The National Executive Council (NEC) of SIPTU at its March meeting on Friday, (21st March) voted unanimously to reiterate total and complete support for the union’s members and other workers in their dispute with Aer Lingus and the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) over savage cuts in their pension entitlements.  

The “battle to save water services from privatisation is only beginning”, ICTU Industrial Officer, Liam Berney, told SIPTU activists in the local authorities on Thursday, (20th March).

In his presentation to a SIPTU Local Authority Sector seminar entitled “The Price of Private Water”, Berney outlined the process of social dialogue between the Government and unions which led to the establishment of the publicly owned utility Irish Water.  

A fully independent review of the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) ambulance service has been called for by SIPTU.

The call follows SIPTU members in DFB expressing extreme concern at the contents of a document drawn up by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in March 2013 which proposes to remove the delivery of Dublin's ambulance service from Dublin Fire Brigade, by 2015.  

The ICA gives battle – ANÚ Players

The centenary of the foundation of the Irish Citizen Army was marked in Liberty Hall on Saturday, (22nd March) with a musical and cultural event. The commemoration included a reading by Sabina Higgins of an excerpt from the Story of the Irish Citizen Army by Seán O’Casey.  

SIPTU and the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) launched an online social media campaign to highlight racial discrimination in the workplace to mark UN Anti-Racism Day 2014 on Friday, (21st March).

Management of The Donkey Sanctuary has refused to engage with SIPTU concerning attempts to make 16 welfare staff at the charity redundant in June.

The UK charity, whose Irish operation is headquartered in Liscarroll, Mallow, Co. Cork, has failed to respond to a letter from the Labour Relations Commission requesting it engage in a conciliation process concerning the threatened job losses.  

A presentation was made by Paul Bell, SIPTU Health Division Organiser and Sean Nolan, SIPTU Sector Organiser to Shop Steward, Fred Murray.  Fred retired after 44 years’ service in the Health Services. 


Left to right: Paul Bell, SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Fred Murray and Sean Nolan, SIPTU Sector Organiser

Thousands of trade unionists, political activists and members of the public lined the streets of East London along the funeral procession route of RMT General Secretary Bob Crow on Monday, (24th March).

As the black horse drawn carriage bearing the coffin of the trade union leader passed by the crowds applauded and cheered.  

Congress General Secretary David Begg has paid warm tribute to the late Tony Benn, who died on Friday (14th March).

Begg said: “Tony Benn was the outstanding political figure of his age and, indeed, one of the brightest stars of the wider labour movement. He was a giant of his generation.

Members of the SIPTU Cavan/Monaghan District Committee met with Labour party Candidates Mary Croke, Ciaran Connolly and Peadar Markey who are seeking election in the fourth coming local elections in Cavan/Monaghan.  

The Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) published its latest Quarterly Economic Observer on Tuesday, (25th March). In it, the economic think-tank examines the extent of low pay across Northern Ireland finding that 25% of workers earn less than the ‘Living Wage’.   

Near Media Co-Op in partnership with CAPTCHA EU Culture Initiative and with the support of the Dublin Community Forum present a day dedicated to understanding best practices in archiving and how this can be applied to Community Media throughout Europe.

Robert Tressell was the pseudonym of Robert Noonan, house-painter and sign-writer, who was born in Dublin in 1870 and died in Liverpool in 1911. He was buried in a pauper’s grave.

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists was his only book and it was written while he lived in Hastings - “Mugsborough” in the novel.  First published in abbreviated form in April 1914, the novel has challenged, entertained and inspired countless readers. Robert Noonan was a passionate socialist and his scathing denunciation of apathy and hypocrisy, of injustice and inequality, is still relevant today.

The Citywide Drugs Rehabilitation Projects Consultation Report was launched by Peter McVerry on Tuesday, 11th March, 2014.  The report relates to the changes in Social Welfare that have created additional barriers for people who want to access CE Drug Rehab Programmes.  It also outlines how DRPs are responding to these additional barriers and makes a number of recommendations.   

Karl Marx had his finger on the pulse of international trade and was well acquainted with conditions in Ireland. In one of his essays, he criticised working conditions in a shirt factory in Derry City – now demolished -  and condemned the “sweat shops” which the industry spawned in neighbouring counties such as Donegal and Tyrone. His daughter Eleanor is known to have visited the city.