NEWS YOU CAN USENION POST

AUGUST 2012

PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE IRISH CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONSTHE

U

CONGRESS has claimed the state-led Stimulus Plan announced lastmonth was “good news for Irishworkers” and predicted it would, ifimplemented, boost both growthand private sector confidence.

Chief economist Paul Sweeneypointed out that Congress had beena long-time advocate of such a planand described it as “an importantstep in Ireland’s recovery”.

Mr Sweeney said the 'synchro-nised recession' in Europe and theUS was being compounded by deflationary policies.

"Overall, the level of austerity is failing, choking growth and jobs.The best solution is to change policy,not to try harder. This antidote of in-vestment could greatly aid recovery.

“The package is, of course, in response to the growing recognition,

even by the advocates of austerity, of the need for a change in medicine,for the injection of growth measures. Even at our last twomeetings with the Troika, there wasrecognition of the need for someform of domestic stimulus.”

Congress has proposed a targeted, frontloaded, strategic investment of at least €3bn eachyear over the next three years on

top of a committed public capitalprogramme. Mr Sweeney said: “Thisannual boost would be worth almost2% as a share of GDP to the Irisheconomy. Our objective is to delivermuch needed strategic infrastruc-ture at a fair cost that, where possi-ble, would be kept off the state'sbalance sheet. This would expect togenerate in the order of 30,000 jobsper annum. CONTINUED PAGE 2

STIMULUS PLAN‘IS GOOD NEWSFOR WORKERS’

...but don’t flog off those key state assetsCONGRESS chief economist PaulSweeney, left, has again queriedwhy “good viable Irish compa-nies” should be sold off duringthe downturn as a means of paying off private banks' debtsor even as a way of part-fundingthe stimulus package.

He told The Union Post: “Ouralternative is to sell bonds in theNew Era State Holding Com-pany – not flog off fine compa-nies to predators who will shiftthe management and technicalfunctions abroad. In the contextof our debts, the capital to be

raised is puny, especially in adeep recession.”

Mr Sweeney admitted thatCongress’ plan was “much moreambitious” but did reiterate thatthe Stimulus Plan, announced onJuly 17 was a “big step in theright direction”.

TRANSPORT

MILLION850€

EDUCATION

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JUSTICE

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HEALTH

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Guess who Michael Dhad over for tea?FIND

OUTINSIDE

2 THE UNION POST y August 2012

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Northern Ireland Committee Irish Congress of Trades Unions4-6 Donegall Street Place, Belfast BT1 2FN, Northern IrelandTel: 02890 247940 Fax: 02890 246898Email: info@ictuni.org Web: www.ictuni.org

Irish Congress of Trade Unions31/32 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, Republic of IrelandTel: +353 1 8897777 Fax: +353 1 8872012Email: congress@ictu.ie www.ictu.ieUNION POST

THE

CONGRESS has outlined toTroika officials why rising unemployment, “flatlininggrowth” and a 26% collapse indomestic demand meant thepace of the adjustment pro-gramme had to be slowed toprevent further damagebeing done to the economy.

General secretary DavidBegg insisted the key objec-tive was to do “no furtherharm” and then to invest “tooffset some of the damage already done” to create jobsand boost domestic demand.This, he added, meant thatthe Republic’s “adjustmentperiod” had to be extendedto 2017. Speaking beforemeeting with the Troika on

July 9, Mr Begg said: "If westay on the planned trajec-tory it is almost certain thatgreater damage will be done.

“By slowing the pace of adjustment we could avoiddeepening the slump, while a major investment pro-gramme could offset some ofthe damage, in terms of joblosses and collapsed domesticdemand."

The Congress chief alsoslammed those who werecalling for even tougher austerity policies and warnedthis approach would “provecatastrophic”. He said: "Someclaim that we need to followthe example of the Baltic

states andadopt ahyper-austerityprogramme.

“But a newCongressstudy TheBaltic Fallacy,right, showsclearly thatIreland would not benefitfrom adopting this model andthat there is little in common between Ireland and thosestates.

“As the publication says,the idea that we have any-thing to learn from thathyper-austerity model is acomplete and total fallacy.”

http://www.ictu.ie/download/pdf/baltic_fallacy_june_2012.pdfREAD THE BALTIC FALLACY AT...

Extend adjustmentperiod, Troika told

EUROPE can only “move forward” from the “spiral ofcrises” impacting it by strength-ening “cohesion and solidarity”,the European Trade UnionConfederation has claimed.

ETUC general secretaryBernadette Ségol, right, madethe comments after Europeantrade union leaders met in Juneto back a new Social Compactfor Europe.

The compact is based onthree elements – social democ-racy – in particular, respect forcollective bargaining; economic

governance serving sustainablegrowth and quality employ-ment; economic and social jus-tice, through redistributionpolicies, taxation and socialprotection.

