Pre-Budget Anti-Austerity Pre-Budget Anti- Protest Green Energy Home Helps Sat 24th Nov at 1pm, Parnell Square thth SI TPUT to MarchMarch wwith i SIPTU t demand that the GovernmentGovernmen Austerity Protest takes a NEW COURSE Fund Launched Campaign for JOBS and GROWTH Page 2 Page 8 Page 22 Organised byb the Dublinlin Council of TradeTrade Unions

Vol. 11 No.8 November 2012 ISSN 0791-458X Bankers’ Vita Cortex film hit at pay sparks Festival A documentary film of the public anger long struggle by the Vita Cor- tex workers in Cork to obtain their redundancy entitle- By Frank Connolly ments after the closure of the As anger continues to mount over exces- foam manufacturer last De- sive pay for bankers, thousands of work- cember has been a hit at the ers are mobilising to take part in a Cork Film Festival. The film “161 Days” documents pre-Budget protest against austerity and the lengthy occupation of the plant for jobs and growth in Dublin on 24th at the Kinsale Road, Cork, which November. ended in May when the owners of Following the revelation that over 70 senior the firm agreed to settle the de- executives across the bailed out banking sector mand by the workers for a fair re- are earning salaries in excess of €300,000 per dundancy payment. annum, and some more than €500,000 plus Produced by Wildacre Produc- benefits, the Government has come under tions and the SIPTU Communica- renewed pressure to tackle the wealthy in the tions Department, the forty-minute December Budget. film shows how the sit-in by the Congress and SIPTU have produced detailed Vita Cortex workers persisted proposals that could generate economic recov- ery and restore domestic demand amid worse through the cold months of winter than projected growth figures for 2013. In its in the unheated factory with the pre-Budget submission, Congress has called for support of the local , an investment stimulus of€ 3 billion over three the solidarity of workers across years to create some 100,000 new jobs and Cork and the wider boost GDP by 2% per annum. movement. The film-makers follow A new 48% tax rate for individual incomes the workers as they bring their over €100,000 and a 1% wealth tax are protest on to the streets of Cork, included in the Congress submission which where five thousand people came also argues for the period of adjustment of the out in support, to Leinster House public finances to be extended to 2017 with a in Dublin and to the homes of the reversal of the planned ratio of spending cuts Vita Cortex owners, Jack Ronan and to taxes. Clancy Tommy Picture: Sean McHenry. In a document endorsed by the National President Michael D Higgins launching the 1913 Tapestry Project in Liberty Hall See page 3 It also documents how a dedi- Executive Council of SIPTU, and entitled cated Facebook campaign attracted “Towards a New Course”, further proposals to expressions of support from high incentivise investment and stimulate consumer profile figures including former spending are outlined including measures to President , interna- release some of the estimated €5 billion in Play the Liberty 10 key 1 tional human rights activist Noam personal pension savings. 2 Chomsky, actor Cillian Murphy and “There is no quick fix for the economic crisis Crossword and win recommendarecommendationsnoti s 3 comedian Des Bishop. Among but the one-sided austerity approach is not those filmed during visits to the oc- working. We must embark on a New Course,” two nights in a for Budget cupation are footballer, Paul Mc- SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor, told 4 5 Grath and the Catholic Bishop of Liberty. Fair Hotel 2013 Cork, John Buckley, while a tele- The Dublin Council of Trade Unions has 6 7 called on workers across the public and private Page 31 Page 16 - 17 9 phone message of support by Man- Continued on page 2 10 8 Continued on page 2

O R G A N I S I N G F O R F A I R N E S S A T W O R K A N D J U S T I C E I N S O C I E T Y • W W W . S I P T U . I E • J O I N O N L I N E 2 Liberty In this month’sLiberty NOVEMBER 2012

16 Liberty NOVEMBER 2012

Ex-GMB chief Kevin Curran speaks out Pre-Budget Page 7

LAPO workplace Anti-Austerity committee interview Page 14 Protest Liberty View Liberty Page 15 Sat 24th Nov at 1pm, Parnell Square View UT to ch w ithth SI TP Divisional MarchMar with SIPTU Conference Reports Page 18 demand that the Government takes a NEW COURSE for JOBS and GROWTH Hugo Chavez wins Page 26

The bombing of Liberty Hall Page 27

Organised byby the DublinDublin Playing on the Left: Council of TradTradee Unions Rayo Vallecano Page 30 Continued from page 1 — Bankers pay sparks public anger sector to join its pre-Budget march SIPTU members from the commu- mobilising for the demonstration against austerity and for jobs and nity, health, home help and con- on Saturday 24th November. growth in Dublin later this month. struction sectors are among those

Continued from page 1 — Vita Cortex film hit at Cork Festival chester United manager, Alex Fergu- Theo Dorgan, the documentary ex- The dedication and courage of the son is recalled. plores how the dispute was resolved workers and their SIPTU official, Anne Liberty is dedicated to providing a platform for progressive news and views. A highlight of the fast moving after contacts involving SIPTU Vice- Egar, and the sacrifices made by their If you have any ideas for articles or comments please contact: documentary is a concert by Christy President, , and Manu- families during the longest occupa- communcationsdepartment@.ie Moore, Declan Sinnott with Noel facturing Division Organiser, Gerry tion in Irish industrial relations his- Liberty is published by the Services, Industrial, Professional & Technical Union, Shine and Mary Greene and their McCormack with the National As- tory as depicted in the film ensured Liberty Hall, Dublin 1 daughter Ellie at a packed Triskel sets Management Agency, the em- a resounding reception when first broadcast at the SIPTU manufactur- SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor • Vice President, Patricia King • Christchurch venue in Cork before ployers group IBEC and the Labour General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn the workers and hundreds of their Relations Commission and follow- ing conference on Friday (9th No- supporters. ing direct negotiations between vember) and during the Cork Film Production: SIPTU Communications Department, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, Festival three days later. Tel: 01 8588217 • Email: [email protected] With a voice-over by Cork poet, SIPTU General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn and Vita Cortex owner, Jack Ronan. See page 19. SIPTU Head of Communications, Frank Connolly • Journalist: Scott Millar • Design: Sonia Slevin (SIPTU) & Joe Mitchell (Brazier Media) • Publications Assistant, Deirdre Price • Administrative Assistant, Karen Hackett Advertise in Liberty Produced, designed, edited and printed by trade union labour To advertise in Liberty, contact the Communications Department on 01 858 6372 or email communicationsdepart- Printed and distributed by The Irish Times, City West, Dublin. [email protected] • Liberty offers very competitive rates for advertisements which reach SIPTU members countrywide Liberty 3 News NOVEMBER 2012

Ambulance crash highlights dangerous work practices A vehicle accident in West ice expect paramedics in West Cork Cork involving two para- to work an 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. medics who had been at work shift on Monday, Tuesday and for approximately 22 hours Wednesday then to be on call the has highlighted unacceptable following eight hours. The main reason that these arrangements work practices for ambulance haven’t been abolished to date is to crews, according to SIPTU or- do with lack of funds.” ganiser Ted Kenny. Kenny said the union had suc- The paramedics were returning to ceeded in having these working their ambulance station at Castle- arrangements ended in the East and townbere on the morning of Friday, North Cork areas following deliber- 13th October, when their vehicle left the road and struck a pole. ations at the Labour Relations Com- The crew suffered minor injuries mission and Labour Court. while the vehicle was written-off. He added; “These rostering The paramedics had worked their arrangements are also scheduled to normal 12-hour shift but were then end in West Cork on 1st February. requested to go on call for another However, there has been specula- 12 hours. tion that the HSE will then attempt Ted Kenny said: “This incident to cut ambulance cover it this area, highlights rostering arrangements replacing one crew with a para- which the union has long opposed.” medic car. Such a reduction in serv- “Under these arrangements the ices to the people of West Cork HSE and National Ambulance Serv- would be unacceptable to SIPTU.” Imelda May supports James Connolly Bridge campaign Imelda May has voiced her support for the proposal to name the new transport bridge over the river Liffey in Dublin in honour of trade union organiser and 1916 leader, James Connolly. The internationally renowned singer joins numerous promi- nent cultural figures in support- ing the proposal which has also received broad political support. Backing the proposal, which seeks to honour the struggles of all the working people in Dublin during the revolutionary period, President Higgins with artists Robert Ballagh and Cathy Imelda highlighted her own Henderson and tapestry volunteers. Picture: Tommy Clancy mother’s upbringing in the paign is aiming to garner sup- Dublin tenements. port from all political persua- Among those who have sions and have the proposal backed the proposal to com- adopted in a non-partisan man- memorate the struggles of the ner.” working people of Dublin by The bridge from Marlborough naming the bridge in honour of Street to Hawkins Street is due President launches 1913 James Connolly are singers to open next summer, during a Christy Moore, Andy Irvine, year of special significance to Mary Byrne and ; the trade union movement as it actors Gabriel Byrne, Bryan Mur- marks the 100th anniversary of ray and Jer O’Leary; comedians the 1913 Lockout and comes just Brendan Grace and Brendan O’- Lockout Tapestry Project three years before the centenary Carroll; poets Theo Dorgan and of the 1916 Rising. President Michael D Higgins laboration that they are being re- President, Jack O’Connor, presented Paula Meehan, as well as artist Brendan Carr added: “What launched the 1913 Lockout membered.” President Higgins with a silver union Robert Ballagh and Dublin GAA we are trying to do is remember President Higgins said that the badge to acknowledge his life-long star Alan Brogan. Tapestry Project on Tuesday the struggle of the people of 6th November, in Liberty Hall. 1913 Lockout centenary had a special commitment to the values of solidar- James Connolly Bridge cam- Dublin 100 years ago and the place in the decade of upcoming an- ity and equality. At the launch, President Higgins, paign co-ordinator, Brendan link we have between 1913 and niversaries of seminal events in Irish Artists, Cathy Henderson and said: “It is through the power of col- Carr, said: “The campaign has 1916 is James Connolly.” history. Robert Ballagh, have been commis- lective action that the workers of the met with members of all the po- To get updates on the “The 1913 Lockout has a different sioned by SIPTU and the National Irish Transport and General Workers’ litical groups in Dublin City campaign and show your emphasis to other upcoming cente- College of Art and Design to create Council and the proposal re- Union sought to establish their right naries in that it was primarily a class the tapestry’s 30 panels, which will support visit the ‘James Connolly to organise to secure a better deal for ceived a very positive response Bridge campaign’ Facebook page. based struggle between labour and be sewn and embroidered by volun- from all the groups. The cam- the ordinary workers of Dublin, and capitalism.” teers from community groups across it is very fitting that it is through col- Following his speech the SIPTU Dublin and beyond. 4 Liberty NOVEMBER 2012 News

‘Taking a stand with other workers’: ‘’Standing up for justice and equality’: ‘Sending a clear message to our Shop Steward Anne Dines Pat McCauley pictured with son Ben MLAs and MPs’: Phelim Jennings Marching for solidarity and against austerity ORE than 4,000 marchers firmly opposed to the failed policy of austerity health, welfare and social justice. This is not took to the streets of which destroys lives and futures. No other voice some grand altruistic or idealistic standpoint. Belfast on Saturday, 20th can say this as effectively as our trade union As a parent and a grandparent I have real fears October, to support pro- movement.” for the next generations. If austerity is allowed M to continue unchecked our children and posals put forward by the Committee of the Irish Con- Pat McCauley, SIPTU community activist: grandchildren are facing a future of inferior gress of Trade Unions (NIC-ICTU) as “Workers’ strength comes from them working health and education provision, decimated an alternative to the UK Govern- together, standing as one for justice and equal- public services, permanently high unemploy- ment’s austerity policies. Among the ity in the workplace and society. The next gen- ment and emigration, and greatly diminished marchers were hundreds of SIPTU eration may face greater austerity unless we as social welfare protection.” members. workers stand together as one with our unions. That is why I and many others are here today – Anne Dines, a Shop Steward in the Commu- Phelim Jennings, SIPTU NEC member and to protect our children’s future.” nity sector: “As a worker in the Community and shop steward at Newry and Mourne District Voluntary Sector, I am very concerned about the Council: “We are marching because of the im- Gerard Devlin, Shop Steward at Regal Proces- cuts to public services and resulting job losses. pact of austerity on our families and wider so- sors (Lurgan) and a SIPTU representative on I am here to stand with other workers and their ciety over the last two years. We are sending a Craigavon Trades Council: “I am attending this families, to say ‘No’ to the failed austerity policy, ‘Defending hard-won gains’: Grandad clear and unambiguous message to our MLAs rally in defence of the hard-won gains of previ- and ‘Yes’ to protecting the most vulnerable Gerard Devlin fears for family’s future and MPs from all political parties that we are ous generations in the fields of education, people in society.” Decisive votes back REA proposals By Owen Reidy SIPTU security and contract need them in order to protect our The next step is to get the Joint In- cleaner members have voted – members’ minimum conditions of dustrial Councils in both industries – by 84% and 95% respectively – employment and to seek to create a made up of employer and union to endorse union-negotiated more level playing field regarding the nominees – to ask the Labour Court process of tendering for contracts.” to start the registration process. proposals that pave the way Sector Vice-President Mary McBride, for possible Registered Em- In the event that both agreements a contract cleaning steward for Noo- are registered it will be critical that ployment Agreements (REAs) nan at St Luke’s Hospital, also the union seeks to ensure compli- in each industry. warmly welcomed the results of both ance by whatever means necessary. Should both agreements be regis- ballots. SIPTU views the potential REAs as tered they will potentially be the first She said: “The endorsement from a means to an end and not an end in to come into effect under the new In- the membership is critical as you can- themselves. They must become a cat- dustrial Relations Act 2012. MUI website launched not have without participa- alyst for further organisation in both SIPTU lobbied hard for the legisla- tion. Tánaiste The MUI, an affiliate of SIPTU, tion which re-constitutes and re- “This result in contract cleaning industries whereby we can develop and renowned musician represents musicians from every forms Employment Regulation Order comes on the back of the on-going the space to build a sustainable union Andy Irvine launching the genre along with music teachers, (ERO) and REA arrangements. Sector campaign to organise and build infrastructure and build on the den- Musicians Union of Ireland singers and other music profes- President Christy Waters – one of the union membership and a network of sity levels achieved to date. (MUI) new website – sionals. negotiators of the security agree- reps in the contract cleaning industry Our approach is based on a collab- www.mui.ie - in Connolly The MUI is a member of the Inter- ment – welcomed the results of both not just in Dublin but across the orative and shared strategy with our Hall, Liberty Hall, on Tues- national Federation of Musicians ballots that took place over six weeks. country. colleagues in the union’s Strategic Or- day, 30th October. (FIM) and the Association of Artists’ He told Liberty: “Both sets of mem- “I believe if we get the agreement ganising Department who are leading The website is aimed at assist- Representative Organisations (AARO) bers have endorsed the strategy and registered it creates a dynamic and and running the organising campaign ing musicians in highlighting through which it seeks to protect approach being adopted by SIPTU to further opportunity to continue to or- in the contract cleaning industry and their talents and work and im- musicians’ rights to their work and seek to have two robust REAs in both ganise and build worker power in our forging a coherent strategy within proving communications among collectively negotiate terms and security and contract cleaning. We cleaning industry.” and across the sector. MUI members. conditions. Liberty 5 News NOVEMBER 2012 CE Cutbacks Leading to Exclusion of Lone Parents

