The magazine for Issue No4 Fórsa members Autumn-Winter 2018 In this issue

New entrants pay Ryanair cabin crew: summer of change Housing crisis: #RaiseTheRoof Brexit and the unions Limerick Suicide Watch Fórsa Youth Committee Benefits of membership Fórsa Insights: Love In The Wild SNA smartphone app Plus all the latest union news with food, music, culture, travel and competitions

Five days of summer The Ryanair pilots’ dispute

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President’s foreword

Autumn-Winter 2018 Five days of summer AS WE head into the autumn months, I’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on a The Ryanair pilots' busy summer for our organisation. dispute I’ve received a very warm welcome from Fórsa’s five divisional committees this year. Meeting with them has given me an opportunity to inform myself of the issues our Fórsa is produced by Fórsa trade members face in their diverse range of workplaces. union's Communications Unit and is edited by Niall Shanahan. September saw the dispute at Ryanair reach a successful conclusion. I visited pilots Deputy editor Roisin McKane. on the picket line several times during the five strike days, where there was a great Front cover: Fórsa on the picket sense of solidarity and public support for their action. line, Dublin Airport, 12th July 2018. Photo: Conor Healy It was good to see that the intensive negotiations that followed, facilitated by Kieran pictureitphotography.ie Mulvey, produced an agreement that the pilots were able to back unanimously. It marked the completion of a lot of hard work by many in our organisation, and I would also like to acknowledge the assistance of our colleagues from ICTU. In addition, I welcome the fact that we’ve signed an exclusive recognition agreement Contact Fórsa at: with Ryanair on behalf of directly employed cabin crew. Nerney's Court, Dublin 01 R2C5. Phone: 01-817-1500. Our members in Roscommon County Council also fought hard to win their dispute on www.forsa.ie flexible work. The solidarity shown by branches and members throughout Fórsa was extraordinary. Designed by: N. O'Brien Design & Print However, we remain concerned the scheme is not being implemented to its full Management Ltd. potential. This is being monitored closely by the divisional executive and the Phone: 01-864-1920 officials. Email: [email protected] Printed by Boylan Print Group. September also saw measures introduced to resolve the outstanding issue of new Advertising sales: entrants pay. This is very much welcomed and the Public Services Committee of Niki O’Brien. Congress is to be commended on a job well done. It means public servants will no Phone: 01-864-1920. longer be at a long-term disadvantage based on when they were recruited. Unless otherwise stated, the views contained in this magazine I want to thank general secretary Tom Geraghty for his many valued years of service do not necessarily reflect the to the union. As a friend to many in Fórsa he will be truly missed, but we sincerely policy of Fórsa trade union. wish him well in his new role as Deputy Chair of the Labour Court. This magazine is printed on Finally, I wish to thank the branch activists, officers and union staff across all the environmentally friendly paper, certified by the European Eco offices for the great work they’re doing within Fórsa. Label. This magazine is 100% recyclable.

This magazine is a full participating member of the Press Council of Ireland and supports the Office of the Press Ombudsman. In addition to defending the freedom of the press, this scheme offers readers Ann McGee, Fórsa President a quick, fair and free method of dealing with complaints that they October 2018 may have in relation to articles that appear in our pages. To contact the Office of the Press Ombudsman go to www.pressombudsman.ie or www.presscouncil.ie

All suppliers to this magazine recognise ICTU-affiliated trade unions. The magazine for Fórsa members 1 In this issue Editorial

It’s been a remarkable few months for this newly formed union. Less than a year since Fórsa’s formation and we’ve seen two very high profile disputes. FIVE DAYS OF SUMMER Both involved facing off with employers who were determined to have it all their own way. More recently, the measures to address new entrants pay NEWS...... 4 Autumn-Winter 2018 Niall marks another significant result on pay restoration. New entrants measures, new overnight subsistence rate & more news Shanahan.

RYANAIR CABIN CREW LAND CHARTER ...... 8 ITF A unique gathering of Ryanair crew at Forsa’s HQ led to a summer of change Five days, two points, one voice RAISE THE ROOF ...... 10 10,000 gather to deliver a message on the housing crisis THE RESOLVE of members involved in Aside from the attention usually In 2013 unions secured an agreement both the Ryanair and Roscommon afforded to any aviation dispute, this to merge the pre-2010 and post-2010 BREXIT & THE UNIONS ...... 12 County Council disputes was tested, one had a number of unique factors. It pay scales. The latter had been Could the UK unions shift the tide by backing a People’s Vote? and ultimately vindicated. took place in high summer. It involved unilaterally set 10% lower. It was one of five 24-hour stoppages. Above all, it the many measures introduced by the Our members in Roscommon County took place in an airline where organising Government during the economic crisis 8 IALPA v RYANAIR ...... 14 Council suspended a planned fifth day workers and engaging in a dispute had, to reduce the public pay bill. Five extraordinary days, one extraordinary battle of industrial action with less than 24 for so long, seemed unthinkable. Raise The Roof hours to go, following statements from KEEPING WATCH...... 16 the National Oversight Body and a In addition, getting the parties around New entrants recommendation issued by the the negotiating table with an The volunteer project that’s making a difference in Limerick Merging the pay scales in 2013 was an Workplace Relations Commission. independent third party facilitator – important first step to removing the which the union had pushed for FÓRSA BENEFITS...... 18 The Roscommon members had battled disadvantage faced by new entrants. It throughout the dispute – was a first for on the issue of flexi-leave with their received little (if any) media attention at Find out more about the value of your subscription the airline. employer for years. In the end, taking the time, or since. YOUTHQUAKE ...... 20 their strike action into a fifth day proved Announcing the result of their ballot on In September, two years earlier than decisive in shifting management’s the final agreement in September, the 10 The issues facing younger workers ...... previously envisaged under the current approach. Nevertheless, the struggle to IALPA branch said “pilots in Ryanair pay deal, unions secured measures to Limerick establish a normal application of flexible have now firmly found a unified voice.” FÓRSA INSIGHTS ...... 22 bypass the two additional scale points working arrangements continues there. for new entrants. Suicide Watch Audience reaction to our staging of Love In The Wild Finding a unified voice turns out to be Similarly, the Ryanair pilots’ dispute the story of 2018 for this, the country’s The measures will apply on the next IN CONVERSATION WITH...... 25 dominated the daily news cycle newest trade union, with both Ryanair increment date that falls on or after 1st throughout July and August, much to pilots and Roscommon County Council March 2019, bringing the work of We speak to Eoin Ronayne on the benefits available to COs the relief/delight of the nation’s news workers showing how five days can be eliminating two-tier pay to a satisfying editors. decisive. conclusion n GATE KEEPERS...... 26 A look at the work of customs officers and their canine sidekicks 16 TROMSØ TOUR ...... 28 Sean Purtill on his unique Arctic voyage SNA App SNAPP ...... 31 A new smartphone information app for SNAs

NO PLACE FOR WOMEN ...... 32 New opinion column: Aingeala Flannery takes the State to task

FOOD...... 34 31 Daniel Devery on edible remedies for Autumnal lurgies

TRAVEL ...... 36 Opinion Úna-Minh Kavanagh on customs and taboos

CULTURE VULTURE ...... 38 Hazel Gavigan explores the Hamilton phenomenon

PUBLIC VERSUS PRIVATE ...... 40 The best music comes from council estates, not family estates

32 WIN WIN WIN...... 43 Crossword, competitions and prize survey

2 Autumn-Winter 2018 The magazine for Fórsa members 3 Latest Fórsa news Pay Unions secure measures to Changes to overnight address new entrants’ pay restoration subsistence agreement FÓRSA HAS said that newly agreed merging the pay scales in 2013,” he measures on public service new said. CHANGES TO the Civil Service rate for overnight domestic subsistence for Section entrants’ pay successfully addresses allowance have increased, from 1st October 2018, following an agreed review. the task that unions undertook in 2013 The day rates remain unchanged. to resolve the issue. Points The revised rate of €147.00 replaces the current rate of €133.73. 39 agency Speaking in September after a plenary The newly agreed measures identify two Due to the exceptionally high cost of hotel accommodation in Dublin, especially at meeting between ICTU's Public points on each pay scale – year four and peak periods, a new vouched rate for Dublin was introduced last year. Previously Services Committee (PSC) negotiating year eight – which new entrant public workers the rate had been capped at €167 – consisting of the overnight rate plus the ’10- group and representatives of the servants will now skip. hour’ subsistence rate – for which a hotel receipt must be provided. Department of Public Expenditure and For example, a public service worker Reform, Fórsa's senior general recruited in 2016 (currently on point 3) This has now increased to €147.00 plus the 10-hour day rate of €33.61. secretary Shay Cody said the new will move to point 5 of the scale – Under the terms of the Haddington Road Agreement (2013), the Government measures will mean that public servants instead of point 4 – in 2019. will no longer be at a long-term signalled its intention to conduct a review of how travel and subsistence rates are disadvantage based on the year in Similarly, a public service worker calculated. The agreement committed unions and management to cooperating which they were recruited. recruited in 2013 (currently on point 6) with the review, and with the implementation of a standardised system of travel will move to point 9 of the scale and subsistence across the public service. (skipping points 7 and 8) in 2019, Years meaning that public servants with more than four years of service are not at any “When we negotiated the Haddington Shay Cody. disadvantage. Sylvia Road Agreement in 2013, we Mr Cody said that bypassing of points 4 successfully merged the pre-2010 and “Under the terms agreed in the Public and 8 of the scales ensured an post-2010 pay scales. The remaining Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) last equitable outcome for new entrants in Meehan issue to be resolved was that post- year, we achieved a commitment to different circumstances. He said: “We 2010 recruits had two additional points resolve the remaining issue, which has are satisfied that the measures we’ve remembered on their pay scales, which means it took now been brought to a conclusion two developed in our discussions with the them two years longer to reach the top years earlier than originally anticipated. Government have achieved this of their scale. This completes the task we began by outcome.” IT WAS with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Sylvia FÓRSA AND other unions representing Meehan, a true champion of equality, staff working in HSE funded agencies Congress housing and mother of our Fórsa colleague John (Section 39) secured an agreement on Meehan, who works in the Municipal pay restoration for workers in the employees division of Fórsa. agencies at the beginning of October. lobby campaign Sylvia studied legal and political science The measures were approved by Fórsa’s at UCD, where she was the first woman Health & Welfare divisional executive. to win the UCD Literary and Historical Under the proposals Section 39 Association gold medal in 1951. She shows appetite workers will receive an additional began her career in teaching, becoming payment of €1000 from April 2019. heavily involved with the ASTI during The remaining pay restoration measures her teaching years and the Women’s for change will be applied in 2020 and 2021. Committee of ICTU. Activists as the recent Raise the Roof rally. Fórsa officials Catherine Keogh and Ian She served as the first chair and chief McDonnell said the proposals marked a executive of the Employment Equality THE IRISH Congress of Trade Unions’ tenure and rent certainty and Congress President Sheila Nunan said successful conclusion to a very Authority, from its establishment in report on its housing lobbying campaign establishing a legal right to housing. the results of the lobby campaign Sylvia Meehan. challenging process to achieve pay shows strong support among TDs for 1977 until 1992. The campaign showed the strongest “showed clear support for a significant restoration for Fórsa members working radical action to tackle the housing and “All over Ireland there was a male and support for the measures outlined in the and radical change in policy on housing, On her lifelong activism and pursuit of in Section 39 agencies. homelessness crisis. female rate for the job. The ‘stronger to tackle the emergency. equality she said, “As I was growing up, Charter amongst Fianna Fáil TDs, with sex’, so-called, received a bulkier wage Catherine Keogh said the unions had The lobby campaign focused on TDs in the overwhelming majority of the it was quite normal to pay women less “We're told the land is there and the packet. I resolved to do something achieved a significant result by working for doing the same work as a man. I Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and independents parliamentary party stating they were about that with other women in the together, and thanked staff at the resources can be found. It now seems suppose I always knew about it. It was in government, and sought their support ‘very supportive’ or ‘broadly supportive’. post-1960s women’s movement.” Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) for the Congress Charter for Housing clear that the political appetite for a when I became a widow with five young There was also support among Fine for their efforts in finalising proposals. Rights. change of direction is also there,” Ms children, as a newly qualified teacher, In retirement Sylvia fought injustice and Gael TDs and some independents for Nunan said. that it hit home. In a nearby school, a was a founder member and President of The other unions representing staff The Charter calls for the declaration of a some of the measures. The lobby man who was separated from his wife the Senior Citizen’s Parliament, a board were Siptu, Unite and the INMO, The report is available to download at housing emergency, an end to evictions campaign took place between February was paid more than me. He received a member of Age and Opportunity, where working together as part of a group led into homelessness, action of security of and June this year. ictu.ie. married man’s allowance. There was no she championed and fought for the by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions married woman’s allowance. rights of senior citizens. (ICTU).

