notes announced by the government just two days previously.
In Dublin, the good natured rally was marred at an early stage when protestors against the government’s property tax invaded the march as it took off from Winetavern Street under the arch of Christ Church cathedral. Over 100 people led by activists from the Socialist Party and the right wing group, Freeman, moved in on a group of young people dressed in red t-shirts who were behind a theatrical prop, performers and a marching band fronting the massive demonstration.
In order to avoid a confrontation, which would have endangered the safety of the young people in particular, the Congress stewards and gardai allowed the anti-property tax protestors into the march despite democratic agreement by organisers and others that it would be led by SIPTU, followed by IMPACT, the CWU and other unions, community and political parties. Another group of anti-property tax protestors carrying placards on behalf of the People before Profit group entered the march between the large SIPTU and IMPACT contingents. In contrast, campaigning and political organisations, including Sinn Féin, the Communist Party and others complied with the request of Congress for a dignified, family friendly and peaceful occasion following an agreed order of march participants.
As the march arrived at Merrion Square, Congress organisers led the Churchill Silver Band directly towards Holles Street hospital, on the north side of the square, in a manoeuvre which, ‘Pied Piper like’, brought the lead group of anti-property tax protestors down the wrong route preventing them from disrupting the proceedings, as they clearly intended, at the stage on the south side. Socialist Party activists also, unsuccessfully, attempted to disrupt the Congress marches in Cork and Sligo. This appeared to confirm that heckling and disruption of previous trade union organised marches were clearly orchestrated.
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Thousands join Cork Protest
By Sharon Cregan
At 2.00 p.m. thousands of people left SIPTU, Connolly Hall and marched on the streets of Cork to protest at the bank debt which is now burdening all citizens of Ireland. While media reports stated the attendance was 6,000, it was obvious from the numbers there that the attendance was double that.
Young people lead the Congress protest in Cork on Saturday, 9th February (Photo: Yvonne O'Callaghan)
By Sharon Cregan
At 2.00 p.m. thousands of people left SIPTU, Connolly Hall and marched on the streets of Cork to protest at the bank debt which is now burdening all citizens of Ireland. While media reports stated the attendance was 6,000, it was obvious from the numbers there that the attendance was double that.
Members from 13 affiliated unions, under the auspices of the Cork Council of Trade Unions (CCTU), showed opposition and with them came their families and friends, their children and grandchildren.
Circus clowns entertained the children as the marchers organised themselves under their respective union banners and flags.
The Union of Students in Ireland, People Before Profit and other community groups also joined the protest and assembled peacefully to join the other marchers.
While the chanting from individuals trying to highjack the march (Socialist Party and anti-Household Charge protesters) was unwelcome it did not succeed in dampening the spirit of those present.
The march was led by young people from the trade union family and they carried the ICTU banner with the enthusiasm of youth.
Their ages ranged from 6 years to 21 years old. Street drummers added to the atmosphere as the march made its way through the centre of Cork city. On arrival at the Grand Parade the crowd was entertained by a very popular Cork group, The Calvinists, who were joined on stage by young local musician, Alan Murphy.
Ann Piggott, President of the CCTU, began the speeches, SIPTU General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn representing ICTU Executive also spoke and John O’Donnell, a young MANDATE activist delivered a heartfelt speech to those gathered on the Grand Parade.
When the speakers finished short films on the 1913 Lockout and the bank debt were shown on the big screen, the band performed another few numbers and the rally was concluded at approximately 4.00 p.m.
All in all the event was very successful, the feedback from union membership and the general public has been very positive and the message was delivered…..Lift the Burden, Jobs not Debt.
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Over 5,000 march against bank debt in Galway
By Paul Hardy
Five thousand marchers gathered at Galway Cathedral to protest against Ireland’s unpayable €64bn bank debt burden and its effect on wages, jobs and public services in the West. The march was led by Seamus Dillon, chair of SIPTU’s Galway District Committee and a worker in the county’s mental health services. Seamus was followed by a large SIPTU party made up of workers from both public and private sector and their families, other trade union delegations, community organisations, political groups and members of the public.
