THE PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE IRISH CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS

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l ORGANISATION FOR SOClIAL SOLIDARITY lEQUALITY l MINIMUM STANDARDS EUROPEAN trade unions are to set organised by the European Trade The conference consists of a out a range of alternative policies Union Confederation and hosted by number of panel discussions – on ETUC chief to deal with the economic crisis at Congress, starts on June 5 in Dublin trade union organisation, solidarity, Bernadette a major summit in Dublin next Castle. equality and minimum standards – Ségol month. A Congress source said: “The that involve, among others, ETUC EURLeading traOde unionists will bPe conferenceE theme is High Noon for chief Bernadette Ségol, left, Con - demanding that EU govern - Social Europe and no doubt speakers gress general secretary David Begg, ments make radical changes will be training their big guns, so to TUC general secretary Frances to restore growth, tackle speak, on the disastrous austerity O’Grady, EPSU chief Carola unemployment and build a policies being pursued by many EU Fischbach-Pyttel, Oliver Rothig, fairer Europe, governments that cause so much who heads up UNI Europa, and The two-day event, harm to working people.” CGT leader Thierry Lepaon. Benefits fraud: UK public being

T‘bUCr gaenienralw secraetsaryh Freandces ’ O’Grady has claimed the public is being “brainwashed” into believ - ing the benefits system in the UK is “riddled with fraud”. She made the comment after Department for Work and Pen - sions data published earlier this month revealed that benefit fraud accounted for just 0.7% of the welfare budget. This is in stark contrast to the popular perception of benefit fraud – hyped up by sections of the media and by some politicians. Polling carried out by the TUC in January, showed that on average people think that 27% of the welfare budget is claimed fraudulently. Ms O’Grady said: “While benefit fraud is a problem, these figures show there is a significant issue with underpayment too, with one in 10 housing benefit claimants being underpaid at a time when living costs are soaring. “Instead of seeking to demonise those on benefits, ministers should be getting tough on tax- evading companies who are cheat - ing the Treasury out of £25bn a year.” PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "At just over £1 billion a year fraud in the benefits system is dwarfed by tax fraud, which is 70 times as much and whose perpetrators are not subject to the same level of vitriol from politicians and sections of the press. "While more resources in the DWP would bring the benefit fraud and error rate down even more, the government must also aggressively chase down the tax dodgers who deprive our economy of tens of billions of pounds a year." Rescue workers desperately search for survivors after the Rana Plaza factory collapse UK & Irish workers Picture: Qamrul Anam Coordinator, Textile & RMG, IBC trail in hols league WORKERS in the Irish Republic are Labels sign up to safety accord second only to UK workers when it comes to having the worst holiday entitlement in Europe, according to a survey carried out by travel after factory collapse horror company hotels.com. UNI Global Union general secretary commitment from the companies to They enjoy seven fewer days off Philip Jennings has described a new pay for the renovations and repairs a year than their Italian or Swedish accord on fire and building safety in necessary to make factory buildings counterparts. In Ireland, the Bangladesh as “a turning point”, in Bangladesh safe. average annual leave entitlement following the horrific April 24 Mr Jennings said: “We are putting is 20 days, supplemented by nine collapse of the Rana Plaza which in place rules that mark the end of public holidays, the same total as claimed the lives of 1,100 garment the race to the bottom in the global Germany and Switzerland. workers. supply chain.” UK workers are entitled to only Dozens of leading retail compa - Retail labels that have signed up an average of 28 days off whereas nies have already signed up to the so far include: H&M, Inditex, C&A, the French, Finns and Norwegians new safety guidelines. PVH, Tchibo, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, get to put their feet up on 35 days The legally-binding agreement be - Primark, El Corte Inglés, jbc, Mango, each year. tween the signatories and Industri - Carrefour, KiK, Helly Hansen, ALL, UNI Global and many local G-Star, Aldi, New Look, Mothercare, The total for the Danes and unions provides for independent Loblaws, Sainsbury’s, Benetton, N Spanish was 34 while in take-it- safety inspections, mandatory repairs Brown Group, Stockmann, WE easy Russia, employees had an and renovations as well as a vital Europe, Esprit, Rewe, Next, Lidl, annual tally of 40 days off. role for workers and their unions. Hess Natur, Switcher, Abercrombie Jennings: ‘turning point’ At the heart of the accord is a & Fitch.