New figures from the Depart- were working on such schemes to the iser, Darragh O’Connor, said: “Lone because of these cuts.” of the ill-thought out changes.” ment of Social Protection have end of September this year, com- parents have played a major role in Stuart Duffin from One Family, Ire- On 17th October a SIPTU delega- shown a dramatic fall in the pared to 4508 for the same period last the staffing and success of CE Child- land’s leading organisation for one- tion warned a meeting of the participation rate of lone par- year - a drop of 33%. This fall follows care schemes, but this route out of parent families, said: “Community Oireachtas Committee on Education ents in Community Employ- cuts to payments for lone parents in welfare and back to work has effec- Employment provided a gateway to and Social Protection that a range of ment (CE) schemes. last December’s budget restricting tively been closed due to budget cut- work for many lone-parents. That essential community services – such Replying to a parliamentary ques- them to a single payment while on backs. It is ironic that in the wake of gateway has narrowed following the as childcare, meals on wheels, elder- tion on 8th November Minister for CE, and making no allowance for the ‘Yes’ vote in the Children’s refer- cuts in last year’s budget which saw care and disability services – de- Social Protection, , con- costs such as childcare. endum affordable community child- the poorest families and children be- pended on CE workers for their firmed that just 3060 lone parents SIPTU Community Sector Organ- care services are struggling to survive coming even poorer as a direct result continued existence. Building workers protest at NUI Galway MORE than 50 construction workers held a demo outside the Arts Millennium build- ing, at Galway’s National University of Ireland on 1st November. The protestors – members of the Construction Workers Campaign Group – wanted to highlight the hir- ing of non-compliant construction firms to carry out public works. They pointed out that this was a failure by the State to ensure that “capital projects being funded by the public purse are not being awarded to contractors that are not in compli- ance with the relevant agreements Connolly column: Coalition representatives gather in front of statue of the great man before meeting Picture: Tommy Clancy that ensure the welfare of workers is protected.” The protest followed the refusal of management to allow union organis- ers access to the Arts Millennium building extension construction site Groups unite to call for decent jobs to exchange relevant information with workers. A new Migrant Workers come together to defend the pay and “These workers need to be valued that way.” The Coalition to Protect There have been a number of Committee has been estab- conditions of thousands of the lowest and have access to decent standards, the Lowest Paid is made up of work- complaints made to the Construction lished by SIPTU to assist in paid workers in Ireland such as clean- protections and opportunities to ers, trade unions and community or- Industry National Joint Industrial organising migrant workers ers, hotel and restaurant workers, se- progress.” ganisations including SIPTU, Council that the terms of the Con- into the union. The committee curity guards, farm labourers and Among the migrant workers at- , Communications Workers’ struction REA are not being applied. will work closely with the shop workers. tending the meeting was contract Union and UNITE. Construction Workers Campaign Coalition to Protect the Lowest The Director of the Migrant Rights cleaner Ineta Kondrota, who is from Other groups include Migrant Group spokesman, Eddie Gunnery, Paid which met in Liberty Hall Centre Ireland, Siobhán O’Donoghue, Latvia. Rights Centre Ireland, Poor Can’t Pay said: “It is imperative that any gov- on 10th October. told Liberty: “The work that many She said: “It is important all work- Campaign, Community Platform, the ernment department involved in is- migrant workers do, such as care ers are employed in jobs with decent European Anti-Poverty Network Ire- suing public contracts ensures that The campaigners, trade unionists work and service provision, plays an wages and terms and conditions. If land, Irish National Organisation of any successful tenders are compliant and migrant worker activists are part essential part in the economic and so- some workers are treated unfairly it the Unemployed and the National with their obligations to their em- MUI website launched of a broad-based coalition which has cial development of this country. means it is easier to treat all workers Women’s Council of Ireland. ployees.” Students at NUI Galway also ex- pressed their solidarity with the workers. MEMBERSHIP NUIG student activist, Joseph MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION INFORMATION & Loughnane, told Liberty: “The man- SUPPORT CENTRE (MISC) ner in which union organisers were & SUPPORT CENTRE (MISC) denied access to the Arts Millennium extension construction site to meet 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., with workers there is an utter dis- grace, and will anger all those who Monday - Friday care about our campus community in NUI Galway.” 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Monday - Friday 6 Liberty NOVEMBER 2012 News

Curragh Carpets closure ‘unacceptable’ SIPTU has slammed as “unacceptable” the way in which workers at Curragh Carpets Ltd in Newbridge, county Kil- dare, were told their firm was to close with the loss of 60 jobs. Employees were asked to attend a meeting on Friday, 26th October. They were given no other information about the meeting at which they were told the plant was to close immediately. They were then asked to leave the premises. SIPTU Organiser, Miriam Hamilton, said: “The manner in which the workers were notified of this closure is unacceptable, as is the fact that the costs of the closure in terms of outstanding wages and redundancy payments must be borne by the State. “SIPTU will do all it can to assist our 35 members SIPTU has vowed to help members affected by previously employed by the company during this the closure of Curragh Carpets, Newbridge difficult period.” Picture: Photocall Ireland Photocall Picture: Aer Lingus/DAA pension scheme crisis talks As Liberty goes to press, SIPTU shop stewards at Aer Lingus are meeting to discuss clarifications received from Congress and IBEC in relation to their proposed mediation in the dispute over the deficit in the pen- sion scheme at the airline and the Dublin Airport Authority. The dispute arises over the failure by Aer Lingus and the DAA to properly fund the pension scheme over many years resulting in a deficit of more than €740 million and threatening the pension entitlements of thousands of workers at the two companies. The shop steward’s meeting will determine whether the clarifications received are sufficient to avert SIPTU: changes to planned industrial action on Monday (19th November). fire services could threaten safety SIPTU has warned that the showing what increased dangers safety of the public and may result from its proposals, the emergency staff could be Directorate has failed to provide this threatened under new pro- information.” posals put forward by the He added: “In light of this failure National Directorate for Fire to provide SIPTU fire-fighters with and Emergency Management. the information they need to fully SIPTU Full-Time Fire-Fighters Na- assess the risks associated with its tional Committee spokesman, Brian proposals, at a meeting on 1st No- Murray, told Liberty: “These pro- vember, union representatives in- posed changes would ultimately lead formed the Directorate that they will to a reduction in the number of fire- no longer engage with it over the fighters manning a fire appliance. proposed changes.” “Despite a long-standing request SIPTU represents the majority of from SIPTU to make available risk as- the country’s full-time and retained sessments and any other research fire-fighters. Deal brokered over

poultry firm sit-in SIPTU members staged a rally outside Leinster House, on Wednesday, 7th November, to demand that the Government protect the real value of the State Pension in Budget 2013 Picture: John Moran A SIT-IN at a county Cavan ing with immediate effect. poultry processing plant ended SIPTU Organiser, Jim Finnegan, on 25th October after a deal said: “SIPTU wishes to acknowledge was brokered between SIPTU the assistance given in resolving this Pension rally outside Leinster House officials and the firm’s receiver, situation in an amicable manner to the Minister of State at the Depart- Simon Coyle of Mazars. A rally was held outside Leinster gives pension credits to people who McLellan and Aengus Ó Snodaigh, ment of Agriculture, Shane McEntee, Workers at Co-operative Poultry House on Wednesday, 7th Novem- work in the home but only covers Independent John Halligan, the and local TD, Heather Products Ltd, Cootehill, had been ber, to demand that the Govern- those caring since 1994. SIPTU is ULA’s Richard Boyd Barrett and Humphreys.” staging a sit-in since Tuesday, 23rd ment protects the real value of the campaigning for these pension Labour's Jack Wall and Joanne Tuffy The full terms of the agreement are October, after an announcement the State Pension in Budget 2013. credits to be back dated to 1964. attended the rally, along with SIPTU confidential to SIPTU, its members previous day that the company, The rally demanded changes to Several TDs including Sinn Féin’s Vice President, Patricia King. and the receiver. which employs 90 people, was clos- the Homemaker’s Scheme, which Mary Lou McDonald, Sandra Liberty 7 News NOVEMBER 2012

Ex-GMB chief Kevin Curran’s stark warning over future of unions

By Scott Millar NIONS don’t have a divine right to exist. This was the stark mes- U sage which former GMB General Secretary, Kevin Curran, de- livered during a visit last month to Liberty Hall. While union activists may dismiss such a gloomy prognosis when pre- sented by the right-wing media, Cur- ran as the former General Secretary of the 600,000-strong British GMB union cannot be so easily ignored “People still believe that because we’ve been around for so long trade unions have a divine right to exist, that trade unions have a divine right to represent workers but the world is changing.” Curran believes that for growing sectors of the economy, migrant workers and young people, trade unions are not “doing the right job.” “Particularly in the services sector we just aren’t there. In places that we are, people aren’t aware we are there because we’ve lost the community links.” Curran places this break down of connections with local communities at the root of the problems facing the Former GMB General Secretary trade union movement. He believes Kevin Curran outlined his vision of a future that works for trade unions in it results from the changing nature of Liberty Hall last month Picture: Tommy Clancy work and the decay in trade union democracy. He places the decline of the British trade union movement within a his- torical narrative which takes us from the post-war consensus period, when “the trade unions became part of cor- porate Britain” working alongside governments, of whatever political shade, at all levels, to the Thatcherite winter of the 1980s. “We made the mistake of assuming that things were not going to change We must adapt or and we had arrived. We had this pe- riod, if you like, when we got fat and lazy, and we weren’t ready for the battle ahead when unions legal pow- ers and also the industries in which they were based were both attacked.” But the energetic Londoner has a burning desire to find the solutions that will re-connect trade unions we will fade away with working class communities. Central to this is his involvement workers turning up at their gala. We’d “Trade unions have got strong is not on the trade union, it is on this he believes, however, that a key in Citizens, an alliance of keep doing these things until they workplace skills and organisations group of people. Then the whole change in the party’s relationship community organisations that has agreed to meet us.” like London Citizens have strong dynamic changes. They can’t accuse with the trade union movement is conducted campaigns for a living As might be expected, many multi- community skills. What I’m saying is unions of only working out of self-in- wage and against knife crime, among nationals found it easier to pay their that we should build alliances be- terest as they can’t reject the commu- needed. others. cleaners the living wage than con- cause the things we are not good at, nity.” “We have got to break out of this “The Living Wage campaign has front such a campaign. In his current our partners are. For years, Curran was placed institutionalised desire to control been very successful. The last study trade union role as a member of “If the imam, the priest, the school among the so-called “awkward everything. If you want to release en- of the campaign estimated that it had Unite, Curran has pushed for greater head, the university rector, students’ squad” of trade union leaders who ergy you have to give people real put about £30 million into the pock- involvement with community cam- union, local sports club is standing doubted the direction of the New power to make their own decisions. ets of the low paid since it started. It paigns such as London Citizens. with the trade union, the media focus Labour project. Still loyal to the party, has got tremendous support with no “To grow an organisation, you have political party willing to diss it.” to shrink the institution – that means According to Curran, the success of a transfer of resources to lower lev- the London Citizens initiative has els.” He believes key to this would be been due to the wide variety of peo- ‘To grow an organisation, you have to shrink making the payment of union politi- ple who have become involved in its cal contributions a decision made at decision-making processes and inno- the local level. vative tactics. The London Living the institution – that means a transfer of Wage campaign, he explains, was This would mean the local party based around “creating tension by resources to lower levels’ would want to get to know the union taking actions against a company, a lot better and the local branch embarrassing them, for instance would be empowered.” 8 Liberty NOVEMBER 2012 News Green Fund launched to help develop new energy projects

By Frank Connolly ing. “There is an increasing gap ap- pearing between fossil-supply and HE Minister for Com- global demand while the only alter- munications, Energy natives to coal are increased renew- & Natural Resources able energy and energy efficiency,” he , has an- added. nouncedT his plans for a Green ESB deputy chief executive, John Fund to kick-start investment Shine, claimed that the energy land- into energy efficient projects scape was being transformed and in both public and commer- that investment and technology in- cial sectors of the economy. novation were both vital to the fu- “While the details are still being ture. worked out, the idea is that we would “Ireland has unique opportunities put in place a mechanism to allow with the right scale, resources, com- competitive proposals for energy-ef- panies, industry models, R&D collab- ficient projects to be financed,” the oration and the necessary experience Minister told a conference on Sus- and innovators,” Shine argued. tainable Energy and Jobs organised by However he said that “policy cer- SIPTU and the Sustainable Energy Au- tainty and clarity are critical.” thority of Ireland. In a detailed presentation of Ire- The conference in Croke Park on land’s potential, Gabriel D’Arcy, chief Thursday 1st November, brought to- executive officer at Bord Na Móna, gether union and management repre- outlined viable alternative energy sentatives from the semi-state energy generation, including wind and wave companies including the ESB, Bord resources and biomass production. Gáis, Bord Na Móna and Coillte and Bord Gáis CEO John Mullins out- from private companies such as Glen lined the real opportunity of export- Dimplex, Kingspan and Glanbia. ing renewables direct to the UK while Addressing the 200 participants, recognising also that planning sup- Pat Rabbitte said that it was hoped to port for key infrastructure was launch the Green Fund with 20 pilot needed. He said that Irish Water –for projects in 2013 with the objective of which Bord Gáis has responsibility – creating “the environment and struc- would reduce energy usage through tures that will allow us to attract in- through a cut in leakage while also vestors to create a far bigger fund, making a significant contribution to one that will be big enough to realise creating new jobs. the multi-billion euro worth of eco- In response, SIPTU General Presi- nomic activity that we know is out dent, Jack O’Connor, said it was im- there.” portant that the jobs created by the Winds of change: Energy-producing “I believe that the Green Fund can turbines at Carnsore, Co Wexford new water company would be of a be established in such a manner that decent standard and that workers it does not just attract private equity would enjoy the terms and investment but can also leverage Ireland Photocall Picture: conditions of those already providing funds from, for example, the Pen- this vital national service which must sions Funds industry.” remain in public ownership. In a provocative contribution, Glen Other speakers included the busi- Dimplex chief executive, Sean ness development director of O’Driscoll, called for a visionary en- Kingspan, Gary Treanor, the Sustain- ergy-efficient future creating signifi- ability Manager at Glanbia, Audrey cant economic value and solving the O’Shea, Element Power Chief Execu- fuel poverty crisis. tive Tim Cowhig and the CEO of SOS “The single biggest transfer of our Ventures and Avego, Sean O’Sullivan. national wealth each year is the €6 O’Sullivan explained how the pro- billion fossil fuel bill. 36% of all pri- file and vision of his firm’s car-pool- ing company, Avego, which is based mary energy consumed in Ireland is on friendly iPhone application tech- to provide space and water heating to John Shine Marie Sherlock Audrey O’Shea Sean O’Driscoll Sean O’Sullivan Chairman & Chief Executive Chief Executive Officer nology was boosted by the recent buildings – a significant portion of Deputy Chief Executive SIPTU Economist Sustainability Manager Officer ESB Glanbia Officer Glen Dimplex SOS Ventures Hurricane Sandy when cars with which is wasted. fewer than three passengers were “Ireland needs a bold and visionary prevented from entering Manhattan National Energy Efficient Policy” he system of the future will merge dif- (wind, solar etc.) with consumption, He argued that coal reserves could in New York during the storm. said. ferent technologies into one coherent exist today,” he added. last 112 years, gas 63 years and oil 54 He also outlined his proposal to O’Driscoll claimed that such a pol- intelligent energy system enabling Barry O’Flynn, the Director of Cor- years at current production rates with allow automatic Irish work visas to icy would create tens of thousands of such possibilities as on-site genera- porate Finance, Energy and Environ- demand outstripping supply, despite graduates of any of the world’s top jobs across the economy in upgrading tion and consumption in schools, ment at Ernst & Young pointed out the discovery of new reserves. 250 technological universities, or the existing building stock and take hospitals and other large workplaces. that with the depletion of fossil fuels, Shale gas was, he said, a localised those selected and sponsored by hundreds of thousands of homes out “The technologies to deliver signif- the only means of securing long-term benefit with limited transportation leading technology companies as a of fuel poverty. icant energy efficiencies and balance energy supplies was through alterna- infrastructure and noted that the in- means to resolve the skills shortage He said that the efficient energy fluctuating electricity production tive and renewable technologies. terest in nuclear generation was wan- in the IT sector. Liberty 9 News NOVEMBER 2012

