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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.