In this issue:
Deadline to resolve bus dispute
SIPTU NEC appoints Gene Mealy as new union Vice President
Dunnes Stores attack on workers provokes escalation of dispute
Solidarity with Dunnes Stores Workers
Health Minister addresses health care assistants conference
SIPTU Health Care Assistants tell us why they are worth it
Health workers to rally for better services and jobs
Bord na Móna workers meet TDs to discuss dispute
Former Ulster Bank workers’ protest
Successful conference on future of Palestine
Dr Mona El Farra speaking to SIPTU Palestine Conference
Elaine Bradley gives eye witness account of life in Palestine
Government action needed to end home helps’ zero-hour contracts
Zero-hour contracts and low pay the norm for young workers
Aer Lingus assurances concerning proposed takeover are inadequate
Water: Public resource or private commodity?
Global Action Day
Belfast GAA club in Industrial Tribunal over failure to pay redundancy
Cuba and US presidents hold historic talks
Cuba Dublin Festival
Cuban Film Festival
Call for clinical review of new psychiatric unit on CUH campus
Support for re-opening of Lagan Brick production plant
May Day 2015
Irish Equity supports call for halt to cuts in Northern Ireland cultural sector
Retained fire-fighters commit to industrial action if unsafe changes imposed
Yes to Equality
Support for Pfizer decision not to close Little Island plant
Additional funding for patient care at University Hospital Galway
New Activists training in the Community Sector
Seminar for frontline services
Polish Cultural Night
Ecumenical service of remembrance for children killed in the Easter Rising, Dublin
Low pay must top political agenda
Reducing inequality will not happen on its own – explicit policies are needed
NERI Seminar: A Future Worth Working For
Young Workers Network
Seán Murray Marxist‐Leninist and Irish Socialist Republican by Seán Byers
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
Fairshop
Larkin Credit Union
Fair Hotel
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'Fight for 15' comes to Dublin



Members of the Young Workers’ Network (YWN) joined an estimated 100,000 people across the globe as part of the ‘Fight for 15’ protest for decent wages for fast food workers on Wednesday, 15th April. The YWN held its protest outside the McDonalds Restaurant on O’Connell Street, Dublin, in solidarity with other groups holding similar events in over 250 cities in the United States, Europe, South America and Asia.



Deadline to resolve bus dispute

Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann drivers, who are members of SIPTU, will consider issuing formal notice of industrial action on Friday, 24th April, in the dispute over attempts to privatise 10% of public bus services.


The decision to create a deadline for progress in the ongoing dispute came at a meeting of senior SIPTU shop stewards in Liberty Hall, Dublin, on Monday, (13th April).  

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Gene Mealy
Gene Mealy
SIPTU NEC appoints Gene Mealy as new union Vice President
The SIPTU National Executive Council (NEC) appointed Gene Mealy as the new Vice President of the union at its monthly meeting today (Thursday, 16th April) in Liberty Hall.

Gene Mealy has worked as a full time SIPTU organiser for 29 years and has extensive experience at representing the interests of members at national and industry level across the private, public and community sectors.
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Dunnes Stores attack on workers provokes escalation of dispute

Trade unionists in Dunnes Stores have promised to escalate their campaign for decent working conditions following management’s targeting for retribution workers who took part in a nationwide one-day strike.

The strike by over 5,000 Mandate members on Thursday (2nd April), was widely supported by the public and other trade unions. Workers decided to take strike action following Dunnes Stores refusal to negotiation with their union concerning working conditions.   

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Solidarity with Dunnes Stores Workers

Solidarity with Dunnes Stores Workers

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Health Minister addresses health care assistants conference

Members of the new SIPTU Health Care Sector were addressed by the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, at their first conference in Dublin on Thursday (26th March).


Sector Organiser Marie Butler said that the new sector for health care assistants has been set up in response to the growing demand for representation for this group of ‘hands on’ health workers. She also set out a list of proposals that would lead to the professionalisation of the ‘Health Care Assistant’ across the Irish health service.  

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SIPTU Health Care Assistants tell us why they are worth it

SIPTU Health Care Assistants tell us why they are worth it

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Health workers to rally for better services and jobs



A major rally will be held outside of the Department of Health in Dublin on Thursday, 30th April, as part of the SIPTU Health Division campaign for greater investment in healthcare services and workers.  

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Bord na Móna workers meet TDs to discuss dispute

Bord na Móna (BNM) workers and their union representatives met with TDs in Leinster House, Dublin 2, on Wednesday (15th April), to present their position concerning the ongoing dispute arising from attempts by the company to impose changes to workers conditions of employment.  