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‡ ChocolateChocolatesos onarrivalno arrival HE US Presidential Election was undoubtedly attributable to the President’s ‡ Manicure orroeManicur pedicure more than a contest between charismatic personality and campaigning style. two candidates. It was a clash of However, it was the coalition of progressive lib- erals, minority community activists, immigrant T contrasting value systems offer- groups and most of all the Labour movement ing a choice between alternative direc- which delivered the result. If that coalition can tions for the future. be maintained it augurs well for a new progres- President Barack Obama identified clearly sive direction, over the medium term, in Amer- with the struggling minorities, immigrant com- ican policy at home and abroad. munities, poor people and the Labour move- It didn’t happen in isolation. Further south t: 021 4274040 ment. He had inherited the most serious the Left consolidated its onward march in mu- economic crisis since the Great Depression of nicipal elections in Brazil a few weeks previ- the 1930’s. Throughout his first term he had ously. Similarly, the Left regained dominance been hamstrung by the Tea Party dominated Re- in municipal contests in Chile. Only a few publican majority in the US House of Represen- weeks ago President Chavez was returned in tatives (which controls the Federal Budget). Venezuela for a further six-year term. Indeed, They had successfully ob- in virtually every country in that beleaguered structed plans to stimulate continent the people have as- job creation and growth. serted control of their own This had kept unemploy- He had inherited destiny. Yet less than a gener- ment above 7.8%. No Presi- ation ago they were the sub- dent had been re-elected the most serious ject of a vicious experiment in NewparkapweN HotelletoHkra with unemployment above precisely the same free mar- 7.2% since Franklin Delano economic crisis ket austerity policies now being pursued in Europe – en- ‡ Three nightshtshtsnigeThre · accommodation Roosevelt in 1936. Kilkenny The challenger Governor since the Great forced with ruthless ferocity, ‡ Dinner on oneonnorDinne evening atatgenineveon Mitt Romney, a multi-mil- often by military dictator- ships. Today they are growing CampagnCampagne,e one offoeon, .LONHQQ\·VV·\QQHNOL. lionaire, hailed from the Depression of pinnacle of American soci- their economies and lifting finest restaurantsrestaurestautesfin rants ety. His campaign benefit- the 1930’s tens of millions of people out of poverty. ‡ Tour ofKilkennforTou KilkennycastleyKilkenn castle ted from the largest deployment of corporate In Europe as well, amidst all ‡ ChocolateChocolatess on arrivalalarrivno funding in US electoral history. This was fun- the gloom, the landscape is nelled through Super PACs (Political Action changing for the better. A year ago, the ‡ AfternoonTeanAfternoo Tea t: 056605:t 7760500 Committees), facilitated by a Supreme Court Merkel/Sarkozy axis seemed impregnable, sup- decision in 2010. (This followed an action ported by a rabidly right wing government in which had been taken by Citizens United, a the Netherlands. Together they drove the one- conservative lobby group). sided austerity agenda. Now Sarkozy is gone, In the end, President Obama emerged victo- replaced by socialist Francois Hollande. In the rious taking 62,156,980 votes against Netherlands, Labour came within an ace of 58,805,060 for the challenger, (50.6% to 47.8%) winning the General Election in September, and 332 Electoral College votes to 206. The re- forcing the Right to share power and even win- sult denies the highest elected office in the ning control of the Finance portfolio. Together most dominant country on the planet to the hard right. It offers the of a more sus- with growing resistance to the one-sided aus- tainable and equitable policy for the future – terity agenda in Spain and Italy, countries they www.flynnhotels.www.flynnhotels.comcom although the Republicans still control the cannot dismiss like Greece, Ireland and Portu- House of Representatives (and thus the gal, the ground is shifting. This has resulted in “Let our familyfamilrout“Le family lookaftekloo afteryourafte yours”rrs”s” budget). a great deal of talk about policies to promote The manner of the victory may ultimately be jobs and growth. There is still a long way to go more important than the result itself. It was – but hope is appearing on the horizon! 10 Liberty NOVEMBER 2012 Economy Austerity at a crossroads Time to rethink the path to growth...

dropped under 5% mark. By Marie Sherlock Similarly, any deal on the promis- sory notes that reduces the interest UDGET 2013 has been payable each year from 2013 would billed as the toughest have to be welcomed in the context to date in this fifth of reducing the overall debt burden, year of the economic but it will not have a major impact on Bcrisis and against the back- Domestic the budgetary arithmetic. drop of major external uncer- tainty, it is clear that Irish Two Tier Economy budgetary policy has come to Throughout 2012, trends within the a major crossroads. Irish economy have painted a mixed After some €25bn in budget cuts Demand picture of stabilisation and continu- and tax increases, Ireland’s general ing decline and have confirmed the government deficit remains the high- deepening entrenchment of a two- est in the EU and a long way off the tier economy. target of 3% to be achieved in just Recent data shows three consecu- three years. tive months of retail sales increase, Achieving this depends on the do- even though six of the 12 spending mestic economy stabilising and an- categories continue to contract. This nual growth almost trebling from is a reminder of the fragile balance near stagnation in 2012 to 2.2% in 2013 and 3% in the years thereafter. between recovery and deterioration. However, there is a growing prob- Promissory Budget 2013 may see proposed ability that continued crisis in the Eu- cuts to income tax bands and credits, rozone, a weakening UK economy the introduction of property tax, cuts and a stuttering recovery in the US to child benefit and an increase in ex- are all likely to combine to hit global Note Deal? cise and motor tax. This could mean growth prospects in 2013. a As a result, there is a very real single income family with two prospect that external circumstances children on gross earnings of will mean that Ireland will be caught €45,000 could be worse off by close in a crosswind between improved in- to €1,000 in 2013 compared with vestor confidence off the back of domestic economy at a time when No Guarantee in Government ondary markets and the NTMA’s suc- 2012. meeting programme targets and a de- the rest of our main trading partners Plan cessful funding raising operations The aggregate impact of such cline in exporter demand. Renewed are stagnating or contracting. The Government argues that it has throughout 2012 in part reflects a measures will be to deflate the volatility across the EU that undoubt- By allowing some stabilisation, we no choice but to rigidly stick to the confidence in the Government’s abil- purchase of goods and services in the edly will spill on to the Irish sover- would have a better overall chance of budgetary plan as it is currently com- ity to meet programme targets and national economy and will further eign risk premium will compound enabling growth to take root and posed – €960m in new tax increases, the bank debt deal commitments aggravate the spate of job losses. this. achieving sustainability in the public €1.7bn in current spending cuts and made by EU leaders in June. For some, this is reason to cut the finances. €550m in capital budget reductions. There has to be an alternative deficit by more than that envisaged For the Government the dilemma Their plan also compells them to Fragility of Irelands Position Achieving sustainability of the pub- But the sharp increases in Ireland’s in the “Programme” to prove the is twofold. Firstly, IMF/EU pro- knowingly depress a domestic econ- lic finances through a deal on the omy that is facing into its sixth suc- sovereign risk premium during the Government’s commitment to meet- gramme funding runs out in 2013 promissory notes is in the long ing its budget targets, when in reality cessive year of recession, in the hope months of May and June at the and Ireland is expected to go back to term interests of all people in this it would just further deflate the Irish that “hard won gains” are safe- height of the latest Greek crisis is a country, but not when it comes at economy. borrowing on the international capi- guarded and rewarded both by the stark reminder of the fragility of Ire- tal markets. such a huge cost to those dependent Troika and the international capital land’s position and its dependence on welfare and working people. Secondly, the prospect of an overall Optimum Approach markets. on EU efforts to address the wider Already almost one in every four bank deal is now looking increasingly Instead, the impact of events Yet the fact remains that continued crisis. persons in the labour force are either abroad and economic conditions distant, but there remains a more im- adherence by the Government to the It is also important to note that the out of work or underemployed in here at home provide solid reason to mediate possibility of restructuring plan does not automatically guaran- drop in yield has been most marked this economy. We simply can’t afford do less. The optimum approach to of the Anglo Irish Bank promissory tee future support in the bond mar- for shorter term two-year and five- to exacerbate this any further. Budget 2013 must be to stabilise the note debt sitting on the State’s kets. The marked improvement in year bonds, while longer term nine- balance sheet. Irish sovereign bond yields in the sec- year bonds have only recently Marie Sherlock is an economist with SIPTU

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For more information see www.fairhotels.ie or contact the campaign team on 01 8586371 Liberty 11 Economy NOVEMBER 2012 Scaling the heights of bank debt By Vic Duggan HEN Europe’s lead- time. When the original guarantee ex- ers gathered in pired, for instance, only €6.4bn of Brussels at the legacy Anglo bonds remained unpaid, end of June, they less than a fifth of the funds pumped decidedW to break the “vicious into the bank. circle” between bust banks In 2010, the IMF made clear that it and the countries that host viewed repayment in full of bond- them. holders in bust banks as foolhardy, but it relented in the face of ECB in- Otherwise, the fear was that its transigence. banks could bring down Spain much Fast forward another two years, as happened in Ireland.

Picture: European Parliament (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) BY-NC-ND (CC Parliament European Picture: and the prevailing European ortho- Importantly, and in line with long- doxy has come back to Earth. The standing EU practice, it was agreed rules of capitalism are apparently to that favorable terms applied to Spain be respected “going forward”, and would be applied retrospectively to bank investors are to be “bailed in”, Ireland. Moreover, the Irish bailout sharing the pain before taxpayers was to be looked at with a view to take a hit. This, a common-sense “improving its sustainability”, recog- bank resolution mechanism, along- nising implicitly that it was not on a side a Eurozone-wide deposit guaran- sustainable path as things stood. tee scheme and the unification of The agreement was hailed as a banking supervision under the aus- “game changer” by some, a “seismic pices of the ECB, are the three prongs shift” by others, and universally as at of the evolving European Banking least a step in the right direction. Union. Partly in expectation of a deal on its bank debt, Irish benchmark bor- A Final Debt Deal? rowing rates have fallen below 5% to So, what is in prospect in any final levels not seen since before the 2010 debt deal? bailout. There are two probable angles: re- Vague as the wording may have engineering the promissory notes been, and despite Angela Merkel’s and transferring the state’s bank prevarication at and after the most re- shareholdings to the European Stabil- cent Council summit in Brussels, the ity Mechanism, the proceeds being agreement of 29th June still stands. used to pay down the national debt. While it may signal their intention Re-engineering the €30.7bn prom- to play hardball when hammering issory notes will likely involve an ex- out the final details, neither the tension of the repayment schedule, Chancellor’s campaign rhetoric nor and possibly a delay in principal re- the press release of the finance min- payments, by replacing the notes isters of the creditors’ axis – Ger- with long-dated bonds. many, Finland and the Netherlands – This would not make any trumps the consensus of all 27 mem- overnight dent in Ireland’s debt bur- bers of the European Council. den, but it would ease the cash-flow situation in years to come, making A Deal for the Optics austerity a little less onerous. For reasons of optics, the Irish Gov- Simply writing off the promissory ernment would dearly love to have a notes in their entirety is not a runner, deal in place before budget day. They German Chancellor Angela Merkel because this would effectively give are right, however, in saying that a gives a press briefing outside the individual Eurozone members a good deal is better than a quick deal. European Parliament green light to print money. A meaningful deal any time before This leaves the sale of the state’s mid-to-late 2013 would give Ireland a stakes in Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish fighting chance of sustained re-entry Banks / EBS and Irish Life & Perma- to international bond markets, and made us do it”. In accordance with the orthodoxy nent to the newly-established Euro- hence exit on schedule from the pean Stability Mechanism. In return Troika bailout. of the time, it is commonly under- stood that the ECB would not coun- for ceding ownership of the “pillar Given that any final deal on Irish banks”, the government could expect bank debt relief is dependent on the tenance upon expiry of the original bank guarantee, at the time of the to get back some, if probably not all, prior establishment of a European of the €28.1bn (nearly 18% of GDP) Banking Union, it is clear that we Troika bailout, or at any time since, ‘We would still have the imposition of haircuts on unse- it has pumped into them. may be waiting some time yet. The transfer of this amount off the Having recognised that Ireland is cured bondholders. Indeed, this is government’s books combined with not on a sustainable path to debt sus- what rightly makes Ireland a “special a mountain to climb tainability, and in desperate need of case”. a reduction in the annual payments a bailout success story, it is likely a on promissory notes, may not live up question of when, not if, a deal will Socialism for Bondholders but at least we might to the hopes of everyone, but it be struck. It should be remembered, however, would make a significant difference, With the creditors’ axis deter- that it was a sovereign Irish Govern- bringing the peak debt-to-GDP ratio mined to drive a hard bargain on the ment who first decided to suspend catch a glimpse of down closer to 100% than to 120%. details, however, what is certain is the normal rules of capitalism when We would still have a mountain to that the deal will ultimately disap- they guaranteed all senior and many climb, but at least we might catch a point many in Ireland. subordinated bondholders in 2008. the summit’ glimpse of the summit. Anything There are those that suggest any- People may recall that our Euro- much short of this best-case scenario thing short of a full write-off of the pean neighbors were not exactly en- – or if growth greatly disappoints – entire €64bn pumped into the banks amored with our government’s and achieving debt sustainability will is unacceptable because “Europe “socialism for bondholders” at the be like scaling Everest’s north face. 12 Liberty NOVEMBER 2012 Comment This Government is making things worse... N THE September edition The content and direction of But the credibility of the agreement of Liberty, Jack O’Connor macro-economic policy since Fine is being undermined by the failure of made an impassioned plea Gael and Labour took office is no dif- Government and some unions to ad- I for the to re- ferent from that pursued by Fianna dress the issue of pay inequality not main in government. Fáil. Indeed, in some instances this to mention the active undermining of He argued that the party’s historic Government is making things worse. the terms and conditions for new en- obligation to defend working people By Eoin The ESRI’s analysis of the distribu- trants into the public sector. was best achieved inside coalition tional impact of the economic crisis There is no credible argument for with Fine Gael. He said those who Ó Broin budgets revealed that Budget 2012 rejecting Croke Park. But there is a wanted Labour out were driven by an took more from lower income groups compelling argument to tackle pay in- agenda that seeks to make workers than higher income groups – reduc- equalities through the existing mech- bear the brunt of austerity. tions of about 2% to 2.5% for those anisms of the Agreement, The article laid down a challenge to with the lowest incomes, as against It is hard to know what Labour is those of us on the left who disagree There is no doubt that losses of about 0.75% for those on the doing in this Government. It is cer- with him to explain why we would be highest incomes. There is simply no tainly not discharging its historic ob- willing to accept the alternative – a Fianna Fáil and their evidence that Labour’s participation ligation to defend working people. single party Fine Gael government. in the cabinet or the Economic Man- In fact, when one principled Junior Jack’s article is based on a false agement Council is having any pro- Minister took a stand to defend uni- premise – namely that the policies friends in the banking and gressive impact on economic policy. versal health care the Labour Party – being implemented by the Govern- Nor is there any evidence that leader and backbencher alike – hung ment are better for working people building sectors created Labour’s presence in Government is Roisin Shortall out to dry. due to the participation of Labour. having any impact on the Govern- The alternative to being in a right- There is no doubt that Fianna Fáil the economic crisis ment’s engagement with the Troika. wing coalition is building a credible and their friends in the banking and Some argue that despite all of this left-wing alternative. In February building sectors created the economic Labour should remain in Government 2011 almost 40% of voters chose par- crisis. But Fine Gael and Labour have to defend the Croke Park Agreement. ties and candidates on the left. been in government for almost two The principal cause of these de- cline. Despite this, the Government Yet even here low to average income We – Labour, Sinn Féin and oth- years and things are getting worse. pressing statistics is the Govern- remains strongly opposed to any earners continue to bear the brunt of ers – have a historic opportunity to Unemployment remains unaccept- ment’s policy of austerity. Placing the meaningful stimulus programme. austerity. build that alternative in order to have ably high at 14.8%. In the last 12 burden of fiscal adjustments on low In 2011 Fine Gael and Labour gave Sinn Féin was never a supporter of a left-wing government implement- months 33,400 more jobs were lost to average income groups – through €21.4bn from exchequer reserves the Croke Park Agreement, principally ing policies that really do defend than were created. Emigration has regressive tax increases or wage and and the National Pension Reserve because it protected those on exces- working people. Surely that is what risen from 1,500 a week in 2010/2011 spending cuts – depresses consumer Fund to the banks, including €3.1bn sive pay. However, we recognise that James Connolly would have wanted. to 1,600 a week in 2011/2012. The do- demand and with it the domestic to Anglo. In the same year direct gov- for many workers it represents a last Eoin O Broin is political and policy advi- line of defence from an all-out assault sor to TD and Sinn Fein rep- mestic economy remains stuck in re- economy. Private sector investment in ernment investment in job creation resentative in Dublin Mid-West. cession. the real economy continues to de- was less than €500 million. on their terms and conditions.

