NEWS
May Day 2014 Galway

May Day Rally & March in Belfast

SIPTU Retained Firefighters launch campaign calling on election candidates to protect service

Government plans for the Fire Service will cost lives is the stark message from SIPTU Retained Firefighters, who have launched a nationwide campaign calling on local election candidates to back their stance in support of adequate protection for local communities.


At a press conference in Buswells Hotel, Dublin, on Monday (28th April) members of the SIPTU Retained Firefighters Committee launched a pledge card and information leaflet that outlines the threat to local Fire Services from further cuts.


Firefighters with pledge outside the Dáil (l-r): James Gannon (Roscommon), Jonathan Madden (Cork County), Michael Wall, SIPTU Organiser, Ciaran Scanlon (Wexford) and Mick Spillane (Longford)

Government plans for the Fire Service will cost lives is the stark message from SIPTU Retained Firefighters, who have launched a nationwide campaign calling on local election candidates to back their stance in support of adequate protection for local communities.

At a press conference in Buswells Hotel, Dublin, on Monday (28th April) members of the SIPTU Retained Firefighters Committee launched a pledge card and information leaflet that outlines the threat to local Fire Services from further cuts.

SIPTU Organiser, Michael Wall, said: “Firefighters, based in over 200 fire stations across the country, have been placed in a position where their lives are at risk resulting from the decision to reduce crew levels on fire appliances.

“This ill thought out policy will delay turnouts at rescues and endanger lives. Firefighters are calling on local election candidates to pledge to vote against the adoption of Section 26 of the Fire Services Act which will be placed before local councils later this year.”

Currently, all fire appliances should have a crew of six firefighters, under the proposals this number would be cut to five firefighters on the first appliance mobilised, and four per subsequent appliance.

Ciaran Scallan, a retained firefighter in Wexford, said each of the six crew members had a vital function. “Two will go into the fire, two will be held back to go in and rescue them if they get into trouble, one has to operate the appliance and the pumps and one is in command.”

Local election candidates will also be asked to make a commitment to rescind local fire charges on domestic dwellings. Local authorities are currently collecting fire charges for private car accidents and house fires, costs that should be covered by the monies already paid by households in the property tax.

Michael Wall added: “Firefighters are also highlighting the lack of coordination between the ambulance and fire service. This results from the total failure to integrate these services in a strategic way due to a ‘turf war’ between the Health and Local Government sectors over who pays the bill.

“Firefighters and their families will canvass candidates in all constituencies to highlight these issues. These are issues which should be highlighted by local election candidates in order to show that they support local communities and the firefighters who defend them.”

SIPTU represents over 2,000 Retained Firefighters across the country. The campaign will also highlight the declining number of firefighters in the country. The number of retained firefighters has fallen from 2,083 in 1980 to 2,063 now, during a time when the population had increased from 3.4 million in 1980 to 4.5 million.

 

Mark workers’ memorial day with proper reinforcement to safety regulations
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said that workers’ health and safety was not a ‘luxury’ to be dispensed with when budgetary constraints dictated and called for full resourcing and strict enforcement of safety regulations, to prevent death or injury at work.


Pictured (l-r): Jnanadhara from the Triratna Buddhist Community, Estelle Menton, President of the Jewish Representative Council, David Begg, Congress General Secretary, Rev. Chris Hudson of the Unitarians and Brian Whiteside of the Humanists Association at the Chester Beatty Library to mark Workers' Memorial Day on Monday, 28th April. (Photo: Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland)

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said that workers’ health and safety is not a ‘luxury’ to be dispensed with when budgetary constraints dictated and called for full resourcing and strict enforcement of safety regulations, to prevent death or injury at work.

The call was made by Congress General Secretary, David Begg, at an event to mark Worker’s Memorial Day on Monday, 28th April - an international day of remembrance for those killed, injured or made unwell by their work.

Begg unveiled a commemorative plaque at a special dedication ceremony at the headquarters of the Communications’ Workers Union (CWU), in Dublin.

