THE PUBlISHED IN ASSoCIATIoN wITH THE IRISH CoNGRESS of TRADE UNIoNS NIoN PoST U NoVEMBER 2011 NEwS YoU CAN USE A TAlE of Two CITIES: Nov 26 and Nov 30 NIPSA general secretary Brian Camp - pay for a crisis precipitated by banks But despite this, unions are braced to call on the Irish govern - field has issued a rallying cry to his and financial institutions that care for the usual anti-union vitriol coming ment to reverse its disastrous policy union’s members as they prepare to only for profit and shareholder value, from the usual sources. of austerity ahead of what is ex - join colleagues from other public not human welfare.” Speaking at a conference in Belfast pected to be another slash and burn sector unions on the November 30 November 30 will be the largest last month, regional secre - budget in December. picket lines. mobilisation of UK workers in a gen - tary Patricia McKeown warned of an The pre-budget demo, dubbed the In an editorial in this month’s NIPSA eration and centres around opposi - increasingly “hostile” press in the run March Against Austerity, organised by Reports , he writes: “When the flak tion to public sector pension changes. up to November 30. the Dublin Council of Trade Unions starts to fly, don’t be afraid to proudly Mr Campfield adds: “The decision She said: “One day they [health and supported by Congress, takes proclaim that public servants and to strike has been a democratic one. workers] are angels but when they place on Saturday, November 26. their representative organisations, the Members have voted. What else is exercise their rights, they are devils – Assembly point will be 12 noon at trade unions, have a just case. democracy about? The workers have how quickly angels turn to devils.” the Garden of Rembrance, Parnell “They hold the high moral ground given a to their trade unions Meanwhile, a few days before the Square, followed by a march to the against those who would have work - to call action to defend their pay, big strike north of the border, thou - GPO. Congress president Eugene ers, their families and communities pensions and jobs.” sands will take to the streets of McGlone will speak at the event. GRo wTH

IS THE KEY Congress Pre-Budget Submission Invest in jobs State assets Social protection Tax reform SUMMARY PAGES 2&3 Govt’s fiscal plan PRE BUDGET SUBMISSIoN is ‘bad medicine’ for jobs & growth AN INCREASE in spending cuts from €1.4bn in 2012 to €1.9bn in 2014 will lead to the Republic’s CoNGRESS: long-term economic decline, Unite has warned. Regional secretary Jimmy Kelly said: “The government sees this itself but has neither the courage nor the competence to break the spiral of decline it is creating. “It has cut its own growth fore - cast from 2.5% to 1.6% next year. MAPPING A It has cut its own forecast of net new jobs from 100,000 to 62,000.” Mr Kelly predicted the medicine being prescribed by the government would “kill the economic growth we need to foster”. wAY oUT of He added: “We’ve heard empty promises of investment in jobs but the €750m reduction in capital spending means 7,500 hoped-for jobs will not now be there in 2012. “This plan gives us a road map towards long-term, near perma - THE CRISIS nent high unemployment. “That will be the legacy of the CONGRESS has emphasised the • Multinationals should be encouraged to defer last years of failed austerity and importance of stimulating eco - repatriation of some of their profits and set up a the stain on the political estab - nomic growth as the only way commercial fund to invest here. lishment’s record that will take a out of the recession. Speaking at generation to erase.” the launch of ICTU’s pre-budget Role of state companies Meanwhile, SIPTU general submission, Growth is the Key, State companies can spearhead a drive to create president Jack O’Connor has general secretary David Begg jobs, acting as engines of the recovery. Creating an called the strategy outlined in said: “The most important umbrella State Holding Company, bringing together the government’s fiscal state - deficit facing is the the major semi-states under one governing structure, ment “the wrong approach” and deficit in the demand for would make it possible for this entity to access pri - cautioned that it would not labour. vate capital for expansion and re-investment. This succeed in delivering economic “The most effective way to tackle our means of raising funds would benefit citizens and is a growth or new jobs. financial deficit is with policies that create jobs and clear alternative to any privatisation of state assets He said: “This is the wrong develop innovative new products and services. that would only benefit private corporations. approach. It will not provide the Austerity is self-defeating and is suffocating the A State Holding Company could lead investment in necessary impetus for growth. economy. Growth is the key to recovery.” infrastructure which would boost our competitive - “While the EU/ECB/IMF troika Pointing to the example of Denmark where a new ness and create employment. Such investment would is dictating the terms, there is a government has embarked on an ambitious pro - include: need to leverage as much into gramme of public investment to boost growth, Growth • A state-of-the-art water and waste network: this the economy as is taken out in is the Key outlines a number of proposals to reverse could create up to 12,000 permanent jobs. the December budget.” the downward spiral of the Irish economy. • Retro-fitting energy inefficient buildings: develop - Mr O’Connor added that the ing a new €8 billion industry to upgrade Ireland’s balance between cuts in public Invest in jobs 700,000 energy inefficient homes. services and tax increases, while For every €1 million invested in infrastructure, up • Investment in public transport. an improvement on the previous to 12 direct jobs are created. Congress has identified • Investment in education. government, did not sufficiently various sources of funding for growth. These include: • Funds must be allocated to health to ensure full transfer the burden to those • €2 billion from the National Pension Reserve use of all available beds. There should be a cost-bene - most in a position to pay. Fund over the next three years invested in job fit analysis of the continuing jobs moratorium. He said: “There is more scope creation. for taxing the rich while the re - • Private pension funds should be encouraged to Reform of tax system ductions in public expenditure increase their investment in the Irish economy by 5%, In a time of unprecedented crisis, all sectors of so - should be implemented in such a raising an extra €4 billion a year. This could be ciety must contribute to addressing the gap between way that the wealthier sections achieved by making those pension funds which tax revenue and expenditure. Our tax system con - of society carry more of the bur - increase investments in the domestic economy by 5% tains a huge number of exemptions and incentives den. of asset value exempt from the government’s that narrow the tax base and limit tax take. They cost “Essentially there is a need for temporary pension levy. These investments should be the taxpayer up to €11 billion a year. a strategy that involves invest - in approved activities that boost job creation. • Targeting tax evasion and pursuing uncollected ment for jobs and growth, lever - • Encourage investment in Solidarity Bonds by taxes will yield extra revenue. aging money into the economy pension schemes. •A funded social insurance scheme would allow without compromising the • A new state pension scheme would give a sub - people to pool savings to pay for healthcare, pensions national finances.” stantial flow of funds to the Exchequer. This could and sick pay. This would also save money through raise €1 billion over the next year. reduced subsidies for private healthcare.

