NION POSTMARCH 2013

PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE IRISH CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONSTHE

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UK chancellor George Osborne’s slavish belief in “theruinous cult of austerity” hasinflicted terrible harm onworking people in the North,Congress deputy general secretary Peter Bunting hasclaimed.

Osborne’s March 20 Budget statement came on the same day as Northern Irelandrecorded its highest unem-ployment rate in 15 years.

Speaking after the joblesstotal was revealed, Mr Buntingsaid: “Today Northern Ireland’sunemployment rate hit itshighest level since the GoodFriday Agreement – furtherproof that austerity isn’t working, that it is in fact caus-ing lasting damage to theNorthern Irelnad economy.

“In his Budget today GeorgeOsborne sought to reinforcethis discredited strategy. Despite the absence of growthand despite the increase in unemployment and publicdebt, George Osborne sees noreason to change course.

“Today’s unemployment figures give him 17,000 newreasons – the number of people added to Northern Ireland’s official unemploymenttotal over the past year.

“The imposition of an effective wage cut for publicservants will only ensure thateconomic demand is keptdown, ensuring that the private sector cannot ‘take upthe slack’ by employing moreworkers.

“We believe that a real planis needed to invest in real jobsand real growth. The alterna-tive is the slow spiral of decline and stagnation beinginflicted upon the people ofNorthern Ireland by a far-awaychancellor with a far-outdogma – the ruinous cult ofausterity.” UNITE & NIPSA reaction P15

BEGG TELLS EUROCRATS CONFIDENCEIN SOCIAL EUROPE MUST BE REBUILT

CONGRESS general secretary David Begg has warned of a “growing disaffection” with the European project within the trade union movement.Speaking to a gathering of 

EU officials and diplomats in Dublin last month, he said: “It is imperative that confidence in Social Europe be rebuilt.  “Expecting workers and social

welfare recipients to carry the burden of macro-economic adjust-ment is unfair and unreasonable.”

FULL STORY PAGE 2

Osborne’s‘austeritycult’ inflictsmore pain

2 THE UNION POST y March 2013

THE UNION POST is produced by Brazier Media for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions

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

GROWTH must become the firstobjective of policy across the European Union and confidencein ‘Social Europe’ must be rebuilt,Congress general secretary DavidBegg has told an audience of senior EU diplomats.

Speaking at a gathering of EUambassadors and key EU officials,Mr Begg also highlighted thewider impact if the UK left theEU, claiming such a move wouldmark a “critical juncture” for theIrish Republic.

He compared current EU austerity policies to the “needlesssacrifice” of World War I andwarned of a “growing disaffec-tion” with the broader Europeanproject across the Europeantrade union movement.

“Growth must become thefirst objective of policy and actionmust be taken to reflate the European economy.

“It is imperative that confi-dence in Social Europe be rebuilt.Expecting workers and social welfare recipients to carry theburden of macro-economic adjustment is unfair and unrea-sonable.”

Mr Begg pointed out that theIrish bank debt had to be dealt

CONGRESS has slammed a call by SenatorFeargal Quinn for the minimum wage inthe Republic to be scrapped as “misleading,nonsense economics”.

Mr Quinn, founder of supermarket chainSuperquinn, had claimed the €8.65-an-hourrate hampered the creation of new jobs.

But Congress chief economist PaulSweeney hit back.

He said: “Senator Quinn’a claim that theminimum wage acts as some sort of mythi-cal barrier to job creation is utter non-sense and has no basis in economic reality.

“Recession, endless austerity, and a hugebank debt burden are the real barriers tojob creation. Cutting wages doesn’t createjobs, it creates poverty and depressesspending in the economy, particularly theretail sector.”

Mr Sweeney pointed out that “despitefive years of crisis”, Ireland still had thesecond highest cost of living in the EU.

He said: “Unlike Ireland, many Europeancountries do not operate a minimum wagebacked by law – their minimum rates areset by agreement in each sector of theeconomy. This is true of Denmark, Italy, Finland and Sweden where the hourly ratesare higher.

“Germany – which was cited by SenatorQuinn – operates legal minimum pay ratesacross a number of sectors covering mostof the workforce. The opposition SPD isproposing the introduction of a legal, national minimum wage.

Mr Sweeney added: “When you take thisinto account, Ireland’s hourly minimumwage rate falls to about sixth or seventhposition. The minimum wage in France roseto more than €9 an hour in January, whileIceland has increased its rate by 35% in recent years.”

Senator’s callfor min wagecut ‘nonsenseeconomics’

Top UK CEOsshowing littlewage restraintDIRECTORS’ pay in the UK is rising insome cases SEVEN times faster than average wages, new figures have revealed.

The Income Data Services findings, pub-lished on March 3, detailed how take-homepay of top execs in FTSE 100 companies faroutstripped both average wages and therate of inflation last year.

Reacting to the news, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady called for “urgent reform of boardroom pay”.

She said: “Top directors are showing little restraint while millions of workers aresuffering real-term losses to their incomesand are really feeling the squeeze on theirliving standards.

“FTSE 100 directors' pay rose overseven times faster than average wages insome cases last year, with rises well aboveinflation. These bumper settlements bearlittle relation to performance. Allowingworkers a seat on remuneration commit-tees would help inject a much-needed doseof reality into pay-setting.”

with and called for the EU Council agreement of June 29,2012 to be honoured.

That deal committed Europeto breaking the link between private bank debt and sovereigndebt. Ireland has taken on some€64 billion in debt in order torescue the banking system andprevent any threat to the widereurozone banks.

Mr Begg explained that thismeant everyone in Ireland had

already paid almost €9,000, whilethe across the EU the averagecost of the banking crisis was just€192.

He also warned that the totalnumber of people out of workacross the EU – 25 million – was“politically and socially unsustain-able”, adding,“If this is left to fes-ter it will foreclose many otheroptions. If necessary, memberstates must be encouraged to be-come employers of last resort.”