Speaking at the event, Begg said: “As we gather to mark Workers’ Memorial Day 2014, we should remember that the health and safety of working people is not a luxury that can be dispensed with as budgetary constraints dictate. No family should ever see a loved one arrive home from work in a coffin or on a stretcher. Doing our utmost to prevent death and injury in the workplace must be a given, not an afterthought. And that requires proper resources combined with a rigorous inspection regime and strict enforcement. That is the only fitting tribute we could pay to the memory of those who have lost their lives or been injured at work.”

Labour MEP for Dublin, Emer Costello said: "It is not acceptable that almost 5,000 workers across Europe, including 47 in Ireland, died in workplace accidents last year. Good health and safety rules are absolutely essential in the workplace.”

See http://www.ictu.ie/healthandsafety/workers-memorial-day-2014/ for photos from the event.

SIPTU President Jack O'Connor rejects attempt to pit private and public service workers against each other
In a statement to address any misunderstandings which might arise from a front page article in the Irish Independent  on Friday (25th April) SIPTU President Jack O'Connor rejected any attempt to pit private and public service workers against each other in the matter of pay increases.
 
Jack O'Connor said: "I have no interest in facilitating a mischievous attempt to pit worker against worker and union against union. I have always fought for unity among workers irrespective as to the sector in which they might be employed or whether they are unemployed for that matter."

In a statement to address any misunderstandings which might arise from a front page article in the Irish Independent  on Friday (25th April) SIPTU President Jack O'Connor rejected any attempt to pit private and public service workers against each other in the matter of pay increases.
 

Jack O'Connor said: "I have no interest in facilitating a mischievous attempt to pit worker against worker and union against union. I have always fought for unity among workers irrespective as to the sector in which they might be employed or whether they are unemployed for that matter."
 
He added: "Our union's position has always been clear. The key to a sustained recovery is growing domestic demand because it accounts for three quarters of the economy. This is where the real job creation potential lies. Two thirds of it is accounted for by consumption. This in turn is dependent upon how much money people have in their pockets and the degree to which they have the confidence to spend rather than save it. Therefore, increasing pay is now one of the steps which is absolutely key to the momentum of growth. It is also the route to generating the resources to rebuild public services and restore the pay which public service workers have lost. That is why we have been pursuing a vigorous pay campaign across the private sector which has resulted in almost 250 agreements at this stage. It is also why I am already on the public record several weeks ago calling for the negotiation of a new agreement to increase pay in the public service from a date earlier than the expiry of the current Haddington Road Agreement which is scheduled to extend to the middle of 2016.
 
"Tax cuts could also play a role but only if they are applied fairly by, for example, increasing the bands applying to the universal social charge which would benefit all workers instead of simply concentrating relief on the better off as is being suggested by some politicians. However, such tax cuts do nothing to grow aggregate demand if they are funded by public spending cuts because this is simply shifting money that is already at play in one sector of the economy to another. Any tax reductions must be funded by a combination of economic growth and increasing the tax take from the wealthy and those on top incomes," he said.
Dublin Fire Brigade Ambulance Service protest

SIPTU Vice President Patricia King addressing the crowd, with SIPTU Organiser Brendan O'Brien (left) at the Firefighters protest on Monday, 7th April outside Dublin City Hall. The protest was called to highlight the threat to the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) Ambulance Service


SIPTU Vice President Patricia King addressing the crowd, with SIPTU Organiser Brendan O'Brien (left) at the Firefighters protest on Monday, 7th April outside Dublin City Hall. The protest was called to highlight the threat to the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) Ambulance Service
Jim Connell Trade Union Festival

The late Bob Crow and Tony Benn with SIPTU General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn; Bob was a regular visitor to the Jim Connell Red Flag Festival in Crossakiel. Co. Meath. Bob’s union the RMT supported the festival which is attended each year by many British trade unionists.



The late Bob Crow and Tony Benn with SIPTU General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn; Bob was a regular visitor to the Jim Connell Red Flag Festival in Crossakiel. Co. Meath. Bob’s union the RMT supported the festival which is attended each year by many British trade unionists.

Cuban Uilleann Pipers Fundraising Concert


All Workers Deserve a Secure Retirement - SIPTU
The Secure Retirement Campaign aims to raise awareness of the issues retired people have to face on a day to day basis as well as highlighting the vital role they play in both the community and the local economy. Organised by the SIPTU Retired Members’ Section a meeting to discuss the Secure Retirement Campaign is being held in the Connolly Room in Liberty Hall on Wednesday, 30th April at 12.45 a.m.