Protestors at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions protest against the bank debt burden in Galway (Photo: Photocall Ireland)
By Paul Hardy
Five thousand marchers gathered at Galway Cathedral to protest against Ireland’s unpayable €64bn bank debt burden and its effect on wages, jobs and public services in the West. The march was led by Seamus Dillon, chair of SIPTU’s Galway District Committee and a worker in the county’s mental health services. Seamus was followed by a large SIPTU party made up of workers from both public and private sector and their families, other trade union delegations, community organisations, political groups and members of the public.
The march moved to the city’s historic Spanish Arch along Shop Street and Quay Street, where passers-by applauded the protest. Musical entertainment at the event was provided by Niall Teague and the Fast Company before protesters listened to a hard-hitting speech by Padraig Mulligan of the Galway Council of Trade Unions, warning local politicians to change course on austerity or face the wrath of the people at the next election. Elaine Harvey of SIPTU’s community sector, Gráinne Lynch from the Galway People’s Resource Centre, Margaret O’Riada of the Galway Traveller Movement and Toni-Ann Dees, a student psychiatric nurse, also spoke.
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10,000 March Against Austerity in Limerick
By Paul Gavan
Over 10,000 people marched through Limerick city centre against austerity and the huge debt burden on Irish people. The event, which was organised by the Limerick Council of Trade Unions, took almost an hour to pass through the streets of the city centre to Pery Square where a rally took place.
ICTU protest against austerity and bank debt in Limerick City (Photo: Photocall Ireland)
By Paul Gavan
Over 10,000 people marched through Limerick city centre against austerity and the huge debt burden on Irish people. The event, which was organised by the Limerick Council of Trade Unions, took almost an hour to pass through the streets of the city centre to Pery Square where a rally took place.
Union members from a wide range of organisations including SIPTU, IMPACT,TEEU, INTO, CPSU, INMO, BATU, and UNITE joined with community, civil society and political groups in what was the biggest demonstration seen in the city for many years. Many people brought their children to join in the demonstration which was a colourful and good humoured affair with the crowd buoyed by the rousing tunes of the City of Limerick Pipe Band. Hundreds of shoppers came out on to the streets to watch and applaud the protesters as they made their way up O’Connell Street.
Addressing the Rally SIPTU Community Sector Activist, Gearóid Fitzgibbon expressed his disillusionment with the current government; "Here we are two years on still paying out billions to ease the burden on professional investors and gamblers. The local stroke politics still continues. Ministers doing favours in their own back yards. So we got a change of personnel. But the system remains unchanged."
Demanding "a real deal on debt" President of the Trades Council, Mike McNamara, described last week’s government announcement on the Anglo promissory note as “a fiasco and a feeble attempt to con the Irish people and relieve political pressure”.
The final speaker was IMPACT's Andy Pike who said: “The Limerick Council of Trade Unions calls on ICTU to continue this campaign, to call more protests, to honour the sacrifices and history of the 1913 Dublin lock out in the best way possible by continuing the campaign for an end to this austerity and an end to the notion that the people are responsible for these obscene banking debts.”
The rally concluded with a rousing version of "Jim Larkin" sung by SIPTU Official, Mike Kiely.
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Over 6,000 march in Sligo
The protestors from SIPTU, IMPACT, INMO, CPSU, UNITE, INTO, TUI and others gathered at Sligo County Council offices and progressed across the pedestrian bridge onto the Mall, down Bridge Street across Castle Street and were addressed in O’Connell Street.
The march was led by the Sligo City Pipe Band and was joined by the Samba Band as it progressed to the meeting point.
Protestors at the Lift The Burden march and demonstration in Sligo listening to speakers in O'Connell Street (Photocall Ireland)
The protestors from SIPTU, IMPACT, INMO, CPSU, UNITE, INTO, TUI and others gathered at Sligo County Council offices and progressed across the pedestrian bridge onto the Mall, down Bridge Street across Castle Street and were addressed in O’Connell Street.
The march was led by the Sligo City Pipe Band and was joined by the Samba Band as it progressed to the meeting point.
The local Rackhouse Pilfers Band greeted the protestors who were addressed by John James McLoughlin from the Senior Citizens Party, who advised of the effects of austerity on the older population. They were also addressed by Alma, who is a Special Needs Assistant and who is losing her job as a result of austerity leaving her students without a service. Yvonne Rainey then told the crowd of 6,500 that she had suffered a €35 cut per week in her family income due to austerity.
Richie Carruthers was the main ICTU speaker and he stressed the Congress message of the need for a fair deal for Irish taxpayers. €9,000 each was not a fair burden considering that the average European had paid €192 for the bank crisis.