Ms Ségol said: “Europe todayis caught in the austerity trap.Budget cuts are deepening therecession and, in turn, creatingbigger deficits. This deteriora-tion in public finances isprompting governments –under pressure from Europe –to strengthen austerity meas-ures. The vicious circle is com-

plete and the trap is snappingshut.” She pointed out thatthree years of pursuing an austerity agenda across Europehad only led to rocketing unemployment, economic stagnation, rising inequality, theemergence of a new class of‘precarious’ workers and, ultimately, social despair.

Europe had to radicallychange course, Ms Ségolwarned, to implement policiesthat promote growth to meetthe “challenges of sustainableprosperity”.

CONGRESS general secretary David Begg haswarned EU Commission President JoseManuel Barroso that current economic policies were “stunting growth” in Ireland and damaging prospects of a recovery.

He was part of a delegation of union leaders, headed by ETUC General SecretaryBernadette Ségol, that met with powerbro-kers in Brussels in June.

Mr Begg told Barroso, right, that recoveryin Ireland would be “impossible” while “unemployment remained at record levels and the taxpayer was forced to foot the billfor failed private banks.”

He said it was “imperative that measuresare taken to stimulate domestic demand andcreate jobs, as has already been proposed byCongress.” Mr Begg also met with Employ-ment Commissioner László Andor, EuropeanCouncil President Herman Van Rompuy andMartin Schulz, the President of the EuropeanParliament.

Unions launch Social Compact forEurope to escape trap of austerity

Begg warns Barroso on jobsDavid Begg at Social Compactlaunch in BrusselsPictures: ETUC, European Parliament

FROM PAGE 1It would begin to offset the deflationary impact of fiscal austerity, which has already taken€24.4bn out of the economyover the past four years.

"For this to work well, it mustbe implemented with care. Publicprocurement must be clever. Itmust deny fly-by-night companiesfrom inside or outside the statethe opportunity to maximiseprofits by importing cheap labourand undercutting good local employers.

"It must be used to maximiseopportunities for Irish companiesand workers in order to reducethe social welfare bill, to help employment and revenue-generation in Ireland.

“The stimulus should also provide an opportunity for newapprentices and those who havebeen unable to finish their training because of the down-turn.”

Stimuluspackage‘good news’

3August 2012 y THE UNION POST

Picture: TU

C

REPORT

FINANCE

IBOA chief Larry Broderick haswarned of the “piecemeal dismantling”of Ireland’s banking infrastructure,which he claimed was being done inthe name of “narrow institutional interest” rather than in the interest ofthe general public.

He made his claim in reaction to theJuly 27 announcement by AIB Groupthat 67 branches in the Republic wereearmarked for closure, affecting 340bank officials.

The AIB also identified a further fivebranches of First Trust Bank for closurenorth of the border .

Mr Broderick said: “This has been atraumatic announcement for many ofthese staff – who are facing theprospect of redundancy or relocation.

“It will also come as a major shockto customers in these areas – whohave come to rely on the service fromtheir local branch

“Apart from the impact of these closures on the 72 locations on the island of Ireland, there is also a widerissue of public policy that must be considered – and with it the urgentneed for an integrated strategic approach to Irish banking.”

He continued: “What we are witnessing at the present time is thepiecemeal dismantling of Ireland’s bank-ing infrastructure.

“Our major banks are taking decisions based on their own narrowinstitutional interest – rather than anywider public interest – which could result in large areas becoming bankingno-go areas as far as any physical presence is concerned.

“Far from being ‘over-banked,’ wecould soon arrive at a position wheremany towns around Ireland have anATM and little else.”

‘Our bankinginfrastructureis being takenapart’ – IBOA

Benefits campaign stepped up at Stormont

Pictures: Kevin Cooper/Photoline

UNISON’s PatriciaMcKeown and

Pamela Dooley quiz Stormont

health ministerEdwin Poots

Patricia Poots minister onthe spot over benefit cutsUNISON regional secretary Patricia McKeown button-holedStormont health minister EdwinPoots as he rushed back to workduring the June 25 protest.

And photographer KevinCooper was on hand to capturethe moment. Ms McKeown explained to The Union Post: “Iasked him if he was there to sup-

port the trade union position inopposition to welfare benefit cutsbut he replied that his party hadmade its position clear at West-minster.”

She then challenged the minis-ter about whether he understoodthat his own health budget wouldbe severely stretched by any sharprise in physical and mental health

problems as a result of the cuts.Ms McKeown added: “When

the picture was taken, I was askingMr Poots if he would conduct anequality impact assessement.

“But he refused to answer andrefused to engage any further withus... his parting shot was a remarkabout unions being ‘oppositional-ist’!”

The changes will also see in-creased conditionality and beefed-up sanctions for jobseekers.

It is understood the NorthernIreland variant of the Welfare Reform Bill will undergo full parliamentary scrutiny before theAssembly.