The Secure Retirement Campaign aims to raise awareness of the issues retired people have to face on a day to day basis as well as highlighting the vital role they play in both the community and the local economy. Organised by the SIPTU Retired Members’ Section a meeting to discuss the Secure Retirement Campaign is being held in the Connolly Room in Liberty Hall on Wednesday, 30th April at 12.45 a.m.

Showcasing your Social Enterprise

Involved in a community enterprise, coop, CE scheme or other form of social enterprise in what’s called the “social economy”? If so this will interest you.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is involved in an initiative with other trade union federations across the EU aimed at strengthening the social economy. Congress believes that social enterprises, and the social economy generally, have significant untapped potential to create jobs, deliver quality vocational training, and enhance local and community cohesion. As part of this process we wish to showcase good practice examples of the social economy/social enterprises in Ireland, and invite you to submit a brief profile to us by 31st May, 2014.


Involved in a community enterprise, coop, CE scheme or other form of social enterprise in what’s called the “social economy”? If so this will interest you.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is involved in an initiative with other trade union federations across the EU aimed at strengthening the social economy. Congress believes that social enterprises, and the social economy generally, have significant untapped potential to create jobs, deliver quality vocational training, and enhance local and community cohesion. As part of this process we wish to showcase good practice examples of the social economy/social enterprises in Ireland, and invite you to submit a brief profile to us by 31st May, 2014.

By “social enterprise” we mean any company, cooperative or association organised for commercial activity on a for-profit or non-profit basis to achieve social outcomes.
 
In particular, Congress aims through the initiative to:
  1. Undertake policy interventions at national level, and join with our colleagues in the ETUC at European level, to strengthen the support framework (legal and programmatic) for social enterprises and the social economy;
  2. Actively argue the case with Government for greater State support for social enterprise start ups and the development of the sector;
  3. Through its member unions at local level increase trade union involvement in assisting social enterprises develop, as a source of job creation, vocational training and community development.

As part of this initiative, Congress is collating information on the sector in Ireland, with a view to showcasing to Government and the EU authorities examples of exceptional good practice in Ireland – i.e. social enterprises that, despite the weakness of national supports, are delivering effective local responses to unemployment, skill development and community cohesion.

If you would like your social enterprise to feature in this showcasing project, please click the link http://irishcongress.polldaddy.com/s/social-enterprise to complete a short online questionnaire about your enterprise (max. 5 minutes).
Staff at Donkey Sanctuary to ballot for industrial action

SIPTU members at the Donkey Sanctuary in Liscarroll, Mallow, Co. Cork, who have been told they will be made redundant on 31st May, are balloting for industrial action.

The decision to ballot follows the refusal of management to engage with their union or to attend a conciliation conference, under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), to discuss the reasons for the redundancies, how the Sanctuary can operate with twelve less staff and the terms of the redundancy package.


SIPTU members at the Donkey Sanctuary in Liscarroll, Mallow, Co. Cork, who have been told they will be made redundant on 31st May, are balloting for industrial action.

The decision to ballot follows the refusal of management to engage with their union or to attend a conciliation conference, under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), to discuss the reasons for the redundancies, how the Sanctuary can operate with twelve less staff and the terms of the redundancy package.

SIPTU Community Sector Organiser, Eddie Mullins, said: “The union has tried unsuccessfully to engage the company in discussions as to the reasoning behind the decision to make the welfare staff redundant. The company has refused a request from the LRC to intervene in this dispute. We understand that the company is in no financial difficulty so the reason for the redundancies is unclear. This company is also in receipt of €86,000 in State funding from the Department of Agriculture.

“We also understand that there are a number of Tus Workers deployed at the Sanctuary base in Liscarroll. The Tus Programme is a labour activation programme that should not be used to displace workers”.

The closing date for the return of ballots is Friday 2nd May with the result to be announced on Tuesday, 6th May.

