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Groups unite to call for creation of decent jobs
Participants in The Coalition to Protect the Lowest Paid were pictured in front of the statue of renowned trade union organiser, James Connolly, in Dublin on Wednesday (10th October), before meeting in Liberty Hall to discuss the central importance of decent jobs to economic recovery.
The campaigners, trade unionists and migrant worker activists are part of a broad-based coalition which has come together to defend the pay and conditions of thousands of the lowest paid workers in Ireland such as cleaners, hotel and restaurant workers, security guards, farm labourers and shop workers.
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SIPTU members call on Aer Lingus to engage in meaningful talks on pensions crisis
SIPTU members at Aer Lingus have reacted angrily to a claim by the company that employees may only receive 4% of their pension entitlements due to the distress of the Irish Airlines (General Employees) Superannuation Scheme (IASS).
According to SIPTU Sector Organiser, Dermot O’Loughlin, union members are astounded at the ‘provocation and deliberate scare-mongering’ in the latest statement by Aer Lingus on the pensions dispute. The IASS, which covers staff in Aer Lingus and the Dublin Airport Authority, is crippled with a €750 million deficit.
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Growing support for James Connolly Bridge campaign
The proposal to name the new transport bridge over the river Liffey in Dublin in honour of trade union organiser and 1916 leader, James Connolly, has received broad political support and the backing of numerous prominent cultural figures.James Connolly Bridge campaign co-ordinator, Brendan Carr, said: “In recent days the campaign has met with members of all the political groups in Dublin City Council. The proposal received a very positive response from all the groups.
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Workers protest at Clerys
Workers at Clerys retail chain took part in a peaceful protest on Tuesday (2nd October), in support of their colleagues from the outlets at Leopardstown, Naas, Blanchardstown and Guiney’s, following the decision by the new owners of the company, Gordon Brothers, to place these stores in liquidation. The protest was exceptionally well attended and the staff outlined their frustration at how these colleagues have been treated.
Staff members at Clerys Blanchardstown, (L-R) Frank Byrne, Natasha Finnegan, Michelle McGettigan and Imelda Mulligan protest outside Clerys on O'Connell Street over the way the new owners, Gordon Brothers, have treated staff in the outlets they have already closed including Guiney's in Blanchardstown, Naas and Sandyford, and their decision to close the company's pension scheme.
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Olhausen closes its three plants with loss of 160 jobs
Workers at sausage maker, Olhausen, were informed on Wednesday (10th October) that the company has ceased trading at its plants in Blanchardstown and Coolock in Dublin and in county Monaghan. Receiver, Jim Hamilton of BDO, who was appointed by Ulster Bank, informed representatives of the 160 workers, including 100 SIPTU members, that the company has closed without notice as it is no longer a going concern.
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NIC-ICTU March against Austerity - Saturday, 20th October
NIC-ICTU have organised a march against Austerity on Saturday (20th October) in Belfast.
For further details about the time and route please click on the following link: http://www.ictuni.org/marchagainstausterity/marchroute.html
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Foynes freighter allowed relocate as crew members begin to leave
The 7,000 ton freighter ‘Pioneer Atlantic’ at the Aughinish Aluminia facility in Foynes was allowed to move out into the Shannon estuary off Moneypoint on Wednesday (10th October) as crew members wishing to leave because of concerns over safety depart. The first two crew members to do so, the Boson and an able seaman, flew home to the Philippines from Shannon Airport later that day.
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Home Helps protest outside office of An Taoiseach
More than 50 protesters protested outside the constituency office of the Taoiseach on Monday (8th October) to draw attention to Health Service Excutive (HSE) proposals for further cuts to the Home Help service in County Mayo and the continued dishonouring of their contracts of employment. The Taoiseach was not available to speak to the Home Helps, but his parliamentary assistant, Cllr Ger Deere, met with a small group of shop stewards to hear their concerns.
SIPTU Home Helps protested outside the constituency office of An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, in Castlebar, Co. Mayo on Monday, 8th October.