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Former Ulster Bank workers’ protest

Former Ulster Bank workers staged a lunchtime protest on Wednesday, (15th April), at Ulster Bank Head Quarters, Georges Quay, Dublin 2 to highlight the non-implementation of a Labour Court recommendation in relation to their redundancy terms.

Redundant porters demand Ulster Bank honour Labour Court award, Dublin, 15th April 2015


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Successful conference on future of Palestine


Political and trade union activists from across the island attended a one-day conference on the future of Palestine in Liberty Hall on Saturday, 28th March.
 

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Dr Mona El Farra speaking to SIPTU Palestine Conference

Dr Mona El Farra speaking to SIPTU Palestine Conference

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Elaine Bradley gives eye witness account of life in Palestine

Elaine Bradley gives eye witness account of life in Palestine

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Government action needed to end home helps’ zero-hour contracts

The Government must act to end the imposition of zero-hour contracts on home helps working for voluntary sector organisations which are funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to provide public health care schemes, according to the SIPTU Health Division.

“In recent weeks we have engaged with the HSE on this issue,” said SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell. “It is apparent that the HSE is aware that vulnerable workers are being exploited by the imposition of zero-hour contracts.”  

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Zero-hour contracts and low pay the norm for young workers

A survey of the working lives of the under 35s, conducted by the Young Workers Network (YWN), has revealed that nearly 90% struggle to make ends meet with zero-hour contracts and low pay the norm for many.


Other findings of the ‘Working Hours and Pay Survey’ included that 21% of respondents felt their job could end at any time, 20% were working on zero-hour contracts and 20% said their employer gives them less than one day’s notice of their working hours.
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Aer Lingus assurances concerning proposed takeover are inadequate

A proposal received from the management of Aer Lingus in relation to the guaranteeing of workers’ terms and conditions of employment in the event of a takeover by IAG  does not adequately deal with their concerns.

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Owen Reidy, said: “The union received a response from Aer Lingus Chief Executive, Stephen Kavanagh, to our request that the company enters into a legally binding agreement that would protect workers conditions of employment and jobs in the event of an IAG takeover of the airline.  

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Water: Public resource or private commodity?
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Global Action Day
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Belfast GAA club in Industrial Tribunal over failure to pay redundancy

A SIPTU member’s claim against Ard Eoin Kickhams GAC for failure to pay her statutory redundancy entitlements will be heard by the Industrial Tribunal in Belfast on Friday, 17th April.


The case involves the Belfast GAA club’s former bar manager, Cathy McMahon, who was employed for 25 years until her post was declared redundant on 23rd October 2014.  

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Cuba and US presidents hold historic talks

An historic press conference between Presidents Raúl Castro and Barack Obama took place on Saturday, 11th April during the Summit of the Americas in Panama. It marked the first meeting between a president of Cuba and the US for more than 50 years, and Cuba’s first ever attendance.


Historic handshake between Raúl Castro and Barack Obama

HISTÓRICO: Encuentro entre Raúl Castro y Barack Obama

 

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Cuba Dublin Festival
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Cuban Film Festival
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Call for clinical review of new psychiatric unit on CUH campus

A full clinical review by an agreed independent expert to examine proposals for the operation of a new psychiatric unit on the campus of Cork University Hospital, Cork City, has been demanded by SIPTU.  

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Support for re-opening of Lagan Brick production plant

Management at the Lagan Brick plant in Drumgill, Kingscourt, county Cavan, signed a pre-production agreement with SIPTU on Wednesday, 25th March, in advance of the re-opening of the facility.  

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May Day 2015
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Irish Equity supports call for halt to cuts in Northern Ireland cultural sector

Irish Equity passed a motion at its Annual General Meeting on Sunday, 29th March, calling for a moratorium on proposed cuts to the funding of the cultural sector in Northern Ireland.


The motion also sent “solidarity and support” to the members of Equity Northern Ireland who are “opposing these dreadful cuts to the arts, particularly to theatre, now being proposed.”  

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Retained fire-fighters commit to industrial action if unsafe changes imposed

SIPTU members in the Retained Fire Services have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action, including strike action, in a dispute related to attempts to decrease fire appliance crewing levels, at ballots counted on Friday, 20th March.