John McCarrick concluded the proceedings by thanking all who attended and asked those who could to spend some much needed cash in the local shops before they left town.
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13,000 people march in Waterford
By Davy Lane
The Waterford rally commenced at 2.00 p.m. in the Glen where unions and community groups assembled and over 13,000 people joined in as the Thomas Francis Meagher Band followed by the ICTU and union banners down Summer Hill on to the Quays.
On the march against austerity and bank debt in Waterford City (Photo: Photocall Ireland)
By Davy Lane
The Waterford rally commenced at 2.00 p.m. in the Glen where unions and community groups assembled and over 13,000 people joined in as the Thomas Francis Meagher Band followed by the ICTU and union banners down Summer Hill on to the Quays.
It then made its way down the quays and turned at the Clock Tower into John Roberts Square where a stage was erected along with a big screen which showed short video clips on the 1913 Lockout, the banking debt and Congress interviews with young people affected by austerity and the debt crisis.
A local Band, the Jam Tarts entertained people in the square until the march arrived.
The meeting was chaired by Michael Fitzpatrick, Chairperson of the District Committee of SIPTU and speakers included Jimmy Kelly Regional Secretary of Unite, Claire Mahon Chairperson of INMO and John McDonald a disability advocate.
Meeting to discuss ruling on Bus Éireann dispute
SIPTU representatives in Bus Éireann are meeting today (Thursday, 14th February) to discuss the union’s response to a Labour Court ruling on a dispute at the company concerning management attempts to unilaterally enforce cuts in workers' terms and conditions of employment.
SIPTU Organiser, Willie Noone, said: “Our members have always been willing to change working conditions and practices within reason but are not prepared to have changes unilaterally imposed on them. Bus Éireann workers are not prepared to continue to provide a public transport system while management is eroding every aspect of their conditions of employment, including their wages.”
SIPTU representatives in Bus Éireann are meeting today (Thursday, 14th February) to discuss the union’s response to a Labour Court ruling on a dispute at the company concerning management attempts to unilaterally enforce cuts in workers' terms and conditions of employment.
SIPTU Organiser, Willie Noone, said: “Our members have always been willing to change working conditions and practices within reason but are not prepared to have changes unilaterally imposed on them. Bus Éireann workers are not prepared to continue to provide a public transport system while management is eroding every aspect of their conditions of employment, including their wages.”
SIPTU representatives in Bus Éireann will fully consider the Labour Court ruling prior to making any public response.
The company has agreed to defer introducing cuts in employees' terms and conditions until the Labour Court process is concluded. SIPTU members in Bus Éireann voted on Wednesday, 9th January, to commence strike if management attempted to unilaterally impose reductions in workers terms and conditions.
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Old Darnley Lodge workers vote to continue sit-in
Workers in the Old Darnley Lodge have voted to continue their sit-in at the hotel in Athboy, Co. Meath, until all have received the statutory entitlements, including redundancy pay, holiday pay and hours owed, due to them.
Old Darnley Lodge workers outside the Hotel in Athboy, Co. Meath
Workers in the Old Darnley Lodge have voted to continue their sit-in at the hotel in Athboy, Co. Meath, until all have received the statutory entitlements, including redundancy pay, holiday pay and hours owed, due to them.
SIPTU Organiser, Martin Mannion, said: “The workers are now in the fifth week of their sit-in. Following a creditors meeting on Tuesday (5th February) the hotel’s management company, Mitrespor Ltd, was formally placed into liquidation. The workers’ applications for redundancy are now with the Department of Social Protection.
“However, on Wednesday (13th February) the 35 workers reaffirmed a unanimous decision taken at a general meeting last week to maintain their protest until the monies owned to them are paid in full. The union fully supports the workers' decision.”
Old Darnley Lodge SIPTU Shop Steward, Eileen Quinn, said: “The manner in which we, the workers, and the local community which depends on this hotel have been treated is completely unacceptable. The workers would be foolish to trust any commitments they have been given in relation to the monies they are owed until these commitments are actually fulfilled. For that reason we voted unanimously to continue our sit-in."
She added that the workers were also very appreciative of the support they had received from the local community "without which we could not continue the protest."