SIPTU MEMBERSHIP In the News SERVICES Alliance to defend public ownership of Irish Water Trade union representatives voted on 7th November, to form an alliance focused on defending the public ownership of water services in Ireland. The SIPTU, UNITE and the TEEU Highly Competitive trade unions, representing over 3000 workers in Bord Gáis and the Local Authorities, pledged to oppose attempts by the Government to expand the use of private contractors in Home Insurance! the new body, Irish Water, at the expense of the public serv- ice and direct labour workforce. Exclusive Discounts for SIPTU Members Olhausen closes with loss of 160 jobs Includes accidental damage cover Workers at sausage maker, Olhausen, were informed on 10th as standard, plus many more October that the company had ceased trading at its plants IVE H great benefits! TIT OM in Blanchardstown and Coolock in Dublin and in county E E P I Monaghan. Following discussions between the Receiver, Jim M N S O

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SIPTU Organiser, Colm Casserly, the workers secured a com- G I E E H

mitment that their outstanding wages and redundancy H terms would be paid. The workforce included 100 SIPTU members. 89% support criminalisation of forced labour To avail of this Special Offer Call us now on A Millward Lansdowne Brown Opinion Poll has shown 89% of respondents support the criminalisation of forced labour. 1890 300 745 siptu. jltonline.ie ICTU’s David Joyce, said, “We cannot allow workers to be or visit abused by employers and then profit from their inhumane Subject to underwriting and acceptance criteria. Terms and conditions apply. acts. There is an immediate solution to this problem and the JLT Insurance Brokers Ireland Limited trading as JLT Ireland, JLT Financial Services, GIS Ireland, Charity Insurance,Teacherwise, Childcare Insurance, JLT Online, Government has the power to act.” JLT Trade Credit Insurance is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Liberty 13 Comment NOVEMBER 2012

N A blatant editorial survive the Government envisaged in piece on 5th September the Irish Independent editorial. the Irish Independent The ESRI (which has been a cheer- called on Enda Kenny to leader for one-sided austerity in this I country) described the last budget as kick Labour out of Govern- Labour must stay in and ment and rule with the sup- regressive. However, their criteria left port of a handful of out more than it took in. right-wing independents. Moreover. if we end up with what They want a Government that will the Irish Independent wants we will make the “hard decisions”. We can have a Government that will pursue be certain that these “hard decisions” battle on to defend working a fiscal strategy that will make the have absolutely nothing to do with last four years look like a “walk in the taxing the rich. park”. Tragically Labour and the Left did Eoin describes Roisin Shortall’s res- not win the last election. 60% of the ignation as ”principled”. It may be – seats in the Dáil went to those who for one individual. However, if had guaranteed the rich that there Labour leaves Government it will would be no wealth tax and no new people provide a “blank cheque” for whole- income tax rate for those on high By Jack sale privatisation of the Health Serv- incomes. However, Labour did win ice – a high price to pay for the enough seats to gain a strategic privilege of looking “principled”. wedge. O’Connor It managed to convert that into a Yes, unity on the Left is essential if Programme for Government which we are to bring about a society gov- for the first time in the history of the erned on the basis of the principles State commits to: collective bargain- of equality and solidarity. That ing rights for workers, a single-tier should not require the forfeiture of a entry health service and free primary It’s down to the distinction between hard won wedge of strategic space health care. especially to facilitate the emergence On the basis of that programme making noise and making a difference! of the most right-wing Government Labour went in to government as a in the history of the State. minority party against the back- We are in the throes of an ground of the most serious economic economic crisis which still threatens crisis in the history of the State. The the very existence of our State. The party is obliged to comply with the We may have to face it, but only It would have been implemented The party has secured the imple- next two years will be enormously Troika Austerity Programme agreed after all prospects of a bank debt re- on a 75:25 basis, as per the Fine Gael mentation of the Agency Workers’ Di- difficult. by the last Government. This also en- structuring deal have evaporated. Manifesto, rather than the 54:46 dis- rective which protects about 100,000 Labour, Connolly’s Party, must not tails committing billions to the so- Eoin says Labour is making no dif- tribution which emerged. of the most vulnerable people in the abandon the mandate it won in the cialised banking debt. ference. Well, let’s look at it. Budget Labour has secured the restoration country, despite the fact that the Gov- last election. It must push it to the Not doing so means running the 2012 would have taken €1bn more of the REA/ERO system which pro- ernment could have obtained a dero- very limit to defend working people gauntlet on the ECB/EU/IMF with- from workers if Labour wasn’t there. tects the pay and conditions of al- gation. Thus far Labour has managed and those who depend most on pub- drawing support. This would bring We know this because in their ab- most 300,000 lower paid workers. It to resist cutting the basic rates of so- lic services as best it can. about the implosion of our zombie sence the deficit reduction would did so after the system was handed cial welfare, despite the fact that we It’s down to the distinction be- banks, resulting in a societal catastro- have been €4.4bn as recommended over to the Troika by the last Govern- have the highest budget deficit in the tween making noise and making a by the Fiscal Council instead of the ment and then declared unconstitu- phe. It would be a one way ticket to Eurozone. It has honoured the Croke difference! the stone age. €3.8bn that eventually materialised. tional by the High Court. Park Agreement. None of these would Why the fight for equality is key! By Niall Crowley of people to act. The draft Heads of a Bill for the ing would be a requirement. by groups that experience inequality We don’t seem to vote for equality new Human Rights and Equality Maybe the prospects are more in these assessments. It looks like we HERE is a social media in any significant numbers. We might Commission promise to introduce a promising than is suggested by the do need this equality budgeting cam- campaign running at vote for political parties that promise legal duty on the public sector to give social media campaign. Maybe the paign but we need much more than the moment. It is on fairness. We might even get disillu- consideration to equality and human campaign is not even needed. a social media campaign. the change.org plat- sioned when they fail to deliver fair- rights in carrying out their functions. Political promises, however, are a Trade unions, community organi- T ness. However, we just don’t seem to This fulfills a commitment made discredited currency. The small print sations, cultural groups, global justice form and is calling on the have a critical mass of people who be- tells all. Taoiseach to introduce equal- in the Programme for Government. groups, environmental groups – the lieve in equality enough to act on it. In Northern Ireland and Britain The Heads of a Bill do not define full spectrum of civil society – need ity budgeting in the next Equality budgeting would bring an such a legal duty requires all govern- “give consideration”. In Northern Ire- to champion equality. Equality is cen- budget. It currently has 400 evidence base to bear on budgetary land, for example, it is defined in tral to realising any and all of the var- supporters. decisions. Budget proposals would be terms of government departments ied demands of these different parts Campaigns like this might not be analysed for their potential impact setting out their equality objectives of civil society. to everyone’s taste. They can lack re- on groups that experience inequality in equality schemes, assessing each People need to be convinced that sources to get the message out to sign such as women, lone parents, people new policy for its impact on groups equality should be a core value for up. Still 400 supporters suggest we with disability, children, older peo- covered by the equality legislation our society, the key test against which don’t have much of a demand for ple, migrant workers, and those on and involving representatives of we measure all our decisions, and equality. low incomes. these groups in this assessment. one of the defining features of the so- It’s not as if people in Ireland don’t Equality budgeting would afford The small print in the Heads of a ciety that should emerge from the place some value on equality. It is some priority to achieving or advanc- Bill clarifies a complete absence of current crisis. deemed to be important even if we ing equality for groups currently ex- ambition. It suggests that govern- We need a society that is primed to might hold different meanings and periencing disadvantage and ment departments will only be re- act out of the value of equality if we ambitions for it. discrimination. quired to give consideration to want a politics that is in any way At the inaugural Claiming Our Fu- Those devising budget proposals equality and human rights when they committed to equality. ture event two years ago, equality would do so conscious of the fact that devise their strategic plans and to re- We need such a society if we are to was one of five values identified as any such proposals will be assessed port on equality and human rights in have any hope of getting a budget ment departments to assess policy their annual reports. being shared by more than a thou- for their impact on equality. These proposals for their impact on named that asks that the wealthy pay for this sand people from across civil society. policy makers would be primed to act No mention of equality impact as- crisis and does not place this burden groups that experience inequality. sessment of new policies, plans, and However, it does not seem to be a on equality as they devise these pro- Under such a regime equality budget- on those who are already disadvan- value that primes sufficient numbers posals. budgets. No mention of participation taged and discriminated against. 14 Liberty NOVEMBER 2012 Workplace Committee

LAPO President Pat Nestor, centre, with workplace committee members Ciara Brett and Brian Cassidy

‘Easy targets’ for media still committed to serving public By Scott Millar their own profile.” He added: “It def- Pat pointed out: “In Building Control hours worked are now recorded and vast majority of people in the public initely impacts on workers, it affects the workload has increased due to re- you’re meant to get the time back.” sector with many earning less than HE Local Authority morale.” cent increased regulation. This Despite the impact of the cutbacks €30,000, simply cannot afford fur- Professional Officers The Cork City Council LAPO work- means we are left with even less time on their workload and what they es- ther pay cuts. (LAPO) represents place committee is made up of 10 to carry out on-site inspections which timate to be a more than 20% cut in “LAPO has members who due to some 2,000 higher- members elected at an annual gen- will not encourage an improvement income since 2008 – as a result of pay the moratorium are stuck at quite T eral meeting. Although any member in standards.” freezes, the pension levy and the Uni- low grades such as graduate or assis- grade local authority workers. Set up in 1980, the LAPO is a can run for election to the commit- But Brian, who also serves as Cork versal Social Charge – there still re- tant engineers who are also paid tee, there is an effort to ensure the City Council LAPO chairman, claims mains a reluctance to take industrial quite poorly, relatively speaking.” Professional Group within Another challenge is the setting up SIPTU and has its own distinct selection includes representatives that the increased pressure on public action among public sector workers. drawn from each of the council’s de- sector workers has led to a greater in- Brian said: “People know there are of the new public body Irish Water. structures. partments such as Planning, Building terest in union activity. financial difficulties across the board. “Our members are concerned that Recently, Liberty met with current Control, Housing and Roads. He said: “I have worked in the Our services are vital to the public their interests are protected when LAPO President, Pat Nestor, and two they transfer over to this new body,” A concern across all departments is council for 13 years and have been in- and public sector workers are com- of his fellow Cork City Council work- said Brian, “There is also a concern the impact of the public sector re- place committee members Ciara Brett volved in the union for the past nine. mitted to providing them.” that the national interest is also pro- and Brian Cassidy to discuss a range cruitment moratorium. For instance, Interest is greater now than it was in The Cork City area did not take tected. Water is a great resource of issues. in the Building Control Department the past as more issues have arisen.” part in the November 2009 public which should not be taken out of As with most other public sector two posts have been left vacant One of only six archaeologists em- sector day of action because of a local public ownership.” workers the on-going media driven meaning that five people have had to ployed in the local authority sector in flooding crisis. The continued moratorium on pro- attack on the service was at the fore- shoulder a workload meant for the country, Ciara joined the commit- Pat told Liberty: “There was no motion in the public sector and the front of their concerns. seven. tee to represent the Planning Depart- question – workers were going to cuts in the number of senior grades Pat, who works as a building sur- “With the downturn the demand ment. work to serve the community that is also a long-term threat to local au- veyor in the council’s Building Con- for professional skills has not gone She believes the most important day.” thorities’ ability to provide services. trol Department, said: “I think there down. The number of options for a negotiating success for the commit- He believes that in the forthcoming Ciara warned: “In the long run, this has been a large amount of ill-in- project that have to be considered has tee in recent years was the introduc- talks for a successor deal to the Croke means that people’s career paths will formed comment about public ser- skyrocketed due to the increased tion of the core pay system whereby Park Agreement, the main aim of have to take them out of the public vants, aimed at creating controversy. pressure on funds,” Brian, a civil en- all working hours are recorded. trade unions must be to protect jobs. service, reducing the capacity of local They seem to be an easy target for the gineer in the council’s Housing De- Ciara told Liberty: “Our grades “Pay needs to be looked at on a fair authorities to provide a professional media and politicians seeking to raise partment, told Liberty. don’t get overtime but at least the basis. The lower paid, who are the service.” Liberty 15 Liberty View NOVEMBER 2012 Liberty

By JACK O’CONNOR SIPTU General President ViewBudget 2013 has been billed economic sense as well. It is perverse as the toughest for many years. to cut those on middle and low incomes This is because it must cut the during a recession while sparing the gap between tax revenue and rich. People in the middle and at the spending from 8.3% GDP to 7.5% bottom of the income spectrum spend (which is still the highest in the all they get in order to live, thus recy- cling it into the economy, maintaining Eurozone). It is estimated to re- jobs and revenue. The rich warehouse quire a reduction of 3.5bn. All € it, thus aggravating the crisis. Conse- this is to comply with the agree- quently, we have a phenomenally high ment which was entered into by household savings ratio despite being the last Government with the in the middle of the most serious eco- EU/ECB/IMF “Troika” to fund the nomic crisis in the history of the state. country. It is not feasible to walk away from it because that would Parallel with this, this Government leave a gap of €12.3bn which must bring forward measures to stimu- would have to be met by even late the domestic economy and encour- Budget adjustments 2012-2015 more dramatic increases in age consumer spending. The planned ‘Easy targets’ for media still €2.25bn infrastructure stimulus an- as set out in the Troika programme taxation and cuts in spending combined with borrowing on the nounced in July, though welcome, could Total money markets of the world at be doubled or even trebled. A new €bn 2012 2013 2014 2015 retrofitting programme should be fast- remaining penal rates of interest. 2013-2015 forwarded. The Government does have options on committed to serving public Total Adjustment 3.8 3.5 3.1 2.0 8.6 Simultaneously, innovative measures how the adjustment is achieved. There should be put in place to incentivise is an unanswerable case for a signifi- people to draw down savings from AVC cantly increased contribution from the Tax – new measures 1.0 0.95 0.9 0.4 2.25 pension policies and deposit accounts. better off. This highlights the need for These could be linked to the retrofitting a wealth tax or progressive property Tax carryover 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.8 and home improvement programme tax accompanied by a new rate or and sustainable expenditures such as increased PRSI or Universal Social adult education, etc. Charge in respect of those on high Current expenditure 1.45 1.7 1.9 1.3 4.9 incomes. The Government has very limited space to move. However, it must optimise the Capital expenditure 0.75 0.55 0.1 0.0 0.65 Apart from the overwhelming moral space it has. One-sided austerity isn’t case for a significantly greater contribu- working. It is past time to embark on a tion from the better off, it makes good new course. Gen. Gov. Balance -13.115bn -12.355bn -8.14bn -4.95bn €’000

Gen. Gov. Deficit % -8.3% -7.5% -4.8% -2.8% of GDP 16 Liberty NOVEMBER 2012 Pre-Budget Submission A road to recovery based on growth, hope and jobs ONGRESS General Secretary David Begg has urged the Government to change course and use the coming budget to C forge a “route to recovery based on growth, hope and jobs.” Speaking at the 7th November launch of the Congress Pre–Budget Submission, Begg said December’s budget must rebalance the adjust- ment in favour of working people and raise more revenue from those with greater resources. “Even the IMF has conceded that the ap- proach adopted in Ireland was based on flawed calculations and therefore destined to fail. “Almost 360,000 people have lost their jobs since the crisis began – that’s 360,000 com- pelling reasons to change course now and forge a route to recovery based on growth, hope and jobs.” He said ICTU believed the period of adjust- ment should be extended to 2017 – “to allow the economy room to breathe” – and a compre- hensive investment programme introduced to promote growth and create jobs. “Congress has already costed a programme that would invest as much as €3 billion a year and create almost 100,000 jobs over three years,” he added. Referring to the Congress submission, Begg said it contained a menu of possible options on how Government could raise up to €3.4 billion in new revenue. “Over three out of every five euro raised in new taxes since 2009 has come from working people, which helps explain why domestic de- mand has literally collapsed. That has to change.”

