“The proposed legislation agreed by the Government is a very positive step as it provides for an effective system whereby workers who are not covered by collective bargaining can, through their trade union, improve their terms and conditions of employment,” Patricia King said. “It also provides protection against victimisation for workers seeking to exercise their right to collective bargaining as well as restricting attempts by employers to incentivise people against using it. Where workers are not currently covered by collective bargaining this legislation provides access only for trade unions to process claims on their behalf. This will restore the balance in the worker-employer relationship.”

Under the proposals workers, through their trade unions, may obtain a binding decision from the Labour Court or the Circuit Court providing for improvements to their pay or terms of employment if the employer does not comply with the new legislation. It also makes non-compliance by an employer found by the Labour Court to have victimised an employee to be a criminal offence.

Patricia King added: “These proposals agreed by the Cabinet have yet to be enacted by both houses of the Oireachtas but they are an important step in pursuit of an objective for which Irish workers have been fighting since the 1913 Lockout.”

The dispute arose due to the large deficit in the Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (IASS). SIPTU members in the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) have also rejected the proposals.

SIPTU Pensions Adviser, Dermot O’Loughlin, said: “We intend to write to the chief executive of the DAA and call on him to enter into negotiations following the result of this ballot and the rejection of the proposals by 90% of our members in the DAA and by 94% in Shannon.”

In a statement, the NUI Galway SIPTU Academic Staff Stewards committee, said: “Our members have taken note of the recent decision of the Equality Tribunal with regard to Dr Micheline Sheehy Skeffington’s application for promotion to Senior Lecturer at NUI Galway in 2009.

“They have also noted the results of the recent Higher Education Authority (HEA) Survey on gender balance in the third level sector in Ireland and the poor position of NUI Galway with respect to this. We are urging the Governing Body of the university to engage fully and openly with all relevant NUI Galway stakeholders and its alumni, in order to ensure that this unacceptable state of affairs is rectified within an acceptable timeframe”.

The statement concluded: “Our members will vote at an emergency general meeting on 8th January on whether to support a motion calling for an independent, external, expert body to carry out a comprehensive equality audit throughout the entire university. This would be aimed at ensuring SIPTU members that the issue of gender equality will be tackled systematically throughout the organisation. For its part, the SIPTU NUI Galway academic section is more than willing to engage constructively in this process.”

Click here for a more detailed statement

Over 60,000 people crowded into Merrion Square in Dublin at lunchtime on Wednesday, 10th December, to protest against water charges and the wider austerity agenda.

The event, which was organised by the Right2Water campaign and supported by SIPTU, began at 1.00 p.m. and concluded at 5.00 p.m.  During this period the crowd varied in size and at its largest included many workers attending the event during their lunch-break. At this time most of Merrion Square was full, with protestors also filling many of the adjacent streets.

Those attending the protest heard speeches from a variety of left-wing politicians, community leaders and trade union representatives.

Among those who addressed the crowd were members of Sinn Féin, the Anti Austerity Alliance, People Before Profit Alliance, the Workers’ Party and Independent left-wing TDs.

Shay L'Estrange of the community group Crumlin Says No, told the crowd: “The power doesn’t always reside with the elites of this world like Denis O’Brien, it doesn’t reside with the people that occupy the big house [Leinster House] either, it doesn’t even reside with the people that stand on this stage today, it resides with you and me, the ordinary people”.

He added: “A change of government is not enough, we want a change in the way that democracy is done in this country, we want a democracy that affords equality to everybody and a democracy that is answerable to the people”.

Addressing the crowd on behalf of the Mandate trade union, Dunnes Stores shop steward, Mandy La Combre, said: “If we want to fix the water infrastructure why are we giving a tax break of €405 million to the top 17% of earners? Why did CEOs of multinationals receive a tax break? Why is €500 million being spent on installing meters that will not be used? Why was €82 million spent on incompetent consultants whose plans have now been binned?”