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Cuts to Home Help services will affect most vulnerable
SIPTU has stated that the decision of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to implement €8 million in cuts to Home Help services will reduce the quality of life of the most vulnerable and result in increased costs as more people are forced into full time hospital care. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “The decision by the HSE to implement cuts to Home Help services is morally unacceptable and illogical. Cuts in Home Help hours will not only reduce the provision of care to the most vulnerable in our society but will also result in more people having to avail of full-time care in a hospital setting. These outcomes go directly against the stated aim of the Government to develop community based health services and reduce spending.”
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Privatisation – Robbing The People’s Wealth
The Trade Union Left Forum has published a pamphlet on the politics of privatisation. The pamphlet explores the ideology that underpins the privatisation agenda and includes a case study on the effects of this approach on the ESB.
The pamphlet is available for download at the new Trade Union Left Forum website: www.tuleftforum.com
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Cleaners and security staff in vote over deals
SIPTU’s Contract Cleaning and Security Services Sector is balloting more than 10,000 security static guards and contract cleaners over the next two months. The union is recommending a YES vote in the ballot over two new national collective agreements. The proposals, if endorsed by SIPTU members, will pave the way to have both agreements registered under the newly enacted Industrial Relations Act 2012. SIPTU lobbied for the legislation so that the Employment Regulation Orders (EROs) and Registered Employment Agreements (REAs) could be put on a sound legal footing.
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SIPTU concerned by working conditions at Shannagh Bay Nursing Home
SIPTU has referred concerns over working conditions in Shannagh Bay Nursing Home in Bray, Co. Wicklow, to the Labour Relations Commission.
Issues of concern include staff not receiving payment for leave, being requested to pay for training which is conducted during time off, being expected to be on the premises for 30 minutes extra each day without additional pay, the failure to provide secure changing facilities and the irregular payment of wages.
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Congress says work pressures can contribute to drug and alcohol misuse
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions said on Wednesday (10th October) that employers must recognise that stressful, unsocial, monotonous or highly-pressurised work environments can contribute to drug or alcohol misuse by employees.
Congress Legislation & Legal Affairs Officer, Esther Lynch encouraged employers “to sit down with workers and their unions to identify if a person’s job, or the way in which work is organised might be contributing to alcohol or drug misuse.”
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Construction Industry Compliance
Labour councillor, Anton McCabe, has joined forces with Labour Senator Denis Landy and SIPTU to disseminate information to councillors throughout the country on the importance of compliance within the construction industry.
Cllr McCabe says that employers within the industry who fail to fully comply with the Registered Employment Agreement for the construction industry are putting their employees at risk, without pensions, sick pay, injury benefits and mortality benefits.
From left: Anton McCabe and Denis Landy
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Central Bank has been part of the problem not the solution
Last week’s call by the Central Bank for a cut in wages across the economy was a response to the catastrophic economic crisis which was brought about by the banking sector. It was allowed to happen not least because the same Central Bank was asleep on the job.
These people who bear the primary responsibility for what is almost certainly the biggest banking collapse in history relative to the size of the economy have persisted in pursuing a strategy that has made the mess they created worse with each passing day.
Unit labour costs in Ireland have improved by about 19% relative to our main trading partners since the collapse of 2008. Exports continue to perform steadily despite economic stagnation across Europe. This stagnation is the result of similar policies to those which the Central Bank continues to advocate.
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CSO report reveals Ireland’s high prices and unemployment compared to EU neighbours
The Republic of Ireland is the fifth most expensive country in the EU, with consumers paying 17% more than the EU average, accruing to a new Central Statistics Office (CSO) report. The CSO Measuring Ireland's Progress 2011 report published on Wednesday (10th October), found that only Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Luxembourg had higher consumer prices than Ireland last year.
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Sinn Féin calls for €13 billion investment in jobs
Investment in indigenous industry and infrastructure are central to an ambitious jobs plan published by Sinn Féin on Thursday (11th October). Sinn Féin spokesperson for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Peadar Tóibín said: “In the last four years Ireland has shed more jobs than any other western state per capita since the Great Depression. Last year the economy lost 33,400 jobs. In 2011 our communities lost 87,000 to emigration.
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The Working Rich Phenomenon: Top Incomes in Germany
In today’s article, Christina Anselmann and Hagen Krämer discuss the working rich phenomenon and rising income differences in Germany.