4 Autumn-Winter 2018 The magazine for Fórsa members 5 Latest Fórsa news School Secretaries Public Service mobilise for pay Pay Commission

equity campaign Fórsa is to study the first Public Service and retention issues for other public invited submissions from unions Pay Commission (PSPC) which was service grades identified by the PSPC in representing grades identified in its published in September. its initial (2017) report. original report. The latest report looks into nursing, The reports are being produced to fulfil Fórsa made written submissions on campaign messaging and materials, and respected journalist Mick Clifford wrote medical consultants, and non- a commitment in the public service pay behalf of named grades in the health raise awareness in the political system in the Irish Examiner that school consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs). deal – the Public Service Stability sector and the civil service, which will of the plight of school secretaries,” he secretaries “have precious little power in Future reports will study recruitment Agreement (PSSA) – which commits the be the subject of future pay commission said. a system in which power talks and those pay commission to analyse the causes reports. without it must do without.” of recruitment and retention difficulties The union put forward evidence to show in specific areas of the public sector. Pay varies He spoke to Kathleen O’Doherty for the that the civil service is struggling to Fórsa wants The agreement also requires the article, describing how she had, in recruit staff in many areas because Commission to recommend options to Caretakers and secretaries pay rates 2001, written to the then minister for salaries are not keeping pace with those higher deal with these problems. vary, as they are determined by the education pointing out the apparent available in comparable private sector individual board of management of each disregard for her role. “She has written employer pension The Government approved the terms of jobs. It made similar arguments in school, and paid from the ancillary to every minister since, and each one reference for this examination in respect of various health and social care grants paid to the schools by the has quietly ignored the problem.” contribution October 2017, after which the PSPC professions. Department of Education and Skills. Kathleen said: “We’re not fighting FÓRSA HAS welcomed the publication Almost all are paid below the scale paid against the boards of management, we to equivalent public service workers, of detailed proposals for new ‘auto- know their hands are tied. But there is enrolment’ pension arrangements, including a minority of secretaries and no security whatsoever. In fairness to Betty Tyrrell caretakers who are paid directly by the which would introduce compulsory Kathleen O’Doherty. principals and boards, a secretary’s department. contributions from workers and their wages may be the last thing taken into employers. But the union says Collard FÓRSA’S SCHOOL Secretaries branch In a recent in-depth feature on the consideration simply because things are employers and the state should is preparing a national campaign to treatment of school secretaries, so tight.” contribute more than workers to the elected improve secretaries’ pay next year. scheme. Under the terms of a 2015 arbitration The Government proposals, which were finding, the payment of four separate National Museums Science & launched in August, envisage that the president pay rises of 2.5 per cent for school scheme would be rolled out from 2022. secretaries and caretakers will be Arts Attendants win agreement Under the current Government plans, of completed by 2019. on pay and overtime workers would have to initially The branch plans to launch the contribute 1% of their salary towards Dublin campaign once these pay improvements their pension pot, increasing to 6% by have been completed. 2027, with employers having to match the workers contribution. The state Trades Fórsa official Barry Cunningham would then pay €1 for every €3 the explained that the planning for the worker contributes. campaign has gained momentum this Council year, following the union’s Education Fórsa official Billy Hannigan welcomed conference event in April. the move, but said it fell short in terms of employer contributions. FORMER CPSU president Betty Tyrrell need to introduce the Council to new “The branch has grown by 15% over the Collard was elected president of the audiences and groups of workers who last year. We’ve established a working “It will provide mandatory pension Dublin Trades Council in August, taking live and work in the city in often group chaired by Maria Dunne and entitlements for all workers wherever over from retired Fórsa official Pat precarious conditions. Kathleen O’Doherty from our Education they are employed, and will significantly Bolger. executive” he said. enhance occupational pension “We need to re-engage the working coverage. But Fórsa believes the Betty is the branch secretary of Dublin Forsa lead organiser Joe O’Connor population in dynamic campaigns on employer’s contribution must be at least Central Clerical branch, and a member added, “The campaign will launch in issues that represent an urgent priority National Museums Science & Arts Attendants branch celebrate reaching twice that of the worker.” of Fórsa’s Civil Service divisional 2019 when negotiations are due to in their lives. I look forward to working agreement in the long running pay and overtime integration negotiations. The deal executive. commence under the current was concluded recently following a breakthrough side agreement to bring the Fórsa backed Government proposals for with current and new Council affiliates adjudication agreement. negotiations to a close at the PSSA talks last year. The Branch laid its first claim the introduction of ‘auto-enrolment’ Betty said she was honoured and and with Congress to ensure that our for the consolidation of overtime and weekend working into basic pay nearly 12 pension schemes for all workers, funded privileged to take on the role: “Using the labour strength grows and that we can “We intend to use the intervening years ago. In the picture Liam Walsh (branch secretary), official Paul MacSweeney, by contributions from employees, expertise, experiences and knowledge re-emerge as a significant influence in months to do the required planning and Willie Doyle (branch chair) and Eoin Ronayne, Fórsa general secretary. employers and the State, at its national of the current Council executive we the city of Dublin,” she said. groundwork for the campaign, develop conference in May.

6 Autumn-Winter 2018 The magazine for Fórsa members 7 Organising A summer of change for Ryanair cabin crew

The summit introduced Ryanair cabin crew worker representatives to assembled media to answer questions about working conditions at the airline.

Cabin crew workers from all over Europe convened at growing our membership and securing improvements in terms and conditions Fórsa’s head office in Dublin in July for the first ever as the negotiating union for Ryanair Ryanair Crew summit. cabin crew.” Ashley is now seeking engagement with THE EVENT, organised by the The summit also introduced a number of cabin crew agencies contracted to the International Transport Workers’ Ryanair cabin crew worker airline. Federation (ITF) saw the launch of the representatives to assembled media to Ryanair Crew Charter, outlining answer questions about working demands on economic conditions, conditions at the airline, the first safety and rostering, a fair and engagement of its kind. supportive work culture, agency employment, the right to sick pay and sales targets. Recognition

At the end of August Fórsa signed an agreement with Ryanair making the union the sole negotiating union for directly employed Ryanair cabin crew in Ireland. The agreement was signed by Fórsa officials, cabin crew representatives and Ryanair management. Fórsa official, Ashley Connolly said the ITF official Eoin Coates. Eoin is a former member of Fórsa’s cabin crew branch. agreement marked a new, and very significant, milestone in the The cabin crew summit was opened by development of collective bargaining at In an interview with Newstalk FM Ashley Fórsa senior general secretary Shay Cody. the airline. said: “It’s important that, for the first time in Ryanair, cabin crew members A key demand is that employment Ashley said: “This is a very positive have a voice. They will be to the contracts explicitly recognise national development and we’re proud to be in a forefront of any discussions I have and law and jurisdiction in the country a position now to represent Ryanair cabin they will be present at every meeting worker is based. crew. Together we look forward to that I carry out with the company.” n 8 Autumn-Winter 2018 Raise the roof Raise the roof not the rent Tom Geraghty, Fórsa general secretary and Shay Cody, Fórsa senior general secretary.

Gina McDonald, Keivan Jackson and Ruth Crowley.

Patricia King, ICTU general secretary.

ON WEDNESDAY, October 3rd Dublin The motion also called for a doubling of Ireland with children making up more saw roughly 10,000 people take to the the capital expenditure on public than a third of the numbers in streets, calling for an end to the housing housing in Budget 2019 and Fórsa organisers Julie Healy emergency accommodation. This figure Éamonn de Barra and Damien Dempsey performing at the rally. crisis. The Raise the Roof rally took and Bernie Aston. subsequently passed by a wide margin. does not include ‘hidden homelessness’, place outside Leinster house and was organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Fórsa was well represented with staff which refers to people living in squats or Unions (ICTU), joining forces with the and activists out in full support. Sheila ‘sofa surfing’, women and children National Housing and Homeless Nunan, president of ICTU was the MC staying in domestic violence refuges Coalition and a number of community and speakers included Orla O’Connor, and people who sleep rough. groups, trade unions, students, women’s director, National Women’s Council of organisations, housing agencies and Ireland, Síona Cahill, president, Union of Fórsa lead organiser, Joe O’Connor political parties. Students in Ireland and Fr. Peter expressed his gratitude in particular to The rally coincided with a cross-party McVerry. the union’s branch campaign officers motion in the Dáil calling on the Singers Frances Black and Damien after the rally: Government to enact legislation to Dempsey also provided entertainment “They played an integral role in the lower rents, make it illegal to evict for the vast crowd of supporters. private sector tenants into success of the day both by stewarding homelessness and insert a right to There are currently approximately ten the stage and mobilizing Fórsa activists Bernard Joyce, Aisling Hederman, Mary Keating, secretary of Fórsa’s retired members housing into the constitution. thousand people who are homeless in to come out in large numbers.” n Irish Traveller Movement. Take Back the City. group and organiser Roisin Nolan.