THE THE UNION POST is produced by Brazier Media for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Irish Congress of Trade Unions Northern Ireland Committee Irish Congress of Trades Unions 31/32 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, 4-6 Donegall Street Place, Belfast BT1 2FN, Northern Ireland ST Tel: +353 1 8897777 Fax: +353 1 8872012 Tel: 02890 247940 Fax: 02890 246898 UNION PO Email: [email protected] www.ictu.ie Email: [email protected] Web: www.ictuni.org 2 THE UNION POST y May/June 2013 Journo safety seminar to mark IFJ Congress ‘Wheels have come HUNDREDS of journalists from across the off austerity wagon...’ world are attending the 28th Congress of the International Federation of Journalists in CONGRESS general secretary David Dublin between June 4 to June 7. Begg has called on the Troika to do “the The event, at Dublin Castle, is being honourable thing” and admit that aus - hosted by the National Union of Journalists terity as a cure for Ireland’s problems is UK and Ireland. wrong, socially destructive and damag - And the NUJ’s Belfast & District branch is ing to prospects for economic recovery. holding a special event North of the border He delivered the blunt message as to mark the IFJ World Congress. part of a Congress delegation that met The branch has invited a panel of national with officials from the IMF/EC/ECB and international speakers to present a num - Troika in Dublin on April 29. ber practical workshops on safety for jour - Mr Begg said: “The wheels [have] nalists working in conflict zones and in public come off the austerity wagon as order situations. more evidence of its unsuitability and Branch secretary Gerry Carson told The destructive impact emerges. Union Post : “Since the start of this year jour - “The IMF concedes that the approach nalists, photographers and camera operators taken here was wrong. Equally, the case have, in the course of carrying out their for austerity is now known to be based work, been subjected to verbal and physical on flawed calculations. abuse, been threatened, harassed and suf - “But most damning of all, we have fered serious injury. heard Prof Ashoka Mody – an architect "Now, in the light of the ‘flag protests’, the of the Irish bailout – admit major errors forthcoming ‘marching season’ and ‘G8’ in the construction of Ireland’s rescue meeting, to help better inform individuals, package. management and owners about self-protec - “In other words, the ideological tion and how best to perform risk assess - underpinning of this entire policy ment, our branch has organised a special approach – in Ireland and across the seminar on Wednesday, June 5 in the Linen - EU – has been utterly discredited. The hall Library, Belfast.” Troika should now do the honourable Irish secretary Séamus Dooley added: "It is thing and admit their policy failure.” fitting that as the World Congress of the IFJ He added: “It’s time for a new discusses global threats, in Belfast our col - departure. It’s time for a new deal for leagues will be offering practical assistance Ireland.” based on experience of conflict."