They argue that the reasons or theories that are predominantly put forward do not fully explain these issues. They conclude that it is doubtful that rising top incomes in Germany are economically and socially sustainable.
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Che’s daughter at Liberty Hall
Dr Aleida Guevara March, daughter of the Argentinian-born Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara and his wife Aleida March, addressed a packed Liberty Hall on Monday (1st October) during her recent visit to Ireland during which she launched the English version of her mother’s book ‘Remembering Che: My Life with Che Guevara.’
Dr Guevara who is a paediatrician at the William Soler Paediatric Hospital in Havana, spoke movingly of her mother, also Aleida and Che who met when they were both activists in the 26th July Movement in Cuba in the mid-1950’s and of their deep relationship before her father was executed in Bolivia in 1967.
James Connolly Heron, grandson of 1916 leader James Connolly, gives Dr. Aleida Guevara (right) daughter of the Argentinian-born Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara, a description of the historical importance of 16 Moore Street and The 1916 Easter Rising and made her an honorary member of the Save Number 16 Moore Street Campaign.
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FEPS/TASC Autumn Conference
There are now only a few places remaining for the forthcoming FEPS/TASC Autumn Conference, which will take place in the Croke Park Conference Centre on Friday and Saturday, 19th-20th October.
Speakers over the two days will include Dr Michael Förster of the OECD, Dr Michael Dauderstädt of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Chrysa Leventi (Universities of Essex and Athens), Prof George Irvin (University of London), Dr Sean Healy (Social Justice Ireland), Ann Pettifor (Director, PRIME; Fellow, New Economics Foundation), Zoe Lanara (Greek Confederation of Trade Unions), Faiza Shaheen (New Economics Foundation), Prof David Jacobson (DCU), Dr Nick McDonald (TCD), Prof Terrence McDonagh (NUIG), Dr Tom Healy (NERI) and Stewart Lansley (author, The Cost of Inequality).
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Unveiling of Bob Doyle Mural
Anti Facist Action Ireland celebrated their 21st birthday on the first weekend of October with the unveiling of a mural of international brigadier Bob Doyle by his close friend and historian, Harry Owens on North King Street in Dublin close to where Bob was born.
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IMF Report shows radical change in Budget plans required
The IMF’s World Economic Outlook admisssion that it underestimated the impacts of austerity measures on the Irish Economy shows that the claim that austerity policies will improve Ireland’s deficit and get us out of the recession is fundamentally flawed.
The IMF report shows that Ireland had the second highest austerity measures in the developed world in 2010. It’s forecasts for economic growth for Ireland are well below the Government’s predictions.
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Tony O'Reilly Jnr quizzed on BBC's 'Today' programme about Ireland's bad oil deal
By William Hederman
The BBC appears to be more clued in to the realities of Ireland’s mismanagement of our oil and gas resources than are many people here in Ireland.
On Wednesday (10th October, 2012) the CEO of Providence Resources, Tony O’Reilly Jnr, was interviewed live on BBC Radio 4’s flagship current affairs programme, 'Today', following the company’s announcement that its Barryroe field off Cork will yield 280 million barrels of oil. The presenter quizzed O’Reilly about the bad deal Ireland will get from production of Irish oil.
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LASC organises FETAC course
 The Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC) is organising a FETAC 5 Latin American Development Issues Course in Dublin. For information about the course click here: http://www.lasc.ie/node/635/ This is a highly regarded course that covers issues such as labour rights, indigenous rights, food sovereignty, gender, etc. in Latin America. The course begins on the 6th November and registration continues until Thursday, 25th October. Tel: LASC at 01 6760435
For more information log onto: www.lasc.ie
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SIPTU Basic English Scheme
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Jim Larkin Credit Union
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SIPTU Membership Services
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Karan Casey Album
Hey Folks,
I am in the process of making a new album and I am looking for help in funding it. I have started a campaign on the crowdfunding website www.kickstarter.com. In the absence of any significant record company involvement in traditional and folk music this seems to be an ideal way to my fans involved in the creation of the album. People will pledge money which will enable me to arrange, record, mix, manufacture and market the album as well as pay all the musicians involved. In return they will receive rewards which range from a simple thank you or download of the album, up to playing concerts in people's houses, singing lessons over Skype and recording on someone's album.
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