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Vol. 18 No 3 June 2019 ISSN 0791-458X Seanad EPSU Big Tips Bill Congress Start Page 3 Page 4 Page 14 SIPTU health workers strike by Paddy Cole SIPTU members working as support staff and chefs in 38 hospitals and health care facilities are set to begin a series of 24 hour work stoppages from Thursday, 20th June. The action will involve up to 10,000 SIPTU members providing portering, household and catering services and employed as Health Care Assistants, Maternity Care Assistants, Laboratory Aides, Chefs and Surgical Instrument Technicians. The workers are in dispute with the Health Service Executive (HSE) over what they claim is a breach in the Public Service Sta - bility Agreement (PSSA) by its failure to implement the findings of an agreed job evaluation scheme. Speaking to Liberty SIPTU Deputy General Secretary for the Public Sector, John King, said: “Our members accepted the provi - Some of the thousands who protested for public housing and affordable homes at the Raise sions of all the public service agreements since 2010. The Gov - the Roof rally in Dublin on 18th May. See pages 8 and 13. ernment must now honour its obligations contained within these Photo: Derek Speirs agreements. It is time to deliver for these workers. It is unaccept - able that workers should be forced to go into an official dispute in order to get what they are owed.” SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “Health em - ployers accepted the recommendations of the evaluation scheme SIPTU Organisers Crossword in 2017 which set out which staff members should be upgraded Page 7 Page 31 Continued on page 2 wanted WORKERS RIGHTS CENTRE 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Monday - Friday [email protected] 2 Liberty In this month’s JUNE 2019 News Liberty More Power to You Page 7 Students demand climate action Photo: David Joyce School students in their thou - ment inaction on climate change. “SIPTU gave us very good tips on Greed and the sands, took to the streets SIPTU members played a signifi - how we can structure our events in across the country on Friday cant role in supporting the stu - a better manner and organise our housing market 24th May to demand action dents with many union activists group structure in a better man - Page 8 on the climate crisis. asked to assist with stewarding ner” said Theresa Rose Sebastian, Coinciding with polling day for and logistical arrangements in 15, Mount Mary college. local and EU elections, the march some of the larger demonstrations The Government released its gave young people - many of in locations across Ireland. On Climate Action Plan on Monday whom could not vote on the day as Friday, 14th June, student groups (17th June) which failed to commit they are not of age - a chance to and SIPTU representatives the State to zero target carbon Liberty View Liberty have their voices heard and for discussed future plans for action emissions by 2050. Page 11 View their frustrations around govern - on climate change. Home care for people not profit James Connolly SIPTU representatives have She said: “The Government be run for people not for profits.” said that any plans to intro - claims that investment in home Speaking to Liberty, Secretary of Centre opens in duce a new home care scheme care has increased by 50% since the SIPTU Health Care Support Belfast must prioritise people over 2015 and that there is €450 mil - Assistants (HCSA) Committee, the profits of private care lion being spend on the service Katherine Dowling, said: “Directly Page 17 companies. Over recent days, this year. However, our members employed home care support as - it has emerged that the Gov - are asking where is all that money sistants provide exceptional value ernment will not in a position going? The elephant in the room is for money and enable elderly peo - to meet the demands on the that tens of millions of euro is ple to remain in their home or be service or to deliver on its being paid into private hands. The safely discharged from hospital. Supporting promise of an extra directly Government pays agencies up to The Health Service Executive Quality employed 800 staff and €28 per hour to provide one hour (HSE) has confirmed that it will 670,000 home care hours in of home support. The average not be in a position to allocate Page 18 - 20 2019. wage for non-unionised home care hours to new applicants until SIPTU Sector Organiser, Marie workers is less than €12 per hour. November. This is an effective Butler, told Liberty that until the These healthy profit margins freeze on the most vulnerable drive to privatise home care, includ - should be curtailed and reinvested people in our communities. It’s ing the huge spend on agency staff, in the service. Otherwise, we