Other speakers included members of the Detroit Water Brigade who had travelled from the US to inform people of the disastrous effect on low-income families of water part-privatisation in their home city.

The event also featured a number of musical performances. These included a rendition of the ‘Auld Triangle’ by Damien Dempsey and Glen Hansard.

The Right2Water campaign is currently in discussions on the date of a further mass protest in January. SIPTU is in talks with the campaign group, which currently includes five unions, on a joint campaign to combat the threat of water privatisation while maintaining a national water utility.

The SIPTU NEC statement of 21st November 2014 concluded: “Therefore, in the absence of a declaration by the Government of its intention to provide every household with an adequate supply of water to meet all its domestic needs, at no direct cost, while retaining a tariff on non-essential use only and to legislate for a Referendum to prohibit privatisation, we will work with other trade unions and civil society organisations, including those involved in Right2Water, to campaign through peaceful protests and other democratic actions, to achieve these objectives”.

Since then, the Government has given no indication of any further movement in its position.
 
Therefore, we have sought engagement with the trade unions involved in the current Right2Water Campaign with a view to the development of a common platform on the issue across the movement.
 
Pending the outcome of any discussions with the other trade unions, we would encourage members to participate in the Right2Water protest which is scheduled to take place at Leinster House, Merrion Square, Dublin 2 at 1.00 p.m. on Wednesday 10th December 2014, of their own volition, if they are free and available to do so.  We believe that every peacefully conducted protest and democratic action has the potential to help further the demands for an adequate supply of water to meet the normal domestic needs of every household at no direct cost and a Referendum to change the Constitution so as to prohibit the privatisation of the public water supply.

The recommendation relates to the more than 1000 workers employed in Local Development Companies (LDC) across the country who are delivering the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and the LEADER rural development programme.

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Eddie Mullins, said: “The Department is currently engaged in a drastic transformation of the community sector through a process of ‘alignment’ with local authorities and privatisation. Despite these policies having a major impact on workers, the Department has refused to engage in any meaningful discussions with their representitives”.

SIPTU community sector activist, Donnie O’Leary, from Cork, said: “Every year, the programmes which community workers deliver help thousands of people get back to work as well as assist in rebuilding local communities. The Department is making big decisions about the future for community workers but has frozen those directly affected out of the process. The Department needs to do the right thing and start negotiations with workers.”

O’Leary added: “Community workers believe that the drive towards alignment and privatisation will result in job losses and a race to the bottom in employment standards. It will also undermine the community led approach that has been the cornerstone of success in the sector.”

The Bord Na Móna Group of Unions has requested an urgent meeting with management to discuss a reported plan to sell its subsidiary waste collection company, AES.

SIPTU Organiser and Bord Na Móna Group of Unions Secretary, John Regan, said: “Union members in AES and the wider Bord Na Móna group are angered by the reported plan to sell this publicly owned waste collection company. The first members heard of this plan was in a media report on Sunday (7th December). That workers first heard of this planned change in the status of the company, which will have consequences for their security of employment, through the media is completely unacceptable.

“Representatives of the Bord Na Móna Group of Unions met with management only 13 days ago. The fact that the plan to sell AES was not mentioned at this meeting or in the business report on the future plans for Bord Na Móna is not acceptable."

He added: “SIPTU is also engaged with the management of AES at the Labour Relations Commission regarding issues affecting members' terms and conditions of employment. Management failed to inform union representatives in that forum of any plans to sell the company.

“The Bord Na Móna Group of Unions is now seeking an urgent meeting with management to discuss this proposed sale”.

AES collects bins from approximately 100,000 houses across Leinster and Munster, operates five recycling centres, rents skips to homes and businesses and owns a landfill in Carbury, Co. Kildare.

SIPTU Education Organiser, Louise O’Reilly said: “The HEA has clearly identified an issue of discrimination with regard to female academics accessing promotion which is a matter of concern, though not surprise. We believe that this might be replicated in non-academic grades and this should be further investigated.  While the report paints a very bleak picture we are confident that this can be addressed in conjunction with our members and their trade union representatives.  
 