THE THE UNION POST is produced by Brazier Media for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Irish Congress of Trade Unions Committee Irish Congress of Trades Unions 31/32 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, 4-6 Donegall Street Place, Belfast BT1 2FN, Northern Ireland N PoST Tel: +353 1 8897777 Fax: +353 1 8872012 Tel: 02890 247940 Fax: 02890 246898 UNIo Email: [email protected] www.ictu.ie Email: [email protected] Web: www.ictuni.org 2 THE UNION POST y November 2011 Congress general secretary David Begg and president Eugene McGlone, below right, at the pre-budget submission launch

• The Universal Social Charge should be progres - sively restructured to reduce the rate paid by low earners. • There should be a new levy on wealth above €2 million, with ‘wealth’ defined as current value of all assets, yielding up to €500m. • The minimum tax for high earners should be 35% with the threshold cut to €100,000. • A temporary levy of 2.5% to be placed on corpo - rate profits. • Citizenship is a two-way obligation. The 183-day requirement for tax residency must to be halved to at least 90 days – as in the UK – and ‘tax fugitives’ must pay more. • There should be a new 12.5% oil and gas royalty tax, on production. • Raise Capital Gains Tax from 25% to 30% and apply the Universal Social Charge to all capital gains. Social protection There should be no further cuts to social welfare and strategies are needed to help the working poor and safeguard income supports for people with disabilities. projects that protect and boost employment should be safeguarded and supports which help people take up work – such as affordable childcare – must be maintained . Full Growth is the Key pre-budget submission can be downloaded at www.ictu.ie

Pictures: Congress November 2011 y THE UNION POST 3 UNITE members at Aviva have tially outsource a further 300. Regional officer Brian Gal - voted overwhelmingly to take Aviva workers in Dublin, lagher said: "As things stand all Aviva industrial action if jobs are , Galway and in the 26- 2,000 staff are still living under threatened or relocation meas - strong branch network were the shadow of the potential loss workers ures put in place before any shocked by the severity of the of their career. deal is brokered with staff. cuts. "We are determined to fight in 90% The ballot for industrial ac - It is understood that starting for every one of our members, tion was passed by more than on November 10, Unite has whether in keeping jobs that 90%. It follows the insurance asked its members at Aviva not can be kept or winning a fair vote for giant’s announcement last to take part in any activities agreement on voluntary redun - month that it intended to cut that facilitate the transfer of dancy for those whose roles action 950 jobs in Ireland and poten - work out of Aviva Ireland. cannot be maintained." W C

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Families take P a £4,600 hit A COMBINATION of stagnant wages, tax and benefit changes, and cuts in public services will slash the living standards of an Any ESB sell-off average middle income family in the UK by more than £4,600 by 2013. ‘will be net loss’ The claim is made in a new CONGRESS has warned that funds gen - TUC analysis of the living erated by any partial sale of the ESB standards gap, titled Unhappy would scarcely dent the national debt – Families . and represent a financial loss to the According to the research an Republic’s state balance sheet. average income, two-earner Chief economist made family, living in the UK’s East the comment at a conference on the Midlands with two children, is future of state assets in Dublin on facing a living standards gap of September 28. £2,000 this year – and this He pointed out to delegates at Char - shortfall will rise by a FURTHER tered Accountants House that any stake £2,600 by two years’ time. would raise between one and two billion As in the Republic, living stan - euro but cautioned that even that sum dards have fallen more in the might not be realised in the current UK than at any time since the climate. 1970s. Mr Sweeney said: “When set against Earlier this year, Bank of Eng - the huge level of debt at €157bn and the land governor Mervyn King told potential liabilities arising from the banks a House of Commons select (€279.3bn), it is clear that the impact on committee of his surprise that our debt burden would be negligible. the “degree of anger hasn’t “And when all costs are taken into been greater than it has been”. Unions forge alliance account, the sale would represent a net Reacting to the research find - UNI Global Union has Canada and the US have loss to the state's balance sheet.” ings, TUC general secretary He claimed that while consumers, ESB Brendan Barber said: “People formed a Walmart Work - joined the alliance. ers Alliance as a trans- A UNI Global Union workers and the wider economy would should be angry at the effect lose out in any sale, stockbrokers, top that the crash and government national forum so that source pointed out that unions can forge a common Walmart is the largest managers and lawyers would “make a policies are having on living killing”. standards. agenda in dealing with the company in the world by US-based retail giant. revenue, with sales in fiscal Mr Sweeney also added that it was “The wrong people are paying “ironic” that state assets were being sold the price for what went wrong Walmart has 8,500 retail year 2010 of $405bn. units in 15 countries and He said: “A company of to pay for the collapse of “Ireland’s over 30 years and the coali - biggest private companies, the banks”. tion's naive belief that they can employs more than 2.1 the size and scale of million worldwide. Walmart requires an “And it’s doubly ironic that the partial put right the damage in just privatisation of the ESB is being floated four years.” Unions representing international response Walmart workers in from the labour move - when we have just undergone the biggest Argentina, Brazil, Chile, ment. nationalisation programme in our www.tuc.org.uk/tucfiles/75/UnhappyFamilies.doc history.” ClAIMING oUR fUTURE Building the ‘new localism’ THERE should be a renewed “It is built on resource backing for the view that a redefine what is meant by focus on local economies as misuse, high levels of unem - change in the approach to prosperity. a means of developing an ployment and diminished development was not possi - It was claimed that levels alternative economic strat - public services. It is an ble without political reform. of prosperity should be cal - egy, it has been claimed. economy where commit - New forms of democracy culated in terms of health, About 250 people took ments made to address were needed to enable a participation, well-being part in a “national debate” climate change are reneged wider participation in and community – rather organised by Claiming Our on. This is why we need to decision making. than simply by money and Future and PlanBetter and build support for an Jim Nix of PlanBetter possessions. held at the Millennium Hall alternative.” said: “We need alternatives Another conclusion was in Cork on November 5. Participants felt that eco - to the current approach to that there should be new Debate centred on the nomic growth as a means of economic policy, and the ways of measuring need to build an economy solving the current crisis on state has a key role to play in terms of social inclusion that would serve both soci - its own could lead to an in this. and environmental sustain - ety and the environment. environmental crisis. “It should enhance local ability that move beyond Niall Crowley, one of the They emphasised that economies, further develop the current focus on GDP. COF organisers, said: “The growth must be robustly the services it provides, and And participants called for current economic structure regulated to ensure envi - regulate the national econ - the values of equality, envi - is based on false accounting, ronmental sustainability omy to stop it damaging the ronmental sustainability serving neither the environ - and to achieve social cohe - environment and society.” and participation to under - ment nor society. sion. There was also strong There was also a call to pin economic policy.

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November 2011 y THE UNION POST 5 Buckley: Winning approach SIPTU take fair Hotels concept to workplace SIPTU has launched a new cam - paign, Supporting Quality, aimed at protecting Irish manufacturing jobs. The union is urging consumers Anti-fascist demonstrators give the BNP a raucous Belfast barracking as to buy goods made in firms that SMASH fASCISM! senior figures from the party enter the Industrial Tribunal offices on engage in collective bargaining November 2. They were attending an employment hearing in the city with unions and encouraging them to consider the wider economic and social impact of their shopping choices. Products produced in unionised workplaces in Ireland will be allowed to indicate this with a special Supporting Quality mark. The drive is based on a MANDATE similar long-running campaign by unions in the US. Supporting Quality co-ordina - tor Miriam Hamilton said: “More and more people are realising LO that there is a need to support W brands produced by companies W which support decent employ - O PA ment in Ireland. P R I “Indigenous manufacturing will R KE D be central to the country’s eco - YO O R E nomic recovery and the Support - U T S IS ing Quality campaign allows R EC : N consumers to play their part in S T A helping the recovery by choosing EL G quality Irish protects produced V R ! by companies which provide E O W decent jobs.” S O Unions have been running a N similar Fair Hotels campaign to encourage union members to support unionised hotels. According to Ethel Buckley, SIPTU’s national equality and campaigns organiser, there has ben a 24% increase in the num - ber of hotels that have recog - nised the union since the drive started two years ago. Youth jobs crisis in UK YOUTH unemployment has in - creased in 97 per cent of local authority areas in the UK over the last 12 months, a new TUC analysis has found. With nearly a million young people unable to find work, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber claimed the stats showed the UK was facing “the biggest unemployment crisis in a generation”. He added: "The Chancellor's plan A has already sent unem - ployment to a 17-year high. A CAMPAIGNING & ORGANISING UNION Our young people urgently need a plan B to get people WEB: www.mandate.ie EMAIL: [email protected] back into work and the econ - omy back on its feet." 6 THE UNION POST y November 2011 Begg: Equality is