10 Autumn-Winter 2018 The magazine for Fórsa members 11 Europe British trade unions have been more relaxed about Brexit than their Irish equivalents. That’s now changed, says BERNARD HARBOR.

Bernard Harbor. Do UK unions hold key to

supporters, to paranoid fears that the People’s Vote movement is a Corbyn- Brexit? undermining conspiracy – as well as latent anti-EU sentiment on the far left. Earlier this year shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry was arguing AT FIRST I couldn’t put my finger on it. But there have been some encouraging that Labour would likely vote in favour of But, as I waited in Gatwick airport for straws in the gale recently, not least a Tory-negotiated deal. Times have my Dublin flight in September, I felt with the emergence of a strengthening changed and it’s now widely assumed there’d been something weird about this People’s Vote campaign, which is that the party will oppose any deal that trip to England. pressing for a referendum on whatever PM Teresa May brings to the House of comes out of Teresa May’s chaotic Commons, and then push for a general I get over there four or five times a year Brussels negotiations. election. to visit my daughter, sisters, in-laws, nieces and nephews. Young and old. And events over the last couple of In a significant, if subtle, shift, Labour’s London and the country. Male and months could powerful shadow chancellor John female. Politically engaged and not. put the McDonnell conceded in September that British trade the party would keep all options open – In the run-up to this summer excursion unions – so including support for a referendum – if it I’d been reading increasingly alarming far much failed to force an election in the chaos ‘hard Brexit’ stories in the British press. more relaxed that would surely ensue. Government warnings of supplies of life- about Brexit saving drugs drying up. Free-flowing than their motorways turning in to 20 mile long Irish A Social Europe lorry parks. Advice about storing tinned equivalents – The poll of over 2,700 members of the possibility of a popular vote being food. Businesses warning of huge job at the centre Unite, Unison and the GMB also held on any deal,” it said in a statement. All in all this could mean a significant losses and spurned investment. revealed that a clear majority think change in the UK Brexit arithmetic, as of events. Some unions, like the RMT, remain How strange, then, that the Brexit issue Brexit will damage job opportunities. well as a chance for British trade unions At its resolutely against another referendum. – which have lost much of their influence never once came up in conversation Its finding that trade unionists September But in a country with much stronger over the last three decades – to play a during a four-day visit. overwhelmingly want to prioritise trade conference in links between unions and Labour than central role in the country’s most over immigration controls will disappoint So weird, considering that most of my Liverpool the here, the change in attitude among the important political drama since the Suez those who frequently paint working family – particularly the younger ones – TUC – the UK party’s biggest union backers is piling crisis. had been disconsolate when the equivalent of the Irish Congress of Trade people as anti-immigration. pressure on the main opposition party, popular vote so that people get a say on Next year will be the thirtieth referendum result landed just over two Unions – voted to keep open the option Each of the three unions whose which, in turn, is showing signs of a whether that deal is good enough,” she anniversary of the then-European years ago. And chilling for those of us of supporting another referendum in two members were surveyed has shifted its subtle rethink. said. Commission president’s famous speech who still hold out some hope that the circumstances. The Government might position over the summer. The to the TUC congress. In 1989, Jacques nation and its leaders will see sense and avoid the first – a hard Brexit scenario. It This when only a quarter of Daily Mail 620,000-strong GMB has called for a Delors outlined – and won support for – rethink the self-harming decision to is unlikely to even try to avoid the readers – Brexit’s bedrock supporters – public vote on the final deal, while Labour a vision of a ‘social Europe,’ that would leave the EU and, particularly, the second – guaranteed protection of think Britain is likely to get a good deal Unison, with 1.3 million members, now champion jobs, living standards and Main photo: dreamstime.com insane notion of a hard Brexit. workers and preserving “tariff-free and from Brussels. says it will support a referendum under In the wake of the 2016 referendum, workers’ rights. frictionless trade with the EU.” certain circumstances. the Labour leadership has been solidly pro-leave, albeit with conditions that the It was a pivotal event for Britain’s labour Speaking ahead of the conference, TUC At its national conference in Brighton, People’s Vote Polls divided, fractious and DUP-supported movement and its relationship with general secretary Frances O’Grady said last July, Unite – which is the UK Labour minority Tory government will find hard Europe. Let’s hope the shift in union Just a few weeks ago, that Brexit unions would back the People’s Vote Around the same time, opinion research Party’s largest single financial backer – to meet. thinking over this summer means rethink looked about as likely as campaign if the final Brexit deal fell found that members of the country’s said it was unlikely that the Government something similar. Southampton football club challenging short on job protections and workers’ three biggest trade unions now support would deliver a satisfactory deal. The The reasons for this range from for a Champions League place this rights. “The TUC will be throwing our full a fresh referendum by a margin of more union would then mobilise to force a unfounded worries about an electoral Bernard Harbor is Fórsa’s head of season. weight behind the campaign for a than two-to-one. general election. “We are also open to backlash from Labour-voting leave communications n 12 Autumn-Winter 2018 The magazine for Fórsa members 13 Ryanair dispute

While industrial relations problems in the Irish aviation industry tend to Day 2 & 3: Friday 20th July & Tuesday 24th July attract a lot of media attention, work stoppages are relatively rare. For a long time, the prospect of organising workers in Ryanair seemed remote. All that changed in 2018, as Fórsa's IALPA branch members at the airline took “After decades decisive action in a dispute over seniority. of declining terms and conditions, Five days of summer pilots in Ryanair have now firmly found a unified voice.”

The location of the picket on the second day of industrial action is outside Ryanair’s head office in Swords, Co. Dublin.

Wednesday 25th July Day 5: Friday 10th August Pilots announce a fourth day on Friday 3rd August. The union says further strike action will follow unless the company changes tack and negotiates in good faith. Ryanair issues protective notice to 300 of its staff. Fórsa describes the move as a provocative act likely to harden pilots’ resolve, and escalates the dispute while demonstrating management’s unwillingness or inability to negotiate with unions in good faith. Day 4: Friday 3rd July 2018 Day 1: Thursday 12th July 3rd August Directly-employed pilots in Ryanair, who are members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA), a branch of Fórsa, serve notice of industrial action on the Forsa issues a statement to say the company’s belated recognition of the need airline. for an independent third-party facilitator meant a fifth strike by the pilots went ahead. Pilots had voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action (99%) in a The union says its focus will shift to the negotiations due to get underway the dispute over management’s approach to following week. transferring pilots and accessing leave and promotions. The pilots announce 24-hour strike Thursday 23rd August action commencing at 01:00 on Acknowledging that relations have been Thursday, 12th July. Following a 22-hour negotiation, where the union side was assisted by the difficult in the past between IALPA and general secretary and industrial officer Ryanair, IALPA says its “committed to 5th July of the ICTU, an agreement is reached building a constructive relationship with between Fórsa and Ryanair in the pilots’ As the picket draws to a close outside Ryanair based on mutual respect and a Pilots say they’ve seen no evidence that dispute. The proposed agreement goes Ryanair’s head office, the company shared future. the company will engage in meaningful The first day of action sees pilots picketing outside Dublin Airport, attracting to ballot, and on 5th September IALPA announces it will accept independent negotiations with a view to reaching strong public support. issues a statement announcing “While our members fully respect third-party assistance from Kieran agreement on the issues they’ve raised unanimous backing for the deal, Ryanair’s operational model, they no Despite talks with the airline the previous day, establishing some common ground Mulvey. with the company. The union remains describing it as “A first step towards longer accept the company’s highly on the proposal of a joint working group, terms of reference can’t be agreed. The willing to meet the company, Fórsa, which has been calling for third- providing transparency and fairness for problematic employment model. After union describes as “regrettable” that Ryanair management has so far rejected the emphasising the need to meet at a party assistance throughout the Ryanair pilots while also assisting decades of declining terms and suggestion of third party assistance. neutral venue, rather than the dispute, welcomes the “unexpected Ryanair in recruiting and retaining pilots conditions, pilots in Ryanair have now company’s head office. The union serves notice for two further one-day pilot strikes in July. and positive” development. in the future.” firmly found a unified voice.” n

14 Autumn-Winter 2018 The magazine for Fórsa members 15 Fórsa charity cycle Supporting Fórsa’s Limerick to Killarney charity cycle took place on the opening day of the union’s national conference in May, and raised €24,000 in positive aid of four suicide prevention groups. One of these is Limerick Suicide mental health Watch. Formed in May 2016, and well on their way to recruiting their 80th member, NIALL SHANAHAN went to meet some of the people Limerick Suicide Watch Niall Shanahan. involved, to learn how their work has seen a significant reduction in the is one of four mental health charities supported number of suicides taking place in the city’s River Shannon. by funds raised by Fórsa’s conference charity cycle Keeping watch this year. Suicide or Survive Photo: Fórsa Communications Unit Photo: Fórsa (L to R) Stacey Markham, Lucy O'Hara and Colm O'Byrne. (SOS)

That training includes radio operation, The people with whom they’ve Dublin-based charity which acts to child protection, manual handling, first intervened are as young as 13, as old as support and assist people and their aid (including CPR and defibrillator), 70, male and female and from all walks families who are suffering with ‘throw bag’ training (for river rescue) and of life. “Suicide is not a problem mental health difficulties. Applied Suicide Intervention Skills confined to young men,” says Lucy. Established in 2003, Caroline Training (ASIST). McGuigan set up the organisation on All three describe a time when people in foot of her own mental health the city became accustomed to the difficulties. One of its main aims is to overhead sounds of the Valentia support individuals with difficulties in Coastguard rescue helicopter. a way that they can harness their own strength, and provide people “It was a commonplace thing. You’d be with the tools to improve their own sitting at home and you’d hear the mental health. coastguard helicopter overhead and you’d think, oh my God, somebody’s facebook.com/SuicideorSurvive gone into the river,” Stacey explains. AS I exit the motorway to enter Limerick Saturday night, but we envisage being research and development to a City, I’m greeted by the white metallic on patrol seven nights a week in the satisfying conclusion. Lucy walks me First Fortnight arc over Thomond Park. I’m reminded near future,” he says. through the various features of the app. that this is a city with a strong sense of “It’s a one-stop-shop for information on Dublin-based charity that aims to The group is currently training more pride, community and friendship, available support services. challenge mental health prejudice volunteers (due to the high level of and stigma through arts and culture. Turning into the lane behind Costello’s interest, applications are currently “All of the in-app links are active, which It began as a volunteer-led initiative closed) which will see its current means you can call or email the services Tavern on Dominic Street, the door is in 2010, establishing the first mental compliment of 67 increase to around by clicking them on the app. It also has open at Limerick Suicide Watch. The health arts and culture festival in project’s chair, Colm O’Byrne is sitting in 80 by the end of the year. information about our work, the people involved, and we can use it internally to 2012. It also provides creative the middle of the large and neatly therapies to marginalised