A Congress spokesperson toldThe Union Post: “The welfare re-form agenda represents an assaulton the core principles on which

the benefits system had beenbased. The challenge posed bythese proposed reforms providesthe Northern Ireland Assemblywith a unique opportunity to impact on the formation of socialsecurity policy here for the nextgeneration.

“We hope that this opportunityis seized and maximised and welook forward to working with theAssembly on this important task.”

THE Northern Ireland Commit-tee of Congress recently broughtthe contentious issue of welfarereform to the very steps of Stormont.

Trade unionists from acrossthe North took part in the June25 protest outside ParliamentBuildings.

Currently the Westminstergovernment is pressing aheadwith the most radical shake-up tothe UK’s social welfare system ina generation.

One high-profile measure isthe new benefit known as Univer-sal Credit set to be introducednext year. It replaces six existingmeans-tested benefits and taxcredits for working age people.

Other changes include replac-ing Disability Living Allowancewith a Personal Independence Allowance with the intention ofreducing expenditure by 20% andintroducing what amounts to a‘bedroom tax’ for social housingtenants claiming Housing Benefit.

FULL-time workers in the Northhave the second lowest gross averageearnings in the UK, a GMB reportpublished last month has revealed.

The report used data from the2011 Annual Survey of Hours andEarnings compiled by the Office ofNational Statistics.

It showed that employees workingfull time north of the border earnedjust 83.4% of the UK average of£32,569 in 2011.

Workers in Wales earned margin-ally less at 83.2%.

Reacting to the report, generalsecretary Paul Kenny said: “This GMBsurvey comes at the time when thegovernment is considering regionalis-ing public sector pay which will lowerearnings as many people work in thepublic sector.

“Local economies will suffer aseveryone’s pay is dumbed down tothe lowest common denominator.

“The impact of regionalising publicsector pay would be to reduce theamount of disposable income in eachlocal community and drive them further into recession. Indeed itwould make the recession worse.”

NI wages nearbottom of table

THE UNION POST y August 20124

Picture: ET

UC

THE AFL-CIO has launched a “meet Rom-ney” website to introduce US voters tothe man who would be President.Recently dubbed “Mitt the twit” by TheSun, the Republican Party hopeful is putthrough the AFL-CIO wringer at:

POLISH union Solidarnosc made it clear US presidentialhopeful Mitt Romney got no welcome from them during hisrecent visit to the famous Gdansk shipyards where he metformer union leader Lech Walesa.

The union, which represents 700,000 workers, insisted ithad nothing to do with inviting the Michigan-born multi-millionaire to the place where the Soviet-era strikes wereplayed out during the 1980s.

It highlighted Romney’s anti-union stance and aligned itselfsquarely with the American labour movement.

Andrzej Adamczyk, who heads up Solidarnosc’s interna-tional department, said: "Regretfully, we have learned fromour friends in the American trade union central AFL-CIOabout Mitt Romney's support for the attacks against tradeunions and labour rights.

"In this respect, I wish to express... our solidarity withAmerican workers and trade unions. Solidarity will alwayssupport the AFL-CIO in their struggle for the right of workers to organise and bargain collectively."

Meet with Mitt

http://www.aflcio.org/meetromney

Romney got no invitefrom us - Solidarnosc

CONGRESS has called for the re-introduction of a 12.5% levyon Irish oil and gas resources.

It comes after it was announced in July that Irish oilexploration company ProvidenceResources had found up to 1.6bnbarrels of oil at a site off thecoast of Co Cork.

The discovery was describedby Tony O’Reilly jnr, the firm’schief executive, as “large andsignificant” and much biggerthan had been expected.

Providence Resources is alsoexploring a further five sites offthe Irish coast, including an areaclose to Rathlin Island.

Congress chief economist PaulSweeney wants the levy to be in

addition to the existing Corpo-ration Tax regime in the Repub-lic which he described as“progressive but inadequate” indealing with a major oil or gasstrike. He told The Union Post:“What is taxed today is only the‘profits’ on the business of extraction.

“All developmental lossesfrom other exploration costs canbe offset against these taxableprofits, reducing them dramati-cally, sometimes to zero.”

Mr Sweeney warned: “Thereare too many exemptions underthe current CT regime which canand are manipulated by the accounting profession to reducethis tax to neglible rates.”

12.5% levy call onIreland’s oil & gas

An estimated I.6bn barrels of oil have been found at a site off the Co Cork coast

August 2012 y THE UNION POST 5

PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins haspaid special tribute to the “resilenceand dignity” of former Vita Cortexworkers following the end of theirlong drawn out dispute on May 24.

He made the comments after receiving the workers, who were accompanied by SIPTU vice presi-dent Patricia King and SIPTU generalsecretary Joe O’Flynn, at Áras anUachtaráin on July 17.

