President Michael D Higgins launched the 1913 Lockout Tapestry Project on Tuesday (6th November) in Liberty Hall, Dublin. The Tapestry Project is an ambitious, large-scale, collaborative visual arts project to commemorate the centenary of the 1913 Lockout.
At the launch, President Higgins, said: “It is through the power of collective action that the workers of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union sought to establish their right to organise to secure a better deal for the ordinary workers of Dublin, and it is very fitting that it is through collaboration that they are being remembered.”
On Saturday (10th November), Ireland will be presented with a unique opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of children in Ireland, by voting ‘Yes’ in the Children’s Referendum.
For anyone working with vulnerable children, this referendum is long overdue and absolutely necessary. It’s a chance to finally bring our laws in line with our values as a society and make a statement that we value childhood. The amendment comes on foot of 17 official reports that catalogue how Ireland has failed thousands of children who were subjected to ill-treatment and abuse. The referendum will put children at the heart of our Constitution and our child protection system.
Five of Ireland’s trade unions have called on the people of Ireland to vote YES in the Children’s Referendum this Saturday. Representing thousands of workers around the country, senior representatives of ICTU, INTO, SIPTU, Mandate and IMPACT have added their voice to the Yes for Children campaign. Each took part in the Yes for Children photo call, to underline their commitment to improving the lives of the most vulnerable children in our society.Read more >
Next Budget must forge 'route to recovery based on growth, hope and jobs'
Congress General Secretary David Begg has urged Government to change course and use the coming budget to forge a ‘route to recovery based on growth, hope and jobs.’
Speaking at the launch of the Congress Pre–Budget Submission on Wednesday (7th November) Begg said December’s budget must rebalance the adjustment in favour of working people and raise more revenue from those with greater resources.
SIPTU members held a rally outside Leinster House on Wednesday (7th November), to demand that the Government protect the real value of the State Pension in Budget 2013. The protest highlighted the fact that the majority of retired people depend on the State Pension to keep them out of poverty and that any cut to its levels would have a devastating impact on older peoples’ lives.
SIPTU Vice President Patricia King (right with glasses) and union members stage a rally outside Leinster House, on Wednesday (7th November), to demand that the Government backdates the Home Makers Scheme to 1964.Read more >
SEAI and SIPTU host national conference on Sustainable Energy and Jobs
Sustainable energy is important for protecting and supporting jobs in Ireland. That was the message from a conference focussed on sustainable energy and jobs hosted by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and SIPTU at Croke Park on Thursday (1st November). 200 business leaders and major Irish employers attended the conference aimed at raising awareness of the jobs potential associated with sustainable energy and how Ireland can best maximise this.
L-R: SIPTU General President, Jack O'Connor, SEAI Chief Executive, Dr. Brian Motherway and Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, TDRead more >
2,000 march in support of Home Helps in Cork
More than 2000 people took to the streets of Cork on Saturday (3rd November) to protest against cutbacks to Home Help services.
Marchers carrying a symbolic coffin with words “Home Help Service RIP” led the defiant crowd who had travelled from across the country to mark the launch of SIPTU’s Time To Care campaign.
Pipers lead the Home Helps march in Cork on Saturday, 3rd November.
SIPTU warns that proposed changes to fire service could threaten safety
SIPTU has warned that the safety of the public and emergency staff could be threatened by proposals presented by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management which would result in a reduction in the number of fire-fighters manning a fire appliance.
SIPTU Full-Time Fire-Fighters National Committee spokesman, Brian Murray, said: “Changes proposed by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management would ultimately lead to a reduction in the number of fire-fighters manning a fire appliance.
Unions form alliance to defend public ownership of Irish Water
Trade union representatives voted on Wednesday (7th November) to form an alliance focused on defending the public ownership of water services in Ireland.
At a meeting in Liberty Hall, trade unions representing over 3000 workers in Bord Gáis and the Local Authorities pledged to oppose attempts by the Government to expand the use of private contractors in the new body, Irish Water, at the expense of the public service and direct labour workforce.
The EU Commissioner, Ollie Rehn, is apparently examining whether the Government should make a greater adjustment than the €3.5 billion planned cuts in the forthcoming budget after lowering his forecast for Irish economic growth.
Rehn appears to believe that the solution to falling growth targets is to deepen the austerity programme currently in place under the supervision of the EU/IMF/ECB troika.