CIOCNGTRESSU has c lacimeda the ll oincnreas edS safethy preacautrionps and s sDhouldi inrcluede rcepretsenitavtivee s health of healthcare workers in safer working procedures from employers and unions, the Republic is being endangered through the use of medical including health and safety reps, by the Irish government’s failure devices that shield or retract occupational health, risk manage - to implement an EU ‘Sharps the needle after use. ment, purchasing, housekeeping, Directive’ on the use of medical It specifically bans the practice infection control, employee needles. of ‘recapping’ needles. education and training.” Legal affairs officer Esther The Republic failed to meet Ms Lynch pointed out the Lynch said: "Sharps and needle - the May 11 deadline for the directive applied to all healthcare stick injuries are a silent epi - transposition of the directive, but workers but noted that prison demic as they are notoriously Ms Lynch has called for its swift officers, refuse collectors, teach - unreported – estimates for implementation. ers, tattoo artists and thousands Ireland range from 1,000 to She said: "Acting now is essen - of other workers “who may 6,000 injuries a year.” tial. The directive requires a part - come across discarded hypoder - In 2011, an INMO study nership approach and Congress mic needles” were not included. revealed that one in three nurses is recommending the setting up And she urged the govern - south of the border had suffered of needlestick and sharps injury ment to extend the directive’s needlestick injuries. prevention committees to protection to “all workers at risk The EU directive protects oversee the implementation of of needlestick or sharps injury.” healthcare workers through the directive. These committees Picture: stevendepolo (CC BY 2.0) Business efficiencies cannot be made at expense of workers’ lives CONGRESS has warned that cuts prevention work hard. In recent to report occupational diseases and impact of the crisis has meant in - to health and safety budgets will years big strides have been made in illnesses and urged the government creased work intensity and less time turn the clock back on progress protecting people at work from not to buckle to opposition from dedicated to prevention, poor main - made in safeguarding employees injury and ill health. business groups “in the mistaken tenance schedules for equipment while at work. “Health and safety inspections are belief that health and safety rules and machinery, and a lack of invest - A total of 47 people were killed the backbone of this approach and are a burden on business”. ment in newer equipment. in workplace accidents and 7,000 there still more needs to be done, She said: “Congress is calling on “Moreover, psycho-social factors non-fatal injuries were reported in especially as increasing numbers of the Health and Safety Authority to such as stress in the workplace, are the Republic last year. employers are contracting out core think again about removing the re - exacerbated as employment be - Speaking ahead of Workers work.” quirement on employers to report comes more precarious and those Memorial Day (April 28), TEEU gen - He added: “Cuts are jeopardising on the range of internationally who retain their jobs often work eral secretary Eamon Devoy said: the progress made and the price will recognised occupational diseases longer hours to compensate for job “The Health and Safety Authority is be paid by ordinary, hardworking caused by chemical, physical and cuts. facing devastating cuts in its govern - people.” biological agents. “Obeying safety rules is a respon - ment grant over the next three Congress legal affairs officer “In spite of advances in occupa - sibility, not a burden. Business years, which will hit health and Esther Lynch claimed progress had tional health and safety practices efficiencies cannot be at the ex - safety inspections and the body’s stalled on efforts to get employers over the last few decades, the pense of workers’ health and lives.”