The workers commenced their sit-in following the sudden closure of the hotel on Wednesday, 16th January. The management of the hotel gave only one hour’s notice before its closure and since then has been uncontactable to discuss the workers' statutory entitlements. Accountants have been appointed to oversee the liquidation of Mitrespor Ltd, the hotel’s management company. A creditors meeting, which was attended by the workers, was held in the Cavan Crystal Hotel on Tuesday, 5th February.
The hotel employs approximately 15 full-time and 30 part-time and casual staff, the majority of whom are SIPTU members.
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SIPTU fire fighters to commence national ballot for industrial action
SIPTU fire fighters are set to commence a national ballot for industrial action aimed at resisting the introduction of plans by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to implement cuts to fire services that will endanger fire crews and local communities.
SIPTU retained and full-time fire fighters from all 34 fire services across the country will vote on industrial action aimed at halting the implementation of changes to working practices contained in “Keeping Communities Safe”, a policy document published by the Department of the Environment on Thursday (7th February).
SIPTU fire fighters are set to commence a national ballot for industrial action aimed at resisting the introduction of plans by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to implement cuts to fire services that will endanger fire crews and local communities.
SIPTU retained and full-time fire fighters from all 34 fire services across the country will vote on industrial action aimed at halting the implementation of changes to working practices contained in “Keeping Communities Safe”, a policy document published by the Department of the Environment on Thursday (7th February).
SIPTU Full-time Fire Fighter National Committee member, Brian Murray, said: “Our members are very concerned about the serious health and safety implications for themselves and the communities they serve if the so-called ‘Keeping Communities Safe’ document is implemented at the behest of the Department of the Environment by local authorities across the state.”
National Retained Fire Service Chairperson, John Gavigan, said: “In launching this policy document the Department of the Environment is displaying a total disregard for the lives of fire fighters. This policy will lead to further reductions in services, particularly in rural areas, and the closure of fire stations. This is following a similar policy of closures of rural post offices and Garda stations.
“This policy document has been drawn up by an anonymous group of people within the Fire Service National Management Body with the singular objective of cutting costs. The implications of these measures will be to fundamentally undermine the locally based fire and emergency services which have served the Irish public over generations.”
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Michael Wall, said: “No risk assessments of these proposals have been presented to fire fighters in order to comply with basic health and safety requirements. The decision to reduce crew levels by 20% and to change many automatic fire calls to discretionary calls will not only delay response times but also increase the risk to fire fighters and the general public.
The SIPTU full-time fire fighter and retained fire fighter national committees are scheduled to meet before the end of the month to decide on the date on which the national ballot for industrial action will commence.
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Department of Health to meet SIPTU to discuss graduate nursing scheme
Minister for Health, James Reilly, has said he would be “delighted” for the Department of Health to meet with SIPTU representatives to discuss alternative proposals to the nursing graduate scheme for savings in the health sector.
Reilly’s response follows a letter from the SIPTU Nurse and Midwife Sector Committee requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the ending of the graduate nursing scheme and the union’s alternative cost saving proposals.
Minister for Health, James Reilly, has said he would be “delighted” for the Department of Health to meet with SIPTU representatives to discuss alternative proposals to the nursing graduate scheme for savings in the health sector.
Reilly’s response follows a letter from the SIPTU Nurse and Midwife Sector Committee requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the ending of the graduate nursing scheme and the union’s alternative cost saving proposals.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Kevin Figgis, said: “The necessary savings in this sector can be made without degrading the nursing profession by paying new entrants only 80% of the agreed nursing salary scale. For instance, immediate savings could be made by the Health Service Executive (HSE) employing nurses directly rather than through agencies which results in unnecessary expenditure on agency fees. The current HSE expenditure on agency nurses is in the region of €90 million and we estimate that this can be reduced by over 20% if nurses were directly employed.”
He added: “SIPTU believes that the Department of Health and the HSE must withdraw from the graduate nursing scheme and that engagement between the stakeholders must take place in order to ensure that the necessary recruitment of new nurses and midwives provides for the respect of their own position within the service.”
In response to a parliamentary question from Labour TD, Ged Nash, Reilly confirmed to the Dáil on Monday, 4th February, that only 92 people had applied to take part in the nursing graduate scheme by close of applications on Friday, 1st February. This is well short of the 1, 025 graduate nurses the HSE hoped to recruit under the scheme which was launched early in the year.