The semi-colon tattoo was designed for Communications Unit Photo: Fórsa ordered space. organise the patrol rosters,” she the Thumbs Up For Benny event. communities affected by mental ill- explains. Jackets, radios and safety equipment He’s surrounded by neatly placed high- health. Lucy adds, “Everybody in the city knows are neatly arranged for the next viz jackets, personal flotation devices, night time patrol. firstfortnight.ie two-way radios, branded bicycles, first Fundraising and training about people going to the river,” and so the river became the focus of the aid kits and a wall of volunteer photos. Volunteers do a minimum of three nights Thumbs Up For Benny is a fundraising group’s patrols. Jigsaw Kerry He’s deep in conversation on the phone, per month, at least one Saturday event with local tattoo artists providing (midnight to 4am). They’re required to be laptop open, talking about a special tattoo in return for a donation A free, confidential support service arrangements for the imminent launch It’s good to talk physically fit, as there’s a lot of walking to Limerick Suicide Watch. It’s just one involved while on patrol. There is a three for young people aged 12-25 living, of the Limerick Suicide Watch of a series of the group’s fundraising The group enjoys strong volunteer month probation period and Garda working or studying in Kerry. The smartphone app. events to which the people of Limerick retention. What do they put that down vetting is also required. organisation operates as part of the have responded enthusiastically. Since its 2016 formation, the group’s to? national network of Jigsaw services Colm says the focus now is on a five- main focus is to keep eyes on the river, “We depend on donations from the and aims to provide tailored “Well, you know, we spend four hours year plan in which they hope to secure a and identify and provide support to public and fundraising events to fund community based help for young Supporters getting ready for their tattoos out on patrol and we talk about permanent base, and develop the those in distress and who may be our work. We’re very lucky because the people’s mental health needs. In at the Thumbs Up For Benny event. everything,” says Lucy. All three are service to include suicide awareness in contemplating suicide. people of Limerick have been incredibly addition to operating a drop in space laughing now. “We’ve formed strong addition to the prevention work, and which provides support on a “call in” In an adjacent office, PRO Lucy O’Hara supportive since the beginning,” Stacey bonds with each other and, you know, offer more services to the people they basis, the charity also provides and vice-chair Stacey Markham are also explains. we do have the craic,” Stacey adds. encounter on patrol. support and information to people Patrols attending to the details of the Friday Colm says the annual cost of the project who may be concerned about a young night launch at St Mary’s Cathedral. Colm says one of the group’s strengths To find out more and support the work of is around €40,000. “Training is the Colm welcomes me with a mug of fresh is that it attracts people of all ages and Limerick Suicide Watch, visit person in their life. biggest cost, it’s quite specialised and is tea. “Our patrol teams are on duty It’s a big night for everyone involved. social backgrounds, people who might limericksuicidewatch.ie or jigsaw.ie/jigsaw_kerry Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and The app’s launch brings months of mandatory for all volunteers,” he says. Photos: courtesy of Limerick Suicide Watch Limerick Suicide of Photos: courtesy not otherwise engage with each other. facebook.com/limericksuicidewatch n 16 Autumn-Winter 2018 The magazine for Fórsa members 17 Fórsa membership benefits With the amalgamation of CPSU, IMPACT and PSEU came an You’re opportunity to enhance membership benefits. There are a broad spectrum of benefits available to members, varying in nature. Some are financial, others by means of support. With some schemes members are automatically enrolled in when they join the union, and there are others that operate on an “opt in” basis. It is important to note however, better off Roisin McKane. that members can make considerable savings through these benefits. in Fórsa Adding value for Fórsa members can save lot of money with our enhanced package of financial benefits provided or negotiated by the union. Some of these are free to all Fórsa members. your union sub Others are optional benefits, available only to Fórsa members, which can mean savings on insurance, salary protection, additional pension coverage and more.

SO WHAT exactly does your 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 Group Scheme Fórsa members are entitled to* membership subscription get you? days a year, through the following l €5,000 illness benefit when out of work for more than 12 months helplines Another hidden gem is the group l €5,000 personal accident insurance scheme. This operates on an “opt in” n Free legal help in bodily injury cases l €5,000 critical illness or death benefit Financial benefits basis where there are huge savings to 1850-77-66-44 l be made on everyday items. Members €5,000 death of a spouse or qualifying partner After 6 months in membership all n Free 24/7 legal advice helpline can access discounts from small l Evacuation or repatriation expenses of up to €250,000 members are entitled to the following; 1850-77-66-44 businesses located near their place of for members who die or are seriously ill abroad, including n €5,000 in personal accident cover work, including restaurants, retailers, emergency medical expenses incurred for members n Free 24/7 confidential counselling hairdressers and coffee shops temporarily abroad as a result of death/illness n €5,000 critical illness cover or helpline 1850-77-66-55 l Free legal help in bodily injury cases death benefit. Spouses are also The group scheme also operates a n Free 24/7 domestic assistance l covered under this scheme cashback system. The concept is Free 24/7 legal advice helpline helpline 1850-77-66-44 simple; every time you shop online with l Free 24/7 confidential counselling helpline n From 2 January 2019 a €5,000 one of the cashback partners they will l Free 24/7 domestic assistance helpline. illness benefit will be available to reimburse a portion of what you spend. members if you are out of work for The money accumulates in your group Members can opt in to Fórsa- more than 12 months scheme cashback account, which you n For members who are seriously ill, can transfer to your bank account at any facilitated financial benefits time. injured, or pass away while abroad, l Car insurance Fórsa will cover evacuation or Fórsa organiser Bernie Aston explains l Home insurance repatriation expenses up to the just how important these schemes are l Travel insurance value of €250,000 for members. “All of the membership l Additional pension benefits schemes are hugely beneficial. Fórsa Fórsa has also negotiated a number of l Salary protection and life cover. group schemes for its members through has negotiated with a number of financial providers to give members the various providers including Cornmarket, Fórsa members can also Glennons Insurance, JLT, KennCo and best options available. Generally, with Lyons Financial Services, to name but a the likes of the financial products, apply for members will see discounts on what few. These providers will give members l Gaeltacht scholarships for their advice on various financial products they are currently paying.” school-age children such as car and home insurance, Bernie Aston. Bernie also highlighted the benefits of l Industrial relations scholarships pension benefits, salary protection and the group scheme. “This is a real money In addition to this, provisions have been l life cover. saver” said Bernie. “Members can more Benevolent grants for members in made for a benevolent grant for than negate the cost of their union financial distress. members who are in financial distress. subscriptions through the savings and Gaeltacht scholarships are available for Support services offers available.” *Six months continuous membership is required to avail members who have school age children. of services. Financial benefits are strictly subject to policy, Fórsa members can also avail of free Members can also avail of industrial For more information on the full range of terms, conditions and exclusions.See www.forsa.ie for details. counselling, legal advice and support relations scholarships. benefits see www.forsa.ie n

18 Autumn-Winter 2018 Youthquake Pay inequality, precarious working conditions and the housing crisis were all up for discussion at the most recent “Youthquake” event hosted by Fórsa’s youth network. Following on from this, chairperson of the group Osal Kelly delves into the issues of a two tier pay system and what it means for younger workers.

Osal Kelly. Pay inequality in a two tier system

ACCORDING TO Social Justice Ireland, there are over 100,000 workers in Ireland today who live in poverty. There is no doubt that young workers are over- represented in the growing ranks of the working poor, with a recent ICTU survey showing half of young workers having to forego essentials such as heating or food in order to pay rent. Young public-sector workers have had the additional struggle of a discriminatory, two-tier payscale, which meant being placed on a longer payscale with a lower starting point simply because of when they were born and when they joined the public service, despite doing the same work. For a clerical officer on the post-2011 payscale, this means having to work for four years before reaching a point on Sinéad Pembroke, Researcher at TASC discussing how precarious working the scale equivalent to the Living Wage conditions can be damaging to workers health at the recent Youthquake event. of €11.90 per hour. Though recent (L-R): Éilis Barry, Free Legal Advice Centre; Sinéad Pembroke, TASC; measures to shorten the pay scale are Séamus Farrell, SIPTU & Take Back the City Dublin; Mick Byrne, Dublin Tenants' Association; Michael Taft SIPTU. welcome. Not only is it almost impossible to make structural factors that enable employers unionise and demand fair pay from their ends meet, but many cannot even afford to keep their workers on low pay. employers. to join a union to be represented. I remember talking to one young clerical One such factor is that the bargaining Our opponents know that this type of officer colleague who spoke about how power of workers is weakened if there is arbitrary discrimination – whether in she hoped to join the union when her no safety net for those who lose their terms of payscales or welfare rates – is wages were higher, as if joining the jobs. This is a huge problem for workers indefensible and so rather than trying to union was some kind of perk only open aged 18 to 25, as the social safety net defend it, they instead disparage the to those who earn enough. Financial for this age group is nonexistent. "millennial" generation through stereotyping and ridicule. It is important means should never be an obstacle to Unemployed workers aged 18 to 24 that millennials do not take this to heart, union membership and representation, who live independently (as they may but instead recognise this approach for and if it is, the people who need have to do if, for example, they grew up what it is: a means to deflect from the representation the most are being in state care) are only entitled to fact that our generation of workers is failed. €107.70 per week in Jobseeker’s being impoverished to fulfil the Resolving this issue should be the Allowance, even though the standard objectives of private profit. We must immediate focus of public-sector rate is €198. (25 year olds can get organise and resist this. If we allow unions, but it will only be the first step in €152.80.) Creating a proper social poverty pay to be normalised for our tackling the issue of low pay generally, safety net for all jobseekers, regardless generation, it will eventually become the which demands that we look at the of age, will make workers less afraid to norm for all n

The magazine for Fórsa members 21 Fórsa Insights Love In The Wild

Dental, optical and hospital benefits (Available to Fórsa members from the ‘former CPSU’ constituency only)