The President told them: “The resilience and dignity that youshowed during a difficult and protracted dispute was a great exer-cise in solidarity with each other.

“The ultimate resolution of the

A welcome in the Áras for sit-in heroes

SIPTU general presidentJack O’Connor has warnedthat tens of thousands ofprivate sector workers inthe Republic could losetheir pensions unless the government acts decisively.

He claimed the Mini-mum Funding Standardrules to be enforced fromthe end of the yearthreaten the viability ofschemes covering the pen-sions of 310,000 workers.

Mr O’Connor explained:“Under the rules,trustees of a scheme mustbuy annuities to cover thefuture costs of the pen-sions based on it windingup at current rates.

“However, there hasbeen a dramatic increasein annuity rates which iscrippling the pensionschemes while the regula-tor is also insisting on arequirement that theyhold a reserve of 15% tocover future costs.”

The SIPTU chiefpointed out that othergovernments, includingthe US, Denmark andSweden, had acted to easethe pressure on schemesso they could comply withMFS rules.

He said: “Here, the opposite is the case withschemes required to meeta standard based on thecurrently high annuity

rates. This is supposed tobe designed to ensure thatfunds are sufficiently robust to meet their liabilities.

“In reality, it will more likely result in schemes – in which hundreds of thousands ofworkers have investedtheir retirement savings –being forced to wind up.

“This is blatant sabo-tage of the defined benefitpension schemes in which310,000 private sectorworkers have investedtheir retirement savings.The government must actimmediately to avert this wholly unnecessarydisaster.”

SIPTU chief in pensions warning

dispute that was achieved by peopleof goodwill and good sense workingtogether through the processes ofthe Labour Relations Commissionand achieving an outcome that couldbe accepted as fair and reasonable, isto your great credit, your union andall those who helped you.”

President Higgins said he was “veryconscious” of the “heavy personaltoll” exacted by the 161-day disputebut also emphasised the “broadersolidarity” shown by the public “at atime of great stress and need”.

He added: “May I wish you and allthe workers, every good wish forthe future.”

Vita Cortexworkers end their

sit-in on May 24 Picture:TV3

O’Connor: ‘Sabotage’Picture: Congress

BIG PICTURE

Picture: www.president.ie

THE UNION POST y August 20126

TRADE UNION MANDATE

A CAMPAIGNING & ORGANISING UNIONWEB: EMAIL:www.mandate.ie mandatetradeunion@gmail.com

LOW PAIDWORKERS: PROTECT

YOURSELVES ORGANISENOW!

THE Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has launched ‘PinkPower’ – a free breast health assess-ment initiative for members of its income protection scheme.

And, according to the INMO, it’s thefirst of its kind in the Irish trade unionmovement. President Claire Mahon said: “Latest statistics show that breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer deathamong women in Ireland.

“Around 650 women die from thedisease annually. The good news is thatwhile the incidence of breast cancer isrising, mortality rates are decreasing.

“This new initiative is about healthpromotion, early detection and swifttreatment, if necessary, and it is hopedthat it will make a real difference to thehealth and well being of our members.”

The assessment – which takes approximately 15 minutes – involvesclinical breast examination by a physi-cian and an education session on breast

health awareness. Should there be aneed for a referral for further investiga-tion, such as a mammogram or ultra-sound, this will be carried out in theMater Private Specialist Breast Centre.

Speaking at the June 25 launch,INMO general secretary Liam Doransaid: “We are delighted to be in a position to offer members of our income protection scheme a freebreast health assessment. Everyoneknows someone who has been touchedby this disease.

“We are proud to be the first tradeunion in the country to offer our members this free service.

“We are particularly happy to be giving some care back to the carers,our members, who are working on the frontline, with all the associatedstresses, at this difficult time for ourhealth service.”

A prostate and testicular cancer assessment is also available for malemembers of the scheme.

HEALTH

INMO breast screening driveLiam Doran

and ClaireMahon at

scheme launchPicture: INMO

A VETERAN American labouractivist has thrown his hat inthe ring in the contest to headup the powerful AFL-CIO... at98 years of age!

And New Yorker Harry Kelber, who announced hiscandidacy in June, will haveturned 99 by the time he formally challenges currentpresident Richard L Trumka atthe union’s convention nextSeptember.

Mr Kelber – who editedtwo weekly labour newspapersin the 1930s – insisted goingforward for the big job was“not a frivolous decision”.

He said: “I’m a sincere oldguy, and I can’t in the finalyears of my life give up...”

The former print workerplayed a role in a famous strikethat shut down New York’stop newspapers for 114 daysin 1962/63.

Mr Kelber added: “My can-didacy guarantees that therewill be an actual election, witha printed ballot and seriousdebates on the issues con-fronting American workers andtheir unions at 2013 conven-tion in Los Angeles.”

Harry, 98,going fortop job atAFL-CIO!