Congress General Secretary David Begg outlined alternative strategy Liberty 17 Pre-Budget Submission NOVEMBER 2012 A road to recovery based on growth, hope and jobs 10 key recommendations for Budget 2013

Undertake an investment1 stimulus of €3bn a year for three years to create some 100,000 new jobs overall and boost GDP by 2% per annum.

Introduce a new 48%2 tax rate for individual incomes over €100,000, along with a 1% Wealth Tax. Profitable corporates must contribute more (by restricting write-offs)abolish SARP* for high paid executives, tackle tax fugitives and clamp down on evasion and avoidance. 3 Finance Minister Michael Noonan Introduce the Financial Transaction with Budget 2012. Will he listen to ICTU and embrace a jobs and Tax – 10 EU countries have already growth strategy in Budget 2013? agreed to do so. The tax could raise It’s what Ireland badly needs... €500 million annually for Ireland. Picture: Photocall

4 9 The EU must mutualise Ireland’s There must be no privatisation of bank debts, which were run up by major indigenous enterprises to private banks. repay the debts of failed Irish banks. Indigenous enterprise should be developed under NewEra and become an engine of the recovery, 5 not eviscerated. Deal effectively with the Irish Pension crisis with policies that boost pension take-up and phase in Congress supports7 Labour Market Effective policies8 are needed to The focus on public10 sector reform the reform of state pensions (raising Activation but it must be fair and address poverty traps and fuel has detracted from the necessity the age for pension take-up) to allow focused on encouraging people into poverty. There must be far greater to radically reform corporate workers time to adjust and prepare. the workforce and not just a way of efforts to tackle inequality. The governance in the private sector, managing expenditure cuts. Broaden new eligibility criteria for the state where obsessive secrecy and the apprenticeship system and pension, for example, impacts most perverse incentives abounded and introduce a Youth Guarantee to help severely on women. The level of the emphasis was on deal making link young people to skills training cutbacks in disability funding to rather than creating value. This 6 and the workplace. Monitoring of date – 14% over the past four must become a priority to stop the employment standards to staunch years has gone too far and must be mistakes of the past being repeated Extend the period of adjustment to the haemorrhage of tax revenue reversed. 2017 and reverse the planned ratio of being lost because of misguided spending cuts to tax rises. public procurement practices.

*Special Assignee Relief Programme 18 Liberty NOVEMBER 2012 SIPTU Divisional Conferences

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION HEALTH DIVISION 25th - 26th September & COMMUNITY 7th - 8th November No sell-off of water services

SIPTU, Unite and TEEU representa- tives at launch of alliance to protect public ownership of Irish Water on 7th November in Liberty Hall

Delegates at the SIPTU Public “The reality delegates is that Ire- Administration and Community land is an unequal society with the Division Biennial Conference richest 10% having a disposable in- were resolute in their support come 14 times higher than the poor- for local authority workers est. We live in a society where some threatened by the planned pri- children go to school hungry. vatisation of water services. “Does anyone care? – clearly not Over 200 delegates passed a mo- the political establishment. It is in- tion calling for an investigation by cumbent on the trade union move- the Oireachtas Public Accounts Com- ment to campaign vigorously for a mittee into why and how decisions more equitable society built on the were taken to use public private part- notion of cherishing all our children Delegates hold a rally outside the Department of Health on 25th October nerships within water services. The equally. One of these fundamental Picture: Jim Weldon same motion also called on the Na- rights is the Right to Education,” tional Executive Council to work as- Mealy said. siduously “to maintain Irish Water in The conference passed motions in local public democratic control”. support of community sector workers Divisional Organiser, Gene Mealy, with regard to establishing collective pointed out that three quarters of all bargaining and redundancy rights. workers working in water services Delegate Frank McDonnell from Lim- were SIPTU members and declared, erick highlighted the disastrous con- “we will not be forced into an agree- sequences for many Community ment that is not in the interests of Employment schemes arising from our members.” cuts to lone parent’s allowances. Protest brought to In his address to delegates Mealy SIPTU Vice President, Patricia King, also asked was the country one which confirmed that the campaign of op- lived up to its founding principle to position to cuts in the community “cherish all of the children of the na- sector would be intensified and esca- tion equally”. lated in the coming months. Reilly’s ‘doorstep’

URING the Health This was being done, he added, Back in Liberty Hall, Divisional Division conference “without any understanding of President, Padraig Peyton, stated the more than 400 union whether the taxpayer is getting better conference had been a major members held a rally value for money”. success. D Conference delegates voted on six He said: “The message from our outside the Department of motions in support of defending members is clear. Reform must be to Health on Thursday, 25th Oc- health care standards. the benefit of those dependent on tober, to protest against cuts Those delegates who took part in the health service and those deliver- to Home Help services as well the rally called for a successor – not a ing the service. as creeping privatisation. replacement – to the Croke Park “Reform cannot always be about SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Agreement, a relaxing of the morato- cutting staff and budgets. It must be Paul Bell, said the union was bringing rium on recruitment, a registered about caring and delivering services its protest to the Minister for Health agreement for Home Helps and the in the most efficient manner for all James Reilly’s “doorstep”. abolition of the Universal Social citizens on a ‘not for profit’ basis.” He pointed out that SIPTU mem- Charge. The conference was also addressed “We believe there are gross ineffi- by Dr Mohammed Maqadma, who bers were angered by “the mistreat- ciencies, and the Minister has seen fit operates 21 primary care centres, pro- ment of Home Helps”, whose hours to lay all those issues at our viding medical and dental services to were being cut or stopped, and the doorstep,” said Paul Bell. “We want to 1.1 million people in Gaza. Dr outsourcing of jobs to the private sec- discuss those issues which are in his Maqadma received a standing ovation tor. power to address.” from delegates. Liberty 19 SIPTU Divisional Conferences NOVEMBER 2012

SERVICES DIVISION 1st - 2nd November MANUFACTURING DIVISION 9th - 10th November

Services Divisional Organiser John King addressing delegates Challenges have been faced but Vita Cortex workers, retired SIPTU Organiser Anne Egar and Director Declan O’Connell (front right) at showing of ‘161 Days’ in Cork on more to come... Monday 12th November MORE than 200 delegates at- sion Organiser, John King, high- tended the Services Division lighted the success of union cam- conference where concerns paigns over the last two years. over the Government’s fail- He said SIPTU, along with allies in the Coalition to Protect the Low Workers’ triumph at Vita Cortex hailed ure to enact legislation to Paid, had been successful in ensur- guarantee the right of work- ing that the Joint Labour Commit- THE triumph of Vita Cortex in place a more structured approach at 65.” Delegates voted to support or- ers to collective bargaining, tee and Registered Employment workers in their 161-day long about keeping contact with members ganising campaigns that had set tar- Agreement systems continued to sit-in was highly praised at who leave “regardless of whether gets and focused on particular the exploitation of agency they leave through collective redun- workers and attacks on RTE provide protection for workers in the Biennial Manufacturing employments. Division Conference. dancies or individual loss.” While the work of the IDEAS Insti- were among the main subjects low paid, vulnerable, and precari- ous employment. Divisional President, Noel Finn, The motion included a call that tute was commended, a motion where the union is involved in redun- of debate. John King recalled how 2011 had said: “These workers gave inspiration sought increased funding for its ‘Sus- The conference overwhelmingly dancy talks “we should insist on a also seen a major victory in the Dav- to all union members for the coura- taining Employment through Innova- endorsed a motion calling on the training element being included in enport Hotel dispute where “four geous stand they took.” tion and Team Working’ programmes. union “to work with the ICTU to women stood together supported the package.” put in place an appropriate cam- Delegates were also treated to the Motions were also passed support- In her conference address, SIPTU by the union” winning out against first showing of a new 40-minute doc- Vice-President, Patricia King, empha- paign” to ensure the right to collec- an employer that had attempted to ing the development of JLCs, particu- tive bargaining is legislated for “in umentary on the dispute produced larly “for exploited workers in the sised the important role played by or- implement a unilateral cut in the by the SIPTU Communications De- ganised workplaces and highlighted 2013 – the centenary of the 1913 minimum wage. agricultural, meat and related indus- partment. the right of workers to be represented Lockout.” The conference welcomed news tries”, and directing the union to en- by a union for collective bargaining There was also support for a mo- that 6,343 workers had taken out Earlier the conference had passed gage with the Government, “in an tion submitted by the Security and membership of the Services Divi- a motion calling on the union to put effort to maintain the retirement age purposes. Contract Cleaning Sector calling on sion since the last biennial confer- the trade union movement to use ence. its influence to ensure that contacts Conference delegates also at- Retired Members Conference 6th November are awarded to companies that can tended a number of workshops on “demonstrate that they are respon- subjects ranging from the economy sible contractors and treat their to campaigning and employment staff with respect.” rights. Addressing the conference, Divi- At the SIPTU Retired Members Section Conference on Tuesday, 6th November, SIPTU President, Jack O’Connor, presented veteran activist Jim Quinn, accompa- nied by his wife Ellen, with a scroll recognising his long service to the union. Jim joined the Workers Union of Ireland in 1959. Over the years he served as a Shop Steward, Branch Chairman and Executive Member of the WUI and as a SIPTU Trustee. Delegates at the Services Division Conference in Liberty Hall He is a founder member and Chairperson of the SIPTU Retired Members section. 20 Liberty NOVEMBER 2012 National Executive Council

NEC PROFILE Margie McQuaid Pride in the union NEC member Margie Mc- A a member of the No. 15 She told Liberty: “Being a mem- “A lot of members felt lost without Quaid has spoken of her Branch, Margie served as Vice Pres- ber of a union is a safeguard be- the Branch structure but with the “proud” involvement with ident and then President – she was cause it protects workers’ rights. District Committees coming on SIPTU over many years. the first female in the Branch to “I am now on my second term stream it will make a difference.” hold that position. on the National Executive Council Margie comes from a trade union Born in Dublin, she started In 1990, she secured a nomina- which is indeed a great honour. family – her father was a long-serv- working for Easons in 1973, joining tion to the first Regional Executive “The NEC gives you an insight ing shop steward in the Bakers’ the ITGWU in the same year. Committee. into other workers’ conditions. The Union. She was elected as a shop stew- Margie also played a role on Ea- union went from a servicing union She added: “I am proud to be a ard in the 1980s – a position she sons Negotiating Committee in the to an organising union. With the member of this great union and held for 24 years. bid to win better working condi- new structures in place it brought with three progressive officers in Outside of work, Margie relaxes tions, pay and pensions for col- change and change is always a chal- charge, the union will go from Margie McQuaid: ‘being a by reading, dancing and listening leagues at the leading Irish lenge. strength to strength.” union member is a safeguard’ to music. bookseller.

NEC PROFILE Tim Fitzgerald Meeting challenges of the future NEC member Tim Fitzgerald tory floor. nominated by the Agri Business, and support was invaluable and has been an active trade union- He said: “This resistance lasted for Dairy and Meat Sector. helped to positively shape my devel- ist since the mid-1980s. 12 months and was acknowledged as Speaking of his NEC role, Tim said: opment as a shop steward.” He got his first job in Golden Vale – a very important success for the “I consider it an honour and privilege He warned that it was important now Kerry Ingredients – Charleville, union at the time.” to have been elected to the highest SIPTU ensured that activists and shop in 1976, when he joined the ITGWU. More recently in 2008, change office available for a union activist stewards were “not isolated in their Tim followed in the footsteps of specialist Tony Murphy of IDEAS, and I am conscious of the great individual employments” because of his father, Tadgh, who was a Section was invited along to help improve responsibility the position entails the structural changes. Officer and delegate for Mallow relations between management and and would like to thank everyone for “I believe sub sectors could be ini- Branch for most of his working life at union. their support and confidence in me.” tially set up within each county to Golden Vale. Tim commented: “Tony helped put Tim – who is currently involved in help fill the void left by the loss of the He told Liberty: “Influenced by my in place joint team building training the NEC restructuring sub committee branch structures. father’s involvement I became active which helped both sides to success- review – underlined his backing for “These sub sectors could also be used in 1984 when I was elected as dele- fully deal with major issues on a win- recent changes to union structures. to reconnect with members/shop stew- gate to Mallow Number 1 Branch. win basis. “I fully support the implementa- ards within their own location and “In 1986 I was elected Section Sec- “This change of approach has tion of the new union structures could also help promote positive retary in Golden Vale and have re- helped us to deal with major changes Tim Fitzgerald: ‘’honour and a which have been crucial in ensuring activity within the community. mained a site officer to this present and subsequently helped to secure privilege’ to represent members we are best placed to deal with the “They could also be used to reacti- day, currently filling the role of Sec- and consolidate the long-term future huge challenges facing the union.” vate the reward and recognition of of the site.” But he acknowledged: “As with any members’ long service – with 25 year tion Chairman.” cate in Business/Trade Union studies In 1989-90, Tim spearheaded union In 1994, Tim was elected to the major change such as this, there will badges and scrolls, presentations and South West Regional Executive, serv- in 1998, later serving on the Manu- be gaps in the system.” possibly retired members’ functions. resistance to Golden Vale manage- facturing Transitional Divisional ment’s attempts to by-pass the union ing as Regional President in 2003 and Tim continued: “As a young inex- “We must ensure we do not be- 2004. Committee from 2008 to 2010. perienced activist I learned so much come detached from this core union and unilaterally introduce wide- In 2010, he was successfully spread contract working on the fac- He also completed a NCEA Certifi- from long-serving branch delegates activity.” elected to the NEC after being whose knowledge, solidarity, advice

PRESENTATIONS • Providing computer training for shop stewards and INDUSTRIAL members, getting computer skills for organising and Discussions on the following: Current Economic Trends union organisation; • LRC – Code of Practice The Economic trends were presented by Jack O’Connor, General • Providing job finder/cv’s courses, helping members to find • Registered Employment Agreements President under the heading: new employment, and retaining SIPTU membership; • Divisional Reports “Bank Debt deal hangs in the balance as the leaders of Germany, • Providing team working training to union • Croke Park Agreement and the next steps Netherlands and Finland raise the bar on allowing the ESM to take representatives and members. Providing Train the Trainer The Council noted the Industrial Report. on legacy bank debt from countries such as Ireland and Spain”. training courses. A discussion followed. DISTRICT COMMITTEES Benefit 3 Internet training The General President reported on activities and progress IDEAS The NEC was reminded of the Benefit 3 Internet Training - IDEAS on this initiative. Ron Kelly, General Manager, IDEAS, outlined the REPORT has provided this one day Internet training programme for over 250 of the IDEAS Institute to the National Executive Council. The RE- members, unemployed, over 55’s, low skilled and retired workers. DCTU RALLY