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Yes to Equality
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Support for Pfizer decision not to close Little Island plant

The decision of Pfizer to continue production at its Little Island plant, county Cork, and provide continued job security for up to 160 workers has been supported by SIPTU members.


Staff at the facility were informed during March that the pharmaceutical manufacturer had reversed its decision to close the plant. Its closure had initially been announced in May 2013, with production scheduled to cease in September 2014. This closure date had been extended to the autumn 2015 before the decision was finally reversed.  

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Additional funding for patient care at University Hospital Galway

Industrial action at University Hospital Galway (UHG) has been deferred pending implementation of an agreement for the facility to secure additional nurses and support staff cover.


SIPTU Organiser Mark Lohan said: “This decision, following Labour Relations Commission facilitated talks between union representatives and the hospital management, vindicates our position that having so many patients on trolleys, both in the Emergency Department and on the wards, is totally unacceptable.  

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New Activists training in the Community Sector

A new initiative in the training of activists in the Community Sector has been rolled out. The first group involved in this new strategic development participated in the first stage of their training at SIPTU College from 31st March to 2nd April.


The above activists represented a wide and diverse group of employments in the Community Sector and include the Irish Wheelchair Association, Blanchardstown 2001 Job Initiative, Adapt Community Drugs, Limerick Community Development Project, Westmeath Community Project, Longford Community Resources, Donegal Travellers Project, Athlone Y.E.W. Ltd and North Tipperary Leader Partnership.

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Seminar for frontline services
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Polish Cultural Night
SIPTU Polish Network hosted a Polish Cultural Night in Liberty Hall on Thursday (26th March) to mark Polska Eire 2015. Among those who addressed the event were Minister of State for New Communities, Culture and Equality, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, SIPTU National Campaigns and Equality Organiser, Ethel Buckley and Polish Ambassador, Ryszard Sarkowicz.


Dancers in traditional Polish costume at the event
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Ecumenical service of remembrance for children killed in the Easter Rising, Dublin

At 11.00 a.m. on Tuesday, 5th May, St. Patrick’s Church, Ringsend, Dublin 4, will host an ecumenical service of remembrance and reclamation for approximately 40 children between the ages of two and sixteen who were killed during the Easter Rising of 1916. The service will be attended by President Michael D. Higgins. All welcome.

From History Ireland: Joe Duffy on the children killed in the Easter Rising. This includes the names and details of 30 children who were killed.

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Low pay must top political agenda

The on-going dispute at Dunnes Stores has highlighted the scandal of low pay and insecure employment in this country, which has the second highest number of low paid workers in the OECD.

Dunnes Stores has also the largest number of workers in any Irish company in receipt of family income supplements which represents a subsidy by the State to an employer who is clearly exploiting much of its workforce.

Many workers complain that the minimum 15 hour contracts they are forced to accept prevents them from obtaining bank or credit union loans and from securing rental accommodation or mortgages. They are also fighting for the right to union recognition in the company.

The situation is not unique to Ireland and on Wednesday (15th April) tens of thousands of workers protested against low pay and precarious work in the global ‘Fight for 15' ($15 per hour) campaign for a minimum wage in the fast food industry.

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ECONOMY
 
Janine Berg
Janine Berg
Reducing inequality will not happen on its own – explicit policies are needed

For the past decades, in many countries of the world, the State has slowly retreated amidst the belief that by giving more space to market forces there would be greater economic growth and thus greater economic opportunities. This belief was manifest in the drive to liberalise goods and financial markets in the 1980s and 1990s across the world, and in the decreased investment by the public sector of many advanced economies in public services and goods as well as in redistributive policies.

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NERI Seminar: A Future Worth Working For

In a seminar on 8th April, NERI Director, Tom Healy, focused on setting the parameters for a clear, long-term vision for the Irish economy to emerge. The seminar is based on the NERI working paper - A Social Vision and an Economic Strategy for Ireland in the 21st Century- that argues this vision must be based on concrete goals that can be observed, measured and contrasted—as opposed to pious aspirations. The paper is not intended as a blueprint or model that is to be rolled out, but as a contribution to a debate on our economic future.


NERI Seminar: A Future Worth Working For

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Young Workers Network
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Seán Murray Marxist‐Leninist and Irish Socialist Republican by Seán Byers
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Docklands Book Sale
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SIPTU Members Home Insurance
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SIPTU Travel Insurance
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Get up to 80% off* Car Insurance
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taxback.com - 10% Discount
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SIPTU Basic English Scheme

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Fairshop
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Larkin Credit Union

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Fair Hotel
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