Sincere: Harry Kelber

7August 2012 y THE UNION POST

MANDATE has slammed thedecision by Dublin AirportAuthorities to outsource itsdistribution operation tothird party provider Master-link later this year.

According to the union,the DAA has indicated thatstaff will transfer under theTUPE directive 2003 in andaround September.

Divisional organiser Bren-dan O’Hanlon described the

treatment of workers as“nothing short of disgrace-ful”.

He said: "It is an absoluteinsult to workers who as partof an agreement reached in2009 had pay cuts, massivereductions in staffing levels,and greater productivity as aresult of Terminal 2 opening,not to mention the handlingof both Cork and Shannonlogistics.”

DAA outsourcing lashed

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AT YOUR BACK,

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UNIONS representing staff at AerLingus and the Dublin Airport Authority have voted overwhelm-ingly in favour of taking industrial action over pensions.

The ballot, announced on August1, mandates six unions – SIPTU, Impact, Mandate, TEEU, Unite andUCATT – to take industrial action ifeither or both companies allowchanges to be made to the Irish Aviation Superannuation Schemewithout agreement with staff.

Congress industrial officer LiamBerney said: “The result of this ballot

should send a clear message to bothcompanies that staff are determinedto secure their pension entitlementsand are prepared to act to ensurethis is the case.

“It is now up to both companiesto come forward with proposalsthat meet the expectations of members of the IASS.”

He pointed out that unions wereavailable for “meaningful negotia-tions”, adding that the time hadcome for both firms to table “realis-tic proposals... capable of being givenserious consideration”.

Ballot green-light forIASS pensions action

Picture:DAA

All that serves labor

serves the nation.All that harms istreason. If a mantells you he trustsAmerica, yet fearslabor, he is a fool.

There is no America withoutlabor, and tofleece the one is to rob the

other.

wis

ewo

rds

THE UNION POST y August 20128

MORE than a thousandtrade unionists fromacross the world gath-ered in Copenhagen inJune for the setting upof a new global unionfederation that repre-sents 50 million workersin the mining, energyand manufacturing sectors.

IndustriALL GlobalUnion brings togetheraffiliates from three former bodies, the International Metal-workers' Federation(IMF), InternationalFederation of Chemical,Energy, Mine and Gen-eral Workers' Unions(ICEM) and Interna-tional Textiles Garmentand Leather Workers'Federation (ITGLWF).

A key aim of the neworganisation is to buildunion power and con-

front global capital.General secretary

Jyrki Raina, left, said:"We have formed a newunion family of heroes,with strong bonds,ready to stick togetherthrough thick and thin –a new force in globalsolidarity taking up thefight for better workingconditions and tradeunion rights around theworld.”

He vowed to chal-lenge the power ofmultinationals such asRio Tinto and BHP.

"We hope to negoti-ate on a global levelwith the global giants.IndustriALL will fightfor a new model ofglobalisation, a neweconomic and socialmodel that puts peoplefirst, based on democ-racy and social justice."

IndustriALL formed as ‘new union family’

Pictures: IndustriALL

Next general secretary of TUC isupbeat over building alternativeTHE NEXT general secretary ofthe TUC has claimed there is the“best opportunity in a generation”to build a fairer economy thatworks for ordinary people.

Frances O’Grady, left, is set totake over the reins at the TUCwhen Brendan Barber retires atthe end of the year.

The Oxford-born trade union-ist received nominations from 32

unions – representing 96% of totalTUC membership – and will be-come general secretary designateat the organisation’s 144th Con-gress in Brighton next month.

Ms O’Grady said: “This is agreat honour. Never has a strongresponsible trade union move-ment been so needed.

“With austerity policies bitinghard and with no evidence that

they are working, people at workneed the TUC to speak up forthem. We must be the advocatesof the growth and jobs alternative.

“And with the policy prescrip-tions of the last 30 years increas-ingly discredited, we have the bestopportunity in a generation tohelp build a fair, productive andgreen economy that works for ordinary people.”

Need more be said? Speaker at the IndustriALL’s inaugural conference with a back to basics message for delegates in Copenhagen

Picture: TUC

August 2012 y THE UNION POST 9

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THE NUJ has called on the Republic’s communications minister Pat Rabbitte tourgently review what itcalled the “deeply flawed”Broadcasting Act.

It follows last month’sdetermination by theBroadcasting Authority ofIreland that media mogulDenis O’Brien – who already owns a string ofradio stations – did notcontrol Independent News& Media.

Irish secretary SéamusDooley claimed the currentlegislation drew a distinc-tion between “control” and “substantial interest”which he argued was“meaningless in the con-text of national broadcast-ing policy”.

He said: “Mr O’Brien’s ‘substantial interest’ inINM is acknowledged bythe Board of the BAI.‘Substantial interest’ is defined as having ‘suffi-

cient proprietary, financialand voting strength’ in acompany ‘to be able to influence directly or indirectly to an appreciableextent the strategic direction or policy’ of thecompany.”