Unions are growing cold onEurope, EU officials warned

ECONOMY

PUBLIC SECTOR

Are you listening, Brussels? Ireland’s debt burden as seen on Feb 9

TENS of thousands of public sector workers in the Republicare to be balloted in the nextfew weeks over whether to accept or reject terms recentlybrokered in Croke Park II negotiations at the Labour Relations Commission.

The state’s public sector payroll will be slashed by €1bn overthree years under the terms ofthe deal.

The agreement also sets outpay cuts for some public servants, increased workinghours, the freezing of incrementsas well as the cutting of premiumpay and overtime.

Other savings will be made bynot replacing retirees andthrough voluntary redundancies.

Various union negotiatingteams have taken contrasting positions on Croke Park II andaccordingly have through theirunion structures issued differingrecommendations to members.

Others, such as the INTO,have decided not to issue anyrecommendation for or againstthe proposals ahead of a ballot ofmembers.

IMPACT, with 63,500 mem-bers, is recommending a Yes

vote. General secretary ShayCody claimed its negotiators hadsucceeded in reducing the sever-ity of management proposals.

SIPTU’s national executivecommittee is also recommendinga Yes vote to the 63,000 of itsmembers who work in the publicsector.

In a March 14 statement, itsaid: “Voting No will not makethe problem go away” andclaimed that voting Yes was the“best strategy for these extraor-dinary times”.

The PSEU, which representsabout 10,000 mid-ranking civilservants, joined IMPACT andSIPTU in calling for a Yes vote.

And the TEEU, which has1,500 members employed in thepublic sector, recommended ac-ceptance of the deal, but warnedgovernment that its memberswere “at the end of their rope”.“After this, there is a line in thesand,” an official added.

The Prison Officers Associa-tion also recommended its 3,300members vote in favour of thedeal while the Garda Represen-tative Association and the Asso-ciation of Garda Sergeants andInspectors have come out against

the deal. The 24/7 Frontline Serv-ices Alliance have described thedeal as “grossly unfair” and “inequitable”.

Other unions have recom-mended their members rejectthe Croke Park II proposals, including Unite, the CPSU, theAssociation of Higher Civil andPublic Servants as well as theINMO and the Irish Medical Organisation.

CPSU claimed its negotiatorshad left the talks table after judg-ing that it was “too deep, toowide and too unfair” to thelower paid in the civil and publicservice and that it was “uncon-nected to the real world experi-ences of such workers”.

UNITE regional co-ordinatorWalter Cullen said the 6,500members of his union who workin the public sector could notendure any more cuts to theirsalaries while AHCPS generalsecretary Dave Thomas said hisunion had “no other otherchoice but to strongly recom-mend a No vote” given the scaleof the pay cut.

Teachers unions IFUT, the TUIand ASTI are also calling for aNo vote.

Differing views on Croke II

3March 2013 y THE UNION POST

WOMEN workers have beenhardest hit by the collapse of domestic demand following the2008 slump, new research carriedout for International Women’sDay has revealed.

Speaking ahead of Congress’annual Women’s Seminar onMarch 8, Dr Micheal Collins of theNevin Economic Research Insti-tute said those women still in theworkforce were worst hit becauseof their over-representation insectors that had suffered mostfrom the 26% fall in domestic

demand. “Reduced demand in sectors of the economy where female participation is higher – retail, catering – has impacted onthe numbers of women at work,the number of hours available forthem to work and, consequently,the income of their households.”

Dr Collins, left, claimed thathigh concentrations of women inlow paid and precarious employ-ment also contributed to ongoinggender inequality and the genderpay gap.

“The gender pay-gap persists in

Ireland. Women earn on average14% less than men and thiswidens further when they havechildren. Clearly, the issues of lowpay and precarious employmentmust be addressed if we are tomake any tangible progress on reducing gender inequality.

“In this context, the provisionof decent work and a living wageis of great significance. Sustainablerecovery and more equal societiescannot be built on the back ofprecarious employment and lowwage jobs,” he added.

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Women hit hardest since 2008 crashThe Women’s Seminar heard moving first-hand accounts from survivors of the Magdalene Laundries,including Mary Carrington, right.  Delegates stood and clapped in an emotional tribute to the women

CONGRESS WOMEN’S SEMINAR 2013

TRADE UNION activists fromacross Ireland flocked to LibertyHall, Dublin, on March 9 – Interna-tional Women’s Day – to attendCongress’ annual Women’s Seminar.

This year’s theme was ‘Buildingon the legacy of 1913 – Facing upto modern challenges’ and Con-gress president Eugene McGloneset the historic tone in his openingaddress, referencing the contribu-tion of a number of women whohad risen to prominence in theIrish labour movement.

In a wide-ranging address, healso touched on the under-repre-sentation of women in leadershiproles within the movement.

He said: “Examine the structuresof the trade union movement, look-ing beyond the headline figures of50% plus women membership – andwe will see that obviously the figureis not reflected in the visible leader-

ship.” Mr McGlone told the audi-ence: “No matter what gloss we puton things it is impossible to ignorethe fact that in its 50-year historyonly two women have been electedpresident of ICTU, both from UNI-SON, both from the North, and inthe 60 years preceding only two hadbeen elected as president of theITUC, when the office was for a one-year term.”

And he asked why had the Repub-lic had not yet produced a femalepresident of ICTU.

Underlining the importance of en-suring the “public face” of the tradeunions “reflects our constituents inall ways, including gender”, he sug-gested that leaders must be chosenbecause of their ability to lead.

“I am only comfortable being rep-resented by people of ability not ofspecific gender,” he added.

“The title of this seminar is not

designed, however, to be an invitationto merely look back in anger, it mustbe about what we all need to worktowards to achieve real genuine in-volvement by more trade unions –particularly women in their unions.”