good for growth Mackel: ‘Clear message’ ‘fantastic’ result over NI libraries campaign NIPSA has welcomed Board of Libraries NI’s decision to retain eight out of 10 rural libraries ear-marked for closure. Delighted assistant secretary Paddy Mackel said: “The hard work carried out by local library campaign groups has produced a fantastic result. CONGRESS general secretary for Disability, Equality, Mental Health cal information for LGBT employ - “Over the last 12 months, David Begg has claimed greater & Older People ees and trade unions on a range of NIPSA played a significant role in workplace equality can help boost They include trade union re - LGBT workplace equality issues.” setting up the campaign groups, economic recovery and ensure “a sources for LGBT workers, a re - Broden Giambrone, of the Trans - providing material for them and more sustainable growth model in vised disability code of practice, gender Equality Network Ireland, helping to co-ordinate the over - the years to come”. guidance on taking an equality case also praised the guide. all strategy to retain as many of He was speaking at the October as well as a study on developing an “It represents a positive step to - the libraries as possible. 12 launch in Dublin of a series of integration strategy for unions with wards workplace equality by provid - “This campaign has sent a clear workplace equality resources and regard to migrant workers. ing trade unions and managers with message that local people can guides. Davin Roche, director of work - the tools and knowledge to support make a difference and with sup - Mr Begg said: “Those societies place diversity at Gay & Lesbian transgender workers." port and organisation local that prioritise equality across all Equality Network, said: “There has Brian Merriman, of the Equality voices can be heard.” spheres of social and economic life been enormous progress for lesbian Authority which sponsored some of He added that the campaign are more stable, less prone to crisis and gay people in Ireland over the the publications, also spoke at the success flagged up the clear role and more economically efficient – last 20 years. launch. unions could play in working the Nordic countries being a fine “Congress and the trade union He said: “It is important to unions alongside local communities to example.” movement have played a very and employers that the tools neces - protect vital public services. He added: “During the property important role in supporting this sary to enable them to ensure and credit boom, all the evidence work. statutory obligations to employees suggests that Ireland became a “The recent introduction of civil are fully met. more unequal place. And the evi - partnership continues this progress “We owe it to workers and their UK default dence now is that the austerity in bringing equality in the workplace employers to do what we can to drive has aggravated that inequality.” in the area of pensions and work - ensure that their workplaces take The materials were launched for - place benefits for same sex couples. discrimination seriously and are retirement mally by Kathleen Lynch, Minister “This guide provides very practi - properly equipped to tackle it.” age ended WORKERS celebrating their ‘Re-invigorating 65th birthday will no longer lose their job simply because of their age after the UK’s default commitment to retirement age (DRA) was scrapped on September 30. Employers now have to justify why they want to retire a mem - equality, diversity ber of staff. The TUC had labelled the DRA an “unfair anarchronism in and solidarity’ the modern workplace” and claimed the move would help TRADE unions and community groups attended the people retire at a time that recent launch of the second PETAL equality training suits both them and their programme in Belfast. employer. Speaking at the September 14 event, Congress assis - General secretary Brendan tant general secretary Peter Bunting said: “We in the Teresa Devenney, centre, receives her certificate Barber said: “After years of trade union movement must treat the present crisis as from Peter Bunting of Congress. Pictured left is campaigning, it's great to see an opportunity to re-invigorate our commitment to Equality Commission chief executive Evelyn Collins the end of the default retire - equality, diversity and solidarity. “This year we are offering topics including Equality ment age. “PETAL is a vital component of that commitment. Be Law and Workplace Policy, A guide to the Tribunal “This should give more work - part of it.” Process, Mental Health and Stress in the Workplace, ers the opportunity to retire at Equality Commission chief Evelyn Collins also spoke ASIST (Suicide Awareness), Social Guardians (facilitated their own pace, rather than of the success of last year’s programme. by Women’s Aid), Mobilising for a Bill of Rights and having it imposed on them by a Roisin Graham, from NIPSA, Teresa Devenney of the Women and Leadership.” short-sighted employer.” ATL and PCS member Seamus Larkin related their ex - He added: “Not everyone periences of the programme as well as outlining the Anyone wanting more information on the programme wants to work beyond 65, and challenges that lay ahead in keeping equality top of the should contact [email protected] many have no choice but to workplace agenda. Congress equality officer Pauline Or to book a place contact [email protected] work on, but many older peo - Buchanan said: “The key aim of PETAL is to help to Check out the programme at: ple still have a lot to con - meet union representatives’ needs in carrying out the tribute – and employers can important role of equality in the workplace. http://www.ictu.ie/download/pdf/petalprogramme.pdf really benefit from the wealth Pictures: Congress of their experience.”

November 2011 y THE UNION POST 7 Pension facts from NIPSA NIPSA has produced a new book - UK, NIPSA balloted its 43,500 Pointing out that the real cost of let that seeks to debunk media members on taking strike action on public sector pensions was forecast myths about public sector the pensions issue on November to fall over the next 50 years, he pensions. 30. added: “The real pensions divide is The booket, titled Public Sector General secretary Brian Camp - not between public and private Pensions: Myths and Facts , was field, left, said: “This booklet high - sector workers, it is between the launched on October 30 at an lights how, far from the myth of boardroom and the workplace event in the Belfast Unemployed ‘gold-plated’ pensions, the average with directors’ pensions 34 times Resource Centre. public sector pension is £7,000 the average public sector pension Along with other public sector with half of public sector pension - and 74 times that of the average unions in the North and across the ers receiving less than £5,600.” local government employee.” Check out the booklet at: http://www.nipsa.org.uk/Docs/Publications/2011/Public-Sector-Pensions-web Demanding decent work across globe MORE than 400 actions were held across 80 countries to mark World Day for Decent Work on October 7. This aim of this year’s protests was to highlight the deepening trend towards casual, temporary and inse - cure jobs – defined as “precarious work”. The latest figures reveal that there are more than 200 million people unem - ployed across the world, with hundreds of millions more lacking decent, secure employment. ITUC general secretary Sharan Burrow, who ad - dressed a special confer - ence in Amsterdam to mark the day, said: “Peo - ple’s rights at work are under attack as never before, and governments lack the vision and commitment to fix a global economy which is failing working people “Decent work – rights at work, job creation policies, social protection and social dialogue involving unions and employers – is crucial to turning the global econ - Peruvian workers take to the streets to demand decent work for all. They have joined omy around and generating the tax revenues for fellow workers in neighbouring Chile in demanding both their governments officially recognise World Day for Decent Work Picture: ITUC governments to tackle the fiscal situation.”

9 yr old Galla Abdu Nunu looks after her severely malnourished sister Matamay (9 months), EAST AFRICA Dadaab camp, Kenya.