The scheme offers successful candidates €21,700 per annum against the agreed rate for new entrants of €27,234 which is paid to all nurses and midwives employed since 1st January 2011. The HSE stated that it planned to recruit 1,000 graduate midwives and nurses through the scheme.
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1913 Events
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SIPTU calls for compensation for survivors of Magdalene Laundries
SIPTU has called for the financial compensation of the survivors of the Magdalene Laundries and their families for the forced labour these women endured and from which religious orders and other businesses profited.
SIPTU Equality and Campaigns Organiser, Ethel Buckley, said: “The scale of the abuse of women in the Magdalene Laundries can no longer be denied following the publication of the inter-departmental committee report on State involvement with these institutions on Tuesday (5th February).
SIPTU has called for the financial compensation of the survivors of the Magdalene Laundries and their families for the forced labour these women endured and from which religious orders and other businesses profited. SIPTU Equality and Campaigns Organiser, Ethel Buckley, said: “The scale of the abuse of women in the Magdalene Laundries can no longer be denied following the publication of the inter-departmental committee report on State involvement with these institutions on Tuesday (5th February).
“The mental anguish these women and their families endured can never be undone. The issue of the social context in which this abuse was allowed to persist, and in many instances supported, by the State is an issue to which Irish society must now face up. SIPTU supports calls for these women to receive adequate compensation for the abuse which they endured as workers condemned to forced labour ”.
She added: “It is clear from the report that certain institutions and businesses, including some state enterprises, profited from the forced extraction of labour from these women. SIPTU supports the call of the support and advocacy groups for the survivors of the Magdalene Laundries for compensation. The Government must now ensure that the institutions responsible, whatever their status, are made to pay for the forced labour of these women.
“It should also not be ignored that there was a clear class dimension to the exploitation and abuse. This report has lessons for Irish society today, as well as helping to expose wrongdoing that was allowed to continue and fester for so long.”
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MANDATE Trade Union
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Liberty View
The actions of the Socialist Party and the anti-property tax protestors at the demonstration against bank debt and austerity on Saturday (9th February) were both dangerous and undemocratic.
It is incomprehensible how people who claim to have a progressive political view can invade a protest against the bank debt and austerity which they had no part in organising.
However, they did not prevent the huge marches and rallies across the country which were a great success for the trade union movement and for all of those who supported the Day of Action.
The actions of the Socialist Party and the anti-property tax protestors at the demonstration against bank debt and austerity on Saturday (9th February) were both dangerous and undemocratic.
It is incomprehensible how people who claim to have a progressive political view can invade a protest against the bank debt and austerity which they had no part in organising.
However, they did not prevent the huge marches and rallies across the country which were a great success for the trade union movement and for all of those who supported the Day of Action.
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Quarter of population classified as deprived
Almost a quarter of the population was officially classified as deprived in 2011, the highest level since the Central Statistics Office (CSO) began compiling such data in 2004.
The figures were revealed in the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), a household survey covering a broad range of issues in relation to income and living conditions, which was published on Wednesday, 13th February.
Almost a quarter of the population was officially classified as deprived in 2011, the highest level since the Central Statistics Office (CSO) began compiling such data in 2004.
The figures were revealed in the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), a household survey covering a broad range of issues in relation to income and living conditions, which was published on Wednesday, 13th February.
The deprivation rate is the percentage of respondents who say that they have been unable to afford, based on their income, to purchase two or more commonplace goods or services in the recent past. The percentage of the population defined as deprived in 2011 stood at 24.5% compared to 22.6% in 2010 and less than 15% in 2004.
Of the 11 goods or services included in the deprivation index, the most common necessity, which could not be afforded, was furniture. Of total respondents, 22% said they had been unable to afford to replace worn-out furniture.
Single-parent households stood out as the most deprived in the survey, with 56% of families in this category classified as deprived.
The consistent poverty rate was 6.9% in 2011, not a statistically significant change on the 2010 figure of 6.3%.
In 2011 average annual equivalised disposable income was €21,440. This represented a decline of just over 3% on the 2010 value of €22,138.