Concluding, he told activists: “If Isuppose there is one lesson thatmust be learnt from 1913 and thepast century, it is that the time isnow, women won’t wait, or asmother would often say – she waslike time and tide, she waited for noman. Carpe Diem.”

Betty Tyrell Collard, of DublinTrades Council, spoke to the seminar about the increasing privatisation of public services andin particular the impact this washaving on women.

Congress legal affairs officer Esther Lynch outlined to delegatesthe ongoing battle to secure collec-tive bargaining rights for workers in

the Republic. In the afternoon, delegates heard harrowing storiesfrom a number of women who hadworked in the infamous MagdaleneLaundries.

Colombian human rights activistGloria Amparo Suarez also spokeabout her experiences working forthe Women Against Violence Organisation (OFP).

She told delegates about howshe had recently received a deaththreat from right-wing paramili-taries. They had delivered photosof her two teenage sons to herfront door with a warning that theywould be killed if she did not leavethe OFP.

Sarah King, ETUC, and EmerCostello MEP also discussed theissue of gender equality at EU level,including Irish goverment plans totranspose the Parental Leave Directive.

Building on the legacy of 1913McGlone: women unrepresented at top levels Suarez: living in fear from right-wing terrorists McKeown: paid tribute to Inez McCormack

THE UNION POST y March 20134

A DELEGATION from the Ameri-can Federation of Teachers visitedIreland last month to find out more about the education systemhere and meet with fellow trade unionists in the teaching profession.

The delegation, which includedthe union’s president Randi Wein-garten and vice presidents DickIannuzzi and Mary Cathryn Ricker,also wanted to outline how theAFT had developed a number ofkey strategies to revitalise theunion – which now has a member-ship of 1.5 million.

The AFT represents educatorsfrom right across the spectrum inthe US, including kindergarten, firstand second level teachers andhigher education lecturers.

A round table discussion, whichincluded TUI, ASTI and INTO officials, was held at the TUI headoffice in Dublin.

A TUI spokesperson said: “Wewanted to share information andideas on industrial relations struc-tures in the Irish education system,as well as outline the whole area ofeducation cutbacks and how tradeunions can respond.”

Ms Weingarten explained howthe AFT had encouraged membersto tell their stories, had forged linkswith other education stakeholdersand focused on developing leader-ship within the union.

She said the AFT paid particularattention to “ideas” and “being partof the solution”.

“We need to solve problems asopposed to win arguments,” MsWeingarten added.

This point was echoed by MsRicker: “We never let them hear ussay no. we say how about?”

She also flagged up the need for union members to “relearn activism”.

“We need to see union mem-bership like a health club member-ship, the more you put in, themore you will get out.”

During their stay, the AFT dele-gation, accompanied by TUI gen-eral secretary John MacGabhann,visited a number of schools andspoke to pupils, teachers, manage-ment and parent representatives.

The Americans were particu-larly interested in the level of engagement by schools with thecommunities they serve.

They also remarked upon theextent to which students seemedgenuinely motivated by the cultureof the school and were impressedby the breadth of curriculum provision.

US teachersunion sends fact-findingdelegationto Ireland

www.fairshop.ie

‘We need to see union membershiplike health club membership – themore you put in, the more you get out’

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AFT chief Randi Weingarten, above centre and below right, meets with students fromDeansrath Community College, Clondalkin, during the recent visit by AFT delegation

Talking class issues: the AFT visiting delegation pictured with TUI, INTO and ASTI officials 

March 2013 y THE UNION POST 5

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or euro equivalent

www.steljes.com/ie/competition

THE UNION POST y March 20136

UNITE members demonstrate outside theInternational Airlines Group offices atHeathrow Airport on March 6 in support offellow workers at Iberia.Staff at the Spanish airline held two five-

day walkouts in the past month over man-agement plans to lay off 4,500 employees –nearly one in four of the total workforce.General secretary Len McCluskey, inset,

said he had a simple message to IAG chief executive Willie Walsh: “The message fromBritain to IAG is clear – we are all Iberia.”UNITE national of-

ficer Oliver Richard-son added: "TheSpanish workers aredefending their jobsand their airline froman unacceptable attack. BA cabin crewknow only too wellthe pain and thestruggle the Spanishworkforce are havingto endure.” These comments

were made before anagreement wasreached on March 13 after the Spanish government brought in an independent mediator. Strikes scheduled for later thismonth have been called off.ITF civil aviation secretary Gabriel Mocho

said: “We are glad to see the airline acceptthe phased restructuring deal that was onoffer all along. We know that both the airlineand the Spanish government consider it asfeasible and sensible now as it was when theunions first suggested it.”

Memo to Willie:We are all IberiaPi

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UNITE workers show solidarity with Iberia colleagues, while Willie Walsh, below, watches on

March 2013 y THE UNION POST 7

Nissan, we’re gonna grow this union

� PROMOTING EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS � PROTECTING WORKERS’ RIGHTS

� PROMOTING JOBS � PROTECTING JOBSwww.unitetheunion.com

AS PART of celebrations marking its 50th anniver-sary, the Irish Federation of University Teachers is sponsoring a €1,000 award for excellence inwriting on the theme of Higher Education or related to Higher Education.

The award, which will be made early next yearcovers work published across Ireland North andSouth from December 31, 2012 to December 31,2013. Eligible submissions include a news report,

article or series of articles published in a newspa-per, magazine, book or pamphlet, a programme orseries of programmes featured in the broadcastmedia or material published on the internet oron blogs. Entries may be made by the person whoproduced it or by any other person provided theproducer of the work consents to its submission.

Submissions will be judged by Press Ombuds-man Prof John Horgan, a former Professor of

Journalism at DCU, and ex-University CollegeCork VP Prof Áine Hyland. Nominees shouldsubmit five copies of the work along with a cover-ing letter explaining why the award is merited.