NEC Report October 2012 October NEC Report PORT covered the progress of IDEAS during the period January to The programme introduces the trainees to the Internet as a means The General President advised that the DCTU was organising October 2012. IDEAS support activities to SIPTU members include: of engaging with Government services, emailing and to be able to a Pre-Budget Demonstration on Saturday 24th November 2012 • Helping to sustain existing members employment, do banking on-line and to access other Government services to Leinster House, Dublin. The purpose of the demonstration is helping create new jobs and so organise new members. on-line, e.g. motor tax payment. But, more importantly, it to promote the same demands around the theme of stop the • Using the IDEAS upskilling/reskilling funding introduces trainees to SIPTU on-line, our website and services, policy of austerity; reverse the cuts – tax the wealthy not the to support union organisation and organising; Liberty Online and the internet as a research and communications needy – For a public investment programme to create jobs. • Supporting new work organisation arrangements in tool for campaigning. The target number of trainees is 900 – THERE companies helping to implement SIPTU policy and ARE SPACES STILL AVAILABLE.... The National Executive Council endorsed its support for the Rally. negotiations; The Council welcomed the report. Joe O’Flynn • Supporting organisers with upskilling/reskilling General Secretary. agreements;

Correction: In the September edition of Liberty NEC member Mary Dolan McLoughlin was wrongly described as hailing from Limerick. She is from Leitrim. Liberty 21 Health & Safety NOVEMBER 2012 OSH consultations are an absolute necessity By Sylvester Cronin

EMPLOYERS commonly get The report of the Commission of only be realised when there is real This kind on nonsense has been mixed up about communica- Inquiry on Safety Health and Welfare and effective consultation from the going on for some time. tions and consultations in the at Work published in 1983 outlined start of the risk-assessment process, Firstly, Occupational Safety and workplace – both of which are why workers should be involved in leading to effective risk controls that Health is specific to workplaces and, important in their own right. safety and health decision-making. will result in reduced work-related ac- more importantly, it is not about When Occupational Safety and The principal reason is that work- cidents and incidents. stopping activities, whether related to Health consultations are required, ers have most to lose. Unfortunately, For workers and their families the work or not. It seeks to prevent acci- this means those workers who are af- there is ample evidence available of benefits of reduced accidents are ob- dents happening and to minimise fected and their representatives need the wanton loss of lives and limbs vious. However the economic bene- risks. to be engaged in and in good and of the impact on workers’ health fits for employers are also significant, As previously reported in Liberty, time over decisions that will impact that has occurred since that report including reduced absenteeism, in- there are moves afoot to remove on their safety and health in the was published. creased productivity, reduced unit safety and health legislation, even at workplace. Safety representatives are the un- costs and improved competiveness. European level. This offers workers and their rep- sung heroes of OSH – but for their Employers rarely acknowledge Employers are availing of the resentatives a chance to have an good work, the figures for work-re- these benefits and instead take a lop- chance not to waste a good economic Wise words: Kris input into identifying hazards or lated accidents, illnesses and fatali- sided view of the costs incurred be- crisis. Whether it is public sector Kristofferson ties would be much higher. workers, the Croke Park Agreement Picture: Ron Baker problems and possibly to outline po- cause of effective OSH. (CC-BY-SA-2.0) tential outcomes or solutions. They must be consulted by em- Lately, there has been a demonisa- or OSH, the establishment wants to On the other hand, communica- ployers during the risk-assessment tion of safety and health in the rid itself of these and sets them up as tions can be likened to listening to a process. Safety representatives are media, particularly in the UK, with re- something to hate. radio commentary of a football, soc- trained by their trade unions to un- ports about how one group of chil- This principle is eloquently put by or cut off somebody's business – all cer or hurling match – no matter how derstand risk-assessments and to en- dren could not be taken on a hill walk in his song Slouch- you got to do is make them hate the clear the commentary is, the listener gage positively for the mutual benefit or another group of kids couldn’t run ing Toward the Millennium from his victim and you're free …” has no influence whatsoever on the of both workers and employers. about the school yard because of 1995 A : This does resonate with what is outcome of the match. And these mutual benefits will safety and health considerations. “… If you want to kill your parents currently happening...

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Correction: In the September edition of Liberty NEC member Mary Dolan McLoughlin was wrongly described as hailing from Limerick. She is from Leitrim. 22 Liberty NOVEMBER 2012 Home Helps Campaign National launch of ‘Time To Care’ drive

Pipers led the way during the Home Helps march through Cork

ORE than 2,000 wore red to symbolise the danger in people took to the which they said elderly and vulnera- Limerick backing streets of Cork on ble clients would be placed if one LIMERICK City councillors gave their Saturday, 3rd No- million hours were cut from the unanimous support to a motion vember,M to protest against home help service by the end of this backing SIPTU’s national ‘Time to cutbacks to Home Help serv- year. Care’ Campaign at the council’s Octo- ices. Speaking to the crowd on Grand ber meeting. Marchers carrying a symbolic cof- Parade, Catherine Krauss, a home The motion, proposed by Sinn fin with the words “Home Help Serv- help worker from Cork declared: “We Féin’s , and sec- ice RIP” led the defiant crowd who want dignity and respect restored to onded by Independent councillor, had travelled from across the country the vulnerable clients of the service. John Gilligan, called on the HSE and to mark the launch of SIPTU’s ‘Time We want an end to the cutting of our the Minister for Health “to cease the To Care’ campaign. work hours and to the outsourcing of practice of cutting Home Help hours The new national campaign is Home Help services.” due to financial considerations only aimed at organising Home Helps to Among those backing the ‘Time To and not the needs of the clients or defend the vital services they provide Care’ Campaign is Senior Citizens the integral role home care workers from budget cutbacks and on-going Parliament CEO, Mairead Hayes. play in the HSE.” privatisation. She said: “We support this cam- Pipers and drummers kept spirits paign because we know that without Protest at Enda’s high on a bright and sunny afternoon the support of Home Helps many and the protestors received a rousing older people will simply not be able HOME Helps protested outside the welcome from the shoppers and taxi to remain at home. constituency offices of An Taoiseach, drivers in Cork city centre as they policy of slashing Home Help serv- most vulnerable in our society are “The result will be earlier admis- Enda Kenny, in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, marched from Connolly Hall to ices. SIPTU Organiser, Ted Kenny, being made to suffer for the benefit sions to nursing homes, longer stays on Monday, 8th October. More than Grand Parade. said: “500,000 Home Help hours have of private ‘for profit’ health compa- in acute hospitals and greater distress 50 protesters were drawing attention Participants in the SIPTU-organised already been removed in 2012 and nies who stand to gain once the HSE to them and their families. It just to HSE proposals for further cuts to rally called on Minister for Health, Dr now the HSE is seeking to slash a fur- has overseen the destruction of our doesn’t make economic sense.” the Home Help service in county James Reilly, and the Health Service ther 600,000 hours before the end of highly-efficient Home Help service.” SIPTU represents almost 10,000 Mayo and the continued dishonour- Executive to end their short-sighted this year. It would seem that the Home Helps and their supporters Home Helps across Ireland. ing of their contracts of employment. Dáil vote on protecting Midlands Home Helps to march in Tullamore SIPTU Home Helps and their sup- SIPTU Organiser, Dimma van Dulmen, told porters from across the Midlands Liberty: “We are calling on Home Help work- service are to march on Wednesday, 21st ers throughout the Midlands counties of SIPTU Home Helps March A Sinn Féin motion calling on the November, in Tullamore, county Of- Laois, Longford, Westmeath and Offaly to Wednesday, 21st November, Government to reverse its cuts to faly in protest against cuts to Home join the march and send a clear message to home help hours and home care Help services. the HSE that these cuts must be reversed. We Assemble SIPTU Unity Hall, The workers will assemble at the SIPTU packages and to return funding are also seeking support from the general Church Street, Tullamore Unity Hall, Church Street, at 3.00 p.m. and to“pre-Budget 2012 levels” went public.” march to the Health Service Executive (HSE) at 3.00 p.m. and march to the before the Dáil last month. A The march has already received the backing number of SIPTU home help central offices, Arden Road. of Tullamore Town Council which unani- Health Service Executive (HSE) activists were in the visitors’ gallery. Once there, they will hand in a petition calling on the agency to reverse its decision mously voted in favour of a motion support- central offices, Arden Road. The Sinn Féin motion was defeated to implement massive cutbacks to Home ing the SIPTU ‘Time to Care’ Home Helps by 78 votes to 49. Help hours. campaign on Thursday, 8th November. Liberty 23 Health NOVEMBER 2012

MENOPAUSE National launch of ‘Time To Care’ drive Coping with the change

HE menopause is a phase in the lives of all women caused by T a change in hormones MIND and signifying the end of their fertility. Women tend to associate it with YOUR the end of periods and, for some, a time of uncomfortable symptoms. At birth all females are born with a HEALTH store of eggs in their ovaries. Menarche, the beginning of peri- ods, (menses) is associated with the commencement of a cyclical release of these eggs and the resultant begin- ning of fertility. As this reservoir of eggs reaches its end changes occur in the production of women’s hormones causing a de- crease in the levels of oestrogen and the ultimate cessation of periods. The average age of menopause is now 52 years. In the months and years leading up to the menopause, By ILLONA DUFFY women will experience a variety of symptoms relating to the changes in their hormones. This time is known as the peri-menopause. Treatment SYMPTOMS Regular exercise, maintaining a ‘All symptoms can be eased healthy weight and limiting caffeine 1. Change in menstrual so menopausal women should and alcohol are natural ways of im- bleeding proving the hot sweats and prevent- One of the earliest symptoms seek medical advice’ ing osteoporosis. women will notice is a change in Various medications including their periods. The cycle may become some blood pressure tablets and more spaced apart with months pass- 4. Other symptoms anti-depressants are used to help ease ing between periods or they can be- The menopause can be associated Investigations the sweats and flushes. Localised oestrogen given vaginally can help the come more frequent. As the ovaries with a variety of other symptoms in- There are no blood tests to prove vaginal dryness and recurrent struggle to produce enough oestro- cluding a change in sleep pattern and that one is going through the cystitis but is not suitable for all gen, the cycles can normalise for a drying of the skin and hair as well as menopause. However, hormonal women. time and then change again. Women hair thinning. tests will prove that a woman is post- Hormone Replacement Therapy will also often complain that the pe- However, in case this sounds too menopausal and that her oestrogen riods become heavier causing level is low. (HRT) as its name suggests involves frightening it is important to know +/_ anaemia. Ultimately the periods will These bloods (FSH and Oestradiol) the taking of Oestrogen ( Proges- that treatments are available to im- terone) and leads to not only im- cease. prove all the symptoms and therefore will also indicate whether a woman continues to require contraceptive provement in the symptoms of the women need not have a difficult time menopause but also the prevention of 2. Hot flushes and night sweats during the menopause. Following the cover. These symptoms occur in up to osteoporosis. menopause women develop in- Blood tests will usually be done to 75% of women in the peri- check a woman’s cholesterol and However, after four years of use creased risks of other illnesses in- there is a proven increased risk of menopausal time. The severity of the blood sugar given the increased risk cluding osteoporosis and heart breast cancer in women taking HRT. heat and sweating felt by women of heart disease. disease. For this reason HRT is not automati- varies with some women having to Hypothyroidism (under active thy- change their bed clothes during the Oestrogen gives women a natural cally prescribed as a first line treat- roid) is more common in menopausal night. Women should not suffer in si- protection against heart disease and ment of the menopause. women so this test will usually be lence as there are a variety of treat- this explains why pre-menopausal However, it is used if other medica- ments available. women have much lower rates of done also. tions fail to improve a woman’s heart attacks than men. However, fol- As previously mentioned the low symptoms and she has no increased 3. Gynaecological problems lowing the menopause and the reduc- oestrogen levels can lead to thinning risks of breast cancer. The lack of oestrogen causes tion of natural oestrogen, women’s of the bones and if a woman has All women will have a mammo- changes in the skin and mucus pro- rates of heart attacks rise dramati- other risk factors (smoking, hypothy- gram prior to its commencement and duction in the vaginal and vulval cally. roidism, family history, previous frac- will have regular breast examinations areas. This creates dryness causing Similarly, oestrogen protects ture, is underweight or has a poor while taking the medication. The im- discomfort during intercourse, recur- women’s bones and with the loss of calcium intake) she may be referred portant message is that all symptoms rent cystitis and an increase in incon- oestrogen their bones begin to thin for a DEXA scan to measure bone can be eased and therefore women tinence. and they may develop osteoporosis. density. should seek advice.

Illona Duffy is a GP and member of the Irish Medical Organisation 24 Liberty NOVEMBER 2012 News

NI trade unionists join peace delegation to troubled Colombia

A DELEGATION of trade unionists and politicians from This photo was taken at the Áras the North have spent a week in at a function held by President Colombia in an effort to share Higgins, as part of the Dublin their experiences of the North- Fire Brigade 150 anniversary ern Ireland peace process. celebrations. At the function all elements of the Fire Brigade The visit took place as peace talks were represented including the between the Colombian government trade unions. and left-wing FARC guerrillas are due to commence in Cuba. In the photo from left to right are of the DUP and Luke Mc Cann section Chairman Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey along with of the SIPTU DFB section, Gerry Harris full time SIPTU DFB senior SDLP and Ulster Unionist Convenor, the President Michael politicians joined NIPSA General Sec- D Higgins, Damian Guilfoyle retary Brian Campfield, NIC-ICTU Chairman of the Impact DFB Chair Pamela Dooley and section and Deirdre Taylor Vice Regional Secretary Patricia McKeown Chairperson of the SIPTU DFB on the Justice for Colombia-led trip. section committee. During the visit they met with Colombian President Santos and ad- dressed a plenary session of the Colombian Senate and Congress. ewhg The group also met local trade 2012 unionists, victims’ groups, former East Wall History Festival FARC hostages, imprisoned human rights defenders, and jailed guerrilla November 10th – November 21st combatants. They also visited the Cauca region – dubbed the “epicentre of the Serving the City – Fire Brigade and Colombian conflict”. Speaking before the delegation left Gardai Siochana anniversaries Saturday 17th November on 5th November, Patricia McKeown Sean O’Casey Community Centre, St. Marys Road Starting 1p.m. said: “We hope that our experiences may be helpful to the Colombian peace process. Colombia remains the A City in turmoil: most dangerous place in the world to be a trade unionist, with 20 col- Dublin City 1913 - 1922 Wednesday 21st November leagues murdered so far this year. Sean O’Casey Community Centre, St. Marys Road Starting 7.30 p.m. “We hope from our experience to demonstrate the vital role that civil society needs to play in any peace process.”