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Wars wash out political sins
By Dr Hikmat Ajjuri, Ambassador of the state of Palestine to Ireland, Dublin
The whole world watched the latest Israeli elections on the 22nd January this year. In my opinion, it was a vote of no confidence in the historic leading parties in Israel, the Likud and the Labour. Voting for the newly emerged parties reflects also the state of confusion among Israeli society stemming from the overall state of fear which is created by the Zionist philosophy in order to sustain its hegemonic mandate. To sustain the requisite inordinate level of fear, Netanyahu for the past few years has created a monster called the “Iranian nuclear weapon”. It is in fact an attempt to distract the world’s attention from the main issue, which is the Israeli Palestinian conflict.
By Dr Hikmat Ajjuri, Ambassador of the state of Palestine to Ireland, Dublin
The whole world watched the latest Israeli elections on the 22nd January this year. In my opinion, it was a vote of no confidence in the historic leading parties in Israel, the Likud and the Labour. Voting for the newly emerged parties reflects also the state of confusion among Israeli society stemming from the overall state of fear which is created by the Zionist philosophy in order to sustain its hegemonic mandate. To sustain the requisite inordinate level of fear, Netanyahu for the past few years has created a monster called the “Iranian nuclear weapon”. It is in fact an attempt to distract the world’s attention from the main issue, which is the Israeli Palestinian conflict. President Obama has said that “Iran poses a short-term threat to Israel’s survival; Israel’s own behaviour poses a long-term one”. 15th January 2013 In utter contrast, Israel, the occupying power, is the only country in the Middle East that possesses Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) including nuclear weapons. These weapons are an immediate threat to peace in the region and can only lead to a further arms race with the overwhelming weight of military hardware presently in the possession of Israel. The military supremacy of Israel has so far been sustained by a strategic alliance with the US. This alliance means that the US supplies Israel unconditionally, with all kinds of weapons, and in addition Israel is the recipient of approximately 30% of America’s total foreign aid and 100% of diplomatic and the political support which Israel needs to cover up all its atrocities. So far more than 42 vetoes have been exercised by the US government at the UN Security council with the express purpose of thwarting the consequences and liabilities which would arise for Israel if it was brought before the International Court of Justice. The US use of its UN vetoes permits Israel to get away with its wrong doings, aggressions, target assassinations, demolition of houses, uprooting trees and stealing Palestinian lands on which Israel has built more than 140 settlements and 100 outposts. Israel has so far illegally transferred more than 500,000 Jewish settlers onto Palestinian lands. Israel with this unconditional US support has been licenced and encouraged to behave as being above international law. President Obama told the world in his speech in Cairo in May 2009 that the Israeli settlements constitute the main obstacle to peace in the Holy Land. Despite this speech and the international consensus on the illegalities of Israel’s settlement activities, President Obama’s administration vetoed a Security Council resolution condemning the Israeli settlement activities. This kind of support and duplicitous diplomacy has encouraged Israel to ignore all international laws and laws of humanity. On 31st January this year a United Nations fact finding mission said that Israeli settlements are illegal and called on Israel to cease settlement expansion without pre-condition and immediately withdraw all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian territories. For the past 5 years, Israel conducted three wars against the people of Gaza who are under the iron heel of Israeli military occupation. All of these wars were conducted just a few weeks prior to Israeli elections which only serves to demonstrate that Israel is a state virtually controlled by its army. Wars wash out political sins.
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Progressive Film Club
 The Progressive Film Club is a voluntary organisation dedicated to showing progressive films from all over the world. Struggles for people’s rights, for the rights of workers, of immigrants, of women, for national liberation and for social justice are some of the themes of the outstanding films we have selected. Showings: usually one all-day show per month—are at the New Theatre in East Essex Street. All of our screenings are free to the public, but donations are always welcome!
Click here to download the full Programme
The Progressive Film Club is a voluntary organisation dedicated to showing progressive films from all over the world. Struggles for people’s rights, for the rights of workers, of immigrants, of women, for national liberation and for social justice are some of the themes of the outstanding films we have selected. Showings: usually one all-day show per month—are at the New Theatre in East Essex Street. All of our screenings are free to the public, but donations are always welcome!
Click here to download the full Programme
Global Labour Column
Unpacking the Marikana Massacre
The heartless killing of 34 striking miners at Marikana on 16th August, 2012 by the South African police startled the world both in the manner and period it happened. Almost 20 years after the demise of apartheid, it evoked memories of the past and raised questions about the post-apartheid socioeconomic and political order and the integrity of industrial relations. This paper argues that Marikana is a crisis linked to the intersection of precariousness and fragmentation of workers. In explaining the choices by different stakeholders, it is imperative to unpack the political, historical, social and economic context.