Nominations, which can be made by post or email, should be sent to IFUT general secretary Mike Jennings at the union’s offices, 11 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 or emailed to generalsecretary@ifut.ie

IFUT sponsors €1,000 media award

EU Directive is a ‘missed opportunity’CONGRESS has claimed the Irishgovernment’s March 8 transpositionof an EU Directive on Parental Leaverepresents a “missed opportunity” totackle parental inequality in a morecomprehensive manner.

Assistant general secretary SallyAnne Kinahan said: “The minimalistapproach adopted in transpositionwill copperfasten inequalities in theworkplace and the home in relationto parental leave and childcare.

“We know the gender pay gapwidens significantly when womenhave children. Ireland falls below theEU 15 in relation to leave and child-care support, which in turn ensureswomen remain over-represented inlower paid work. Fathers in Irelandhave no right to paternity leave,which means the burden falls prima-rily on women.”

She added: “Government has com-mitted to consolidating all family leavelegislation into one Act. Congress be-lieves any such process should seekto rebalance care duties to ensurethere is greater equality. A statutoryright to paternity leave would be astep in this direction.”

The directive sets out an increasein parental leave from three to fourmonths with the extra month beingnon-transferrable between parentsand the right to request flexibleworking arrangements upon the re-turn from leave.

WORKERS from a Nissanplant in Mississippi trav-elled all the way to Switzer-land to appeal to visitors atthe Geneva Auto Show to“look beneath the shine” of the Japanese car manu-facturer.And they held a tree

planting ceremony outsidethe auto show venue onMarch 7 to mark the event.According to IndustriALL

Global Union, Nissan USA

has denied its employees in Mississippi a fair unionelection as workers attempt to organise there.Nissan workers outside

of the US are unionised.Speaking at the cere-

mony, car worker MichaelCarter described the situa-tion he and his colleaguesfaced.“Nissan lets us know,

they don’t want a union inMississippi,” he said.

“They imply the plantwill close if we support aunion. We need a fairprocess so that workers canmake up their own minds.”Fellow worker Chip

Wells, who also spoke atthe ceremony, said: “Wewant to work together withNissan. It is a good com-pany that makes good cars.With a union representingus we can make better carsand be more productive.”

Picture: UAW

PARENTAL LEAVE

THE UNION POST y March 20138

TRADE UNION MANDATE

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

LOW PAIDWORKERS: PROTECT

YOURSELVES ORGANISENOW!

INVESTMENT in teachers is essen-tial if the Northern Ireland economyis to be driven forward, it has beenclaimed.

INTO northern secretary GerryMurphy made the comments duringthe union’s northern conference inDerry on February 27.

He said: “INTO is about repre-senting teachers and serving educa-tion as a whole. Our message istwo-fold; firstly, teachers wish tohave their overall contribution to society acknowledged and secondly,a significant investment in the teach-ing profession is a meaningful waythis can be achieved.

“INTO has led the demands for arefreshed teaching workforce todrive the Northern Ireland economyforward. Such a workforce must bevalued and motivated.

“We must reform our employ-

SECOND-level schoolprincipals are increas-ingly engaged in “fire-fighting” because of cutsand have less and lesstime to manage theirschools, it has beenclaimed.John O’Donovan made

the comments to 140principals and deputyprincipals gathered inAthlone for an ASTIseminar on March 6.Mr O’Donovan, who

chairs the union’s princi-pals and deputy princi-pals committee, said:“At a time when strongleadership is more vitalfor schools than everbefore, principals anddeputy principals are increasingly tied-upwith trying to cover upthe cracks caused by education cuts.“They are fulfilling the

duties of retired postholders who have notbeen replaced. They areundertaking extra administrative and pastoral care. “They are engaged in

additional fundraisingactivities due to cuts tothe student capitationgrant. “In some cases princi-

pals and deputy princi-pals are teaching classesas a result of reducedteacher numbers.”He claimed this was

happening at a timewhen schools needed“strong leadership ifthey are to continuallyadapt and innovate”. 

Why it makes sense to invest

INTO chair Mary Dorman and northern secretary Gerry Murphy sharea joke with Stormont education minister John O’Dowd, centre, at theunion’s northern conference. Mr O’Dowd was guest speaker at theevent in Derry. During his address to delegates, the Minister said he was “determined to take action to break the link between social disadvantage and educational underachievement” Picture: Kevin Cooper/Photoline

EDUCATION

ment processes to ensure unem-ployment for newly-qualified teach-ers becomes a thing of the past; thatwe invest in continuing professionaldevelopment for teachers and thatwe support those who wish to leavethe profession after a lifetime ofservice to do so with dignity.”

Earlier delegates roundly rejectedany attempt to impose regional performance pay on teachers in theNorth.

Speaking after a vote on the issue,Mr Murphy said: “The message fromthis conference to those in author-ity is NO to any form of regionalpay or payment by results.

“During this debate we have hadclearly articulated the views of theteaching profession that regionaland performance pay are divisiveand will not improve pupil perform-ance in any shape or form.”

Principals & deputiestied up by‘fire-fighting’due to cuts

9March 2013 y THE UNION POST

The Irish Federation of University Teachers / Cónaidhm Éireannach

na Múinteoirí Ollscoile is the only dedicated Trade Union andProfessional Association in Ireland that consistently defendstraditional University values such as academic freedom and theneed for pure research.

The Trade Union and Professional Association for University teachers and related grades

Irish Federation of University Teachers /Cónaidhm Éireannach na Múinteoirí Ollscoile

11 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.

Main ’phone: (01) 661 0910’Phone/Fax: (01) 661 0909

E-mail: admin@ifut.iegeneralsecretary@ifut.ie

Website: www.ifut.ie

Primary objects:

• The advancement of higher education and research

• The defence and promotion of academic freedom

• The protection and development of terms and conditionsof employment

• The safeguarding and encouragement of professional interests

• The securing of preferential rates for members in insuranceand loan schemes.