will not acceptable.” Padraigín Ní is curtailed then any future demands continue to go around in circles. Mhurcú - on the service cannot be met. Any new deal for home care must Reflection Page 29 SIPTU Dublin Bus talks on pay SIPTU representatives are diversity of the membership in increases in pay prior to the expected to enter talks with Dublin Bus was key to winning expiration of our previous pay Dublin Bus management over accumulative increases of 11.25% deal. Sport the coming weeks to build on for all members in recent years. “While discussions on a new pay rises the union has He said: “SIPTU is the largest deal have not commenced as yet, Page 30 trade union in Dublin Bus with we have repeatedly reminded secured for members between more than 1,800 members across Dublin Bus management that 2016 – 2018. all seven grades and the only when we do open negotiations we SIPTU Transport Sector union to have representation will demand that any pay Organiser, John Murphy told rights in each. increases be backdated from Liberty that the strength and “We submitted claims for January 1st 2019.” Continued from page 1 — SIPTU health workers strike Editor: Frank Connolly, SIPTU Head of Communications Journalist: Scott Millar, Paddy Cole and remunerated accordingly. The We also provide a canteen service for the last 12 years told Liberty ball is in the court of the Govern - for the thousands of staff,” she that members in household ser - Design: Sonia Slevin (SIPTU), Joe Mitchell (Brazier Media) ment and the Minister for Finance, told Liberty. vices are striking for recognition Publications Assistant: Deirdre Price Public Expenditure and Reform, “The employers have reneged on and respect. Administrative Assistant: Karen Hackett Paschal Donohoe, in particular. our deal and broken their promise She said: “We come to work Produced, designed, edited and printed by trade union labour. Printed by The Irish Times, City West, Dublin. Our members voted overwhelm - to thousands of our members. We every day and do our job with a Liberty is dedicated to providing a platform for progressive news and views. ingly by 95% in favour of taking have bent over backwards to help heart and a half. I don’t think that If you have any ideas for articles or comments please contact: strike action and will not back the country and we are getting no is appreciated. We want to be [email protected] down until they win their cam - recognition for what we do. We recognised for the work we do and Liberty is published by the Services, Industrial, Professional & Technical Union, paign for pay justice.” have to take a stand. I want to the standards we keep.” Liberty Hall, Dublin 1 SIPTU member Bridget Manning come to work, do my job to the The initial 24-hour strike will be SIPTU General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn • General Secretary Designate, Joe Cunningham • is a catering assistant in Cork Uni - best of my ability but know I am followed by five more full days of Deputy General Secretary, Ethel Buckley • Deputy General Secretary, John King • Deputy General Secretary, Gerry McCormack versity Hospital. being appreciated for the work I do strike on June 25th and 26th, and Production: SIPTU Communications Department, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, “We provide a service to people and be paid properly.” July 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Tel: 01 8588217 • Email: [email protected] who need it most. We cook, plate Anne Sweeney, a SIPTU member and serve the food to all patients. in Letterkenny General Hospital Liberty 3 News JUNE 2019 SIPTU General Secretary Joe O’Flynn and General Secretary Designate Joe Cunningham, centre, join USI Vice President of Campaigns Michelle Byrne, fourth from left, and Deirdre Curran NUIG, eigth from left, with OneGalway, OneCork and SIPTU activists on the plinth of Leinster House following the successful passage of Senator Paul Gavan’s ‘Tips Bill’ through Seanad Éireann on Wednesday 12th June. Photo: Aoife Ní Shúilleabháin Tips Bill passes all Seanad stages By Frank Connolly ployment. (RAI) for advancing incorrect asser - The minister, Regina Doherty, re - “What is the Bill about?,” Sena - tions about the impact the Bill will jected calls for the Government to LEGISLATION to ensure that tor Gavan asked. “It is about a The issue of taxation has have on low-paid hospitality work - support the Bill and said that she restaurant and hotel workers woman I met in Limerick who was ers, many of whom do not earn was instead introducing legislation receive their tips passed all taunted in a night club in Limerick been brought up, but it is enough to become liable for tax. stages of the Seanad on to force employers to place a pub - by her employer… about the fact an absolute red herring.