May/June 2013 y THE UNION POST 3 NUJ hits out at death threats THE NUJ has condemned death threats issued earlier this month by loyalist paramilitaries against two Northern Ireland-based journalists. Bob Miller, chair of the union’s Belfast & District branch, told The Union Post: "The naked threat of violence by paramilitaries, whatever their back - ground, against members of this union is to be deplored. “We ask those behind these threats to withdraw them immediately and we call on their public representatives to issue a statement to that effect." NUJ general secretary for Michelle Stanistreet said: YES “A free press is a hallmark of a democratic society and anyone making threats against journalists for carrying out their work attempts to undermine democracy as well as press PE freedom. Threats against O From left: NUJ’s Barry McCall, Jim Aughney, Seamus Dooley (NUJ Irish secretary), Gerry Curran, Martin E, H journalists from any C Fitzpatrick, Des Coughlan and Tony Jones. Front row: Ashling Seely and Noleen Hartigan from Amnesty PEA International lay a wreath at the Veronica Guerin memorial in Dublin Castle on World Press Day Picture: Maxwells quarter must stop.” ’ MNUJ Preseidentd Barryi MacCal l hpas lumorre seansitivle tio tsucyh do m‘inamnce ufreedosm.” tHe adbded: “eWe n eepd roNUJt aned Amncestyt Ineternatdional ’ ALING demanded action to protect media as with it comes potentially 9,000 signatures from Ireland to Ireland figures in laying a wreath at and HE plurality across Europe. immense political power and play our part in this critically the Veronica Guerin statue in He made his comments on influence. important initiative. The NUJ will Dublin Castle gardens. World Press Freedom Day – May “This is why different standards be campaigning to get its own He said: "It is our duty to ensure 3 – at a meeting of the union’s and thresholds must be applied to members to sign up to the petition that each one of those journalists Dublin branch in Liberty Hall. this bulwark of democracy and and we are calling on all trade [killed in the course of their work] Mr McCall said: “It is standard why the NUJ is supporting the Eu - unions, political parties, and the is remembered. practice for governments and ropean Citizens’ Initiative aimed at generally to get behind “Here in Ireland we know the competition authorities to gathering a million signatures to a it so that we can prevent abuses pain felt by the murders of Martin intervene when a firm becomes petition calling on the European of media power in this country in O'Hagan and Veronica Guerin, both dominant in any sector. Commission to bring forward to future.” NUJ members committed to the “But the media industry is even protect media pluralism and press Later Mr McCall joined senior highest principles of journalism." Govt needs change of emphasis THE Republic’s next Budget will be “The lack of any ‘pick-up’ in Dr Collins: ‘fairer fairer, and more likely to hasten domestic activities remains a key approach to distribution economic recovery, if it has a “greater problem for the Irish economy. As of adjustment’ required orientation towards collecting more this is the job-intensive sector of the Picture: Dylan Vaughan Photography taxes rather than cutting spending economy, recovery is dependent on and services”, a leading economist has things getting moving on the ground claimed. around the country.” Dr Micheál Collins, from the Dr Collins called on the govern - union-backed Nevin Economic Re - ment to change course in three ways: search Institute, made the comments l It should adopt a large scale in an address to the IMPACT confer - investment programme drawing on ence in Portlaoise earlier this month. funds from the European Investment He said this changed emphasis in Bank, the borrowing abilities of government policy was needed to commercial semi-state companies, end the prolonged period of austerity pension funds, and the savings from predicted by most economic various debt restructuring deals, commentators. l It should address the unemploy - Dr Collins outlined NERI’s forecast ment crisis in a more focused way of continued stagnation, with sluggish with investment in additional retrain - growth and high unemployment, over ing and upskilling, and the next two years. l It should ensure that the next He told delegates: “While there are Budget takes a fairer approach to the signs of some stabilisation in domes - distribution of the adjustment, with a tic demand, the amount being spent greater orientation towards collecting by households, companies and the more taxes rather than cutting government remains depressed. spending and services.

UNION MAGS YOU CAN CONTROL THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION & NEWSPAPERS Find out how... braziermedia @btinternet.com 4 THE UNION POST y May/June 2013 says YES for ‘PEACE, HOPE and HEALING’ 15 years on – still campaigning for completion of the promises in the Good Friday Agreement on equality, human rights and dealing with the past

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May/June 2013 y THE UNION POST 5 REAs JUDGMENT