SEVEN former Sunday Tribune jour-nalists have received payments ofnearly €160,000 between themafter a two-year battle waged by theNUJ.

The payouts follow a number ofsuccessful hearings at the RightsCommissioner Service of theLabour Relations Commission.

The Sunday Tribune folded in Feb-ruary 2011 with employees only receiving statutory entitlements.

Other workers, who bossesclaimed were self-employed, weretold they were not entitled to any-thing.

At the time, NUJ Irish secretarySéamus Dooley said the closure ofthe title meant "a light had been ex-tinguished” and that Irish journalism

had been “significantly diminished”.The NUJ fought hard to prove

that the journalists the companyclaimed were freelance were actu-ally employees and were thereforeentitled to annual leave pay, publicholiday pay and written terms ofemployment.

Once the NUJ proved they wereemployees on these issues, it fol-lowed they would also be entitledto redundancy and minimum noticepay.

The NUJ won all the cases butthere was an 18-month delay in securing payment from the Depart-ment of Social Protection.

NUJ assistant organiser, IanMcGuinness said: “This has been along fight on behalf of our members

NUJ wins €160k for ex-Tribune journosbut eventually they got their entitle-ments. Being told you have no jobany more is bad enough but to addinsult to injury, our members werealso told by the company that theyweren’t entitled to anything becausethey were not employees.

“Redundancy is stressful enoughwithout the pressure of having tofight for nearly two years for yourentitlements.

“The NUJ is a fighting union andwe fought for two years to makesure all of our members got whatthey were entitled to.

“I’m just relieved that the sevenmembers we represented can nowput it all behind them and carry onwith their careers.”

Following the closure of thepaper, more than a 100 peoplestaged a show of solidarity outsidethe Tribune’s Dublin offices on Febru-ary 24, 2011 as staff gathered to col-lect their final pay cheques.

One employee, who had workedat the title for 20 years, spoke toTrade Union TV after collecting hischeque. He said: “It was a sad day inthe office this morning. We pickedup our final pay cheque but to comedown here in the open air and seeso many people from other papersand other unions. It’s fantastic, it’s abit of an uplift actually. I feel a lotbetter than I did an hour ago.”

McGuinness: NUJ ‘a fighting union’

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SIPTU is to launch a national cam-paign to defend the Republic’sunder-threat community sector.

The campaign will initially involvethe lobbying of politicians as well asinforming local communities of howgovernment plans to “rationalisestructures” will impact on commu-nity jobs and services.

SIPTU sector organiser Darragh

O’Connor claimed the plan, announced in the Dail last monthby Environment Minister PhilHogan, would mean 2,000 workersin the sector would face “an uncer-tain future”.

He warned: “The local govern-ment reform document, Putting People First, proposes an ‘alignment’between local authorities and local

development companies that willhave major implications for bothworkers and local community serv-ices. Under the minister’s plans thefuture of over 50 local develop-ment companies is uncertain andhis proposals to align these serviceswithin local government structuresmay also put millions of euros ofEuropean funding at risk.”

SIPTU community sector defence drive launched

CONGRESS vice presidentJohn Douglas has welcomedIrish government proposalsto criminalise forced labour.

In January, the Minister forJustice and Equality Alan Shatter published the generalscheme of the Criminal Law(Human Trafficking) (Amend-ment) Bill including a defini-tion of forced labour that willprovide greater protectionfor victims.

Mr Douglas, who is alsogeneral secretary of Mandate,said:“We welcome the proposal by the governmentto bring forward a law tocriminalise all forms of modern-day slavery. Thissends a strong message toemployers that inhumantreatment of workers willnot be tolerated.

“This law needs to bemonitored to ensure that vic-tims of slavery are identifiedand steps need to be takento ensure the phenomenon is clearly understood by theauthorities.”

The amendment will bringIrish law into line with the International Labour Organi-sation Convention No 29 of1930 on Forced or Compul-sory Labour.

Under the proposed legis-lation the perpetrators of

Congress backsGovt proposalsto criminaliseforced labour

forced labour could face amaximum sentence of up tolife imprisonment.

Migrant Rights Centre Ireland says it has dealt withmore than 180 cases offorced labour in Ireland overthe past six years.

Mariaam Bhatti claims shewas treated as a slave by heremployer.

She said: “My passport wastaken, I was not paid for mywork, I was not allowed togo out of the house and Iwas threatened. I still havenot found justice.

“My fear is that the authorities do not fully understand the modern dayphenomenon and thereforethey are unable to protectus.”

Bhatti: fight for justice

THE UNION POST y March 201310

CONGRESS general secretary David Begg has paid tribute toVenezuelan PresidentHugo Chavez followinghis death after a long ill-ness earlier this month.He said President

Chavez had made anenormous and lastingcontribution to the livesof millions of Venezue-lans.“On behalf of the Irish

Congress of TradeUnions, I wish to extendmy sympathy and condo-lences to the family ofPresident Chavez ontheir loss. That losswill be felt keenlyboth in Venezuela and in wider LatinAmerica.“During his 14 years in

office – despite coupplots and campaigns ofdestabilisation – Presi-dent Chavez virtuallytransformedVenezuelan society,lifting millions out ofpoverty and provid-ing free educationand healthcare tohuge numbers of

people who had neverbefore seen the benefitsof either.  “He has left an endur-

ing legacy in Venezuelaand one which will reverberate across LatinAmerica for many yearsto come.”SIPTU president Jack

O’Connor also expressedhis “deep regret” atPresident Chavez’sdeath.He said President

Chavez’s vision of anegalitarian society “offered a humane andradical alternative to thecollapsing edifice of theneo-liberal project whichhas wreaked such havocacross the globe”.He added: “His death

from cancer at such ayoung age is a sad lossfor all progressive peo-ple and movements thataspire to fairness andjustice in society.”Unite general secre-

tary Len McCluskey saidhis union stood “shoul-der to shoulder” withthe Venezuelan peopleand vowed to work with“like-minded forces” todefend the gains madeunder Chavez “in thepursuit of justice andequality.” He added: “President

Chavez embodied andrepresented a peoplewho refused to acceptthat grinding povertyand social exclusioncould be tolerated whilemassive wealth wasstockpiled in the handsof a few.”