“We will also be writing to the Irish Universities Association to offer any assistance we can to address this serious issue.  All of our academic members regardless of gender, marital status or on any other ground deserve a level playing field for promotional opportunities.”

SIPTU members in the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) are studying the recommendations contained in the HIQA “Review of pre-hospital emergency care services” which they have described as “challenging but achievable”. The review was published on Tuesday, (2nd December).

SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “In its 12 recommendations the HIQA review group brings clarity to many of the areas which our members in the National Ambulance Service have identified as a cause for concern over a long period of time. The recommendations will be challenging in both how they are applied within the ambulance service. However, there is a concern that the recommendations are made without the benefit of viewing the, as yet unpublished, national capacity review of the ambulance service commissioned by the HSE.  It is also evident that the implementation of the recommendations will require a commitment from the Government for additional resources”.
                    
He added: “Recommendation 7 requires detailed clarification as it suggests that the key performance indicators in life threatening calls must take into account the difference in ambulance response times in a urban or rural setting”.
 
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan O’Brien said: “SIPTU members in the Dublin Fire Brigade refute any suggestion by HIQA that ambulance services can be substantially improved without greater funding being made available. There is information which shows the DFB Ambulance service has a very high efficiency rate. Also, we  welcome the fact that the report highlights the DFB’s existing clinic audit procedures. This indicates that patient outcome will now become a key performance indicator.
 
“We also agree with the call for a proper Service Level Agreement for the ambulance service, which must include the provision of direct funding for the DFB Ambulance Service. In relation to the HIQA report highlighting the 14,000 queued emergency calls received by DFB in 2013, it should be noted that during times when demand outstrips ambulance capacity DFB fire appliances staffed by qualified paramedics are utilised in life threatening emergencies”.

Irish Equity has called on members to display caution before committing to projects due to the unscrupulous activities of some production companies which include false claims about the other actors involved and the underpayment or non-payment of fees.

Returning to work following a period of illness or while dealing with the effects of physical or mental trauma can be one of the most difficult periods of a worker’s career. To assist workers finding themselves in this position, Congress is now offering training and support as part of a pilot scheme in the Border, Midlands and Western region.

The scheme is open to workers with a disability or long-term illness seeking new employment as well as those wishing to return to their previous work. Programme Manager and Congress official, Sylvia Ryan, told Liberty:“The Disability Activation Project is targeted at people with a disability, aged 16 to 65 years, and receiving disability/illness welfare payments.

“The project aims to increase the capacity of people with disabilities in a range of personal development, Information Technology and work-related programmes. The courses run over six weeks with a two-week work placement.”

The courses are held in Congress resource centres around the Border, Midlands and Western region, with 390 places available from January 2015. Some of the people who have taken the course have gone on to become course trainers within Congress centres. Payments are also available to employers to off set some of thecosts of bringing a worker back into the workforce and new employers can also avail of a wage grant subsidy.

SIPTU Organiser and Disability Committee member, Michelle Quinn, said: "We very much welcome this Congress initiative. It is essential that where possible workers have help in returning to their work or finding new employment after a period of illness orwhile coping with a disability.”

She added: “If properly supported the vast majority of workers wish to return to workplace activity no matter how severe the obstacles may seem. It should be a priority that SIPTU organisers and activists familiarise themselves with what is on offer through this Congress initiative so members who could benefit from it are given the opportunity to participate."

For further information see here or contact ProgrammeManager, Sylvia Ryan at sylvia.ryan@ictu.ie.

The National Executive Council (NEC) of SIPTU has placed a motion on the agenda of the Labour Party conference in February calling for the abolition of the USC.

It should be replaced by a progressive tax which could secure the €4 billion which is recovered through the USC.

The USC is at odds with the generally progressive character of the PAYE system in that a person on the minimum wage pays at the same level as those at the top of the income spectrum.