Ireland calls for justice for Rana Plaza workers 24 April 2014

Ireland calls for justice for Rana Plaza workers 24 April 2014


Ireland calls for justice for Rana Plaza workers 24 April 2014

COUNT€R CULTUR€



Directed by Donal O'Kelly


Draíocht, Blanchardstown    Saturday 10th May, 8.15 p.m.
Ticket Price: €15 / €12 concession
Box Office: 01 885 2622    Online: www.draiocht.ie




Directed by Donal O'Kelly


Draíocht, Blanchardstown    Saturday 10th May, 8.15 p.m.
Ticket Price: €15 / €12 concession
Box Office: 01 885 2622    Online: www.draiocht.ie

One day on the shopfloor.
Zero hour contracts appear.
There will be blood.


Welcome to the world of fashion retail, a labyrinth of sequins, hangers, sales targets and bunions where “the customer is always right”. Four shop employees. One day on the shop floor. A day so jam-packed it is bursting at the seams, and the workers feel as disposable as the clothes they sell. A whirlwind solo show by Stage UK Best Solo Performer nominee in the Edinburgh Fringe 2012. Come delve in the hidden world behind the super friendly smiles of our department stores. Laugh, weep and scream!
Ka-chinka-ching!
 
After a successful run in the Dublin Fringe Festival last year, Counter Culture is taking to the New Theatre stage for one week only!

‘One of those performers with true stage presence’ – BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE
 
A Show in a Bag Production
Show in a Bag is an artist development initiative of Dublin Fringe Festival, Fishamble: The New Play Company and Irish Theatre Institute to resource theatre makers & actors
 
 'A kaleidoscopic story...pitch-perfect O’Kelly' - Irish Theatre Magazine
 
'Moves flawlessly from belly laughs to breaking the audience's hearts’ – Liberty
 
'Expertly performed' - No More Workhorse
 
***SELECTED AS A THEATRE HIGHLIGHT FOR 2014 IN THE INDEPENDENT***
http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books-arts/theatre-innovation-and-energy-guaranteed-to-take-centre-stage-in-an-exciting-2014-29904876.html
Cork Young Workers’ Network calls for decent jobs and decent pay

The Cork Young Workers’ Network has called on young people to orgainse in order to campaign for decent jobs and decent pay, following the success of the group’s first meeting on Tuesday (15th April) evening.


A diverse group of young workers, apprentices, interns, unemployed and students met to discuss the establishment of a new campaign focusing on young people’s demands in the Cork on Tuesday, 15th April.


The Cork Young Workers’ Network has called on young people to orgainse in order to campaign for decent jobs and decent pay, following the success of the group’s first meeting on Tuesday (15th April) evening.

A diverse group of young workers, apprentices, interns, unemployed and students met in Connolly Hall, Lapps Quay, Cork, to discuss the establishment of a new campaign focusing on young people’s demands in the Cork area.

A number of key issues for young people in Cork emerged at the meeting. These included the impact of youth unemployment, low pay and the decision of the Government to create intern schemes rather than invest in creating decent jobs.

A decision was made at the meeting to immediately launch a campaign demanding decent work and decent pay.

Among those who attended the meeting was Fiona Ryan, 25, from Cork, she said: “Young people are being told now that they are not entitled to a good wage and that the only thing they have in front of them is emigration or the option of working for free. It’s not good enough.”
Activists welcome rejection of privatisation plan by Kerry councillors

SIPTU activists from the South Kerry Development Partnership and North and East Kerry Development led a crowd of over 300 people in a protest over plans to privatise Local Development Companies (LDC’s) outside the monthly meeting of Kerry County Council in Tralee on Tuesday (15th April).


SIPTU activists from the South Kerry Development Partnership and North and East Kerry Development led a crowd of over 300 people in a protest over plans to privatise Local Development Companies (LDC’s) outside the monthly meeting of Kerry County Council in Tralee on Tuesday (15th April).

Following a heated two hour debate the Council rejected plans drawn up by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Phil Hogan, to set up local community development committees to replace county development boards. It is the Governments stated intention that these new committees would put the services of LDC’s out to public tender and so effectively privatise them.

The proposal was defeated by 16 votes to six. All Labour, Sinn Fein, Fianna Fáil and Independent councillors voted against the proposal, as did two Fine Gael councillors — Patrick Connor Scarteen and PJ Donovan. A number of councillors made specific reference to the Government’s plans to privatise public services. 