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8 THE UNION POST y November 2011 BUIlDING RESISTANCE • DEVEloPING AlTERNATIVES Social Europe under deadly attack THE WHOLE concept of a Social ence a run-down of how a series of grim permanent damage, not just to the economy Europe is being killed off “to austerity budgets had impacted on workers but to the very fabric of Irish society.” balance the books” Mandate in the Republic. He also predicted the current general secretary John Douglas, He told them that a team from the EU/IMF/ECB strategy would “turn Ireland, left, has warned. EU/IMF/ECB troika was in Dublin to rubber - Portugal, Spain and Greece into an economic He made the comments in a stamp yet another attack on jobs, services and social wasteland for decades”. speech to a special conference and living standards in the next budget – tak - What was needed instead was a strategy organised by Belfast and District ing €3.6bn out of the economy. to promote growth. Trades Council on October 15. In marked contrast, he noted there did Mr Douglas added: “Growth is the only A large number of trade union - not seem to be “any appetite” to “tax the thing that is going to reduce the deficit. You ists gathered at UNISON headquar - wealthy”. can’t keep pruning your tree and keep prun - ters to hear a range of speakers Acknowledging a general sense of “fear ing and pruning it and expect it to live. It has debate the theme ‘Building Resistance and hopelessness” in the South, Mr Douglas to be watered and fertilised. At this point in and Developing Alternatives’. Mr added: “The troika medicine that is being time, the Irish economy has been pruned to Douglas gave the northern audi - prescribed is killing the patient. It will do the bone.” Don’t buy into the cuts agenda UNITE regional secretary concept of a “good capitalism” do anything.” Mr Kelly said Jimmy Kelly, right, underlined and a “bad capitalism”. November 30 was about saying the need for unions to He cautioned: “One always no to cuts and about showing strengthen their organisation leads to the other, and leads us “we’re fighting back and we’re in workplaces and to increase into an absolute mess.” not for backing down”. efforts to combat falling union “Politicially, it is no longer “We have to challenge in a density. good enough [for Northern unifed way. We’re saying no He warned: “There is not Ireland politicians] to say it’s cuts. We’re not buying into going to be an Earth shattering the bad boys in Westminster the view of ‘Let’s do it some - speech make by somebody on [who are to blame] because it where where it’s not too visi - November 30 that is going to is the same as the troika in the ble’.” fix everything unless we get Republic... He insisted: “We will not better organised.” “If you agree these parame - wait for a tsunami to rush over Mr Kelly also slammed the ters [budget cuts], you can’t us and all of our families.”

The conference, organised by Belfast n& District Trades Council, featured a number of other speakers including Unite chief of staff Andrew Murray, Dessie Murray of the PPR Project and George Pontikos, international secretary of PAME, the Greek trade union federation we are in the struggle of our lives IN her contribution, UNISON regional [health workers] are angels but when flagged up the involvement of local secretary Patricia McKeown, right, they exercise their rights, they are dev- communities. “From the beginning spoke of the strong public support for ils – how quickly angels turn to devils.” to the end, local people stood side Northern Ireland’s public sector in the She also reminded those present of to side with trade unionists – and past and contrasted this with what she what “sustained trade union pressure” that made the significant differ- called “the rabid fundamental opposi- had achieved for health sector workers ence.” Claiming that unions were tion” seen currently from some quar- in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. in “the struggle of our lives”, she ters “to the very existence” of trade “Continuous action did get responses continued: “We must go on the of- unions. and U-turns – and that was from the fensive and re-engage with the public Warning of an increasingly “hostile” Thatcher government.” because it is going to be about who press in the run up to the November Referring to the 1986 strike at the will win the battle of hearts and 30 actions, she said: “One day they Royal Victoria Hospital, Ms McKeown minds.”

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November 2011 y THE UNION POST 9 fTT prescription from healthcare Bill

THE magnificent National Nurses United –a Bedside manner: Nurses from across the world, including INMO president Sheila Dickson, fourth from left top, and Executive Council member James Geoghegan, fifth from right, get in union that has spearheaded a year-long campaign on the act with Bill Nighy in demanding a Financial Transaction Tax Stateside to get Wall Street to pay its fair share – turned up in force on this side of the Atlantic ear - lier this month. A sizeable delegation of NNU nurses joined col - leagues from the caring professions from across the world – including Ireland’s INMO – to gate - crash the G20 summit in Cannes. Speaking from Cannes, INMO president Sheila Dickson told The Union Post : "In Ireland reckless behaviour by global financiers is hurting our peo - ple. Unemployment has gone through the roof, the housing market has collapsed. “Our highly skilled young people have to leave our country to find work. We are saying enough is enough – no more cuts!" And at a press conference on November 3, the nurses took part in what NNU spokesperson Jill Furillo described as “a spirited skit” with top UK actor and Financial Transaction Tax campaigner Bill Nighy. She said: “It displayed the unique role nurses are playing in advocating for the FTT, as a first step in funding social services, healthcare, a healthy envi - ronment, jobs and education programmes.” Nurses also took the lead role, above, in a CGT-organised march at the G20 summit Pictures:NNU/ITUC A TRADE UNION PUB FOR TRADE UNIONISTS Lunches served Mon - Sat 12pm - 3pm Talking bowls served Fri & Sat 3.30pm - 6pm Live music 6 nights per week Monthly art exhibitions The best choice of local & worldwide beers in the city No TVs or gaming machines REAL BEER • REAL FOOD • REAL MUSIC • REAL PEOPLE THE JOHN HEWITT 51 Donegall Street, Belfast BT1 2FH. 028 90233768

10 THE UNION POST y November 2011 NUJ chief welcomes return of The Irish Post

THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970 THE NUJ has joined Irish community Following the successful outcome of She added: “Our community needs THE groups in the UK to welcome the the campaign, Save the Irish Post chair every sympathetic voice in the media IrishOCTOBER 22, 2011 | £1.30 | Eurozone €1.95 PostFor BREAKING NEWS visit our website – www.irishpost.co.uk

NEWS ENTERTAINMENT SPORT announcement that The Irish Post has Fiona Audley said: “We look forward to celebrate Irish identity and highlight INSIDE Brendan Gleeson... Manchester ‘super centre’ Fulham crowned Multi-million pound project gets green the Irish Depardieu? Jubilant Irish secure THIS light after over a decade wait. Film buff Steve Martin compares two SFC title after Irish World Heritage Centre to become stars who, though lacking typical film only five years in state-of-the-art community centre idol looks, never fail to impress existence been saved as is now back on the to a new and exciting future for The our achievements. WEEK Pages 8-9 See Sport See Rí-Rá 72 PACKED PAGE newsstands. Irish Post and thank all the readers and “We need support to tell our story, The voice of S THIS WEEK London-based Irish businessman friends of the paper who showed their to talk about our culture and sports – the Irish in Elgin Loane – owner of Loot magazine – support over the last six weeks. but also to reflect our concerns and Britain is back Community wins fight to save its paper

BY SIOBHÁN BREATNACH Well-known personalities come stepped in to bid for the title after the “We hope they will continue to sup - defend our interests.” out in support of the paper,which AFTERtwo long months offthe has been the true voice of the Irish shelves amid public outcry The Irish in Britain since 1970. Post has returned in a blaze of glory With over four decades of history — bigger,better and brighter than and a great reputation for breaking ever. news and campaigning, The Irish Over the last eight weeks commu- Post has become one ofthe few nity groups,including 75 MPs and newspapers to rise from the brink of formal liquidation of Irish Post Media port us now as we bring this valuable NUJ general secretary Michelle the Federation ofIrish Societies, permanent closure. came together with staff members Sky News journalist,and new to launch a defiant campaign to save Irish Post columnist Enda Brady, the paper. said: “It’s great to have the title back The Irish Post was put into volun- on the shelves.” tary liquidation by former Cork- Former London Mayor and cur- based owners Thomas Crosbie rent Labour candidate for the May- Holdings on August 19,who cited oral election 2012,Ken Livingstone financial pressures as the reason for added:“Over the years The Irish Ltd by owners Thomas Crosbie Hold - paper back to the newsstands. The Stanistreet said: “We welcome the its closure. Post has promoted peace and justice Less than two months later — fol- and played a vital role in celebrating lowing a well-supported drive to Irish culture and history.For over 40 bring back the publication and a years The Irish Post has made a mas- Some of those who supported fierce bidding process — it was sive contribution to Britain and the the Save The Irish Post bought by Irish publisher Elgin Irish community.” campaign: Angela Brady, Ken Loane. I See pages 3,4, 5 and 6 for more. Livingstone, Enda Brady, Chris ings on September 14. voice of the Irish in Britain is back!" news that the campaign to Save the Ruane and Jennie McShannon. Why pay the HMRC 50% on your onshore or offshore assets? A Save the Irish Post campaign was Federation of Irish Societies chief Irish Post has been successful and we If, as an Irish national living in the UK, you are concerned about the level of tax that you pay to HMRC, it is important you seek professional advice. With St. James’s Place Wealth Management you can reduce the amount of tax that you pay and mitigate your exposure to the £50,000 non-domicile tax charge by adopting tax-efficient investment and Inheritance Tax (IHT) strategies. If you would like to know more about reducing or eliminating your offshore or overall IHTliability, then launched to resurrect the Jennie McShannon said Irish people in would like to invite all journalists at contact me on the following details for a free consultation: Michael Roche, Partner of the St. James’s Place Partnership Tel: 0207 333 1983 weekly – an essential read for many Britain would be “overjoyed” by the the title to become members of the Email: [email protected] www.michaelroche.co.uk Irish expats across the UK. news. NUJ.” Post: Back on newsstands