President Hugo Chavez 1952-2013

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‘His legacywill endure’

March 2013 y THE UNION POST 11

ECONOMY

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SIPTU chief Jack O’Connorhas described calls for increasing the eviction rate inthe Republic as “unspeakablecruelty”.It comes as official figures

released earlier this monthshowed that 94,488 house-holds were in mortgage arrears of more than 90 daysin December 2012.Some 143,851 private

households were in someform of arrears – worth atotal of €1.8 billion. Mr

O’Connor called on the government to come up with“better solutions” to themortgage crisis than “revert-ing to the tactics of coloniallackeys in 19th century Ireland”.He said: “The parallels 

between the graphic imagesof post-famine Ireland andthe prospect of our own authorities evicting peoplefrom their family homes topay off debts to those at thetop of the European banking

system are striking. I suspectthat the recent intensifica-tion in calls for such unspeakable cruelty is aboutpandering to the vultures ofthe global banking system inthe context of the effort toreturn to the markets. “We desperately need to

escape the Troika’s straitjacket and access fundingourselves, but descending tothe crucifixion of ordinaryfamilies is a step too far.”

Picture: SIPTU

Eviction call ‘unspeakable cruelty’

UNITED Steel Workers assistant director SalvadorAguilar, left, speaks tounion members outsidethe Mexican consulate inChicago on February 22.This was one of dozens of actions carried out insupport of Los Mineros –the National Miners' andMetalworkers' Union ofMexico – in its fight forlabour and human rights.According to the USW,Mexican workers havefaced escalating violence,persecution, mass dismissals, and ongoing violations of basic rights to form unions, bargaincollectively, strike and defend their rights withoutrepression. Picture: USW

Standing withLos Mineros...

CONGRESS has welcomed the Irishgovernment’s renewed focus on jobcreation in its Action Plan for Jobs2013, but insisted that “significantand real progress” won’t happenuntil the collapse in domestic demand is addressed.

Congress chief economist PaulSweeney called the plan a “smallstep in the right direction” pointingout that it contained some worthyinitiatives.

He added: “But small steps are insufficient – we need giant steps toaddress our jobs crisis. Ireland’s realeconomic problem is the lack of de-mand, especially domestic demandwhich has collapsed by a massive26% in just five years, with the lossof almost 360,000 jobs.”

The 2013 plan outlines a seriesof what the government claims are“disruptive reform” measures designed to have a significant impacton job creation.

These include boosting the num-ber of ICT graduate level profes-sionals and putting in place a €70mEnergy Efficency Fund to support20 major projects over the coming

Congress: Action Plan for Jobs‘small step in the right direction’

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year. Other measures include JobsPlus – where over two years theState will pay €1 of every €4 it costsan employer to recruit a long-termunemployed person off the LiveRegister – and an initiative to encourage more small businesses totrade online.

Moves to encourage growth inthe medtech and healthcare sectorsand changes to the licensing applica-tion system for retailers are also setout in the plan.

Mr Sweeney said: “Congress haspublished its own detailed andcosted action plan for jobs. Thiswould see close to €10 billion invested in job creation over thecourse of three years, with huge dividends for the public purse.

“This sort of investment couldcreate up to 100,000 jobs and savethe state billions. Given the depth of

our crisis, these are the sort ofmeasures that we need to focus onwith unemployment close to 15%and ‘potential unemployment’ nowat 25%, as per official statistics.”

Mr Sweeney said the govern-ment’s initiative was welcome forthe renewed focus it placed on jobcreation and also the emphasis onbuilding indigenous firms rather thanthe over-dependence on foreignfirms.

He warned, however, that theplan suffered from a view of state intervention and official regulationwhich pre-dated the crisis and contributed directly to the bankingcollapse and the current horse meatscandal.

“Both here and Ireland andacross Europe, officialdom seems incapable to learning the lessons ofeither the banking collapse or thehorse meat scandal – regulation andoversight are necessary to preventthe free market from corruptionand collapse.”

Sweeney: ‘Real progress is needed’

THE UNION POST y March 201312

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‘Most UK kids will live below breadline by 2015’

www.tuc.org.uk/BleakfutureforfamiliesA Bleak Future For Families is available at

TAX and benefit changes coupledwith lower-than-forecast wagegrowth will leave most children inthe UK living below the breadlineby 2015, the TUC has warned.

The TUC report, A Bleak Futurefor Families, is based on analysis carried out by economist HowardReed and examines the impact ofvarious benefit and welfarechanges, including Universal Credit,direct and indirect tax changes andreal wage growth since 2010 onthe incomes of different house-holds and family types.

The analysis reveals that nine in10 families will be worse off by2015, with only the poorest 10% of

households better off – and thenonly by a measly 57p a week.

A middle income household willbe nearly £1,200 a year worse offby 2015 – a 6.6% cut in their income – with the biggest singleloss as a result of tax credit cuts (-£505). The research shows thatwhile all bar the top 10% of house-holds are net gainers as a result ofchanges to the personal allowanceand the primary threshold for national insurance, all these gainsare wiped out by 2011 VAT rise.

The poorest 10% of householdsgain just a penny a week from direct tax cuts but lose £3.38 bythe VAT rise.

General secretary Frances O'Grady, left, said: “Families are suf-fering the tightest squeeze in theirliving standards in nearly a century.On top of wages that do not keepup with prices, government policiesare making life even more miser-able for millions of low to middle-income families through taxincreases and cuts in benefits andtax credits.