It could be removed over successive budgets, commencing with those lower paid workers affected by the charge.

The USC was a tax introduced in January 2011 and is paid on gross income. Under Budget 2015, incomes of €12,012 or less will be exempt from the charge.

A replacement for the revenue can be found by targeting wealth and higher incomes. In this respect the union will oppose any attempt to reduce income tax for the highest earners.

In this week’s GLC, Patrick Belser discusses the findings of the Global Wage report, a publication released on the 5th of December 2014 by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Belser divides the report into sections, where he starts by dealing with an “…evolution of real wages around the world” and then “examines the link between wages and household income inequality, and also looks at wage gaps between certain groups: women and men; migrants and nationals; workers in the formal and the informal economy.” 

Drawing on the findings of the report, Belser shows that post the financial crisis “wage growth in developed economies almost stands at zero, and global wages are growing by 2 per cent.” At the same time the report shows a growth of high inequality in most societies. Belser shows that the Global Wage Report suggests redistribution “…through fiscal policies, with more progressive taxation and some targeted tax-reductions or positive tax-credits to low-income households…” as one of the policy methods of dealing with inequality. 

Patrick Belser is Senior Economist at the ILO and the principal editor of the ILO Global Wage Report. 

Please click here to read the article. 

Football Club United of Manchester was formed by disillusioned Manchester United supporters in 2005 primarily, though not exclusively, after the aggressive takeover of United by American businessman Malcolm Glazer. This takeover was to become the straw which broke the camels back for some supporters who had been through a lot with Manchester United including relegation to the second division in the early 1970s. Therefore, to contemplate leaving now, when the team had seen unrivalled success, the situation must have being dire. It was! We were sick of being given door mat treatment watching big business ruin our game and more importantly our club with no opposition, not even from the board. On the contrary they were compliant and, indeed, benefited from the takeover. It was time to act.

There is no doubt that FC United would probably not have happened but for the Glazers coming on the scene it was, however, this which was the catalyst. The takeover was the tip of a pyramid of destruction, with, among many examples, changing kick-off times to suit the television companies, soulless all seating stadia totally lacking in atmosphere which are full of new supporters, or customers as they are referred to by the Glazers regime at Old Trafford, who are content to sit back with their “prawn sandwiches” taking no part, vocal or otherwise, in the occasion. Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, now employs stewards who adopt Gestapo style tactics, obviously with the clubs blessing, and on many occasions their behaviour is unacceptable. To furnish the huge debts the Glazers incurred to steal United under UK law from us, we were all small shareholders until now, huge price hikes to get into the ground, outside the reach on many working class people, have been introduced.

Our crowds at Gigg Lane Bury, home of Bury FC who we share with, are between 1,500-2,000, by far the largest in the league at this level, and we are waiting to move into our own ground at Moston, we have upwards of 3,000 members. Most FC United fans still follow the fortunes of Manchester United, league position, results etc and may attend away games providing FCUM are not playing but not Old Trafford, patronising Glazer. We have our own constitution and the management board are elected by the membership/co-owners on a yearly basis. What we wanted, and got, OUR CLUB, OUR RULES, a democratic non for profit organisation created by Manchester United fans. We want to maintain the best of the good old days at Old Trafford, songs which once bellowed from the Stretford End, racist, homophobic etc. chants will not be tolerated, the atmosphere etc and marry this to the new FC United way, with new chants specific to FCUM. In this we are succeeding.

Caoimhin O’Muraile
FCUM Member/Co-owner

Dublin Labour Councillor Dermot Lacey has penned a new song which he hopes will directly fund vital services for older people.

Released earlier this year, the charity single is titled The Ballad of Rosie Hackett and it can be bought on iTunes. Inspired by the new Rosie Hackett Bridge spanning the River Liffey, the music for Cllr Lacey’s song was composed by Martin Tourish and vocals were provided by singer Geraldine Finn.

To view press release please click on below link:

ALONE charity single for elderly launched