Benefits Claim Form

Members of Fórsa who are in grades formerly represented by the CPSU (ie, civil service clerical officer grades) pay a higher union subscription than other Fórsa members and, therefore, retain access to a ‘benefits fund’ that Photo: courtesy of Beaten Track Productions. Productions. Track Beaten of Photo: courtesy provides certain dental, optical and hospital benefits formerly available to THE FÓRSA Insights series hosted a CPSU members. If they leave the grades of the former CPSU constituency, special performance of Love In The Wild Audience reaction in September. The play was written by they are no longer eligible for these benefits, and their rate of union Lisa Walsh and performed by award- subscription is reduced accordingly. This application form should only be winning actor Anto Seery. “Great night, couldn’t stop talking “Really appreciated the development completed by Fórsa members currently working in former CPSU grades. about it in work the next day” – Flora of Fórsa Insight series, interesting new Lisa is a member of Fórsa and a social Dunne, HSE Dublin South branch. way of engaging with the union. The worker with Tusla. The ground-breaking play was so good… poignant, funny, “A brilliant performance. Thanks for play, about the experiences of a sad and well scripted, acted and organising it” recovering drug addict, made its – Sean Lowde, Probation directed. Well done and thanks” – premiere at the Axis theatre in Ballymun Officers branch. Patrick O’Dea, Probation Officers earlier this year. “I really enjoyed it, the actor was good, branch. particularly when interacting with the “Great play. Anto Seery was superb – forsa_union_ie A podcast featuring the post-show homeless, given his experience he was really believable, likeable and talented. discussion is now available on the Fórsa able to relate to them and understand The writer did a great job bringing me forsaunionie website (forsa.ie). their situation, his determination to into a world I know nothing about. This Fórsa Insights is a specially curated improve on himself was real” – Binta play made you laugh and want to cry Fórsa Trade Union in equal measure. Extremely series of talks and cultural events which Obola, Dublin North Health and entertaining. Well done Fórsa for aims to explore a wide range of issues. Welfare branch. Fórsa trade union putting on this play, thanks” – Mary Fórsa Trade Union Events are free of charge and open to “It was a fantastic play!” – David M McGuire, Fingal Local Government Adelaide House, 19/20 Adelaide Road, forsa_union Fórsa members, ICTU affiliates and Glynn, Dublin Care Services branch. branch. NGOs n Dublin , DO2 WAOO. Tel: 01-676-5394, 661-5389, 661-5448 Fax: 01-676-2918 forsa.ie 22 Autumn-Winter 2018 PART ONE PLEASE FILL OUT THIS SECTION FULLY Fórsa benefits – Civil Service Clerical Officers

First Surname Members of Fórsa, who are in grades formerly represented by the CPSU Name please print first name and surname in full Day Month Year (civil service clerical officer grades), pay a higher union subscription than

Former Name (if any) Date of Birth other Fórsa members and, therefore, retain access to a benefits fund that

Home provides certain dental, optical and hospital benefits formerly available to Address CPSU members. These benefits – and the higher rate of union subscription – only applies if you work in one of the grades formerly

Roisin McKane. represented by the CPSU. They no longer apply if you transfer to a grade Post Code Staff No. Union No. outside of this constituency. ROISIN MCKANE finds out more.

Mobile Gender M F Year Joined Union

Personal Email Dental, optical Bank/CU Name

Bank/CU Account Name Bank/CU Account No. Bank/CU Sort Code and hospital fund IBAN and BIC numbers can be obtained on your bank statement IBAN BIC

Current Department “THE FUND is in existence for more In some cases members would see an Location/ than 20 years, well before my time,” increase of 38% in their subscriptions, Address explains Fórsa general secretary Eoin and that just isn’t feasible.” Ronayne. “It stems from an old CPSU Office Branch rule which sees members in the CO Tel. No. grade pay 1% of their salary to the union in subscriptions. Claimant Signature ______Section Any new members joining “Of this 1%, 20c in each euro is ring- the union at CO level in fenced, and goes directly into a benefits PART TWO TICK WHICH TYPE OF BENEFIT YOU WISH TO CLAIM fund which provides for certain optical, the civil service will pay dental and hospital benefits,” he says. the higher subscription rate Dental Optical Hospital Other (please specify) The fund also provides for a special of 1% and will assistance benefit which will consider PLEASE ENCLOSE: subsequently have claims for financial assistance to help 1. Original receipt showing last day of treatment 2. Copy of current pay slip cover the costs associated with access to the fund, in alternative medicine, prosthesis and addition to the other PART THREE TO BE COMPLETED AND STAMPED BY DENTIST/OPTICIAN serious illness such as cancer. This Fórsa benefits. aspect of the benefit operates on a Day Month Year discretionary case-by-case basis. Date of Cost of examination/ treatment Standing with almost €2.5 million in treatment (in words) “The fund was carried through Fórsa general secretary reserve, the fund takes in approximately Day Month Year the amalgamation into Fórsa, Eoin Ronayne. €500,000 each year. On average, the fund pays out in benefits what it Date payment “Any new members joining the union at and is now available to all recoups in subscriptions. The fund has received CO level in the civil service will pay the members in the CO grade or become increasingly popular over the higher subscription rate of 1% and will last number of years, and while it has Day Month Year equivalent in the civil service.” subsequently have access to the fund, come under some pressure in recent in addition to the other Fórsa benefits. Signed Date years, it remains healthy. The fund was carried through the “If members get promoted and leave the The scheme operates on an annual amalgamation into Fórsa, and is now CO grade however, their subscription basis and all claims must be submitted PART FOUR FOR OFFICE USE ONLY available to all members in the CO grade rate will decrease to 0.8%, and they will within the calendar year. Members who or equivalent in the civil service. subsequently no longer be eligible for wish to make a claim through the fund Amount paid Inputted Processed this benefit,” he explains. Eoin says the benefits fund is hugely for expenses incurred this year must do popular, and very important in the Eoin explains why it was not possible to so by 31st December 2018. recruitment of members in CO grades in extend this fund to all members in the The application form is available on Please fill our this form as carefully as possible to ensure a speedy and accurate response to your benefit claim. the civil service. “In the discussions union. “It simply comes down to cost,” page 23. Incorrect or insufficient information will delay the processing of your benefit cheque. surrounding the amalgamation, it was said Eoin. “If we were to roll this out to Your payroll number is printed on your paycheque and it is important to include this on our application form. critical that we maintained the fund for all members it would mean increasing For more information please see n Please submit claims between 1st January-31st December of current year. CO grades. subscriptions by 20% across the board. forsa.ie/membership-benefits The magazine for Fórsa members 25 Civil Service

any links to serious criminal activity. A As I saw Linda and Lottie approach I got They will perform such functions as: As preparations are made for Brexit, Fórsa took the passenger found with drugs is initially a tingling sense of what it must be like n Clearing the movement of cargo detained by Customs, interviewed and for a real smuggler who has something opportunity of visiting our Customs members at Dublin imports from, and exports to, then handed over to Gardaí who prepare to hide. Out of the side of my eye I countries outside the EU Airport. DEREK MULLEN gets to see first hand the role the case for prosecution. watched as Lottie clambered over the performed by customs officers on the frontline of the state. luggage on the carousel, sniffing n Clearing goods in real time for passengers as she went before import and export eventually arriving at me, detecting n almost immediately what I had secreted Collection of duty and taxes about my person. Lottie sat down to n Detention and seizure of goods Derek Mullen. indicate a positive find to her handler for which she was rewarded. n Control of warehouses n Control of temporary storage Cash facilities n Authorisation and monitoring of The gate keepers To see all this in action is very economic operators impressive. There are eight dogs at Dublin Airport, and they also cover n Processing refunds claims Dublin Port. According to their handlers, n Public counter service John and Linda, the dogs tend to have a working life of approximately eight n Ensuring compliance with Customs years usually retiring to their handlers’ law and procedures. homes where they live out the remainder of their lives.

John and Josie.

Drugs are brought to a forensics lab for analysis and kept – well locked up – by Customs. There is also a frost toilet facility at the airport for what’s known as ‘stuffers’ and ‘swallowers’ of drugs.

“The seizure of money is seen as a double Linda and Lottie. whammy against the These are changing times for customs criminals as it gets cash officers as we all gear up for Brexit. There is still a great deal of uncertainty out of the system.” about what it will look like in the end, not least in terms of the Irish economy. Customs officers involved in such cases Dublin Airport are also involved in overt or covert EU to Ireland custom procedures “As I saw Linda and arrivals hall. surveillance, and of course, the team

Photo: dreamstime.com in Dublin Airport. wouldn’t be complete without the Lottie approach I got a TOM BLAKE, one of our main And, just in case you are wondering, all There is a significant team of officers at customs dogs. We met two on the day. tingling sense of what it representatives in Dublin Airport, tobacco and cigarettes seized are both terminals, in addition to the cargo Josie with handler John Murphy, who If cash is believed to be the proceeds of must be like for a real facilitated the tour giving me a vivid accounted for, sealed, collected by a terminal, helping to keep the state safe. has the ability to detect food and cash crime it is detained by Customs. A insight into the work carried out by the recycling company and eventually Tom tells us there are 18 staff in and Lottie who works with handler Linda detention order is then obtained from a smuggler who has profiling and more than 40 on the Smith specialises in tobacco and cash. Revenue Customs team. shredded. judge and the sum is lodged in a special channel teams. account. something to hide.” According to Tom, passengers are generally stopped because of profiling. Profilers will look at flights particularly Training exercise The seizure of money is seen as a This can be by visual profiling (such as VAT from airline hubs such as Schiphol in double whammy against the criminals Whatever happens, there is no doubting some sort of visual indicator), by Amsterdam and Hahn in Frankfurt. In an event specially organised for my as it gets cash out of the system and the commitment of our members at the customs dog indication, or simply by a Customs also seize medicines, Passengers connecting through hub visit, I was detected standing at the prevents an importation. airport and ports to do their job as tip-off. counterfeit goods and prohibited food airports from locations across the world baggage carousel awaiting luggage off professionally as possible as Meanwhile, discussions continue with products, as well as charging VAT and can often raise a red flag for the team. the Abu Dhabi flight which had just preparations shift up a gear for what is Cigarettes/tobacco from non-EU Revenue management in preparation for duty on other fiscal goods. This work arrived. likely to be a seismic change on the countries, which are over the prescribed Brexit in early 2019. Staffing is generally takes place over at the cargo European political stage. allowances, are seized. If the seizure is Serious crime Stuffed in my pocket was a tidy sum – beginning to ramp up with the likelihood of commercial quantity the passenger terminal. Officers are kept busy with big €50,000 in cash – a wad of cash used that an extra 600 staff in trade This item was first published in Fórsa’s may be arrested. Irish citizens with cargo companies such as DHL and Seizures, of a small amount of drugs for exclusively for training purposes and facilitation will be employed on a 24/7 publication CSQ (Civil Service commercial loads are routinely FedEx, landing large cargo planes on a example, will be subject to ongoing rendered completely unusable by being shift basis and with a 25% shift Quarterly), which is distributed to the prosecuted through the courts. regular basis. investigations to determine if there are punched. allowance. union’s Civil Service membership n

26 Autumn-Winter 2018 The magazine for Fórsa members 27 Beyond the workplace SEÁN PURTILL is a horticulture instructor at Merlin Park hospital and chair of Fórsa’s Galway branch. In May this year Seán availed of an unexpected opportunity to take a trip to Tromsø in Northern Norway, 350 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle. He volunteered with the Teater Vildenvei while the company performed at a special seminar on mental health. Here he shares his account of his polar expedition. Seán Purtill. My polar expedition

