SIPTU General President, Jack O'Connor (with relatives of Alicia Brady), addressing the crowd at her commemoration at Glasnevin Cemetery on Saturday, 4th January, 2014
SIPTU General President calls on the Left to provide leadership towards a New Republic
SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor, has called on the Left to unite in providing a “coherent vision” of how Irish society can move beyond “the culture of the quick buck” which has devastated Irish society towards building a “New Republic”.
O’Connor made his call in an oration at the grave of Alicia Brady one of the last martyrs of the 1913 Lockout. She died after being fatally wounded during a confrontation with strike breakers and was buried one hundred years ago on Saturday, 4th January.
Bord Gáis Group of Unions representatives met with Bord Gáis Energy at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) on Thursday, (9th January), to discuss the details of the transfer of workers when the company moves into private ownership.
SIPTU Organiser and Secretary of the Bord Gáis Group of Unions, Oliver McDonagh, said: “Workers are extremely disappointed to see the sale back on after hopes had been raised that the company would remain in public ownership. However, management and the Government have assured union representatives that the workers’ terms and conditions of employment are protected under the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employees Act 2003. Assurances have also been given in relation to the creation of a Defined Benefit Pension Scheme for the workers.
Live Register fall is positive but numbers of unemployed women concerning
The Live Register figures for December 2013, which were published on Wednesday, 8th January, show a seasonally adjusted monthly fall of 3,300 people signing on but also indicate continued difficulties for women seeking employment, according to SIPTU Economist, Marie Sherlock.
On a seasonally adjusted basis the Live Register showed a monthly decrease of 2,400 males in December 2013, while females decreased by 900 over the same period. The number of long-term claimants on the Live Register in December 2013 was 179,621. The number of male long-term claimants decreased by 8,741 (-6.6%) in the year to December 2013, while females increased by 1,218 (+2.2).
Resources Facilities Services Ltd to vote on LRC proposals
SIPTU members in Resources Facilities Services Ltd will vote on proposals from the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) on Monday, 13th January, aimed at concluding a dispute at the contract cleaning company.
SIPTU Organiser, Ed Kenny, said: “Resources Facilities Services Ltd is contracted to provide cleaning services at Beaumont Hospital. This dispute arose from a management decision to unilaterally implement a cut to the Sunday premium pay of its employees without agreement. We welcome the decision of the company to reinstate the Sunday premium in full and to attend a recent LRC hearing into this dispute.”
Resources Facilities Services Ltd workers on a picket outside Beaumont Hospital on Monday, 16th December.
Trade Union Organising in 2014 and beyond workshop
The Dún Laoghaire 1913 Commemoration Committee is hosting a workshop entitled “After the Lockout commemorations - Trade Union Organising in 2014 and beyond” to be held in the Dún Laoghaire Club, Eblana Avenue, Dún Laoghaire on Saturday, 25th January from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.The workshop is open to all and is intended as a forum in which people who are interested in organising in their workplaces and communities can share ideas with each other.
The Making of the Great 1913 Lockout Tapestry book available to buy now
A limited edition commemorative book outlining the background and production of the 1913 Lockout Tapestry is now available to buy from SIPTU and selected bookshops in Dublin.
The Making of the Great 1913 Lockout Tapestrydetails the background and those who helped produce each of its 30 panels designed by artists Robert Ballagh and Cathy Henderson. Featuring a full colour picture of each of the Tapestry’s panels and with only 600 available the book makes the perfect gift for all those with an interest in Irish labour history or handicrafts.
SIPTU welcomes the strong growth of the Irish film industry during 2013
The SIPTU Arts and Culture Sector has welcomed figures from the Irish Film Board which indicate strong growth of the film, television and animation industry during 2013.SIPTU Sector Organiser, Karan O’Loughlin, said: “According to estimates by the Irish Film Board the industry is on track to have generated €168 million of activity during 2013. This is very positive news and would amount to an 18% increase on 2012.
SIPTU commends Dublin fire-fighters role in flood safety operation in Belfast
SIPTU has commended the co-operation between the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) and the Dublin Fire Brigade whose members engaged in a joint operation in Belfast on Friday, (3rd January) in preparation for threatened flooding.
SIPTU Dublin Fire Brigade Convener, Gerry Harris, said: “Eight members of the Dublin Fire Brigade travelled with their equipment to Belfast to assist their colleagues in NIFRS. These fire-fighters were Swift Water Rescue Technicians who are specially trained to assist in flooding situations.
SIPTU Meath District Council expresses condolences to family of Shane Donnelly
The SIPTU Meath District Council expressed its sincere condolences to the family of Shane Donnelly who was tragically killed in an accident on Sunday (22nd December).
The chief administrator at Meath County Council, and former Navan Town Clerk, Shane played a crucial role in many of the recent developments which have benefitted local communities in Meath.
SIPTU members in Marks and Spencer accept Labour Court recommendation
During December, SIPTU members in Marks and Spencer voted by 96% to 4% to accept a Labour Court recommendation in relation to a dispute at the company which resulted from a management decsion to unilaterally close the workers’ defined benefit pension scheme.
The company had also proposed to abolish the workers’ Christmas bonus, reduce premium pay and reduce the numbers of section managers.
SIPTU says social solidarity key to defeating racism
SIPTU has expressed concern at the prevalence of racist incidents as indicated in the first quarterly report from iReport.ie and the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) Ireland which was published in December.
Approximately one racist incident a day is being reported through the iReport system, varying from verbal abuse to physical attacks.
The period of commemoration of the centenary of the 1913 Lockout is drawing to an end. In bringing this key moment in the history of our movement and the country into the public consciousness the commemoration events were an undoubted success.
From the State commemoration of Bloody Sunday, to the reenactment of the arrival of the food ship the SS Hare, to ANU Productions highly successful dramatic portrayal of the impact of the conflict on the inhabitants of one tenement building, the commemoration events were truly memorable and will have a lasting effect on all who witnessed them.
In the coming years of commemoration we must all ensure that the story of the working people of Ireland is not diminished or overshadowed by jingoistic pomp of any hue. In particular, over the coming year, the events commemorating the centenary of the beginning of the slaughter of the First World War must not gloss over the barbarity and senselessness of this conflict.
The exhibition explores the time that James Connolly, one of Ireland’s national icons, spent in the United States between 1903 and 1910, where he witnessed the successes and failures of labor radicalism and unionisation, and of working class conditions resulting from unregulated corporate expansion.
The 2014 lecture programme of the Old Drogheda Society opens on Wednesday, 15th January when the Society presents “Who Fears to Wear the Red Hand Badge?”, an illustrated talk about the Great Dublin Lockout of 1913, its local impact and its aftermath. The lecture will be held in the Governor’s House, Millmount, Drogheda at 8.00 p.m.
Francis Devine, the labour historian, author, poet and singer and his colleague, Fergus Russell, will tell the story of the Lockout through the songs and stories of the time, accompanied by contemporary images. Francis has collected the contemporary songs and poems relating to the dispute and the singing of these songs, most of which have not been heard for a century, will bring the events of Dublin city and county vividly to life.
Liberty Online is produced by the Communications Department of SIPTU. Liberty Online is distributed on a regular basis to members who are on the SIPTU e-mail data base. In order to maximize circulation of this news bulletin and other messages and statements we urgently ask recipients to gather the e-mail addresses of other SIPTU members who are not already on the data base. Please forward e-mail addresses to communications@siptu.ie
SIPTU Head Office | Liberty Hall | Dublin 1 | Ireland