TThTheh CeCredit Union rree noinUtid JimJim LLarkinark nin CrediterC UnionnUtide noin ffoforo all SIISllarISPTPTTUU me If youy areerauo interested in joiningniojnidetseretnie the Jim LarkinnikraLmiJehtgnin Credit UnionnoinUtiderC mbeebmemrrss anddna their f Tel:TeTe 01-8721155-10:l 8 or email:mero5511278 a [email protected]@ucnikralmij:lia ten.mocrie rieht faamiliesseilim in the Dublinnilb u D e h t ni OpeninggninepO Hours::sruoH ReReegggigioni no ThursdayyadsruhT 7 p.m. - 8.15 p.m..m.p51.8-.m.p7y . SaturdayadrutaS y 9.30 a.m. - 12.000.21-.m.a03.9y 0 noonoon n TheThe Jim Larkin CrCreditedit Union is rregulateded begulat byy the Irish Financial SServices Revicer Regulatory Aoregulats Authorityy (IFuthority (IF(IFSRA))ASRy Liberty 25 Know Your Rights NOVEMBER 2012

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Punished by bosses for taking a health and safety complaint By Tom O’Driscoll

AVE works as a team matters to the attention of a junior What can Dave do? (and the Labour Court on appeal). balance of probabilities, that he made leader/charge hand in manager, who was also the safety rep- The union can take a case on behalf The Rights Commissioner can: complaints concerning health and resentative, but no action followed. a boning hall of a of Dave under Section 27 of the a) Declare that the complaint was, safety – which should be straightfor- meat processing Dave, who was never a union ac- Safety, Health and Welfare at Work or, as the case may be, was not well ward enough in this case. D plant. He receives €50 tivist, felt he had no option but to Act, 2005 for penalisation by the em- founded, a week extra for the responsi- contact his union which in turn made ployer. b) Require the employer to take a The more difficult is to bility of making sure his fellow immediate representations. Dave suffered a detriment – i.e. de- specific course of action – e.g. it could show the complaints were the reason workers in his area perform to The union threatened that the mat- motion and a loss of income – as a re- here recommend that Dave would be for the demotion. target. ter would be brought to the Health sult of asserting health and safety re-instated as a supervisor, and Companies will invariably try to Dave gets on well with his col- c) Require the employer to pay to and Safety Authority (HSA) if no ac- rights. quote other reasons such as lack of leagues and has a genuine concern tion was forthcoming. the employee compensation of such performance etc. for their welfare in the workplace. Regular cleaning resumed within a How is penalisation defined amount – if any – as is just and equi- Recently, he noticed that certain few days and a new band saw was in- under this section? table having regard to all the circum- If, on the face of it, these two argu- shortcuts were being taken with re- stalled. Penalisation includes dismissal, stances. ments are established, the company gard to health and safety standards at Dave became an instant hero with suspension or the threat of any of Interestingly, there is no maximum must show that the health and safety the plant. his colleagues but his stock was seen these actions. Furthermore, it in- level of compensation set, such as, Workers who were allocated clean- complaints did not influence their to diminish in the eyes of manage- cludes demotion or loss of opportu- for example, the cap of two years ing duties were instead called upon salary under the Unfair Dismissals decision. It would be difficult for the ment. A week later Dave was called nity for promotion, transfer of duties, to remain on the line because the de- change of location of place of work, Acts. company to do so in this case. into the line manager’s office and mand for beef was high. This resulted reduction in wages or change in Furthermore, it goes beyond just In conclusion, the penalisation told that his role was managerial but in an accumulation of heavy layers of working hours, the imposition of any economic loss and Dave in this in- clause under the Safety, Health and grease on the floor. that his attitude seemed to be pro- discipline, reprimand or other stance can get a sum which is consid- Welfare at Work Act is a very useful A work colleague had a nasty fall worker. penalty (including a financial ered “just and equitable having but, fortunately, only slightly injured He was told that his health and penalty) and coercion or intimida- regard to all the circumstances”. protective tool to use when a worker his arm and was able to return to safety complaints had cost the com- tion. This could include taking into ac- is threatened with, or actually re- work after a week’s sick leave. pany a considerable sum of money in count a deterrent factor for the com- ceives, some type of punishment for Dave also noticed that the blade the re-allocation of cleaning duties Where does the union bring pany. making a health and safety com- guard on the band saw was broken and the purchase of a new saw. He Dave’s claim and what type of plaint. As always, seek the advice of and was not being replaced. was being demoted back to meat hall redress are we talking about? What must Dave show at the The saw had clearly seen better boner from the following Monday The union has six months from the hearing if his claim is to be your union official or representative days and was not fit for purpose. On with a subsequent loss of €50 a week demotion to take a case on behalf of successful? before you contemplate lodging such numerous occasions he brought both to him. Dave to the Rights Commissioner Firstly, Dave must establish, on the a claim. 26 Liberty NOVEMBER 2012 International

SIPTU Sector Organiser Adrian Kane witnessed the recent elections in Venezuela that saw Hugo Chavez elected President for an historic third term

THE red-clad Chavistas – sup- cently because it was ripping off the porters of Venezuelan Presi- government’s social housing pro- dent Hugo Chavez – started gramme. gathering in central Caracas Chavez has been able to radically from mid-afternoon on 7th Oc- transform the fortunes of the poor tober, polling day. through delivering health and educa- Above the blaring of the Latino tion services through a parallel sys- tem to the official state apparatus. rhythms, chants of “Chavez no se The setting up of missions particu- Va!” – “Chavez isn’t going any- Staying Power larly in education and health was a where!” – could be heard. hallmark of the revolution. I was at a polling station in down- This system was adopted because town Caracas as part of an interna- it was not possible to serve the needs tional group of observers monitoring of most Venezuelan citizens such the Presidential election. were the entrenched interests in the The votes were breaking heavily Venezuelan voters, inset, have again endorsed Hugo Chavez’s ‘Bolivarian public service. for Henrique Capriles Rodanski, the Revolution’ in Venezuela Indeed there are parallels between United Opposition candidate, in the the Bolivarian Revolution and the pe- boxes from the middle class areas of riod between 1918 and 1922 in our Caracas but Chavez was ahead in own history, when an effective paral- poorer parts, although Capriles ap- lel administration was set up bypass- peared to have made some in-roads ing the official British imperial state. there as well. This mission system and its The key to who would ultimately relationship with the official state win the election was the degree to mechanism now needs to be which Capriles could eat into addressed. Certainly there are ru- Chavez’s support among the poor. mours of the Barrio Adrente mis- sions, having difficulties in The campaigns maintaining services to the poor. Capriles’ campaign was much These are difficult decisions; much smarter than the viciously of the success and momentum of the anti-Chavez approach taken by previ- revolution has been about the ous opposition candidate, Manuel manner in which ‘the state’, acting as Rosales, in 2006. an enabler, has facilitated local In this election, Capriles ran on a community initiatives. centre-left platform and acknowl- The state has not been prescrip- edged some of Chavez’s successes, tive. It has rather provided the re- such as cutting in half poverty levels sources for local initiatives. and huge increases in access to The difficulty is accountability and health and education for the poor. the official parallel system of public Capriles promised, however, to in- administration. tegrate ‘the mission model’ for the Practical solutions will have to be delivery of social services into the found to marry efficiency and demo- mainstream public service. cratic control of public services. He also promised more industrial In Europe there has been a rush to development and the end of the oil- the centre by most po- for-doctors programme with Cuba. litical parties with neo- Chavez was largely standing on his liberalism framing the record, as Venezuela had recovered political discourse. quicker than most economies after It has become virtu- the 2008 crash. ally impossible to imag- There had also been ine alternatives through significant progress this destructive hege- over the delivery of mony. social housing. Cara- In Venezuela one gets cas has a population the feeling that ‘things’ of about eight million, On election which ensures that the system is Caprilles had are possible, but the a significant propor- day itself I was fraud-proof. The ordinary voters are eaten into corollary of this is, that tion of whom live in roused from my incredibly proud of the process. By Chavez vote ‘things’ are only possible barrios – or what we slumbers at 4 the end of the day more than 80% of but not to such because Chavez has aban- would call shanty a.m. by the Chav- all eligible voters cast their votes a degree as to doned the possibility of towns. istas traversing throughout the country. trouble him. ever bringing the middle Over the past six Caracas in pick- On 5th October, Ramon Guillermo Chavez had won 63% of the popular classes with him. years, Chavez has re- up trucks blar- Aveledo, National Coordinator of the vote in 2006, but while his overall What does need to be addressed housed significant num- ing out Caprilles campaign, told the interna- percentage was down it was, by any urgently is the building of inclusive bers of barrio dwellers in c a m p a i g n tional observers that he believed that objective analysis, an impressive vic- public spaces for dialogue for all the good quality social hous- songs from the elections would be free and fair tory. citizens of Venezuela. ing. booming sound-sys- but he also criticised the monopoli- The entire media is polarised. The However, this still presents an tems urging voters to get out to the sation of the state media by the Where to now? publically-owned support Chavez, enormous task for the administra- polls. Chavez administration. The question in the immediate af- the privately-owned viciously oppose tion – such is the scale of the prob- And people queued for hours to My overall impression was that the termath of the election was where to him. lem. Also, Chavez’s Achilles heel is cast their vote under an intense trop- election was free, transparent and now? At his post-election rally Chavez There is literally no centre from the increasing level of crime and ris- ical sun. the system itself was fraud-proof. reached out to the opposition and for where the opposing sides can talk to ing inflation. The Venezuelan electoral system is The final result was announced at his part Caprilles immediately ac- each other. very impressive. Huge sums have just after 10 p.m. on Sunday evening cepted defeat in a dignified way. In order for the Bolivarian Revolu- The electoral process been invested in what is objectively at the National Electoral Council Undoubtedly, Venezuela is a very tion to maintain its momentum, the polarised society. This, on the one Electioneering in Venezuela is a one of the most efficient and trans- (CNE) Headquarters in Caracas. building of an inclusive public realm hand, allows Chavez the ability to passionate affair. All the senses are parent electoral systems in the world. Chavez won convincingly by an that provides an interface for alterna- push through radical change. He na- engaged. The Chavez rallies are ablaze It is an electronic voting process 11% margin on a final poll of 55.25% tive political visions must be a prior- tionalised the cement industry re- with red. with a paper verification system with Capriles at a credible 44.13%. ity for President Chavez’s third term. Liberty 27 Feature NOVEMBER 2012

SIPTU Sector Organiser Adrian Kane witnessed the recent elections in A sense of injustice followed years of feeling numb Venezuela that saw Hugo Chavez elected President for an historic third term MONICA Duffy-Campbell’s husband, After a couple of nights he asked if I family after his death. tent of my contact with the Garda. It Tom Duffy, was killed in the Sackville would go and see a picture with him Monica Duffy- Monica admitted she felt “numb” was only when I became involved Campbell: Place bombing. and it started from that.” unanswered about Tom’s death for a long time. with the Justice for the Forgotten – She told Liberty; “I was 22 and Tom Monica still has a raw sense of questions Later she became involved with the approximately 15 years ago – that I was just 23 when we got married. We emotion about the events of 1st De- Justice for the Forgotten group, which began to realise how hard it was to were married about a year and eight cember, 1972. She said: “I’ll never for- represents relatives of those killed by get an investigation into the bomb- months before the bombing. We had get the day he was killed. It was a bombs in the Republic. Her numb- ings. a little girl and I was four months rainy Friday evening. My daughter ness turned to a sense of injustice at “The investigations were never pregnant with my second child, Tom, was asleep in her cot in our house in the failure of the authorities to inves- going anywhere due to the British at the time. Artane. I actually heard the explosion tigate the circumstances surrounding government’s reluctance to release “Tom was from Castlebar in county and immediately had this sense Tom’s death. “I thought – as it turned information.” Monica added: “At the Mayo. We met on the 29A bus when something had happened to Tom. out quite naively – that there were very least the Irish government is also I was about 17. He was working on “I went next door and the neigh- give me an injection to calm down people working away trying to find involved – in that they never both- the bus and I was going to school at bours tried to calm me down. Even- but I was four months pregnant.” out who had planted the bombs, who ered to fully investigate the bomb- night. The bus went from near my tually a priest, a Guard and doctor Tom was a member of the National committed the murders. ings. home in North Dublin to Abbey came looking for me. They told me Busdrivers’ Union and the trade “The Garda did not stay in contact “I’m not looking for revenge but I Street. There used to only be the two that Tom was very badly injured. I union movement provided some fi- with me. Tom’s belongings were re- would like to know who did the of us on the bus for a long distance. was distraught and they wanted to nancial support for Monica and her turned to me but that was the full ex- bombings and why.” 40 years after the 1972 Dublin bombings, the questions remain

A wreath-laying ceremony will take place on Tuesday, The day Liberty 4th December 2012 at 11.30 a.m. at the memorial in Hall was bombed Sackville Place.

By Margaret Urwin Early investigations centred around four you are”. He would not comment on what “ar- cars. One car containing the owner’s driving li- rest policy” meant. ORTY years have passed since the cence had been stolen four months before in Both Crinnion and Wyman were convicted dark winter evening of 1st De- Ballymoney, county Antrim. under the Official Secrets Act and sentenced cember 1972, when the first ever The stolen licence of Englishman Joseph to three months in jail in February 1973. How- car bomb exploded in the Repub- Fleming was used to hire three cars from dif- ever, as they had already served two months, Flic of Ireland. ferent Belfast companies on 30th November by they were immediately released and flown to It occurred beside Liberty Hall, where the a man with an English accent. Two of the hired England. ITGWU had its headquarters. There were no fa- cars exploded at Liberty Hall and Sackville Shortly before his arrest, Crinnion confided talities but the explosion caused many injuries. Place. Both these vehicles were already in to a fellow Garda that “the Brits” had been in- Several minutes later, a second blast at Dublin on the evening of 30th November, ac- volved in causing the explosions. He had re- Sackville Place, off O’Connell Street, killed bus cording to a number of eyewitnesses. ceived this information from his driver George Bradshaw, 29, and 23-year-old bus The Gardaí were very pro-active in the early brother-in-law in the British Army, James Lat- conductor Tommy Duffy. days of the investigation, travelling to Belfast timore of the Royal Irish Rangers. Both were married. George and his wife Kath- and London to retrieve hire agreement docu- Lattimore was based in Belfast in 1972. In leen had two young children. Tommy and his ments and interviewing witnesses. his death notice published on 4th April 2007, wife Monica had a daughter. Monica was also Although the RUC were relatively helpful, he is described as Major James Benedict Latti- pregnant with their second child. the Garda report comments that RUC officers more MBE, Enniskillen Fusiliers (retired). Three minutes before the first bomb ex- would not permit them to interview some per- Over the following months of 1972 a num- ploded, the Belfast Newsletter received an sons “for reasons best known to themselves”. ber of stories appeared in the media about pos- anonymous telephone warning that bombs Despite a promising start, the Garda enquiries sible British involvement in the bombings. planted at Liberty Hall and behind Clery’s led nowhere. Former Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, admitted he would explode at 8.05 pm. The person who re- A fortnight after the bombings, two signifi- suspected British involvement – an assertion ceived the warning said the caller had spoken cant, but ostensibly unconnected, arrests were that was denied by the London government. with a “Belfast English-type accent”. However, made in Dublin hotels on 18th and 19th De- A copycat car bomb was planted in Sackville cember. British agent John Wyman was ar- Place on 20th January 1973, killing another the warnings came too late and the result was rested at the West County Hotel, Chapelizod, young bus conductor, 21-year-old Tommy Dou- devastating, two men dead and 127 people in- on the 18th. glas – a native of Stirling, Scotland. jured. Damage to property was extensive. The following day Gardaí apprehended De- The investigation into this bombing was Although it was a Friday evening the Dáil was tective Sergeant Patrick Crinnion, Crime and minimal and very little information is known in session at Leinster House. A bill to amend Security Branch, Garda Síochána, at the about it. the Offences Against the State Act was being de- Burlington, where he was attempting to ren- Nobody has ever been arrested, let alone bated and a defeat for the Fianna Fáil Govern- dezvous with his handler. convicted, for these atrocities. ment seemed inevitable as Opposition parties Crinnion was found to have secret docu- The claims of British collusion in these and and some members of the Government were ments which he was about to pass on to later bombings persist. opposing it on civil liberties’ grounds. The Wyman. During the trial, Wyman’s notebook Justice for the Forgotten is still pressing the amendment would admit the opinion of a sen- was produced. There were references to “RLs”, British authorities to make documents avail- ior Garda officer as evidence of an accused per- “car bombs”, “arrest policy”. When asked to able on all the cross-Border bombings of the son’s membership of the IRA. explain these entries, he replied that “RLs” 1970s, which they failed to disclose to Judge The 1st December, 1972 blast However, the bomb explosions changed the shattered windows throughout were rocket launchers, which he said the IRA Henry Barron to assist in his Independent Liberty Hall. Another explosion course of Irish history. When the vote was taken were using and “car bombs” referred to the ex- Commission of Inquiry. on the day claimed two lives after an adjournment Fine Gael abstained allow- plosions in Dublin, Of these, he added: “We Margaret Urwin is spokesperson for Justice ing the amendment to be passed. are as interested in finding out who did this as for the Forgotten 28 Liberty NOVEMBER 2012 Books How rebels won 1916 battle of the hedgerows