HOW ON earth did I find myself in a Today Tromsø has the reputation of town 350 kilometres north of the Arctic being the cultural centre of the arctic Circle? with a vibrant nightlife and many cultural events over the course of the My adventure began in 2013, and the year. Winter draws many visitors to see visit of Teater Vildenvei to Galway. the Northern Lights and whale- Founded in 1996, the Oslo-based watching. company has focused on mental health care and addiction, performing dramas, comedies, musicals, children's theatre Stunning and poetry programmes in Norway and internationally. The ten minute drive from the airport takes you through the elaborate tunnels The company is composed of mental between the islands. Even the smallest The Arctic Cathedral is a stunning white The contributions from Arctic mountains overlooking Tromsø. health service users, a director and islands seem to be linked to either modern triangular building with a simple service users were most several volunteers, part-time actors, another island or the mainland. interior which sets off the beautiful striking as they spoke playwrights and supporters. I’d volunteered to help out in any way I stained glass panels. They are at their about how theatre had could, so I found myself taking a crash most stunning when illuminated by the transformed their lives. A friend of mine works with the group, course in sound recording, running midnight sun. However, the term and came to Galway with director around with a cameraman recording ‘service user’ was rarely Edvard Myska to look around with a interviews, performances and talks over used here. view to having the group perform here the three days. and spend some days in the west of In the case of Teater Ireland. It was a fascinating experience, Vildenvei, members of matched only by the extraordinary Of course I was delighted to be their the group defined experience of being in the Arctic. guide and we spent a busy couple of themselves in terms of days checking out performance spaces, their role in the group: “I seeing a few sights and meeting some Midnight sun am an actor”, “I am a people involved in the area of playwright” “I design and community arts. Teater Vildenvei Our visit coincided with appearance of make the costumes.” performed in An Taibhdhearc theatre in the midnight sun. I proved to myself that Talks on professional Galway in September 2013. it was indeed possible to sit outside and acting techniques were Polaria is housed in a very distinctive read a newspaper at midnight. followed by a workshop where the entire building, representing ice floes pressed up Invitation Tromsø itself is a city about the same audience was invited on stage to on land by the rough seas of the Arctic. participate in games and activities with size as Galway spread over two islands panoramic curved screens, creating the We stayed in touch after their Galway a twist. It was a lot of fun and gave an and the mainland linked by bridges and sensation of flying over the mostly visit, and this led to an invitation to tunnels in a sheltered inlet. interesting insight into interpersonal untouched Arctic landscape. accompany the group to Tromsø in dynamics and group behaviour. It gained its city charter in 1794 and The Arctic Cathedral in Tromsø. Northern Norway as a volunteer helper. Teater Vildenvei director Edvard Myska. A major theme at Polaria is the became the centre for hunting, fishing conservation of the Arctic environment. While I had previously lived in Norway and exploration in the Arctic with A cable car trip to the top of a mountain Polaria Information on climate change and the for a number of years, I’d never been to explorers like Fridjof Nansen and Roald overlooking Tromsø provides a acceleration of the melting permafrost Tromsø. It’s the third largest urban area Amundsen using it as a base for their spectacular view of local mountain Roleplay A trip to Polaria is worth a visit. It is an gave ample food for thought. north of the Arctic Circle, with a explorations. ranges reminiscent of the Alps. As a aquarium containing much of the sea The seminar was hosted by The National population of around 75,000. gardener I was drawn to the plant life from the arctic sea. The building A wonderful experience overall, and Fishing became a major source of Centre for Culture, Health and Social flowering in the snow at the itself is highly unusual as it looks like a light years from my day-to-day work. The group were invited to perform at a wealth because of its rich waters Care and a local theatre group. It mountaintop. series of large fallen rectangular arches Sean Purtill is a horticulture instructor seminar on Participation in Theatre for teeming with cod and a unique climate. featured speakers, performances and from the outside, and our visit coincided A local flower seller enlightened me. in the Galway Training Centre, Merlin Mental Health Service Users. They gave Anyone enjoying a dish of bacalao (a activities over a packed three days. with feeding time for the seals. three performances from their stew made with salted dried cod) in Rodsildre is a species of edible plant Speakers ranged from local politicians Park hospital, under mental health repertoire during the course of the Portugal or Spain will probably be eating that is very common all over the high to professional actors to academics to The venue screens a film about the services, and chair of Fórsa's Galway seminar. cod from the waters around Tromsø. Arctic, and is the emblem of the region. service users. landscape and birdlife of Svalbard onto branch n

28 Autumn-Winter 2018 The magazine for Fórsa members 29 Fórsa resources A new app for Special Needs Assistants, designed to provide information on contracts, allocations and other useful information is coming soon. DIARMAID MAC A BHAIRD spoke to Fórsa’s Séan Carabini about his plans for the app and its origins

Diarmaid Mac a Bhaird. SNA information? There’s an app for that!

THE ROLE of a Special Needs Assistant experience for many. Fórsa assistant some useful union information, news (SNA) brings plenty of challenges. One general secretary Seán Carabini bulletins and anything else SNA-related of those challenges is finding spotted an opportunity to test a solution coming from the Department of information on contracts, terms and for these problems. Education,” he explains. conditions. A new smartphone app is “There’s simply a need to gather all of currently in development, and is set to this information in one place, for both provide a go-to point for useful convenience and accessibility. More information for SNAs. importantly, there’s a need to make this Much of the information specific to information available to SNAs in a SNAs come in the form of government format which is quick and easy to circulars on the Department of navigate. Education website and Gov.ie. But there remains a lack of co-ordination on where and how circulars appear. SNAs often won’t have time to make phone calls or emails, and many end up having to exhaust their lunchtimes or breaks chasing down information “There’s simply a need to gather all of this With these challenges in information in one place, for both convenience and accessibility. More mind, Seán has developed a importantly, there’s a need to make this prototype smartphone app, information available to SNAs in a format which is quick and easy to navigate” – allowing quick and easy access Fórsa official Seán Carabini. to information compiled by the union. The app is due to go Séan says the app content is not ‘set in stone’ and subsequent updates will online in October. allow room to expand based on user feedback. “SNAs often won’t have time to make “This is the first version of the app so phone calls or emails, and many end up we’ll be focusing on improving it as the having to exhaust their lunchtimes or number of users grow. We’ll be actively breaks chasing down information,” he seeking feedback from SNAs about the says. app, and developing it further based on With these challenges in mind, Seán has what they tell us about their user developed a prototype smartphone app, experience. First and foremost, we’ve In addition, these sites can be difficult allowing quick and easy access to tried to ensure the app is a really useful to navigate, especially for new SNAs. information compiled by the union. The tool for SNAs,” he says. There can be difficulty knowing what app is due to go online in October. circulars to check, and suddenly finding Séan says the free app will be an answer to a simple question can What kind of useful information can you available initially on the Android (Google become a tedious and time consuming expect to find on the app? Play) platform, followed by Apple’s iOS task. and another 20 app “For the most part, it’s all the important providers and platforms. Looking for specific information about nuts and bolts of contracts, Department more specialist issues is even more of Education circulars and information http://apps.appmakr. complicated and a frustrating about terms and conditions. There’s also com/snaapp3 n

The magazine for Fórsa members 31 Opinion

The Government recently scrapped plans for a referendum to her own children: three unconventionally makes a beeline for the Frank and salary to another mother to babysit, attractive teenagers. The husband was Honest coffee machine. I head for the while her own children were minded by delete the part of the constitution defining a woman’s place in the looking well too, in fact, he was so trim ladies, which is so clean and their grandmother. As a single parent, I home. AINGEALA FLANNERY finds herself captive on a long car and tanned, Deirdre reckoned he was a comfortable I allow myself to sit for could not work at all when my child was cyclist. Our friend, on the other hand, longer than is necessary. It’s a habit I sick. As for ‘duties within the home’ – our journey where it’s a burning issue. However, she concludes that looked entirely wretched – neither of us developed early on in motherhood – house was rarely less than dirty and we the real issue is that the State has failed for generations to recognised her in the church. using bathrooms as places of refuge. At lived on frozen pizza. One morning, after home, the bathroom is where I go for a a longer than usual bathroom cry, I provide what it has pledged to its citizens private rant or a short discreet cry. Men decided to change careers, taking a 60 Aingeala Flannery. use bathrooms to shower and shit. per cent pay cut so that I could work fewer and more flexible hours from “The husband was Back in the car, I’m about to share my home. looking well too, in fact, observation about bathrooms and gender with Deirdre, but it dawns on me he was so trim and that she won’t get it. How could she? Just people tanned, Deirdre Deirdre never wanted children. She has No place for women poured all her energy into her career. As we shoot down the N4, I recite to reckoned he was a People who work in her sector have told Deirdre all the things I miss about the cyclist.” me she’s the best there is. She knows it workplace… people to have a laugh too, and is unapologetically vocal about with, or to have lunch with, people to equal pay for equal work. Once I heard give out about, people to run my ideas her described as ‘shrill’, by somebody by, people to talk to… just people. There was endless tea in the hotel after who never would have guessed that we the funeral, and two hours down the were friends. road I am bursting to go to the toilet. Deirdre, still fuming about the deferred “For years I ‘engaged referendum, says we’ll stop at the next Care-giver petrol station. “It’s a paternalistic in labour’ outside the throwback,” she rails. I know she’s been But here’s the thing, Deirdre has of late home, sometimes paying reading up on it, because she’s able to been called upon by her siblings to drive quote the whole shebang: “by her life their elderly mother to hospital half my salary to within the home, woman gives to the appointments, to pick up her another mother to State a support without which the prescriptions and do her supermarket common good cannot be achieved”… shopping. In time, her mother will babysit, while her own for fuck’s sake.” become more dependant, and Deirdre will have to prioritise family over career children were minded to meet her mother’s ‘intimate needs’ – by their grandmother.” Patronising the dressing, washing, and feeding, the tantrums and infections, the endless The language is shocking, I agree. But cycle of intimacy and despair, the sheer I’m not agreeing enough, she continues intensity and exhaustion of it all. Deirdre, drinking her coffee and in a quasi-judicial baritone: “mothers shall not be obliged by economic munching on a protein bar, says that I necessity to engage in labour to the should sue the State for loss of neglect of their duties in the home.” “Deirdre has of late earnings. I tell her she has it the wrong way around. Deirdre wants to know if I’ve ever heard been called upon by her anything more ‘patronising’ and ‘sexist’. I could have taken a case before I left We are entering Ballinalack, I spy a siblings to drive their my job because, by virtue of my Texaco up ahead. We zoom past it at elderly mother to hospital womanhood, the constitution says I twenty kilometres an hour above the shouldn’t have had to go out to work in speed limit, my bladder heaves. appointments.” the first place. The State did not endeavour to ensure that I wasn’t forced The truth is I’m opposed to the deletion by economic need to labour outside the of Article 41.2, and I’m in no form to Deirdre doesn’t see the correlation four walls of my family home. debate it. Were we in my car, I could pull between the life stage she is heading in where and when I pleased. But I am towards and the one I’m already at. It is astounding that no woman, since captive to Deirdre’s mood, if I don’t When she arrives here, she will the foundation of the State, has come engage there might not be a pit stop in understand why women aren’t home dog-tired after a ten-hour shift, to Mullingar either. She wants the Article stampeding to the polls to demand the a filthy house, an empty fridge and a erased, and I want it replaced with a removal of Article 41.2. Yes, they want mountain of laundry – and called a commitment to compensate anybody the constitution to be changed. And yes, solicitor in a fit of pique, with the whose earnings are diminished because a gender neutral term such as ‘care- intention of suing the State. Can you they’re looking after a family member in giver’ would be rather nice, but why get imagine the queue of women outside the