YCW Celebration Mass in St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin

Mayday, the 1st May is International Workers' Day and the feast day of Saint Joseph the Worker, Patron Saint of the Young Christian Workers' Movement (YCW). In recognition of this important day YCW will celebrate a Mass in St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin on Thursday, May 1st at 5.45pm. The main celebrant will be Fr. Eoin McCrystal, National Chaplain to the YCW Movement in Ireland.

The theme of the Mass will be the Dignity of Work. During this celebration we will especially remember those who have lost their lives during the course of their work.
Fairshop

LIBERTY VIEW
Join your fellow trade unionists this May Day
 

The slogans used by workers around the world on May Day – International Workers’ Day – have been reflecting workers’ concerns and responses to current events for nearly 130 years.

“Eight hours for work, eight hours for sleep, eight hours for what we will” was one of the slogans used during the very first May Day demonstrations, in 1886, when over 300,000 workers in 13,000 businesses across the United States walked off their jobs in support of their demand for an eight hour day.  Their numbers continued to swell, and during the next few days demonstrations were held all over the United States – culminating in a major rally in Chicago’s Haymarket Square.

An unknown person – still unknown today – threw a bomb at police trying to disperse the workers, and eight anarchists were subsequently tried and convicted of conspiracy on the flimsiest of evidence.  Four were executed, one committed suicide in prison.  The remaining defendants were pardoned in 1893.

The bad old days?  Not at all.  In 2014, workers are still struggling for their rights - in Ireland, and around the world.


The slogans used by workers around the world on May Day – International Workers’ Day – have been reflecting workers’ concerns and responses to current events for nearly 130 years.

“Eight hours for work, eight hours for sleep, eight hours for what we will” was one of the slogans used during the very first May Day demonstrations, in 1886, when over 300,000 workers in 13,000 businesses across the United States walked off their jobs in support of their demand for an eight hour day.  Their numbers continued to swell, and during the next few days demonstrations were held all over the United States – culminating in a major rally in Chicago’s Haymarket Square. 

An unknown person – still unknown today – threw a bomb at police trying to disperse the workers, and eight anarchists were subsequently tried and convicted of conspiracy on the flimsiest of evidence.  Four were executed, one committed suicide in prison.  The remaining defendants were pardoned in 1893.

The bad old days?  Not at all.  In 2014, workers are still struggling for their rights - in Ireland, and around the world.

A quick look at the www.labourstart.org website shows just how important international union solidarity is:  for example, garment workers in Cambodia – where union activists have been murdered and others imprisoned without trial – would have no problem recognising the conditions facing those Haymarket workers back in 1886. 

Closer to home, under the cloak of austerity, Irish workers’ terms and conditions have been under attack since the beginning of the economic crisis.

The theme of this year’s Dublin May Day parade, being organised by the Dublin Council of Trade Unions, is ‘Stand Up – Fight Back’ – against austerity and its offshoots, privatisation, poverty and emigration.  All trade unionists should support it.

ECONOMY
Wage increases must play a central role in reversing inequality

Data published from the EU-wide Survey of Income and Living Conditions (SILC) on Wednesday (16th April), confirms a stark reduction for Irish workers and welfare recipients in 2012 of 4.6% in the real value of median income.

The income of individuals  dropped from €420.08 per week in 2011 to €399.69 in 2012.  Wages fell by 2% while tax and social contributions increased by approximately 3.9%. There was also a fall of 4.3% in social welfare payments and pensions.


Data published from the EU-wide Survey of Income and Living Conditions (SILC) on Wednesday (16th April), confirms a stark reduction for Irish workers and welfare recipients in 2012 of 4.6% in the real value of median income.

The income of individuals  dropped from €420.08 per week in 2011 to €399.69 in 2012.  Wages fell by 2% while tax and social contributions increased by approximately 3.9%. There was also a fall of 4.3% in social welfare payments and pensions.

According to SIPTU’s policy analyst, Loraine Mulligan: “The results highlight the harsh impact of the economic crisis in recent years on ordinary households.  People who do not fall under the definition of income poverty (i.e. under 60% of median income) are nonetheless increasingly experiencing deprivation, up from 21% in 2011 to 23% in 2012.  This is the squeezed group of low/middle income households who are unable to replace old furniture, or to afford a social meal out or to invite friends or family over for food.  It is imperative to ease the financial pressures on families, to reduce unemployment and to ensure services are in place to support the most vulnerable.  Wage increases are key to ensuring people have sufficient income to meet their needs.