The heartless killing of 34 striking miners at Marikana on 16th August, 2012 by the South African police startled the world both in the manner and period it happened. Almost 20 years after the demise of apartheid, it evoked memories of the past and raised questions about the post-apartheid socioeconomic and political order and the integrity of industrial relations. This paper argues that Marikana is a crisis linked to the intersection of precariousness and fragmentation of workers. In explaining the choices by different stakeholders, it is imperative to unpack the political, historical, social and economic context.
The Marikana tragedy was, in fact, the zenith of a strike wave that had kicked off in January 2012 at Impala platinum mine following action by disgruntled rock drill operators (RDOs) after being excluded from a retention allowance awarded to mine blasters. This later spread beyond the platinum sector and was characterised by similar claims, violence and repertoires. The workers set uncompromising demands such as R12 500 per month for RDOs through independent workers’ committees directly to management disregarding industrial relations structures. Their militancy was unprecedented and from the onset rejected by the majority union, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
Democracy, industrial conflict and violence
In industrial relations theory, conflict is managed through institutionalisation which assigns a key role to the development of institutions to regulate and manage conflict. Apartheid strike violence was explained by inadequate institutionalisation of industrial relations for black people. The struggle for democracy then undermined institutionalisation as blacks gained partial recognition as workers without political citizenship.
Democracy has been associated with the broadening of political participation, as well as balancing political rights and promoting nonviolence in claims. It has also brought about the establishment of third parties, for example, conciliation and arbitration panels to prevent violent resolution of disputes. Violent outbursts often bring to the fore simmering social tensions which in Marxist theory are associated with transformation. Can the Marikana tragedy be viewed from a similar perspective?
Post-apartheid legislation guarantees both industrial and political citizenship. However, institutionalisation of industrial conflict is undermined in the context of unresolved broader socioeconomic tensions.
From compounded to fragmented labour
Before democracy, the majority of the mine workers lived in hostels as a solution to housing problems and a way to control the black workers. This system was designed to externalise costs and maximise profits. The black workers had to live here alone and were paid as single employees on the premise that their families had access to land for subsistence farming. Control of these hostels was a means of ensuring worker control through ‘compounding of labour’ (Bezuidenhout and Buhlungu, 2010). The NUM was however able to subvert employers’ logic of control by turning hostels into sites of mobilisation after 1982.
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Austerity "Strategies" and Social Policy Opt-Outs under fire at EESC
The Plenary Session of the European Economic and Social Committee held on 17th January saw the unusual occurrence of the European Council President Herman Van Rompuy being heckled by an Italian member of the EESC Workers’ Group, in protest against EU policies of relentless austerity. Far more significantly, the President was also dramatically confronted with the demand from a British trade union member to face down UK Tory blackmail designed to dilute Social Europe still further. Manus O'Riordan, Irish member of the EESC Workers’ Group, reports.
The Plenary Session of the European Economic and Social Committee held on 17 January saw the unusual occurrence of the European Council President Herman Van Rompuy being heckled by an Italian member of the EESC Workers’ Group, in protest against EU policies of relentless austerity. Far more significantly, the President was also dramatically confronted with the demand from a British trade union member to face down UK Tory blackmail designed to dilute Social Europe still further. Manus O'Riordan, Irish member of the EESC Workers’ Group, reports.
On 21st January New Europe carried the following report that was at best bland, where it was not seriously misleading: “The European Economic and Social Committee during its plenary session on 17th January organised a debate on the social dimension of the Economic and Monetary Union. EU Council President Van Rompuy stated that ‘one thing we must never lose sight of when implementing our economic policies is the social dimension’. The European Council and the EESC agreed that stability and social cohesion is a precondition for growth and development. Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, stressed that the EU must improve its social protection, education and public health… ‘The worst was over’ said the EU Council President and he called on EESC members to propose new measures to reinforce the social stability and the economic recovery of the EU.”Nowhere in that report was there any indication of the sharp exchanges that took place at this meeting. When President Van Rompuy stated that stability was a pre-requisite for a return to economic growth, and added that current austerity policies were necessary to achieve such stability, he was unconventionally heckled by Italian trade unionist Carmelo Cedrone with the protest of “Not true!” But the greatest failing of the New Europe report was its refusal even to hint at the widespread criticism of current EU policies expressed across the whole spectrum of EESC opinion. The President of the EESC Employers’ Group, Henri Malosse, a Director of the French Chambers of Commerce and incoming President of the EESC as a whole, strongly criticised both the European Council and the European Commission for totally ignoring the growth-orientated opinions formulated by the EESC. The President of the EESC Various Interests Group, Luca Jahier, who is also President of the national management committee of the Christian Associations of Italian Workers, maintained that the structure and timing of austerity policies must be reviewed, as otherwise the negative spiral of contraction would drive the EU down the Japanese road of continuing stagnation. And the President of the EESC Workers’ Group, the Greek trade unionist Georgios Dassis, recalled how a previous President of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, had insisted that in the European project the social component had to progress hand in hand with the economic.