“By the 2015 election, the majority of children in Britain willbe living below the breadline. Forany civilised society, that should beshaming.”

THE Irish Bank Officials Association hasvowed its "implacable" opposition to any attempt to cut the wages of itsmembers.

It follows the publication earlier thismonth of a report on banking pay undertaken by Mercer consultants.

The Irish government is looking toslash pay rolls in state-supported banksand Finance Minister Michael Noonanhas already indicated to bank chiefs thathe wants to see reductions of between6% and 10%.

Management at the bank are set torespond to the Minister’s request withcost-saving plans over the next fewweeks. As many as 26,000 bank staff inthe Republic could be affected and theIBOA has urged members to contactlocal TDs to voice their anger at themove.The IBOA claimed the 125-page

report, commissioned by the Department of Finance, had taken “insufficient account of the extent oflosses experienced by many bank workers in the last five years”.

General secretary Larry Broderick,left, said the government demand couldnot be justified even on what he calledthe “partial evidence” in the report.

He added: “Like many other workers,bank employees have taken considerablepain in recent years – in the form of significant reductions in remuneration aswell as substantial jobs cuts.” Around10,000 bank jobs have gone since 2008.

Mr Broderick added: “Overall, it isIBOA's view that the government isbeing opportunistic in seeking to imposefurther salary cuts at this time."

UNITE, which represents 10,000 bankworkers, slammed the lack of consulta-

tion before the report was published.Regional officer Colm Quinlan said: "Thereport suggests that many of the finan-cial cuts should fall on lower paid workers below management level.

"We were told we could have noinput and no sight of the findings beforepublication and it now says that lowerpaid workers are the ones most out ofline with other industries."

SIPTU sector organiser Adrian Kanepointed out that state-supported bankshad already reduced labour costs of between 23% and 31% in the last fiveyears.

He warned the proposals, if imple-mented, will result in “branch closures,the de-skilling, out-sourcing and the displacement of decent jobs and the replacement of these jobs with low-paidcall centre type jobs”.

Respect– just alittle bit!A group of registerednurses – members ofthe National NursesOrganizing Committeein Florida – take partin the National NursesUnited day of actionon March 11 in Pal-metto.  The nurseswho work for TenetHeathcare are callingfor fair collective bar-gaining contracts and,as one commented,“the respect reflectedin a just labour agree-ment”. Picture: NNU

Unions voice fury over Govt plansto cut the wages of bank workers

March 2013 y THE UNION POST 13

MORE than 15,000 workers braved ice-cold conditions and took to the streetsof Brussels under the slogan ‘Ourdemocracy against their austerity’ onMarch 14.

The ETUC-organised protest wasstaged to coincide with a meeting of

the European Council and to un-derline to EU legislators the

need for a Social Compact andfor a change in austerity-dri-

ven economic policies. In a statement,the ETUC said “the limits of what is socially acceptable” had already beenreached in several member states.

ETUC general secretary BernadetteSégol, right, said: “Austerity is a failure. Ithas not succeeded in reducing deficitsand is having a devastating social andeconomic effect.

“Applied in a deteriorating economiccontext, this blind austerity has only

worsened the situation. It has widenedinequalities and further increased theloss of job security. The social modelsare coming under attack because of thecrisis. Everywhere in Europe, employ-ment is becoming precarious and wagesare being revised downwards.”

She called on EU chiefs to concen-trate on two priorities – ending auster-ity and fighting against youthunemployment.

It’s snow way to runEurope’s economy...

Workers brave Brussels chill to hammer home anti-austerity message

Pictures: ETUC

MORE than 430 social and labourlawyers from across Europe havesigned a manifesto urging EUchiefs to respect fundamental social rights.

The lawyers took the action inresponse to the austerity policiesbeing backed by EU institutions.These have resulted in systematicattacks on social dialogue andlabour law provisions.

The manifesto – initiated by theTransnational Trade Union RightsExperts’ Network (TTUR) – in par-ticular slams the actions of theEC/ECB/IMF Troika. It stated: "TheTroika imposes on specific mem-bers states a large and sometimes

dramatic deregulation of theirlabour markets and social protec-tion systems, leading to a weakeningof trade unions, increasingly precari-ous employment relationships, inse-curity and high unemployment,increased poverty and social un-

rest.” Greece was cited as an exam-ple in the manifesto where austeritymeasures imposed by the Troikahave triggered the suspension ofcollective agreements and violationsof social fundamental rights.

These included the right to a fairremuneration, the right to voca-tional training and, for workersunder 18 years of age, the right topaid annual leave.

Lab lawyers blast Troika

THE UNION POST y March 201314

MANDATE has called on DunnesStores management to respect therights of its workers to be appropri-ately represented by a trade union.

The call comes as the retailer announced it would pay its 14,000employees across the Republic a 3%pay rise – the first since 2007.

The January 17 announcementgreen-lighting the pay hike came onthe eve of a Labour Court case initiated by the union.

In its subsequent recommenda-tion, the Court found that Dunnesfailed in obligations set out in a na-tional agreement brokered in 1996by not meeting with union represen-

tatives to process the wage claim.The Court went on to further

find that it had no hesitation in recommending in favour of theunion’s claim for a 3% wage increase.

Assistant general secretary GerryLight said: “The findings of the Courtare clear in that they found Dunnesfailed in their obligations containedin collective agreement and that ourclaim for a 3% pay increase had realand obvious merit.

“Hopefully, Dunnes might learnfrom some of its competitors thattreating people with respect is in facta business asset – not a liability.”

Mandate calls on Dunnes torespect right to representationUNIONS!