Mr Dooley, above,pointed out that the BAIBoard was “powerless totake any action” otherthan “to note this on-goingundermining of media diversity”.

Repeating the NUJ’s callfor the setting up of aMedia Commission toprobe all aspects of mediaownership, he added:“There is a need for new legislation and the replacement of the current Broadcast Act, which weview as deeply flawed.

“What we need is abroadcasting policy whichprevents media dominanceand which enables diversemedia to flourish.”

NUJ chief callsfor review of RoIBroadcasting Act

TUC general secretaryBrendan Barber hasclaimed the Tory-Lib Demstrategy is “failing spectac-ularly” after GDP esti-mates for the secondquarter of this year hadshown the UK economyhad contracted by 0.7%.

He warned that govern-ment policies had “wipedout the recovery com-pletely” and pointed outthe economy was nowsmaller than when theCameron and Clegg tookoffice two years ago.

“The recent GDP fall isas bad as anything we sawfollowing the 2008 financial

crash. The UK is on coursefor a longer depressionthan the 30s, the tightestsqueeze in living standardssince the 20s and morethan a million young people are currently out of work.

'Ministers cannot just repeat the same old excuses – Europe, bankholidays and the previousgovernment – for the economic mess they arepresiding over.

“They need to changecourse as their policies arecausing permanent damageto our economy.”

Barber: UK govt totallywiped out the recovery

Accordingto economist

Emmanuel Saez,93% of all income

gains in the US since 2009have gone to the top 1%

DID YOU KNOW?

THE UNION POST y August 201210

Report shows only Republic had better health outcomes

Priorities: Gerry Breslin

ASTI’s new president GerryBreslin has outlined his key priorities for the comingyear – protecting the educa-tion service from further cutsand improving the pay andconditions of recently qualifiedsecond-level teachers.

Mr Breslin, a business andmaths teacher at ColaisteCholmcille, Ballyshannon, CoDonegal, told The Union Post: “I will work to convince politi-cians that the cuts approach isnot working.

“Cuts have failed to delivereconomic recovery, but havedeepened the recession andaccompanying social crisis.

“We have the capacity toturn this country aroundthrough sound investment including investment in ouryoung people’s education.

“Young people are ourgreatest natural resource andinvesting in them is vital notonly because we must protecttheir futures, but because it isthe only enduring solution toour economic problems.”

Noting the “extremely difficult time” being faced byyoung teachers, he added:“After qualifying to teach, themajority of second-level teachers spend up to 10 years trying to secure a permanentfull-time position.

“The ASTI has up to 3,000teachers in precarious employ-ment and many are going fromjob to job and school toschool.

“This is a terrible way tobegin a career in teaching. It affects the morale of youngteachers and impacts on theirstudents’ education.”

ASTI

We mustinvest inour youngpeople

Picture: AS

TI

Leading UK trade unionists and supporters gathered at the Houses of Parliament in London last Septemberto protest the controversial Health and Social Care Bill Picture: www.tuc.org.uk.nhs

UNION MAGSNEWSPAPERSYOU CAN

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A NEW comparative study of healthsystems has exploded the myth of a“wasteful” and “inefficent” NHS.

The report, published in the Jour-nal of the Royal Society of Medicine,claimed the UK’s health system saves more lives as a proportion of national wealth than 17 other countries included in the study...apart from the Irish Republic.

Those behind the study wanted totest the hypothesis – often put forward by pundits on the right –that US healthcare is superior to the NHS and 17 other westerncountries in lowering death rates.

Researchers from BournemouthUniversity examined 25 years ofdata, comparing mortality rates from1979 to 2005, to rubbish the view

that the NHS is less efficient and lesseffective.

The results show that in cost-effective terms – economic inputversus clinical output – the Americansystem was one of the least cost-effective in reducing mortality rateswhile the UK was one of the mostcost-effective over the same period.

Prof Colin Pritchard, one of theauthors of the study, claimed thefindings contradicted assertions byUK health secretary Andrew Lansleythat the NHS needed more competi-tion and choice in order to becomemore efficient.

He told The Guardian: "The resultsquestion why we need a big set ofhealth reform proposals ... The system works well. Look at the US

and you see where choice and competition gets you. Pretty dismalresults."

Overall, researchers found thatdeath rates had fallen and longevityincreased across all the countries included in the study – and claimedthat 170,000 people in the UK andhalf a million in the US are alivetoday “that would not have been 25years ago”.

The report’s authors concluded:“It is hoped these results might be aboost to patients and their familiesin every western country but especially those using the NHS, andthat some recognition goes to UKfrontline staff, who over the past 25 years, have achieved more withrelatively less.”

http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2011/08/07/JRSMpaperPritWall.pdfREAD FULL REPORT AT...