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Irish Independent and Tesco
Dear Editor,
I refer to the article in the Irish Independent (11th February) with regards to workers in the Tesco Distribution Centre at Donabate, Co. Dublin being required to wear arm band monitors. The article suggested that SIPTU had agreed with the company with regard to the use of this equipment to monitor staff.
This article was extremely misleading and factually incorrect.
While SIPTU has a collective agreement with Tesco which covers our members working in this plant. There is no agreement with this system for the purpose of monitoring performance.
Dear Editor,
I refer to the article in the Irish Independent (11th February) with regards to workers in the Tesco Distribution Centre at Donabate, Co. Dublin being required to wear arm band monitors. The article suggested that SIPTU had agreed with the company with regard to the use of this equipment to monitor staff.
This article was extremely misleading and factually incorrect.
While SIPTU has a collective agreement with Tesco which covers our members working in this plant. There is no agreement with this system for the purpose of monitoring performance.
Furthermore, SIPTU is in dispute with Tesco regarding its attempt to unilaterally implement an increase in the Performance Level to 100 PI in the plant which currently stands at 84 PI. The PI measures the rate at which an employee picks an item from the warehouse.
The system referred to is specifically a means to send messages to staff working around the plant due to its extensive size.
Any attempt to use this device for the purpose intimated in the article would not be tolerated and would result in a refusal to wear such an apparatus.
SIPTU has been instrumental in pointing out flaws in the system that is currently in operation and we have highlighted our members' concerns with the company management.
Regards,
Graham Macken
SIPTU Industrial Official
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1913-2013 Appeal
Dear Editor,
In 1913 Dublin Dockers were strongly unionised with the Port employers recognising the Irish Transport and General Workers Union. When the 1913 Lock Out began the dockers decided to increase their union dues in order to create a hardship fund for the workers involved. The head of the union Jim Larkin did threaten to pull out the dockers in an effort to apply pressure. However, it was James Connolly who organised the strike in solidarity with the locked out workers. The Port employer’s reaction was swift. Foreign ‘scab’ labour was imported and they were billeted inside the Port area so that they could not be got at. Except for a brief period there was little or no disruption to port traffic. When the lockout/strike was over the dockers and their families paid a heavy price with evidence to suggest that those involved in the strike were then not picked for employment in the docks.
Dear Editor,
In 1913 Dublin Dockers were strongly unionised with the Port employers recognising the Irish Transport and General Workers Union. When the 1913 Lock Out began the dockers decided to increase their union dues in order to create a hardship fund for the workers involved. The head of the union Jim Larkin did threaten to pull out the dockers in an effort to apply pressure. However, it was James Connolly who organised the strike in solidarity with the locked out workers. The Port employer’s reaction was swift. Foreign ‘scab’ labour was imported and they were billeted inside the Port area so that they could not be got at. Except for a brief period there was little or no disruption to port traffic. When the lockout/strike was over the dockers and their families paid a heavy price with evidence to suggest that those involved in the strike were then not picked for employment in the docks.
Late 2011 a group came together to preserve the history of Dublin Docks-the Dublin Dock Workers Preservation Society. Since then the group has been donated 3,000+ photographs, 10,000+ original documents, union cards, dockers buttons and cargo hooks. Most of the photographs are from the post 1940 period with the earliest document dated 1926. We are making an appeal for anyone who may have dock related photographs or documents from the 1913 period. In this way we might be in a better position to tell the story of the 1913 Dublin Dockers strike.
Regards
Declan Byrne
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