In this issue:
New deal for SIPTU bus drivers and public
SIPTU President welcomes new legislation on collective bargaining
March in support of Dunnes Stores workers
Zero-hour contracts
Health workers rally for pay restoration
Health Pay Conference
YES Equality video
BNM unions support decision by ESB to continue to use peat to fuel power stations
Major investment in Bausch and Lomb plant in Waterford
SIPTU book launch - A City in Civil War: Dublin 1921-1924
Workers Rights Centre
James Connolly Commemoration
SIPTU supports protest by former Ulster Bank workers
SIPTU West Cork District Council says ‘Yes’ to Equality
Workers call on UCC President to intervene in Tyndall National Institute dispute
Bob Crow 'Seat'
8th Annual George Brown Commemoration Weekend
Yes to Equality
Summer School on the Arts and Human Rights 2015
Sinn Féin and Labour candidates for Carlow Kilkenny By Election on 22nd May
Bus deal protects workers and users
Global Labour Column
Public spending should be prioritised over tax cuts
Roger Casement's legacy
Mother Jones Festival 2015
Young Workers Network
Fairshop
Docklands Book Sale
SIPTU Members Home Insurance
SIPTU Travel Insurance
Get up to 80% off* Car Insurance
taxback.com - 10% Discount
SIPTU Basic English Scheme
Larkin Credit Union
Fair Hotel
Supporting Quality
Fair Hotel
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New leisure facilities across Belfast

Dear Editor,

Belfast City Council is poised to invest £105 million in new leisure facilities across Belfast including a new £20 million facility in Andersonstown and a new £10 million facility in Twinbrook.

At full council on 1st May, Sinn Féin was the only party to vote against the proposal to establish a 'not for profit' trust to manage these facilities in the future. We believe that such a trust will dilute our ability to ensure that the interests of the people who use these facilities are placed at the centre of decision making. In our view the interests of citizens must always come before any other consideration.

All the other parties, including the SDLP and the DUP voted in favour of the trust model. We believe this was a mistake and along with SIPTU, the other trade unions and our staff, we are calling on them to reverse this decision.

We believe in providing first class public services and we believe that democratically elected councillors should decide on policy and pricing, on investment and jobs, not a quango, even a not for profit one. We can and should be held accountable for the decisions we make. We should not be handing that responsibility to an unelected body that is not accountable in the same way.

As candidates canvas for the local election in Belfast, they should be asked where they stand in relation to the future of council leisure services across Belfast? We know where we stand, we stand for top class leisure facilities managed in the interest of the people who use them and our comrades who work in them.

Is Mise,

Cllr Jim Mc Veigh
Sinn Féin

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