PICTURES: Kevin Cooper [email protected]

Dozens of trainee teachers delivered copies of the Trident Report on Public Service Pensions to TDs in Leinster House on October 5 TD: Do your pension sums again DEPUTY Finian McGrath has called benefit from being in a pension confined to public servants and is for an independent evaluation of scheme as many will pay in far related to public service pension calculations underpinning proposed more than they will ever get out.” terms. It is a pension contribution pension changes for new public ASTI general secretary Pat King in fact, if not in law.” servants. slammed the plan as “nonsensical”, Deputy McGrath noted also that The Independent TD said figures adding that teachers would end up Minister Howlin had used a figure provided by the Comptroller and not just fully funding their own drawn from the Comptroller and Auditor General must be reviewed pensions but “oversubscribing”. Auditor General’s 2009 report that before the Bill passes. However, on introducing the Bill estimated the annual pension cost He told the Dail it was wrong to to the Dail on October 19. Minister to the State for teachers to be enact legislation on the basis of in - Howlin described the unions’ argu - “22.4% of pay”. correct information. ment that they had already been He claimed this figure was His comments came as the Irish Pat King: Sheila Nunan: subjected to a pensions levy by the “flawed” and added that there had government introduced a Bill to ‘Nonsensical’ ‘Devastating’ last government as a “misnomer”. been an “overstating” of the cost of bring in a single pension scheme for However, the changes – which Rather, this had been, he claimed, public service pensions through all new public servants. unions claim are “unfair and unnec - “a levy on pay” and insisted unions using “outdated assumptions”. The move has been strongly essary” – will mean student teach - were mistaken in “characterising it Mr McGrath said: “The most opposed by teaching unions. On ers starting their careers next year as a pension contribution”. serious of his assumptions is that October 5, an INTO/ASTI/TUI will work longer, pay more in and He added: “it is not, by definition, pay will increase every year by the delegation met with Brendan get less out of their pensions. a permanent measure. I hope it will rate of inflation plus 1.75%. Howlin, the minister charged with Unions insist the measures will not be... permanent.” “The more realistic calculation spearheading the reform. lead to vastly different conditions of But the Minister’s arguments used in the Trident Report is that it At the meeting, unions outlined service for teachers and lecturers were strongly disputed by Deputy will increase by the rate of inflation why the proposals – contained in doing identical jobs. McGrath who pointed out that plus 1%. the Public Service Pensions (Single Reacting to the legislation pub - while the minister had been critical “This indicates a new entrant Scheme) and Remuneration Bill lished on September 29, INTO of the Trident Report for including cost to the State under current 2011 – were “seriously flawed”. accused the government of walking the pension levy in its calculations, pension terms as low as 3.4% of They backed up this view by away from any responsibility for the Comptroller and Auditor Gen - salary, which is a long way from the referring to a report drawn up by pension provision. eral had done the same in his minister’s figure of 22.4%.” actuarial firm Trident last Novem - General secretary Sheila Nunan report. Deputy McGrath’s call for an ber. That study had shown that the described the measures in the Bill He told the Dail: “While the levy independent evaluation of the current system is, in fact, sustain - as “devastating” for new teachers. is not legally a pension contribution, figures has been welcomed by the able. She said: “There will be no net it is a pension-related contribution INTO.

Picture: Moya Nolan/INTO

November 2011 y THE UNION POST 11 Ditch austerity, go for growth,Troika told CONGRESS has once again warned “The troika officials cannot ignore escape route from this crisis.” and reckless management.” IMF/ECB/EC troika officials that the evidence and it is no longer suf - He claimed that there was “a seri - Mr Begg added: “Yet there been Ireland needs growth – not more ficient to administer prescriptions ous contradiction” at the heart of precious little focus on reforming austerity. for cuts and ignore the conse - the official response to the crisis, at the hugely powerful and secretive General secretary David Begg, quences of those cuts.” both a national and EU level. To date, banking system to ensure that it can speaking before an October 19 Mr Begg said this was underlined it had focussed on cutting wages, never again bring Ireland and Europe meeting with the troika, said: “We by Aviva’s decision to axe 950 jobs, welfare rates and the living to the edge of collapse. desperately need a plan for jobs and which he described as a “terrible standards of working people. “It seems reform is for the ‘little growth, an innovative strategy that blow” to the workers and their fam - “But the crisis didn’t originate people’ and that the real source will help to kickstart an economy ilies. “We now have to now focus on with working people, it originated of the problem will remain that is effectively flat-lining. growth as it presents the only viable with private, profit-hungry banks untouched.” Saoirse assault

SIPTU general president Jack was “corralled to such an extent” November 10. Mr O’Connor said: O’Connor has described the board - during the operation that it collided “The strongest representations ing of two vessels – including the with sister ship the Tahrir, damaging should be made to the Israeli gov - Irish MV Saoirse – by Israeli forces in both vessels. ernment about this appalling treat - international waters as “an illegal A spokesperson claimed the boats ment of people who volunteered to act of piracy without any mandate in nearly sank in the manoeuvre and bring humanitarian aid to, and raise international law”. that the takeover was “dangerous to awareness of, those suffering under During the November 4 boarding, human life”. the inhumane blockade of the Gaza it was claimed that passengers and Fourteen Irish people were initially strip. crew were hosed down under gun- held at the Israeli port of Ashdod. It “We would hope and expect that point by IDF commandos before is understood that at least five of those still in detention in Israel are being taken into custody. According those have now been released and released immediately and allowed to to activists’ accounts, the Saoirse are due back in Dublin late on return home safely.”

A NEW ILO report nhas warned that the Any pupil-teacher ratio world economy is tee - teering on the edge of an even deeper jobs reces - cuts ‘will hit recovery ’ sion which is threatening to stall any recovery. ASTI has hit out at reports the what kind of job they will have. According to the au - pupil-teacher ratio may be It’s that serious.” thors of the new World increased in Budget 2012. He pointed out that second- of Work Report 2011: General secretary Pat King level schools in the Republic Making Markets Work for said: “Ultimately economic re - were already overstretched after Jobs , it could take at covery is about jobs. If the pupil- a series of “regressive cuts” over least another five years teacher ratio is increased by the last three years. before employment one, almost every second level “Yes, the country is in dire returns to pre-crisis school in the country will lose straits, but we still need a coher - levels. between one and three teach - ent pathway out of this. This year’s report has ers. “It is widely accepted that a also included a “social “Schools will be forced to knowledge-driven economy unrest” index for the drop subjects and classes. based on sustainable jobs is the first time. “For many young people this way out. We must ensure that It found that there was will impact on their career and young people have the education increased risk of social study options, whether or not and skills they need to live and unrest in 45 out of the they will get work in Ireland, and work in such an economy.” 118 countries examined.