Photo: dreamstime.com their home. Not lip-service, not bogged down in a sideshow about High Court if she won her case? Now, symbolism, but payment through the language and political correctness, imagine the cost to the State if carers DEIRDRE STABS the button on the car a referendum in October to delete the We’re on our way back from our friend’s social welfare and the personal taxation when the real issue is that the State has got in on the act? That’s a chance the radio with her finger. “Typical,” she huffs, part of the constitution defining a mother’s funeral in Sligo. The woman system. failed for generations to provide what it Government are not willing to take, “just typical.” We’re somewhere in woman’s place in the home. The decision was eighty and had been sick for a long has pledged to its citizens. when it’s so much simpler to just hit County Westmeath, and according to sends Deirdre into a rage. I look out the time. Her daughter, our friend, was her We stop outside Mullingar, at a big delete. the five-o’clock newsreader, the window and wonder where she gets the carer for almost a decade. She did this flashy garage that sells diesel and bun- For years I ‘engaged in labour’ outside government will not, after all, be holding energy. while working as a teacher, and raising burgers and cut-price CDs. Deirdre the home, sometimes paying half my @missflannery n

32 Autumn-Winter 2018 The magazine for Fórsa members 33 Food

I loved it. most vulnerable, and craving comfort As the seasonal air shifted in early September DANIEL and reassurance, this is where our It’s a method that won’t appeal to appetite takes us. Parts Unknown DEVERY found himself suddenly struck down with aches and everyone, much less anyone who feels squeamish at the thoughts of a raw egg. pains and a sore throat. When we're under the weather we want Photo: gettyimages.ie However, it gently cooks and emulsifies Regional variations uncomplicated food that provides nourishment and warmth, in the mash, creating a soothing plate of perhaps even seasoned with a dash of nostalgia. Comfort food comfort food. In Poland, this craving may find means different things to us all. But its connection to a sense While our mother included this dish in expression in a pot of halushki, the school day repertoire, she recently consisting of flat noodles, cabbage and of home, and being taken care of, is universal. confessed that she never ate it herself, lots and lots (and lots) of butter. Daniel Devery. and was always amazed by our Cabbage also plays a role in the enthusiasm for it. Japanese comfort special, okonomiyaki, fried cabbage pancakes. The name translates as “how you like it” as you can Cheesy pasta add any of your favourite ingredients, from shrimp and spring onions to fried Roughly twenty years since I’d last egg and pork belly. Home comforts made it myself, I was coaxed back to health by the yellow dinner, and remembered it was one of my reliable hangover cures as a student. This prompted memories of another hangover favourite. Having discovered how to make a basic béchamel sauce while living in my first flat, I aimed to create the cheesiest of cheesy pasta ANTHONY BOURDAIN’S untimely dishes. This is the sort of calorie-rich death in June came as a shock to food for which there seems to be no fans of the writer and broadcaster. consequences when you’re in your His 1999 book Kitchen Confidential twenties. Cassoulet. remains the definitive account of the A definitive recipe for cassoulet is hotly gritty realities of the restaurant contested within the Languedoc region trade. of France. This autumnal slow-cooked He went on to develop a unique pot of duck confit (that’s duck leg slowly approach to broadcasting about poached in butter), sausage and white travel and food that combined his beans is, nevertheless, a Gallic curiosity about places and people expression of comfort, and one in which with his fearless palate (cobra heart they take obvious pride. It’s even anyone?) and a languid, rock star available to buy pre-cooked in jars and persona. By his own count, Bourdain tins throughout France. was on the road 250 days of the And of course, the healing power of year. Japanese comfort special, okonomiyaki, chicken broth, and its association with Earlier shows, including A Cook’s Tour fried cabbage pancakes. Jewish households throughout the and The Layover, are widely available world, is best exemplified by matzo ball on Netflix and YouTube, and while Needless to say, it’s not a sustainable soup, a traditional eastern European they’re entertaining, the MTV-styled diet, but I have many happy memories of soup passed down through generations. editing looks a little dated. Both a large plate of macaroni with cheese feature trips to Dublin, which sauce on a Saturday afternoon, Bourdain clearly enjoyed. bingeing on VHS copies of Twin Peaks (a Find your comfort reference more reliable than carbon Where Bourdain really hits his stride Parts Unknown dating to determine this writer’s age). As we head in to the colder, darker is on CNN’s . All eight months, it’s worth thinking about those seasons of the show are currently dishes that call to mind that sense of available to view on Netflix. Nostalgia comfort. They are usually very simple and require few ingredients. From Beirut to Addis Ababa, and from Bogota to Detroit, Bourdain If any of these dishes demonstrate That brings me back to my yellow looks more at ease, even in the most THE WRETCHED lurgy lasted five days broth, were just the remedy to restore Its constituent ingredients couldn’t have anything, it’s that what we regard as dinner. Its humble origins are to be uneasy situations. He’s not afraid to and was no fun at all. I craved two strength. been simpler. A pile of freshly cooked, comfort food is very personal. While I found in the back yard of my ask difficult questions, and there’s a things. The first was a good chicken fluffy mashed potatoes (the very find solace in starchy savouries and grandmother’s house in Tyrellspass, sense of wonder and joy in his broth, using a whole chicken, quartered definition of comfort food), with butter healing broths, others may head for ice County Westmeath. encounters that is less evident in carrots, celery, onion, garlic and some The ‘Yellow Dinner’ salt and pepper. cream, warm buttered toast, or salty earlier shows. whole chillies. It simmered very gently snacks, but they will invariably plot a With six hungry children to feed, she The second craving took me back to my Separately, we were presented with an on the hob for an hour and a half on a course, guided by nostalgia, for their kept hens and grew spuds. To this she The world is poorer for Bourdain’s childhood. There was a weekday dinner egg. Raw and in its shell, we made a well Sunday afternoon, and produced a childhood home. added her sense of invention. absence, but he left something (and by ‘dinner’ I mean the meal that was in the centre of the mashed spuds, lovely clear and healing broth. genuinely nourishing for us to enjoy. eaten around 4pm, when we got home cracked the egg into it, and blended the Comfort is conjured up by the essential The economics of the dish are self- A bittersweet legacy. The delicately poached meat, served from school) that surfaced every few egg through the mash, giving it a velvety qualities of home, and the sense of evident, and its comforts have cured me

Photos: dreamstime.com with the carrots, mashed potatoes and weeks. smooth texture. being taken care of. When we’re at our again n

34 Autumn-Winter 2018 The magazine for Fórsa members 35 Travel

Tokyo, Japan. To tip or not to tip? Is it rude to make this gesture? When it comes to etiquette while travelling, it often involves an awareness of the silent, unspoken “rules” of the community. ÚNA-MINH KAVANAGH is your guide to Una-Minh Kavanagh. a range of customs and taboos from across the globe. Custom or taboo?

ONE COUNTRY that takes pride in its then and there rather than walk with it. rules is Japan. I’m just back from this While Japanese people won’t call you incredible country and while there were out on your mistakes, you may get things I knew I had to be mindful of, frowns of disapproval enough to make there were even more things that I you feel like you’ve embarrassed discovered I had to do (or not do). yourself! favore” (“the bill please”). Waiters don’t be required to cover your hair. This rule Brazil But it’s not just Japan where certain usually put it on your table unless you’ve comes into play with many countries in etiquette is part of daily life. Here are a Germany requested it as this is seen as trying to Asia like Indonesia, Vietnam and parts We may be familiar with using few things I’ve picked up that you can get you to leave. of Malaysia. the “Ok” symbol using our thumb keep in mind while on your global Don’t jaywalk. We love crossing the road and index finger but in Brazil it’s Though there are, of course, places to travels. randomly here in Ireland but in Germany the equivalent of giving the Golden Temple, India. cater for foreigners, eating with your you can be fined for it. Even in middle finger. It’s considered to be one hands in India is commonplace so don’t rush hour you will see people of the rudest gestures you can make. glasses, remove them before going for a Italy. be offended. If you do try it, use your Japan patiently waiting for the green kiss. It helps avoid extra obstacles. right hand as the left-hand is considered Brazilian people use a lot of physical man. I could write an essay on the list of “unclean”. The sharing of food is also contact as part of their communication things to watch out for, but two things Germans are renowned for their considered good Indian manners, and so when talking to someone don’t be Canada tourists will experience while visiting punctuality and while you’re it’s common for people to order a shocked if they touch your arms, elbows Japan is their tipping system and the there you should try your best to number of dishes and share them or back when they’re being friendly. Canadians meeting for the first time practice of eating in public. be on time, be it a meeting with among your party. They also take the time to greet and say usually shake hands to introduce friends or a tour. Try to arrive a goodbye to each person present and are themselves and may shake hands while Tipping: It simply isn’t done in Japan. few minutes early or if you're not overly concerned about being late. leaving too. Kissing on the cheek is Some may even see it as insulting as going to be late, text or call to Vietnam usually reserved for the family. they believe that their top-class service explain why. However, some French-Canadians do it If you’re trying to get someone’s should be enough. Stories abound of France as a friendly greeting. foreigners who left tips and the waiter attention don’t use your finger. chased them down to give it back. Italy Summoning someone with a curled When eating cheese don’t expect to be Many staff in Canada rely on tips and India index finger, as is done in the West, is given crackers, it’s eaten with bread these are seldom included in the bill. It’s Don’t eat food while walking. When it If you’re a coffee lover, drink your only done by those in authority. Instead, most of the time. Don’t make a customary in restaurants to tip around comes to cleanliness, Japan is spotless. cappuccino or any milky form of coffee While visiting places of cultural extend your arm with the palm facing sandwich out of it or use giant chunks of 15-20% on the total bill before tax, less There are hardly any public bins and its in the morning, and never after a meal. significance like a temple, it’s respectful downwards and move your fingers in a bread either. Consider that the bread is for poor service, and more if the service residents are encouraged to bring home Also, the Italians absolutely cringe at not to show a lot of skin. Sometimes you scratching motion. just an accompaniment, but the cheese was excellent. their rubbish. Part of the reason why it’s the thought of people messing around may even be refused entry or scolded. is the star. History buffs note: The war in Vietnam Some restaurants automatically charge so clean is because people don’t eat with their coffee with things like ‘mint Don’t wear shorts, make sure your knees is known to locals as the ‘American War’. The French greet those who they know the gratuity for larger groups. People while they’re walking. frappuccinos’. And, please note it’s are not in sight and cover your shoulders It really doesn’t make sense to call it the with a kiss on each cheek. Sometimes also tip staff in hotels and taxi drivers. ‘espresso’ not ‘expresso’. with something like a scarf. You may have picked up that delicious ‘Vietnam War’ as it was arguably a civil the amount varies but it’s easier to just It’s not necessary to tip for counter barbecue skewer but it’s far more polite When you’re ready to leave a restaurant As a woman, it’s useful to have a light war which was distinguished by go with the flow and at least expect service, but tip jars often appear there.