“The report also establishes that in 2012 those on the highest incomes receive five times the amount of those on the lowest incomes. SIPTU has been campaigning strongly to bring employers to the table to secure decent pay and conditions in vulnerable sectors such as hospitality and catering under the restored Joint Labour Committee system.”

Doing, learning and teaching political economy
 
Tom Healy, Director NERI
Tom Healy, Director NERI

Some years ago a fellow economist queried why economic inequality is a problem. He suggested that people are born with different endowments of talent and opportunity and a degree of social difference in outcomes is not only natural but good as a spur for economic performance. In any case, he argued, if someone chooses to live a simple life in a remote island at a level of income deemed to be below the poverty level that’s their choice. What right has some analyst or bureaucrat, it is asked, to say that you can’t earn less than €8.65 an hour by law?  He went on to emphasise that markets use prices to ration goods among individuals who behave in mostly rational ways to maximise their interests as they buy and sell commodities including their own human capital. Such frank views from an economist reflect an interesting perspective on the world and reflect deeply held assumptions about the human condition. Behind the maze of complex equations and sophisticated logical reasoning many economists are quite simple people. Many claim to be neutral in the battle for ideas or economic interests.


Some years ago a fellow economist queried why economic inequality is a problem. He suggested that people are born with different endowments of talent and opportunity and a degree of social difference in outcomes is not only natural but good as a spur for economic performance. In any case, he argued, if someone chooses to live a simple life in a remote island at a level of income deemed to be below the poverty level that’s their choice. What right has some analyst or bureaucrat, it is asked, to say that you can’t earn less than €8.65 an hour by law?  He went on to emphasise that markets use prices to ration goods among individuals who behave in mostly rational ways to maximise their interests as they buy and sell commodities including their own human capital. Such frank views from an economist reflect an interesting perspective on the world and reflect deeply held assumptions about the human condition. Behind the maze of complex equations and sophisticated logical reasoning many economists are quite simple people. Many claim to be neutral in the battle for ideas or economic interests.

However, a few can’t resist taking sides with the ubiquitous ‘consumer’ who is poorly served by monopolies or special interest groups that rig markets or institutions to their advantage. The villains in the piece are typically colluding bankers, trade unions, politicians, the public sector etc.  The use of complex modelling and copious reference to economic statistics and facts is used to reinforce the view that economists, by and large, know what they are talking about and what they offer is values-free, robust analysis which ‘policy makers’ and market actors can use or ignore as they wish (usually the latter).

The past 6 years have been a difficult time for the economics profession. Having transformed itself gradually over a century into a series of self-contained communities – some working for banks, businesses or NGOs as ‘chief economist’ or some such title – others working in academia (the purest type) and busily publishing papers and articles to meet research assessment metrics and promotional requirements the profession has been caught up in a severe storm in the advanced economies where they have not shown great capacity to anticipate the vulnerabilities of the financial and political systems.  Even less obviously have many understood the need for new policy approaches and responses to what has been pursued throughout Europe and beyond.

The love of learning does indeed enter into the profession of course. But, the love of learning for the purposes of affecting change and, dare I say, ‘saving the world’ is less obvious. A generation of political economists from Smith to Marx to Marshall and Keynes is studied but not seen as a challenge to what economists do these days. Clearly, generalisation and stereotyping is not helpful and it would be unfair and inaccurate to claim that most or all economists are of one particular persuasion or school of thought. Methodologies, philosophies and inter-disciplinarities collide and contrast as new syntheses arise.

But, ‘Economics’ needs to reinvent itself in a number of ways because:

  • The profession like so many others is not sufficiently representative of the population whether by gender, ethnicity or ‘political persuasion’;
  • Some members of the profession suffer from an excess confidence in their own capacities to predict and explain as if sheer weight of empirical data coupled with ever more sophisticated modelling could fully uncover the hidden truths of human behaviour;
  •  A lack of cross-fertilisation of ideas, approaches and methodologies between different ‘disciplines’ – political, social, philosophical and natural sciences (the rise in behavioural economics is a welcome trend) limits the potential capacity of ‘economics’ to enter a debate; and
  • Initiatives and currents which challenge existing orthodoxies within and outside Higher Education are welcome.