12 THE UNION POST y November 2011 Unite queries role of New Era agency UNITE has queried the motivation behind we need another layer of management to the setting up of a new government body to oversee state companies that are serving manage shareholdings in semi-state compa- the country well and contributing a strong DESIGN nies. dividend?” do you need your union Regional secretary Jimmy Kelly claimed And he asked: “Would private investors the New Era body, which will operate under have sanctioned rural electrification or even publication revamped ? the National Treasury Management Agency, the founding of the ESB in the earliest days was “very plainly a vehicle to dismantle the of the state?” best of our state assets”. Mr Kelly also slammed what he called contact us at It is understood New Era’s remit covers “the hollow grandstanding” that privatisa- ESB, Bord Gáis, EirGrid, Bord na Móna and tion will lead to more investment and braziermedia Coillte. Speaking at a meeting of the union’s vowed that Unite would resist the sale of activists in Dublin last month, he said: “Do state assets. @btinternet.com C U O T

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Paul Kenny: New role GMB chief is TUC prez GMB general secretary has been elected TUC president Nurses from Limerick travelled to the Dail to highlight patient safety concerns at Mid-Western Regional Hospital and takes over from Community general secretary Michael Leahy. Mr Kenny, a 61-year-old Lon - doner of Irish descent, was elected at a meeting of the TUC’s govern - Emergency dept nurses ing body, the General Council, on September 15. Speaking after the vote, he said he was looking forward to the new role and, in particular, developing take grievances to Dail the TUC’s campaign against the INMO and SIPTU have agreed to partment. It is understood a full The agreement by the HSE to re - cuts. suspend industrial action at the review of rosters and resources is view services in the Mid-Western He added: “The values of our Mid-Western Regional Hospital for being held across all hospitals in Regional Hospital follows three movement are the only beacon of four weeks, starting on October the mid-west. light for millions of people who four-hour work stoppages by emer - 19. Additional resources have also gency department nurses and a deserve a fairer society and a The move follows talks last been allocated to the emergency better future. protest by staff who travelled to month between the unions and department at the Mid-Western Dublin on October 12. “The union movement, with its management at the Labour Regional Hospital. campaigns for decency and social Nurses from both SIPTU and Relations Commission. SIPTU sector organiser Louise INMO held a lunchtime protest justice, has more credibility, more Staff at the Limerick hospital consistency and more relevance O’Reilly said: “The HSE has a lot of outside the Dail, handed in letters have been complaining about the work to do over the four weeks to of protest to Taoiseach Enda Kenny, than any politician. “deterioration” in the “patient care “The TUC is a powerful force conduct the review and to ensure Health Minister Dr James Reilly and environment” brought about by that patient safety concerns raised HSE chief Cathal Magee. They also for good and I am very proud to overcrowding in the emergency de - be president for the year ahead.” by our members are addressed.” met with TDs from the mid-west. ‘Reckless’ fAC cut proposal slammed CONGRESS has described as “reck- figure. Mr Sweeney said: “The Coun- years. “We have had too much auster- less” a Fiscal Advisory Council pro- cil’s obsession with debt reduction ity and it is not working. We need to posal that the Irish government should ignores the impact of the €21bn significantly moderate our budgetary impose deeper cuts in its December austerity adjustment to date. plans and invest for growth.” budget. “The deficit in the demand for Mr Sweeney also flagged up a new Chief economist Paul Sweeney labour – and not the financial deficit – study by Laurence Ball of John Hop- warned the call for even more auster- kins University and two IMF staff is what we need to prioritise. ity at a time when the policy was members, warning that austerity clearly failing was “reckless and could “The recent small increase in damages income and jobs. threaten a possible recovery”. volatile GDP and the small increase in He added: “It found that the pain is The FAC, a public finances watchdog GNP give no comfort to those work- not shared equally – wage earners are set up in June under the terms of the ing in the real economy and even less hurt most. For example, their model troika bailout, estimates €4bn in cuts to those who are out of work.” found that wages fall by 0.9% with and new taxes is needed to meet the He pointed out that domestic de- each 1% cut in GDP, whereas profits deficit cutting target of 8.6% of GDP mand had fallen substantially in the and rents fall by only 0.3% – and they next year. second quarter of this year and that recover faster! The body has also recommended this had been compounded by a “stag- “These proposals will damage jobs further cuts of €400m on top of that gering” fall of 25% over the past three and prospects for growth.” Sweeney: ‘Too much austerity’

November 2011 y THE UNION POST 13 STRESS 1 STRESS 2 Strong link Austerity between could lead job security to more and health suicides A NEW survey has revealed that UNITE has warned the UK govern - stress is the most common cause ment its austerity policies could for long-term sickness and absence lead to increased suicide rates. for both manual and non-manual And the union pointed to a 40% workers in the UK. hike in the number of people taking The Simplyhealth Absence Man - their own lives following the melt - agement study carried out with the down in the Greek economy. Chartered Institute of Personnel The claim was made in a and Development and published response to a UK Department of last month also found a strong link Health initiative on the issue. between job security and mental Unite professional officer Dave health problems. Munday said: “We believe that the It showed that employers plan - economic crisis will increase the ning to make redundancies in the pressures on individuals, faced with next six months are significantly tightening finances, repossessed more likely to report an increase in homes, marital breakdown and lost mental health problems among staff jobs. (51% compared with 32% who are “Bearing in mind that 20% of the not planning redundancies). population will suffer mental prob - TUC general secretary Brendan lems during their lifetime, this cost- Barber claimed that the figures cutting government should not revealed the “serious impact” cuts, sweep mental health under the job losses, restructurings and pay carpet because society deems it as inequalities were having on work - an uncomfortable subject.” ers’ health. He added: “Unfortunately there is still a tendency among many employers to think of it as 'just VHI survey stress' but this is a real issue which can devastate people's lives and tear apart families.” $hock $tats points to PROTEST group ‘Occupy George’ the American public in graphic has put its money where its terms of economic disparty are ‘emotional PHoToLInE mouth is by using infographics being distributed widely through - Experienced against the Corporate Machine. out the States. The group is using a key em - A spokesperson for the group stress’ hike photographer blem of US capitalism – the dollar said: “Money talks, but not loud bill – to hammer home its mes - enough for the 99%. We think this MORE and more Irish workers are specialises in sage. is a much more effective way of suffering burnout and mental ill health because of increased work - campaigning ‘Occupy George’ was set up by trying to change minds by loads and stress, among other photography a pair of California-based design - presenting people with the info factors, it has been claimed. ers who have made dollar bill so they can draw their own According to health insurer VHI, for trade unions prints in support of the interna - conclusions.” there was a 110% hike in the num - tional ‘occupy’ movement. Check out the designs at ber of employees citing “emotional and nGos. The branded notes informing www.occupygeorge.com health” concerns in the first quar - ter of this year under their em - For conferences, ployee assistance programmes. campaign launches, Dr John McDermott, of VHI, said: “The trends we are seeing in terms street demos, of the services employees require speak for themselves – companies May Day parades, need to put in place support struc - magazine and PR tures to address these issues to prevent burnout and promote photography. positive workplaces. “While this can seem incidental Shared commission in times of huge economic pressure, rates for IcTU this is crucial in terms of a com - pany’s productivity and has a conferences. definite impact on the bottom line for every organisation.” conTacT VHI’s EAP services are provided in more than 450 companies Kevin cooper Pictures: Occupy George nationwide. E: [email protected] T: 028 90777299 We’re in a ‘global jobs crisis’ M: 07712044751 UNI Global Union chief Philip Jennings has the fringes of the G20 Summit earlier this claimed the world has been engulfed in “an month in Cannes. unprecedented global jobs crisis”. He insisted the “huge mistake” made at He said: “There’s a sense out there that the 2010 G20 Toronto conference had been the social dimension has been lost and that the focus was taken off jobs. people are getting lost in this whole agenda “We want to put people back on to the to deal with the deficit.” agenda. If we don’t have a growth strategy, Mr Jennings, left, made the comments from we won’t deal with the deficit.”

