Daniel Etter's photograph of Syrian Laith Majid hugging his daughter and son helped bring the world's focus on to the plight of refugees. The picture shows Laith and his family landing on the Greek island of Kos during August. The family – Laith, his wife, Nada Adel, their sons Moustafa, aged 18, Ahmed, 17, and Taha, nine, along with seven-year-old daughter Nour – arrived safely in Germany in early September. (SEE LIBERTY VIEW)
Boyers workers need respect
Mandate and SIPTU trade unions on Wednesday, 9th September, agreed to negotiations with the owner of Boyers department store on North Earl Street, Dublin, on the orderly wind down of the company.
SIPTU's Dublin District Council meeting on securing the Union's future
On September 3rd 2015, a packed room in Liberty Hall took part in a meeting organised by SIPTU's Dublin District Council and SIPTU's Manufacturing Division on securing the Union's future.
Unions outraged at NUI Galway refusal to attend LRC
SIPTU and IFUT have expressed outrage at the refusal by management at NUI Galway to attend a meeting at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) to discuss an equality taskforce it has appointed.
WRC Advocate appointed to Committee of Investigation into Clerys liquidation
A legal expert with the SIPTU Workers Rights Centre has been appointed to sit on a Committee of Investigation to oversee the liquidation process of OCS Operations, the company which operated Clerys department store.
Nominations for the Agricultural Joint Labour Committee
SIPTU members will be nominated to sit on Joint Labour Committee (JLC) for the agricultural sector during September following the re-establishment of the body by the Labour Court.
The Desmond Greaves Annual School takes place this weekend with a variety of high profile speakers discussing subjects ranging from future of the UK to World War I to the Irish media.
Proposals on an alternative to the USC presented to members across the country
The SIPTU proposals for a progressive alternative to the Universal Social Charge (USC) have been the subject of seminars for union members across the country in recent weeks.
SIPTU Health Care Committee supporting the USC Campaign
I think it would be hard to find a family in Ireland which has not been touched by addiction. The effects and repercussions of both emotional and sometimes physical trauma experienced by those close to loved ones in addiction can be lifelong. RISE provides a refuge, a safe place to navigate past/present hurts through counselling by skilled professionals and 10 week family programmes to help empower those who are trapped in situations that they feel helpless to change. It struggles to survive and depends totally on fundraising initiatives to carry on providing this life-changing service. In early October I am undertaking a 6 day trek of the Camino, from Finisterre to Santiago de Compostela, with a group who are all walking in aid of the RISE Foundation. I am seeking as much sponsorship as I can get in order to ensure that they can continue to give such very necessary support to Irish families of loved ones in addiction. Please dig deep and donate whatever you can afford, it will be money well spent. You can donate to RISE through my charity page here: https://give.everydayhero.com/ie/mary-s-camino
Government must end VAT benefit for hospitality sector
The Government must commit to removing the preferential VAT rate currently enjoyed by the profitable hotel and restaurant sector that includes many businesses that are exploiting low paid workers.
EU attempt to force rail privatisation must be opposed
The Department of Transport has said that it is seeking a derogation for Ireland from the EU Commission supported ‘Fourth Railway Package’ which calls for greater market liberalisation and competition within the railway sector in each member state.
Supporting Suicide Awareness – Kathleen Lynn memorial walk
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the death of Kathleen Lynn, who died in September 1955. To mark this anniversary the East Wall History Group will be hosting a memorial walk at Glenmalure, County Wicklow, on Saturday, 12th September.
Solidarity with refugees indicates a better Europe is possible
The suffering of those forced to seek refuge in the EU due to the destruction of their home societies is an indictment of the current Western political elite.
This is an elite which has cared little about the impact of ideological and financially inspired military adventures which have devastated imperfect but largely stable, societies, forcing millions to flee the resulting conflicts and instability.
In contrast, the reaction of large swathes of the people of Europe, offering accommodation, sustenance and demanding more assistance for refugees from their Governments, provides hope for the future.
In Ireland, some have claimed that aiding refugees should come second to dealing with our domestic social crises, not least of which is the level of homelessness resulting from a lack of affordable housing and widespread poverty.
A link between alternatives to the neo-liberal food regime
The multiple global economic, financial, food and ecological crises are deepening. And yet, neo-liberal capitalism continues to reign supreme. Every crisis is responded to by further marketisation and commodification. ‘Free’ trade is deepened in negotiations of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), emission trading systems are one of the main strategies for mitigating climate-change. We suggest that the links between the concepts of ‘food sovereignty’ and ‘fair trade’ could promote connections between labour and community struggles and foster labour solidarity at both the transnational and local levels. Both concepts present challenges to the neo-liberal food regime.
The Trade Union Campaign to Repeal the 8th Amendment is a group for organising trade union activists and members from all trade unions in the fight to repeal the 8th.
The 8th amendment and its removal are a key issue for working women and it is a struggle that we believe trade unions have a huge role to play in. It is important that members of unions show support for repeal, and that marches and protests have a visible trade union contingent.
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A link between alternatives to the neo-liberal food regime
Dear Editor,