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THE percentage of Spanish workers out of work reached a record 26.02% in the final quarter of last year – the highest level since Spain returned to democracy following the death of General Franco in 1975.Youth unemployment has reached a staggering 55.13% of Spaniards aged between 16 and 24. But this choir of Spanishworkers showed they were in fine voice despite the latest jobless figures as they belted out Songs of Hope to concludethe CCOO Congress in Madrid on February 23. Picture: ITUC

SIPTU and IMPACT have called onthe Republic’s Children’s MinisterFrances Fitzgerald to reverse€600,000 of “crazy” cuts which theywarn will impact heavily on youthprojects in Dublin’s inner city.

It’s thought that up to 70 youthprojects and 200 youth clubs couldbe affected in the move.

Community workers and theirsupporters voiced their anger at theproposals in a protest outside theCity of Dublin Youth Services

Board’s Morehampton Road officeson March 1.

Gerry McCarthy, of BallyfermotYouth Services, appealed to the minister to reconsider the cuts.

He said: “The decision to imposeeven more funding cuts is crazy.

“This directly affects young peo-ple in the most vulnerable areas ofthe city. Increasingly, they will be denied the opportunity to attendyouth clubs, homework clubs andyouth services. This has a very

serious knock-on effect. These areservices that help to sustain vulnera-ble communities and help youngpeople to make positive choicesabout their lives.

“In the absence of these services,with nothing to do and nowhere togo, we know from experience whatkinds of social problems can emergeas a result.”

Ashling Golden, a youth workerin the SWAN youth centre, added:“Youth services provide a vital safety

net for vulnerable young people inmany communities.

“These cuts will lead to a reduc-tion in the numbers of professionalstaff in the service, which will resultin some projects closing and a reduction in the effectiveness ofothers.

“These cuts are an attack on thefuture of communities that are already suffering the worst consequences of the economic recession.”

It’s the voice of the people

Unions call on Minister to reverse ‘crazy’ cutsCOMMUNITY SECTOR

March 2013 y THE UNION POST 15

Unite hailsrecognitionagreementfor QuinnGroup staff

UNITE has claimed Northern Ire-land’s economy was flat-lining, afternew unemployment figures wererevealed – the worst for 15 years.

Regional secretary Jimmy Kellysaid: “The figures confirm our fearsthat the economy has flat-lined andthe stagnation is not only a blow to chancellor George Osborne but a tragedy for those who havelost their jobs because of his policies.

“Our young people are bearingthe brunt of this crisis with the

numbers of jobless youngstersnearly approaching one million inthe UK-wide statistics.

“The Northern Ireland figureswould have been clearly worse ifthose 25,000 people who had emi-grated in 2012 – and who continueto do so daily – had been added tothem.

“Northern Ireland and the UKneeded a budget for jobs but whatwe got instead was another doseof medicine to make the patienteven worse. The economy is

shrinking, Britain has lost its AAArating, and unemployment is rising.We desperately need a plan B."

Meanwhile, NIPSA general secretary Brian Campfield attackedthe threat to public sector pay andprogression contained in theBudget.

He said: “Our members have hadyears of pay freezes – in real termswage cuts – and now has had the1% limit on public sector pay confirmed for 2015/16.

“Osborne has also made clear

that he intends to attack the pro-gression/incremental system.

“This comes on top of increasedpension contributions imposed bythis government of millionaires –forcing workers to work longer,pay more in contributions and receive less in pension.”

Mr Campfield added: “The con-firmation within the Budget thatNorthern Ireland departments willface a further extra 1% cut to theirbudgets also shows that the failedausterity measures will continue.”

Osborne’s economics have let down NI youth

MANDATE’S Liffey ValleyLocal Council Committee lastmonth launched a petition topromote decent work princi-ples.Organisers hope to secure

1,000 signatures by April 19and in doing so to promotepublic awareness about theissue. And it is understoodthe decent work petition

could shortly be rolled outacross the country.Last year, Mandate com-

missioned a study to look intoprecarious working practiceswithin the retail sector in theRepublic.The Behaviour & Attitudes

report painted a grim pictureof low pay, insecure workingand increasing employer 

demands for flexibilty fromretail workers.Mandate official Jonathan

Hogan told The Union Post:“We’re seeking support fromall workers within the area toback the initiative and exposethe difficulties often associ-ated with retail work.”

Picture: Mandate

UNITE in Northern Ire-land has secured a majorrecognition agreementwith the Quinn Group.The deal allows the

union to represent employees of the Fer-managh-based firm on all matters affectingworkers’ terms and con-ditions of employment.A Quinn Group

spokesperson confirmedto the Fermanagh Heraldthat union recognitionhad been given to 36 driv-ers in the Glass Division.Regional co-ordinating

officer Eugene McGlone,who is Congress presi-dent, explained some employees had been joining the union as individual members for anumber of years.But more recently em-

ployees had sought to joinin a more organised way.Mr McGlone said: “We

took a decision to assistthe workers organise andinitially gained more than60% of the glass factory’sdrivers into the union.“We pursued a recogni-

tion agreement for themand this was agreed bythe Industrial Court.”He added: “The com-

pany now accept this andwe are in the process ofagreeing a full trade unionrecognition agreement.”

ORGANISING

Every wipeof his eyestakes Tallacloser toblindness

©Jenny Matthews/Sightsavers

Talla is just five. He has trachoma, a painful eye disease whichcan lead to a lifetime of blindness. Repeated infections causethe eyelashes to turn inwards and slowly and painfully everyblink damages the eye and leads to blindness.Trachoma canbe treated effectively in its early stages with a courseof ointment costing just 50p –but for millions of peoplethis is still too much.

If, like Sightsavers, you believe that nobody should go blindneedlessly from trachoma, river blindness or cataract,please make a donation today to support our eye care workin some of the most deprived communities in the world.

Euro donations, please call 1850 50 20 20 or visit www.sightsavers.ieSterling donations, please call 0800 089 20 20 or visit www.sightsavers.orgPlease quote ICTU. Thank you!

Registered charity numbers 207544 and SC038110

©Jenny Matthews/Sightsavers