Photos: dreamstime.com in Japan to stand to the side and eat it and want the bill, ask for “il conto per scarf with you, as sometimes you may American involvement. two. A pro-tip is if you’re wearing At the end of the day, it’s your choice n

36 Autumn-Winter 2018 The magazine for Fórsa members 37 Culture Vulture Photo: gettyimages.ie It’s the hit musical of the moment. Tickets for Hamilton are like gold dust. The box office took more than $30m before it even opened on Broadway in 2015, and the show racked up a record-breaking 16 Tony nominations. These seats are flaming hot. After months of sold- out shows in London’s West End, HAZEL GAVIGAN finally nabbed those precious tickets. Hazel Gavigan. My name is Alexander Hamilton Lin-Manuel Miranda, the show's creator, played the role of Hamilton for two years when it first opened on Broadway. SEVEN MONTHS of waiting and the day upgraded to the stalls. No danger of At King’s College he soon became finally arrives. Myself and my group of that happening here. The lights go involved in the War of Independence and equally keen friends board a flight, down, the room falls silent and the first assumed the role of George The producers made an interesting all, a casual aside: “Immigrants, we get to ensure the new administration check in at our tiny London hostel (a seven beats of Hamilton ring out. Washington’s right hand man. After decision to cast people of all ethnicities the job done.” represents all Americans. room so small the six of us couldn’t even becoming the first president of the in the various roles. While it may appear It no longer matters that we have our I’ve always loved that remark exchanged “We, sir – we – are the diverse America stand up at the same time) and enthuse United States, Washington appointed strange to see an African-American backs to the wall. between Hamilton and the French who are alarmed and anxious that your over what we are about to witness. him as Treasury Secretary. Thomas Jefferson (Jason Pennycooke) or a Filipino (Rachelle Ann Go) Eliza revolutionary, Lafayette. But seeing it new administration will not protect us, The lyrics of each song are embedded in Who is Alexander Schuyler (Hamilton’s wife), it’s live, I don’t think any of us were our planet, our children, our parents, or our brains after listening to the Career completely intentional. We get to expecting the rapturous applause it defend us and uphold our inalienable soundtrack on repeat for two years. We Hamilton? witness American history through the provoked. rights. We truly hope that this show has enter the newly refurbished Victoria Hamilton’s political life saw him co-write lens of what America looks like today. inspired you to uphold our American For me, it was the most poignant Palace theatre ready to experience the What is Hamilton and why has it the US constitution, establish America’s values and to work on behalf of all of us.” As its creator explains: "We're telling the performance first-hand. captured the world’s attention? first national bank, forge a trading moment of the whole show. It felt like relationship with Britain and oppose story of old, dead white men but we're the entire room was saying we respect It’s a hip-hop musical written and slavery. He led a colourful life with many using actors of color, and that makes immigrants, and we recognise their Reflection Special composed by Lin Manuel Miranda. Sung highs and lows. He found himself at the the story more immediate and more undeniable value, while at the same time Thinking about the show in an Irish fully from start to finish, it tells the centre of the country’s first political sex accessible to a contemporary audience.” rejecting the nativism of Trump, Brexit There’s something special about the remarkable life story of Alexander context, we’ve nearly 5,500 refugees scandal and lost his eldest son, Philip, in and the far right. atmosphere here. Any other show I’ve Hamilton, one of America’s founding a duel. Ultimately, Hamilton would meet “Immigrants, we get the currently living in direct provision, seen, whether it be on the West End, fathers. (Possibly better known as the his end in the same way. (That’s not a “Immigrants, we get the job done.” It’s a denied the opportunity to fully Broadway, in Dublin or Edinburgh, guy on the ten dollar bill.) spoiler. You learn of his demise in the job done” powerful moment. contribute to society. there’s never been the same level of first song of the show). Hamilton, born out of wedlock to a half- That same line, you may remember, At the end of our evening, we are anticipation, the room is fizzing. We file In a musical that’s essentially one British/half-French mother on the This tale of a complete underdog (a triggered a standing ovation in 2016 enthralled, thrilled, exhilarated…and a into the auditorium, clutching our continuous song, you might think it Caribbean island of Nevis, was “bastard, orphan, son of a whore”) has little sad that it’s over. programmes, eyes met with the wide would be difficult to pick out favourite when US Vice President-elect Mike orphaned at age 11. After his town was really resonated with audiences on both smiles of strangers. phrases or moments. Pence was in the Broadway audience. Hamilton has worked its magic on us. destroyed by a hurricane, he wrote sides of the Atlantic. We follow his rise And it forces us to recognise the Finding our seats isn’t difficult. We’re in about this experience and, so moved by to success, watching as he defies all At the end of the already deeply political However, there’s one line in particular fundamental value of a rich and diverse the very, very back row. Sometimes I his story, strangers collected enough odds and makes a life for himself in show, actor Brandon Victor Dixon (Vice- that has stayed with me. It isn’t some society. choose the ‘nosebleed’ seats in the money to send him to King’s College America, laying the foundations for dramatic high note or key change. It’s president Aaron Burr) acknowledged hopes it won’t be sold out and we’d get (now Columbia University) in New York. generations to come. just spoken with no music behind it at Pence’s presence and pleaded with him Job done n

38 Autumn-Winter 2018 The magazine for Fórsa members 39 Music

the uniquely Dublin spiceburger, a deep- Chris Martin. In his early career as jaundiced-eyed pundit, RAYMOND CONNOLLY spent fried compendium of mystery stuff in several summers in a pub near London’s Finsbury Park playing chess with breadcrumbs. Peter Ustinov. The pair famously fell out on a ferociously hot July day in 1976. Accounts vary. Some say Ustinov attempted an illegal move to checkmate, Class others that Connolly stole Ustinov’s pork pie. The real reason was that Ustinov I reference Ms Matthews because had attempted to argue that Eton or Harrow could just as easily have recently she has taken a stand for Raymond working class music. On her BBC6 radio Connolly. produced a band like the Sex Pistols. Connolly was having none of it, and has show she has stopped playing records been waging class warfare ever since. created by artists from the fee-paying school privileged classes. Matthews has copped that they’re taking over our art. That’s James Blunt, Coldplay, Mumford & Sons and Florence & the Machine wiped out in one stroke Public versus private of Welsh working class genius. Hats off Cerys. The tipping point must have been the Cerys Matthews. Photo: gettyimages.ie realisation that top Indie act The Maccabees consist of a Hugo, an Orlando, a Felix and a Rupert. They Photo: gettyimages.ie should’ve called themselves The Magic Roundabout. Matthews follows the lead of the writer/broadcaster Stuart Maconie who, in 2015, lamented the takeover of the creative industries waged by the upper classes. Maconie observed: “Damon Albarn of Blur was mocked as the posh whatever side you look at it,” says he. My point is that these all-time greats boy of Britpop when in fact he’d gone to Elementary my dear Cumberbatch. It had lots of important critical a comprehensive in Essex and his family only serves to remind me that, with that observations to make on society, having was just mildly bohemian. Nowadays name, he wouldn’t have fared too well in come from a societal position of he’d be decidedly ‘below stairs’.” De La Salle Finglas in my day. disadvantage. Add in the genius of the Maconie also drew attention to Sandie tunes and the result was, for me, an I loved Cilla Black’s unselfconscious Shaw’s advice, to the Commons’ culture unbeatable mix. confession that she loved being put up select committee, that a career in pop in posh hotels. I always imagined the The current trend, however, is a had become unviable “unless you’re hotel brigade arriving to turn down her reminder that all that post-war social Mumford & Sons and come from a bed for the night. “Nah I’ll do it meself mobility is at an end - for now. public school and have a rich family that Chuck,” as she boomed out a verse of can support you.” Shaw, let’s not forget, The most irritating evidence of all this is Anyone Who Had A Heart. Speaking of emerged from Dagenham in the regional that the likes of Simon Cowell wields so which, Doncaster’s own Sheridan Smith and social upheaval of the 1960s. much power and influence, and has gives a belting performance of that tune taken charge of the industrial drivel he (check it out on YouTube) in the 2014 peddles as pop music. Cowell is an old biopic Cilla. Public v Private boy of the Dover College (£3,995 a term in his day). I must clarify that a public school across the water is a fee-paying school. Here at Simon who? home, it does what it says on the tin. Pete Townshend (Chiswick) and Roger In dreams Public means the general public have Daltrey (Hammersmith) both did so well access. Private means they don’t unless There was a time when kids played at their ‘11 plus’ exams that they were they cough up the funds. street games in the sun and played advanced to Acton Grammar School. records in the rain. The demise of the I marvel at how English became a Grammar school sounds highfalutin’, 45rpm 7” inch vinyl single has equally universally spoken language yet its except it’s basically a non-fee-paying lowered the prospect of being creators frequently fail to understand school which does a bit of grammar. discovered by a record company A&R THE WELSH singer Cerys Matthews, Bannerman. Each to his or her own, but well with me. The suburb of Finglas was its correct usage. My own highly Sir Raymond Douglas Davies (aka Ray man in the local working class pub, front woman for Catatonia (remember it remains a personal tragedy that populated exclusively by first and developed Hiberno-English was Davies) was the son of an abbatoir along with the dreams that goes with 1997’s iconic singles Mulder & Scully someone of Matthews’ talent and second generation Dubs, and a large developed in a non-fee-paying (i.e. worker from Harringey (the part which is that. and Road Rage?) was a contestant in credibility appeared on such a tribe of Macaris from Southern Italy, in public) school. now referred to as Muswell Hill – the 2007 season of (catatonic) reality lamentable TV show. the 1970s. That leaves us with Chris Martin (£34k Sherlock Holmes actor Benedict dangerously close to Tottenham TV show I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of per year Sherborne Boarding School) Bannerman is an Irish-born actor, raised In fact, having a Macari boy in your class Cumberbatch was educated in Hotspur catchment but Ray chose The Here. singing about Roman Catholic choirs. An in North London, who played Italian was a badge of honour: “We’re mates Brambletye Boarding School and Arsenal – legend). Paul (Eton Rifles) appalling vista. Matthews concluded her time on the beefcake Gianni di Marco in Eastenders. with the fella whose ma owns the Harrow. “Being a posh actor in England, Weller attended non-fee-paying show in a tryst with actor Marc That Irish/Italian thing has always sat chipper.” Macaris remains the home of you cannot escape the class typing from Sheerwater County Secondary School. Don’t blink Cerys. We’re on your side n

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44 Autumn-Winter 2018