US healthcare doesn’thold a candle to NHS!

August 2012 y THE UNION POST 11

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THE Labour Court in theRepublic has recommendedthat special needs assistants who become redundant should be placed on a panel for redeployment to alterna-tive posts as they arise.

It is understood the education department isconsidering the June 25recommendation, described by IMPACT official Philip Mullen as a“breakthrough”.

If implemented, it meansimproved job security andcareer prospects for SNAsand follows a six-year campaign by the union.

The court recommendedthat the SNA panel shouldbe arranged on the basis ofseniority, with redeployedSNAs carrying forwardtheir prior service.

Until now, SNAs havenot had the same job security as other publicservants.

Under existing arrange-ments they are simplymade redundant when aschool no longer needsthem.

Several hundred SNAsface redundancy every yearas the summer term ends,with many facing uncer-tainty over their positionover the summer break.

Mr Mullen said: “What itmeans is that expensivetraining given to SNAs iskept in the system.

“When a job is createdand there is a need for anSNA in a school, then therewill be somebody availablewho is no longer needed inanother school, they willthen be put in the [new]position.

“This will make a hugedifference. It is good forthe children and good foremployees.”

IMPACT hailsredeploymentbreakthroughmove on SNAs

Italy courtruling bodyblow to privateers

Philip Mullen: ‘Huge difference’

Pictures: ETU

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TENS of thousands of Spanish tradeunionists took part in a July 19 day ofaction in protest at new austerity policies being spearheaded by centre-right prime minister Mariano Rajoy.

The general strike, called by tradeunion confederations CCOO andUGT, saw large demos in Barcelonaand Bilbao, while an estimated 100,000people gathered in Madrid’s centralPuerta del Sol square and in thestreets surrounding the parliamentbuildings.

In a statement, the CCOO warnedthe Spanish government that the new round of cuts “would not gounanswered” and that it was “playingwith fire”.

ETUC general secretary BernadetteSegol, who was at the Madrid protest,said: “The announced cuts in public

spending are increasing social anxietyin a country already deeply scarred byausterity policies.

“Austerity measures have shownthat they make the employment situa-tion worse and have impoverished alarge part of the population.

“Often unfair, they solve nothingand open up no prospects for the future.”

Speaking in advance of the day ofaction, TUC general secretary BrendanBarber also pledged his support.

He said: “When governments aredismantling the welfare state, collectivebargaining and social dialogue, andwhile money is found to bail out thebanks, workers have no choice but tounite and protest against the injustice,for however long it will take to makethose in power change their course.”

Spanish govt’sausterity drive‘plays with fire’

ETUC general secretary Bernadette Ségol with CCOO and UGT chiefsIgnacio Fernández Toxo y Cándido Méndez at the Madrid demo Pictures: ETUC

GENERAL STRIKE

ITALY’S Constitutional Courtlast month delivered a blowto a bid to privatise publicservices when it struck downpart of a law enacted by the former Berlusconi-ledgovernment.

The court decided that Article 4 of the Decree Law138 – that sought to explore"the feasibility of a competi-tive management of localpublic services" and push for the liberalisation of “economic activities” – wasunconstitutional.

The decree, passed in August 2011, was deeply controversial as it waspushed through in the face ofwidescale popular opposition.Just months earlier, millions ofItalians had voted massivelyagainst the privatisation of water services in a nation-wide referendum.

A total of 95% votedagainst the move in the June2011 poll. The Italian WaterForum, which has co-ordi-nated the campaign againstprivatisation, described theruling as a “warning” to thecurrent administrationheaded by Mario Monti.

It declared: “Today it hasbeen made clear, once and forall, that there must be respectfor the decision of 27 millionItalians: water and publicservices must be publiclyowned.”

JULY

19ACTION

THE UNION POST y August 201212

COMMUNITY SECTOR

UNIONS have welcomed the decisionof the Department of Social Protectionto partially restore material and train-ing funding to Community Employmentschemes in the Republic.

It follows an intensive lobbying campaign on behalf of the more than22,000 people who work in the sector.

DSP officials confirmed the move toa union delegation at a meeting on July13. It means the total material andtraining budget for 2012 will be€20.5m – an increase of €9.5m overthe allocation announced in the December 2011 budget.

SIPTU sector organiser DarraghO’Connor claimed the move “will ensure no CE scheme will close in2012”. He told The Union Post: “TheDSP decision to review its allocationfollows an intensive seven month tradeunion-led ‘Save Our Schemes’ campaign.

“SIPTU members and activistsbrought their message about the im-portance of CE schemes to politiciansacross the country with delegation visits, mass meetings and open days.

“There was also a key engagementwith Minister for Social ProtectionJoan Burton at an early stage of thecampaign.”