14 THE UNION POST y November 2011 SIPTU BIENNIAl CoNfERENCE King vows to delegates: ‘We’ll fight on pensions’

SIPTU vice president Patricia She said: “I want to make one she cautioned, and called for “di - King, right, has fired a pensions thing very clear – we will resist rect engagement” on the issue. salvo at employers warning them any attempt to make workers She added: “However, if the the union will consider strikes pay for this levy. Pensions Regulator or others in and industrial action to protect “They have lost enough of authority insist on enforcing this, existing schemes. their retirement savings already we will do the only thing we can She made the comments in a and it is a matter for the do – in the event of any scheme speech to SIPTU’s biennial con - employers and the pensions collapsing – which is to confront ference in Ennis on October 4. industry to meet this cost.” the employer concerned directly. Warning delegates a “major Ms King also slammed authori - “We will fight on this issue catastrophe” was “careering ties who were “straining at the and we will promote industrial down the tracks” on retirement leash” to impose a Funding Stan - action and strike action to income, Ms King claimed the dard which, she predicted, would preserve pension schemes, and if “precarious position” of pension cause “chaos”, leading to the they want chaos, insisting on this funds had been worsened by the collapse of many schemes. Funding Standard is the right recent levy. Funds need time to recover, way to go about it.” ‘The private sector has never been a key driver of productive investment’ CONGRESS general secretary sources have to be found." was the best that the Irish David Begg has warned Mr Begg claimed that the entrepreneurial community delegates at SIPTU’s biennial private sector had never been could manage in the good conference that private sector “a key driver of productive in - times, what can be expected investment could not be vestment” in the domestic of them now?" relied upon to deliver growth economy, citing total private Mr Begg fully endorsed in the current crisis. investment of €14.5 billion SIPTU’s Investing for Jobs and He said: "The only way between 2000 and 2008. Growth policy proposal on to get growth in the do - Pointing out that during the how pension funds could be mestic sector is through same period, the state and incentivised to invest in investment. Private semi-state sectors had in - Ireland. investment has all but vested €33.5 billion in infra - Austerity policies being collapsed, so other structure, he added: “If that pursued in Ireland and Europe were destined to fail, he claimed. "They are... nothing less than more extreme versions of the liberal market ideology that got us into this mess in the first case.” ‘Hawks of austerity had their way... the results clear to see’ SIPTU general president Jack recovery when it would be back Mr O’Connor claimed the O’Connor has slammed “the to business as usual.” consequences of embarking on a hawks of austerity” for unleash - Mr O’Connor, right, reminded policy of austerity were “clear ing “a war on working people” delegates that the trade union for all to see” with an unem - since the 2008 collapse in the movement had highlighted the ployment rate approaching 15% global economy. “absurdity” at the time of “treat - and the return of “the spectre He told those gathered in ing a gaping collapse in demand of forced emigration”. Ennis, Co Clare, for the union’s with austerity”. He added that these terrible biennial conference that this had He said: “We organised consequences for working prompted in Ireland, a policy of mobilisations, engaged in negoti - people were being mirrored in “simulated internal devaluation” ations, lobbied and employed the North. by the then Fianna Fail-led gov - every other legitimate technique The Tory/Lib Dem govern - ernment. within our capacity. ment has signalled a massive They did this “to assuage the “Despite all our efforts to £4bn retrenchment strategy voracious appetite of the finan - bring about a basis for a sane targeting public services and cial ‘markets’, restore ‘confi - way forward, the hawks of threatening one in eight jobs. dence’ and bring about a quick austerity had their way.” Screen grabs: SIPTU November 2011 y THE UNION POST 15 p.ie www.getupstandu AIGN LATEST GO TO THE FOR CAMP ite for Rights ESS r WITH CONGR W IATION UNION PUPBLISHED IN ASSOC ST REPORT

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T Pu WHEN Amnesty International was OGblic servi E ce P U w BLI E S L HE o D IN A r hed 50 years ago, it was SSO k launc C T IAT e N IO N W r IT P H s THE H O IRISH CONGRESS OF T E PA O G V R E ADE UNIONS RE 3 THE Pun ite in 24hr stoppage founded on a sense of outrage at 2 NOV 6 R 4 ALLIES the persecution of individuals who OCTO Y WBERE 20R10 OPICTURE E SPECIALS NE THERE PAGES 4,5,8,9 expressed views contrary to those N WS YOU CAN USE D ACRO?SS EUROPE I TH AN O OU N TH, S U TS NOR S P ►PROTE WOSTER of their government. SHOCK O NORTH P CUTS IN SP ► ENDING Green. Peter Benenson, a London lawyer, REVIEW Bank, Stephen’s utside Anglo Irish FOUR DAY Meet 12.30pm o DUBLIN SOUTH WETDH ‘NHAEIRS SHI il @ 1pm ► RT’ BUDGETo Lrally outside Da felt a sense of rage when he read SEPTEMBER March t OOMS Mo re cuts: Lenihan about two Portuguese students NIONS ST NGRESS OF TRADE UBELFA WITH THE IRISH CoOutside ED IN ASSOCIAATIOsNsemble THE PUBLISH pm City Hall @ 12.30 RALLY thrown in jail for raising a “toast to 1pm - 2pm

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REPORT & P NEWS ICTURES: P2/3 Eam YOU CA onn McCann co N USE N ncludes Octob er 23 rall Today it tweets the President of y aga had not i at rallying cry, he I n made th O st the c INM N uts in Belfast wO VOWS i th a rousing qu U o P te f FOR A O rom radical po BETTER, ACT S et Shelley FAIRER & REIOPNO ORN T WAY TS PAGES 14-17 CONFERENC NURS Azerbaijan, or emails the head of E ING yet galvanised his sense of outrage SEPT 29 DETAILS P2 peopl DeA’Ys OF ACTION STUDENTS P ICTURES P4 Pictur FO e: Paula Ger ctaE aghty gon B Room 5 PAY , King’s Hall, B CUTS the Georgia parole board – every congress elfast into a course of action. People S SS OF TRADE UNION THE IRISH CONGRE shared the sense of injustice, but form of communication is in its CIATION WITH Eu THE PUBLISHED IN ASSO ropean Commissi did not yet know how to act on it. arsenal. ‘inte on warned over all rference’ in Irelan eged d’ ion chief This year though, Amnesty has s t lab e, IMF delega ing Amnesty members s The found our what’s wor a mAnd a was NOT greeing to rkmede the cut al Bank, a pra confir t European Centr Ajaj Cho ement. ecretary David n bailout. with the loan agre RESS general s humiliating €85b ” move, tied in d it was an “early CONG cember 10 Dail as a “contemptible er, Mr Begg claime as called the De Describing it k €40 a Rath for the “worst L Begg h day of ut too ent” T “a e c res appealed once again for people in um wage d the wag ristmas p Ud nim sai h an S i g C ss e, m stat e to heads of g rite decided to w cut the Mr Be the full Frish busin te to r “in ” in I O vo rking poo E elements he wo been P om t gom paid. shame”. ianna week fr economic, po- N ery” to the UlowS E F M s of shame as the e that there is no Obrought onlUy “m iCAN ek Adg O s a we knowle I r it”. S Y It follow Hely ceded justificatioNn foEW iv Nral Svernment effect ical, social or mo go Ulit Fail-led F and the 11 ereignty to the IM JUNE 20 the UK and Ireland to pick up their financial sov and others in positions of power,