In reality, the more one-sided austerity is imposed, with its consequent hardship on lower and middle income earners, and the most vulnerable in society, the worse the prospects become for economic recovery.
This is what has happened over the past five years and the EU Commissioner, and his right wing allies across Europe and in Ireland, know this only too well. A further depression of domestic demand by taking more money out of the economy will retard rather than enhance growth.
Unless there is a plan to invest significantly in jobs and growth, as Congress has urged yet again in its pre-Budget submission in recent days, there can be no escape from the vicious cycle of austerity and recession and no return to sustainable economic growth.
Major action needed to tackle long-term unemployment
SIPTU has said that the highest priority must be placed on tackling the problem of long-term unemployment as new figures published by the Central Statistics Office on Thursday (1st November), show the number of people signing on for more than 12 months has risen by 8,344 or 4.6% this year.
SIPTU economist, Marie Sherlock, said; “The growing problem of long-term unemployment is the biggest issue which emerges from the latest Live Register figures.
Independent equality think-tank TASC is proposing that tax reform should be the overriding priority when tackling the deficit in the public finances. TASC provides a fully costed set of tax proposals that achieve 80% of the Government’s target of €3.5 billion for 2013. TASC provides details of an equitable model of property tax, substantial reform to pension tax reliefs that benefit higher earners, targeted excise increases, environmental taxation and increases on the Universal Social Charge and social insurance charged on salaries over €100,000.
Ailliliú Fionnuala, new solo play about Shell Corrib gas project
Benbo Productions presents Ailliliú Fionnuala, written and performed by Donal O’ Kelly, directed by Sorcha Fox, designed by Robert Ballagh, in Theatre Upstairs @ Lanigans’ Bar, Eden Quay, Dublin 1
1pm Mon-Sat, 5th November – 17th November. (50 mins duration)
Tickets: €10 (€8 Student concession), with soup and bread. Booking: Tel 085 7727375 or email theatreupstairs@gmail.com
Are employee participation rights under pressure? Trends at national and EU level
Where do we stand 11 years later? Just a few weeks before the launch in autumn 2012 of a new Action Plan on Company Law and Corporate Governance by Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier, the time is ripe to assess the EU’s commitment to this safeguarding principle. Concerns have been raised as to whether the relevant provisions of EU law do actually provide the requisite protection (Van het Kaar 2011) and the question is all the more topical in a current economic context which, in the opinion of some parties, should rather enhance employee involvement at company level. As the European Parliament put it in a June 2012 resolution: ‘the financial crisis has demonstrated the need for a clearer corporate governance framework which focuses more strongly on stakeholder participation’ (European Parliament 2012).
The film industry is an important part of New Zealand (NZ) culture and source of patriotic pride, particularly since the successes of Peter Jackson and Weta Workshop with The Lord of the Rings films(LOTR). It is also economically significant; in 2004, 150 000 foreign tourists gave the Lord of the Rings as one of the main reasons for their visit to New Zealand. Globally, LOTR is the highest grossing motion picture trilogy of all time, and the joint record holder for the number of Oscars.
You are invited to attend a press conference organised by Claiming Our Future: “There are alternative choices for Budget 2013: Plan B: maintain spending, invest in jobs, tax higher incomes & wealth” on November 15th at 10.30am in the Central Hotel. We are also asking you to forward around to your organisation/group the email below encouraging them to sign the plan B petition which we will be handing in to the Minister for Finance before the Budget,
November 15th, 2012 10.30am
Central Hotel, Exchequer St, Dublin 2
Speakers: Fergus Finlay, CEO Barnardos, Siobhan O Donoghue, Claiming Our Future Plan B, Marie Sherlock, Economist with SIPTU, Michael Taft, Economist with Unite
The 25 November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and is an opportunity for trade unions, and all those who would like to promote gender equality to mobilise to curb sexual violence. In the case of Congo, we must firstly as a matter of urgency organise awareness-generating campaigns for the general public.
Read more >
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Independent equality think-tank TASC is proposing that tax reform should be the overriding priority when tackling the deficit in the public finances. TASC provides a fully costed set of tax proposals that achieve 80% of the Government’s target of €3.5 billion for 2013. TASC provides details of an equitable model of property tax, substantial reform to pension tax reliefs that benefit higher earners, targeted excise increases, environmental taxation and increases on the Universal Social Charge and social insurance charged on salaries over €100,000.