Paddy Quinn, secretary of IMPACT’sCommunity Employment Supervisors'branch added: "This lessens the risk ofany CE scheme closing this year, whichis a great outcome. – but I'd be happierif I knew we were not going to be inthe same situation following the nextbudget in December.

“The campaign to maintain CEschemes, which are a vital value-for-money service both to unemployedpeople and the communities in whichthe live, will continue.”

Unions backDSP fundingmove overCE schemes

ECONOMY

UNITE has called for the setting up of UK National Investment Bank as a top priority to “short-circuit” existing banks that fail to provide credit to businessesseeking to employ more workers.

The latest data for July revealed the worst manufac-turing figures in three years.

General secretary Len McCluskey said: “It shows thatthere is a lack of demand atthe heart of the crisis facingthe UK.

“We need a National Invest-ment Bank that supports smallbusinesses and focuses invest-ment on infrastructure projects, such as a massivehouse construction programmeand supporting a joined-upmanufacturing strategy.”

Mr McCluskey pointed outthat the problem with the government’s new Funding for Lending initiative was that previous attempts to encourage banks to funnel cashto businesses had failed.

He added: “This is becausethe banks are keener on thehealth of their balance sheetsand appeasing their sharehold-ers, rather than acting in thenational interest.

“That’s why a National Investment Bank should be a priority as it would short-circuit the self-interest of the existing banking structurethat has so badly served thiscountry over the last fouryears.”

UK NationalInvestmentBank will create jobs

THE Republic’s Labour Court hasrecommended that workers in-volved in the long-running LaganBrick dispute should be given improved redundancy packages.

The 25 employees have been indispute over severance paymentssince the firm ceased operations atits Kingscourt plant in Co Cavan onDecember 15. Their trade union,SIPTU, referred the issue to the

Labour Court under Section 20 (1)of the Industrial Relations Act(1969) after Lagan Brick refused tojointly refer the matter.

Lagan Brick workers and theirunion representatives were at theLabour Court hearing on July 17,but the company declined to attend.

SIPTU organiser John Regan ad-mitted the firm’s failure to attendhad disappointed the workers but

that they were pleased to get theopportunity to put their side of thestory. He added: "When the LabourCourt issues its recommendationthere will be for the first time anevaluation by an independent bodyof the monetary sum which is at thecentre of the dispute.”

The Labour Court issued its recommendation on July 25 and saidthe workers should be paid their

statutory entitlements as well as anextra week’s pay per year of service.

This extra payment should becapped at €700 per week for dayworkers, €800 for craft workers,and €1,000 for those who hadworked on the night-shift.

Mr Regan said SIPTU had sincewritten to Lagan Brick managementseeking a meeting to discuss imple-menting the recommendation.

Lab Court proposes Lagan Brick resolutionMcCluskey: ‘Joined up strategy’

Councillor Ted Tynan and Jim Nolan unveil commemorativeplaque in John Redmond Street Picture: CC Cork Mother Jones FestivalO’Connor: Extra funds welcomed

MOTHER Jones – one the greatsof the American trade unionmovement – was honoured inher native city of Cork earlierthis month.

A three-day festival of eventswas held to mark the 175th an-niversary of her birth in thecity’s northside.

The emotional heart of thefestival was a moving unveilingof a plaque on her birthday –August 1 – in the Rebel City’sShandon district.

The festival also featured alecture by biographer Prof ElliotJ Gorn and the showing of adocumentary by filmmakerRosemary Feurer as well as aconcert by folk musician AndyIrvine.

Born Mary Harris in 1837,she survived the Famine andemigrated to the US, later mar-rying George Jones with whom

she had four children.But she was no stranger to

tragedy and in 1867 her wholefamily was wiped out in a yellowfever epidemic.

She later involved herself inthe US labour movement andbecame a famous organiser forthe United Mine Workers ofAmerica.

Now dubbed “Mother Jones”,she was described as “the mostdangerous woman in America”and took part in numerous dis-putes, including the “march ofthe mill children” to the homeof Teddy Roosevelt in 1903 andthe 1912 – 1914 mid-Western“coal wars”.

Mary’s activism stretched intoher ninth decade, and tens ofthousands of workers attendedher funeral at the Union MinersCemetery at Mount Olive, Ma-coupin County, Illinois in 1930.

Rebel City honourfor Mother Jones

Picture: CC

Library of C

ongress

Iconic activist:Mother Jones

August 2012 y THE UNION POST 13

Pictures: NNU

NNU use big red bus inMedicare for All drive!MEMBERS of campaigning US union National NursesUnited took to California’s highways in June and July todrive home their Medicare for All message. The three-week tour included town hall meetings and free healthscreenings at 12 cities across the state. Co-presidentKaren Higgins said: “Nurses experience the crisis our patients continue to endure every day. That’s the reasonwe will continue to work for reform that is universal, thatdoesn’t bankrupt families or leave patients in the oftencruel hands of merciless insurance companies.” MARKETS PANIC –

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