One thing is certain: whether you travel by car, bus or taxi – you may have noticed that people are fascinated by economic affairs. They want to understand it better. They want to discuss it. They have opinions (sometimes very strong!). In some cases they even want to make a difference to the world on the basis of this knowledge. Perhaps it is time for various non-governmental organisations, including the trade union movement, to consider how best to work with others including teachers and lecturers in secondary, further and higher education to open up the dark mysteries of markets, public finances and behavioural economics ….

GLC - I want council houses in my neighbourhood
In this week’s column, Frank Hoffer addresses the challenge of anti-migration populism in Europe. He argues that the reasons that have given rise to a populist anti-immigrant vote throughout Europe “include: the distributional inequalities in our societies, the increased competition among workers in deregulated labour markets and the fact that the burden of the crisis has been shifted nearly exclusively to the middle and lower income groups.” Hoffer proposes five possible solutions to reduce anti-migration xenophobia and they are: Limiting wage competition, affordable housing, universal quality education, public investment, and empowering undocumented migrants. Frank Hoffer is senior research office at the Bureau for Workers’ Activities of the ILO. He writes in his personal capacity.

Read the full Report here

In this week’s column, Frank Hoffer addresses the challenge of anti-migration populism in Europe. He argues that the reasons that have given rise to a populist anti-immigrant vote throughout Europe “include: the distributional inequalities in our societies, the increased competition among workers in deregulated labour markets and the fact that the burden of the crisis has been shifted nearly exclusively to the middle and lower income groups.” Hoffer proposes five possible solutions to reduce anti-migration xenophobia and they are: Limiting wage competition, affordable housing, universal quality education, public investment, and empowering undocumented migrants. Frank Hoffer is senior research office at the Bureau for Workers’ Activities of the ILO. He writes in his personal capacity.

Read the full Report here
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Make homelessness a local election issue
 
Dear Editor,

I am writing to you to ask you to participate in Focus Ireland's current campaign - to make housing and homelessness an issue in the local election campaign.

Frist I want to thank you for participating in previous Focus Ireland campaigns, and agreeing to be contacted on new campaign issues. We have had some notable successes - on the Constitutional Convention recommending a Right to Housing, on Aftercare and on a new target to end long-term homelessness.

Dear Editor,

I am writing to you to ask you to participate in Focus Ireland's current campaign - to make housing and homelessness an issue in the local election campaign.

Frist I want to thank you for participating in previous Focus Ireland campaigns, and agreeing to be contacted on new campaign issues. We have had some notable successes - on the Constitutional Convention recommending a Right to Housing, on Aftercare and on a new target to end long-term homelessness.

Now we need your support again as Ireland is facing a worsening housing and homeless problem and Focus Ireland believes it is vital these issues are put firmly on the agenda for the local elections. You can participate in the campaign here .

Focus Ireland is currently seeing a lot more people and families becoming homeless - and remaining trapped in this situation - despite all our efforts to support them to s ecure a home.  This is due to the fact that there is a severe shortage of housing options available for them.

Many of the families and people coming to our services have never had any experience of homeless and never imagined that it could happen to them.

With rising instances of home repossession, reduced stock in the private rental market, a lack of social housing options and increasing rent, those in vulnerable housing situations are more at risk than ever.

In the face of this, homeless services have seen cuts in funding every year. We are asking people who care about homelessness to vote for candidates who will put a stop to these cuts, and refuse to vote for local budgets that include further cut backs.

But how will you know which way candidates will vote on this issue? We are asking everyone who cares about homelessness to contact all the candidates to ask them to sign a pledge that they will protect the homeless budget.  The Focus Ireland pledge seeks to ensure there are adequate services for people who are homeless until we see a reduction in the numbers of people who are homeless.  

Please now take two minutes to play your part to support the most vulnerable in our society.

You can send a pre-written letter to candidates in your area by clicking here or by going to  http://www.focusireland.ie/get-involved/take-action

Thanking you in advance,

Yours sincerely

Mike Allen, Director of Advocacy
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