Field of Fire – tal). A third, Crossfire: The Battle of Commandant Thomas Ashe, and www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie). The Battle of Ashbourne 1916 the Four Courts 1916, whose subject their deputy commander, Lieutenant In this book you can read the testi- By Paul O’Brien is self-explanatory, was reviewed in Richard Mulcahy. mony of participants, such as Volun- Published by New Island the May edition of Liberty. Their battle with the Royal Irish teers Charlie Weston and Joseph Books €12.99 Field of Fire is a somewhat differ- Constabulary took place towards the Lawless, interwoven with other pri- ent story. Whereas its three sister vol- end of the Rising, on Friday, 28th mary and secondary sources in the THIS is another welcome ad- umes deal with various (static) urban April 1916 and, after five hours of in- author’s own well-developed and battlefields of the Rising in Dublin, dition to Paul O’Brien’s work tense fighting, they emerged as vic- compelling style. on the history of the Easter Field of Fire is a tale of mobile com- tors. bat in the fields and hedgerows I offered the opinion recently that Rising in Dublin. The author draws heavily on the around Ashbourne, county Meath in some of the best and most accessible His previous volumes include Blood a model which presaged the IRA’s fly- witness statements of survivors of history around 1916 would be writ- on the Streets, the story of the Battle ing columns of the later War of Inde- the battle which were given to the ten in smaller, local and micro histo- of Mount Street Bridge and Uncom- pendence. Bureau of Military History in 1948 ries. If Paul O’Brien’s work is mon Valour, which describes the con- Overall, it is the story of the raw (and which, along with nearly 1,800 anything to go by, I’m not wrong so flict around the South Dublin Union Irish Volunteers of the 5th (Fingal) such statements and other material far. (site of the modern St James’ Hospi- Battalion, their charismatic leader, are now publicly available at Michael Halpenny

Larkin SIPTU Picture: looms large in history of left in

Jim Larkin, second row, fourth Ireland from right, with supporters Irish Socialist tive that threads the period of bur- 1930’s “to have been afforded dispro- out more. (On this subject it might be Republicanism 1909-36 geoning working class militancy, with portional importance”. interesting to see if the recently re- By Adrian Grant the ITGWU as its cutting edge, He does what he can to redress and leased witness statements from the Published by Four Courts through the “glory years” of the re-focus the balance by reminding us Bureau of Military History, particu- Press Easter Rising and the War of Inde- of the inherent radicalism of Larkin- larly of Irish Citizen Army veterans, pendence to the disillusionment of ism which endured beyond the would add to the story). THIS work by historian the Civil War in the South. “Lockout”. This is one of a number of recent Adrian Grant is a study of so- The story continues detailing the He emphasises the consistent studies in the general area, such as cialist republicanism in Ire- challenge which the Cumann na “forward” politics of Larkin himself the work of Brian Hanley as well as land in the quarter century nGaedheal years and later the rise of in linking the social and the national Eoin O’Broin’s work on Sinn Fein from the foundation of the (populist) Fianna Fáil presented to question, arguing for both economic and the Politics of Left Republican- leftists in the IRA and those in the and political freedom, as well as his ism, not to mention Emmet O’Con- ITGWU in 1909 to the demise active leadership of the Irish Citizen of the left-wing Republican communist movement. nor’s revamped and important As the author points out, it was the Army. Labour History of Ireland. Congress in 1936. It is, therefore, no accident then The period was one of great social dynamic between these two latter One can of course engage in Jesuit- strands which defined the socialist that the dust jacket for the book dis- ical argument as to the difference be- and political upheaval as well as one plays Larkin in his iconic pose with of potential opportunity for the type republicanism that emerged from the leadership that emerged from the tween left republicanism and Labour movement of the earlier hands outstretched in full manifesta- Rising period as more interested in socialist republicanism and end up of politics represented by the general tion of that mission. term socialist republicanism, which period. building the structures of the union sounding like the characters from Prominent in the author’s story of Against that the author is critical of than giving radical leadership. Monty Python’s Life of Brian. focused (and some would say still the (official) Labour movement, par- should) on marrying radical socialism particularly the earlier period, stands The author has worked with a The important thing is that there the looming figure of Jim Larkin and ticularly in the period after 1916, for mass of both primary and secondary are writers and historians willing and with national liberation. its failure to lead or harness a resur- The author takes us through the of “Larkinism”. historical sources to weave a narra- more than able to bring the topic to While he does not counterpose gent working class to push for real so- tive which, while covering ground the interested reader thereby adding period in a painstaking analysis of cial and economic change. While the various strands and inter-rela- Larkin against Connolly as such, that is well walked, is nevertheless not just to our understanding of the Adrian Grant believes that Connolly’s pointing up the radicalism of the interesting, thought-provoking and labour and republican movements tionships that constituted the poli- early ITGWU he (perhaps unfairly) influence on the later socialist repub- fulfils that most essential objective of but to life in Ireland. tics of socialist republicanism in its criticises the new Transport Union several manifestations. It is a narra- lican movement of the 1920’s and stimulating the reader to want to find Michael Halpenny Liberty 29 Obituary NOVEMBER 2012

OBITUARY Thomas Hearty 75 years of service to trade union members THOMAS Hearty, who passed away at his home in Patrick Street, Dundalk, on 5th Octo- ber after a short illness, was a well-known trade union of- ficial. With 75 years service in the movement, he was believed to be the longest-serving member of SIPTU. Known as Tom to most, his com- mitment to the trade union move- ment was only surpassed by his dedication to and love of his family. He had a deep passion for sport and enjoyed a long and happy life, Picture: WordRidden (CC BY 2.0) BY (CC WordRidden Picture: central to which was his devotion to his wife, Patsy, and family. Over 62 years of marriage with Patsy, they shared an interest in sport – going to soccer games to- gether – as well as going on holidays A refreshing and out dancing. Tom was a life-long supporter of Dundalk FC, being a player with the club's 'B' team as a young man, while his late brother, Jim, played approach with the first team. He followed the club all over the country and held the distinction of attending every Cup Final in which Dundalk participated since they to industrial qualified for their first in 1931. Thomas Hearty: dedicated family Tom continued to support the man and long-time trade unionist team, home and away, until very re- cent times. He was in Cork when Tom McNulty scored the goal that relations clinched the title in 1991 and didn't miss a game when the club won the Tom, who was based in Seatown They set about raising a family of the development of the relationship The Trade Union Pint – last of their league pennants in in St Crispin’s Hall, worked along- two sons and Tom took a full part between the trade union movement The Unlikely Union of 1995. side prominent trade union offi- in home life and in looking after and management is an industry Guinness and the Larkins Tom was best known as a trade cials such as Michael Bell and Pat the family. leading example of joint collabora- By Martin Duffy union official, first serving on a vol- Brennan and served on the national He loved going off on family hol- tion in terms of social partnership. Liberties Press €17.99 untary basis, and later as a full-time executive of his union. idays, with Ireland his choice of “This book recounts this story of officer. Sport was a big part of his life and destination and Westport a the development of the trade union THE Trade Union Pint looks His involvement with the trade he was an accomplished snooker favourite. movement in Guinness’ through the at the positive and fruitful re- union movement started immedi- player, playing in the Boyle O'Reilly Tom was able to get about for all lens of the varied personalities in- lationships forged between ately he went to work in the local hall in Clanbrassil Street. but a short period when he took ill volved.” the family of legendary trade shoe industry. He also danced in a number of and in fact he drove until he was 80. union chief Jim Larkin and He joined the then-Irish Shoe and the then-popular venues such as He was also open to change, fly- drinks firm Guinness. Leather Workers’ Union and contin- the AOH hall and the Pavilion. This ing for the first time four years later Featuring never-before-seen pho- ued to be a member as subsequent was a hobby he enjoyed with his when he travelled to France. tographs from the Guinness amalgamations saw the union come wife Patsy (neé Coote) from Greyhound racing was another Archive, the book offers an engaging under the umbrella of the Irish Williamson's Place. The couple sport he enjoyed and horse racing and fascinating look at the history Transport and General Workers were introduced at the Park Street remained a favourite with him, of trade unionism at the world-fa- Union and then SIPTU. He kept up cinema. amid the thrill of waging a few bets. mous brewers through telling the his membership until his death. Patsy worked in another of the Mild mannered as well as good stories of people who worked there. Son of the late John and Bridget then-thriving local industries, PJ humoured, he was respected by Employer-worker relations were Hearty, Thomas was born in 1925 Carrolls, but later found work in young and old and fitted easily into radically altered at Guinness’ and attended school at De La Salle, Clarke’s. The couple married on their company. through the influence of Sir Charles down the street from the family 2nd August, 1950, in St Patrick's and He is survived by his wife Patsy, Harvey on the management's side home at Patrick Street where he held their wedding breakfast in sons, Desmond and Niall, daugh- and workers’ representatives Jack lived all his life. He entered the Blackrock before travelling to ters-in-law, Marian and Kim, grand- Harte and Jack Carruthers. shoe trade after he finished his ed- Dublin on their honeymoon where children, Lorraine and Evan, along Eibhlin Roche, archive manager at ucation and worked in Halliday’s in they decided to go on a mystery with nieces and nephews and other Guinness Storehouse, said: “The Jack Carruthers: Quay Street and then Clarke’s on tour which, humorously they fre- relatives and many friends. He was Guinness Company is renowned for Visionary approach the Ramparts before becoming a quently recalled, took them to their pre-deceased by his parents and being an enlightened employer and Family Carruthers Picture: full-time union official. home town. also his brother. 30 Liberty NOVEMBER 2012 Sport

Progressive clubs PLAYING N THE LEFT in world football

At one with the fans: Vallecano players celebrate a goal Picture: Carlos RM (CC By 2.0)

Rayo Vallecano, Madrid

TeamBy Tom O’Driscoll full of strikers! ARLIER this year, Val- mounted a picket on Thursday in sol- their wages afterwards so that non- beat them 2-0 on 25th September. lecano fans in football idarity with the fans and the trade playing staff could be paid. At the end of the match the Rayo jerseys joined thou- unions who were protesting against Stickers throughout the stadium players were told that they could sands of their fellow the €40 billion cut in public services. carry the slogan “Love Rayo – Hate swap jerseys with the Galaticos, in Ecitizens and took to the Across the city, the millionaire Racism” alongside a photograph of a contrast to their earlier meeting a streets of Madrid to support Galaticos of Franco’s favourite team, Rayo hero – British black player Lau- year before when the club was on its the 29th March general strike Real Madrid, gave the demonstra- rie Cunningham who was killed in a knees. against the austerity meas- tions a miss that day and trained nor- car crash in Spain in 1989. Rayo’s captain is the oldest player ures of the Spanish Prime mally at the Bernabeau (capacity The terraces of Madrid’s ‘third’ La in the league and a former bin man Minister Mariano Rajoy. 85,000) – as you would on €250,000 Liga club are festooned with Che and union activist. The fans still sing a week! Guevara and Spanish republican flags the Marsellaise and the Interna- This was not surprising in itself be- strangers to austerity. In February Their fellow La Liga players of for the home games. When they play tionale – regardless of the result. Real cause the fans are famous for their 2011, the club was declared bankrupt Rayo Vallecano based at the Campo Real Madrid in the local Derby they Madrid have the money, the stars left-wing leanings. but was rescued by the enormous ef- de Vallecas (capacity 15,000) sur- chant “el equipo del gobierno, la ver- and the glamour but the Real fans are No, what was really unusual about forts of their beloved fans in this rounded by narrow lanes with wash- guenza del pais!”, which translated just the props for the TV spectacle. that day was that the fans of Rayo working class district of Madrid. ing lines strung across, showed real means “the team of the government, Rayo is the last of the barrio clubs Vallecano were joined on the picket Many players revealed that they class by uniting with their fans in a the shame of the country!” but the slogan on the warm up T- lines by the players of the club. had not been paid for months prior genuine gesture of solidarity. Rayo is currently holding its own shirts of the players says it all: “Rayo The players did a double training to the bankruptcy and some forfeited session on the Wednesday and The players themselves are no in mid-table of La Liga. Real Madrid and the fans – united by a feeling”. ‘The terraces are festooned with Che Guevara and Spanish republican flags’ Liberty 31 Sport NOVEMBER 2012

What a week with Obama and Celtic wins By Mick Halpenny when the club was founded by which was the more important event Celtic’s historic moment of glory with Brother Walfrid to raise funds for the of the week – Celtic’s win over Barca the following colourful passage: “The T WAS a great couple of fight against poverty in late 19th cen- or Barack Obama’s welcome and com- Bhoys were away and dancing as days in Parkhead, Glas- tury Glasgow. prehensive defeat of US Republican Barca was beaten and bewildered!” gow, and Pennsylvania The highlight of the fairytale result Mitt Romney. Meanwhile, up in Glenties, Done- Avenue, Washington DC. was the decisive 80th minute goal by Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, gal, even while these momentous IAs is the stuff of legend now, the 18-year-old Tony Watt signed for a which is the address of the White events were being played out, they no grandsons of the Lisbon Lions of mere £80,000 last January from Scot- House, may not a hot bed of support doubt talked of little else of a winter’s 1967 took on the might of Barcelona tish First Division Club Airdrie for the Hoops. evening than the recent news of FC in a packed Parkhead stadium on United. Nevertheless, up the road in the Big Donegal GAA manager, Jim McGui- Wednesday 7th November last (re- Not even a last minute goal from Apple, the New York Times, flush ness’s appointment to the Celtic member that date!) – and beat them Lionel Messi could save the day for with its endorsement of Obama’s management team. 2-1. By any yardstick it was a fitting Barca. There will, no doubt, be much nomination, still found time to credit What a week! celebration of Celtic’s 125th birthday, controversy in some quarters as to

The winner of the for a €500 Shopping Two-handed approach Voucher from the SIPTU Membership MARK O'Brien and Kevin Yeates providing a fascinating insight on the role of trade unions within In- Services Competition Rafter of Dublin City Univer- into the complex personality of dependent Newspapers. There are in the September sity have edited an intriguing William Martin Murphy. Murphy's re- fleeting references to the NUJ but history of Independent News- ligious devotion is captured in a quote none at all to the Irish Print Union or edition of Liberty papers, published by Four from P.A. Chance who claims that the SIPTU. It's a strange omission and was Martin Jones in Courts Press. infamous employer carried "a copy of only Dr Ida Milne in her essay seeks Independent Newspapers, A His- the Companies Act in one hand and to capture the role of non-journalists Belclare, Galway. William Martin Murphy: insight tory gives some insights into the his- the Imitation of Christ in the other." in the evolution of the newspaper. tory of the Independent with Padraig Oddly, the book is deplorably weak

Prize draw to win two nights Liberty Crossword for two people in one 1 2233 4 5566 Across *Correctly fill in the crossword of Ireland’s Fair 7 Masters or PhD students. (13) to reveal the hidden word, 7 Hotels. 8 Just bones. (8) contained by reading the Team full of strikers! 9 SIPTU Vice President. (4) 10 Latin American term for the Yankees. (7) letters in the shaded squares 12 Small meal. (5) from top to bottom. Email the 8 9 14 The month of the Easter Rising. (5) 16 Priggish (7) hidden word to communica- 19 Up to the task (4) [email protected] or September 20 Hugo Chavez leads them in Venezuela. (8) crossword 101110 11 12 22 Causes late night problems on our streets. (5,8) post to Communications Dept., Liberty Hall, Dublin1 along with winner was: 13 Down your name and address and you Kenneth 1 City in which the Vita Cortex dispute occurred. (4) 14 15 16 17 will to be entered into a prize Sheridan, 2 Led the USSR during World War II. (6) 3 Graveside address. (7) draw to win two nights for two Swords, 18 4 All grown up. (5) people in one of Ireland’s Fair Co Dublin 19 20 21 5 Leader of the ITGWU at the start of the 1913 Lockout. (6) 6 Insult for rural dwellers. (8) Hotels. 11 A State without a feudal ruler. (8) 13 Can be by road or Internet. (7) The winner of the crossword 22 15 When woolly mammoths walked the earth. (3,3) quiz will be published in the next 17 Water, beer, orange juice... (6) issue of Liberty. 18 Govan is on its banks. (5) 21 Camping gear (4) *Terms and conditions apply. SIPTU M EMBERSHIPIP UT REBMEM IPHSR SUTIP REBMEM IPHSR SERVICES S SECIVERS S S SECIVERS S

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