n: L e2n&i3han RES TIAOxNe: mPages pens once more in a return to the TU AC PIC BUDGET RE at their demands be O L and insist th M FUL NATHLE EDurEo 7 NATIO pean Trade Un NOV 2 Confederat ion to cut ion will met minimum wage European C pension s and ommission chi s in countries s S 6-11 Olli Rehn ov ef gling to truTg- PAGE original, classic form of activism. e e r reports the &scaRpe EthPe eOcoRn listened to. EU is "inte crisis, c omic rvening" in laiming this am national coll to "an at ounted ective bargaini tack on Social rights. ng Europe". H Under ex Mr M isting ag onks told On the December 10, Interna - A th reements, a meeting e Co Du in el con- m b This was a completely nov N mission has lin on Janua no ry 19 poweDrs to what E that determine urope need R le wSage ed most vels w E a in individual st s a “a spirit of G a In a le tes. to h Ngenerosity” tt e er to Mr Rehn Olp hard-hit cou , ntr tional Human Rights Day, Amnesty ETUC gen R“not t ies, eral s he kin FU rdinary per- e rmal, o L cept – that a no Tcretary d of peL STOR n Y SMonks, pi John regim alty PAGE 3 ctured, s es and p the lammed unishment use of "diktat squads impose pressure" d at present”. son could moonlight as a diplomat is asking people to write a letter O ER or lobbyist. demanding action on behalf of one F H of 10 cases in its “Write for Rights” T across F s from E nionist People simply picked up their u G WHEN trade Biennial s’ O er for Congres T Ireland gath rney illa onference in K Delegate C a trade , they will find next month good campaign. that is in PUBLISHED IN A on movement the knew ey S i pens, and detailed what th SO un for CIATION WITH fit, and ready THE IRISH CONG shape, fighting RESS OF TRADE ahead. TH UNIONS battles that lie rs and E gates, observe The 800 dele ing r figures detail Cases such as that of Natalia s will hea guest s remained out an individual who was locked a ab ip h ow membersh pth of h despite the de robustly strong ens of nd the loss of t the recession a sands of jobs. e’s Estemirova who was abducted and thou king peopl unions are wor y abused up, or in some other wa Trade defence APRIL 2011 d last – line of first – an laught that neoliberal ons O against a sis into an TR king cri AD d a ban EU turne d U as an N h ditions shot in the head in 2009 in Chech - IO con NR s, pay, N ob NEW EWS N attack on j and then insisted they be set free. S Y PO O R U C TH s. AN U A service ur N o S D e of E S incipl YO ing pr N U guid TH ut a ngth I B een stre O lways b N vement has a at mo igures show th U f P nd – a nya. O numbers from S in mbers drawn f me n the first letters were sent, o Whe T umber he n ow t iliated unions n ongress’ 54 aff C 9. tands at 797,39 10 s 9,449 on the 20 This is down 1 p in She had been gathering eyewit - sents a 2.4% di gure and repre to know if they i there was no way f . n membership unio f the savage is a reflection o It is not an ult on jobs and assa senchantment ness testimony of crimes against i ication of any d ism. ind or trade union any affect. had de unions with tra ck this view, , the figures ba In fact union that decline in showing ed at a ship has occurr humanity in the Chechen conflict. member general fall R rate than the to be E But then prisoners started SLOW nt. in employme that in e remembered It should b a trade alone, there is the Republic of the Despite assurances that her case 3% sity rate of 38. union den ighest rates attribute their release h freed and to e – one ofG thEe 5 MARCH 26 DEMOS RT DwoErkTfoArcILS PA PICTURE SPE ON REPO in Europe. CIAL P 12-1 MISSicIture: Congress 5 S 2011 PAGE 2 COM P would be investigated properly, her GETTING SET FOR BD to Amnesty International and its THE primary objective PUBLISHED ECB is of the EU and Thin THE IN ASSOCIATION to protect the Eu family are still left without justice k t WITH ropea he EU syste mTH, CE IoRISH CON n banking /ECB ngress genGeRrEalS sSe cOF TRADE armchair-activism. hav Begg retary DaUvNIONS e your has claimed. id interHe told s dtelsega teas at the ence in G t h PSeEU aconrfer- alway on April 1 t? or answers. 5 tha voices from B t those russels calling for Five decades on, Amnesty knows austerity w greater ere not “distinter in determi ested actors” ning who shoulder burden for ed the the financial crisis. Find out more about how you can Rather, he sug gested, they were it works. Better still, governments without r “not esponsibility” them French an selves. d German banks exposure to had a €900bn “peripheral” EU pick up a pen and change the N but this amo economies I unt was now b U ein O g red u know it works. SPE NThis meant t ced. A CIAL E hat bondholde UGUST 2011 DPr exp to Irish bank ITIONOosure s had declined S time a at the same T s ECB emergency fundin world, by visiting amnesty.org.uk/rights Repub g to the e lic h n ad ri i sen. l D o T t has diversi- hey Since then the group O were, Mr o B egg told d h elegate P N “ / getting s, out unde r ’ r c e T oFvUerin LLg fi by th STreO pRroYvi de p e ECB”. PAd GE 3 o o

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O PAGE 5 NCELEBR • WEEK OFA ETE INT I VEN ER TTS NO NAT R!TH AND IONAL SOUTH • WOR DETAILS AKNED RL S’ DAY CONINGKS RESS BDC 2011 look how we’ve kept REPORTS& PICTURES PAGES 6 - 19 CONGRESS general secretary has warned David Begg Taoiseach Enda Ke EU/ECB/IM nny that the F Troika is using “social lab Ireland as a oratory” to test o policies. ut its economic He m ade his commen deleg ts in front of 800 ates, observers and Co guests gathered f ngress’ three-day B or fe iennial Delegate C rence last month. on- you PoSTED... check T Mr Begg was res R ponding dire O Taoiseach ctly to the I who had just d K elivere A to delega d his speech tes at the INE in K C conference cent illarney on July 4. re He pinpointed the fact that “all the t reform” ignored alk of the actions of the that had sparked banks the crisis in the fi “It occurs to rst place. a lot of people t is for the li hat reform REFORM ttle people – it is AGENDA T powerful.” not for the ARGETING SEE REPORT P W ‘LITTLE PEOPL AGES 6/7 A E’ N OTTHE R BANKS, N BEGG TE I LLS KEN NG NY BRUTON JLC/ ERO PLAN LASHED P AGE 3 BEEB JOURNO S ON STRIKE PAGE 4 out our back issues: http://www.ictu.ie/publications/fulllist/category/unionpost/

16 THE UNION POST y November 2011 NIPSA medical secretaries in the Western Trust took part in a one-day strike on November 8. The action was called after it was revealed that more than 30 workers in the Trust had been left with a pay gap of £4,000 fAIR PAY Now! following a regrading process. NIPSA official Alan Law described the action as “a last resort”. Picture: NIPSA

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November 2011 y THE UNION POST 17 Every wipe of his eyes takes Talla s r e v a

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