T‘HNE Consotructio n jInduostry Cbom - s“T hisf penosion scrhem e I– wrhich ehas land’ waprortectnions deivelonped ovg er a long mittee of Congress has claimed the served hundreds of thousands of period, protections designed to Supreme Court judgment on REAs Irish workers well since 1964 – avoid gross exploitation of vulnera - paves the way for a devastating has been killed off by a stroke of the ble workers.” attack on the living standards of judicial pen. Mr Whelan said that unions in - building workers in the Republic. “The clauses in public procure - tend to ensure that all construction The warning followed a May 15 ment contracts designed to ensure projects are carried out under the meeting of the CIC to discuss the that public projects and any stimulus terms agreed in the Labour Court implications of the ruling. package would result in decent jobs and “will fight for the national agree - CIC member Fergus Whelan said: for experienced unemployed work - ment country wide, project by proj - “When taking on contracts employ - ers have been struck down. ect and contract by contract.” ers are now free to ignore existing “Unless something is done, these He added: “It behoves the politi - rates of pay set by the Labour jobs will go to companies based cal system to work to fix this prob - Court and free to offer skilled outside the state who will milk the lem. experienced craftsmen the national projects with exploited foreign “Employers now celebrating the minimum wage. This will amount to labour. There will be no jobs for victory the Supreme Court has a 50% pay cut.” Ireland and little or no indigenous given them could yet find that they And he warned that the May 9 Irish construction industry in the Whelan: Construction workers might have been better to honour court ruling could lead to the end of near future. have been ‘left explosed’ by ruling Labour Court agreements rather the Construction Industry Pension “The Supreme Court judgment and abuse unknown in this country than watch idly as our industry is Scheme. has left construction workers since the 1930s. The judgment is the destroyed by social dumping and Mr Whelan told The Union Post : exposed to a level of exploitation latest and most blatant attack on the exploited foreign labour.” Supreme Court ruling ‘dark day for employment in Ireland’ THE TEEU has described the May 9 mistakably into the field of legislation the parties involved, it will no longer be Supreme Court ruling that Registered which was the sole preserve of the possible to enforce minimum standards Employment Agreements were uncon - Oireachtas". against foreign contractors competing stitutional as “another dark day for However, the TEEU has countered for Irish contracts and who can pay as employment in Ireland”. that the decision – prompted by a legal little as €8.65 per hour for all hours The five-judge court’s decision – challenge from electrical contractors worked up to 48 hours per week with - which ruled that Part 3 of the Industrial group, the NECI – did not overturn ex - out interference.” Relations Act 1946 raised serious issues isting pay rates and conditions. TEEU general secretary Eamon of incompatibility with the Constitu - A TEEU statement said: “While ex - Devoy warned that any attempt to un - tion – would have “a profound effect” isting contractual rights of workers in dermine current standards would be on thousands of construction workers, sectors covered by REAs are unaffected met “with the wrath of the TEEU who the union warned. by the ruling and contractual rights can will use all means at its disposal to pro - The court said the REAs "passed un - be altered only by agreement between tect our members in the industry”.

6 THE UNION POST y May/June 2013

Communications Workers’ Union

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TECHNICALTECHNICCALAL SPECSPEC & CAPACITIESCCAPAPAPAACITIES ssConferenceConference Hall capacity TTheatreheatreheatre Style 242400 ssConference Hall capacity Classroom Style 1 18080 ToTo find out more about the facilities ssNationalNational Executive BBoardroomoardroom 45 ssLeinsterLeinster BoardroomBoardroom 22 at William Norton House, or to book ssMunsterMunster BBoardroomoardroom 20 your next event, please contact: ssConnachtConnacht BoardroomBoardroom 16 Imelda Wall,Wall,all, Communications Workers’Workers’ ssUlsterUlster BoardroomBoardroom 10 Union,Union, WilliamWilliam Norton House, ssBreakout Areas for various no delegates 3 575-577575-575-577 North Circular Road, ssSecluded Private Garden Dublin 1 ssRooftop Garden ssComplimentaryComplimentary parking for over 25 cars E-mail: [email protected] ssComplimentaryComplimentary wifi Tel:Tel:el: +353 1 886666 30003000 ssVideo/TeleVideo/Tideo/Teleele conference facility Fax:Fax: +353 1 866866 30993099

May/June 2013 y THE UNION POST 7 CWU UK’s Billy Hayes and Andy Kerr greets the President along with CWU chief Steven Fitzpatrick

MTHE incewhly-arefeurbli shDed hoeadpqueartnerss of refsuensre bof ihsisthorye. Thde o rCiginWal buUildi nHg, Q the CWU was formally opened by Irish which once housed St Canice’s School, had President Michael D Higgins on March 28. the staircase lovingly restored, honouring The building, which has been located at the school’s position as the essence of the 575 North Circular Road since 1982, has local community. been renamed William Norton House. “The new facility includes a conference Union officials are very proud of the hall, five boardrooms, break-out areas, new building which was refurbished “to complimentary WiFi, and state-of-the-art the highest standards to create an exciting teleconferencing facilities. and dynamic office and conference venue”. “Every CWU member can be enor - A CWU source told The Union Post : “It’s mously proud of William Norton House a venue like no other and the beautifully and take the opportunity to avail of its appointed building still incorporates a real superb facilities.” NUJ backs anti-bullying MMANADATNE NEDWS ATE measures TRADE UNION set out in BBC report L THE NUJ has welcomed O recommendations to W W address the “toxic O P problem” of bullying at R A the BBC. P K ID A number of meas - Y RO ER E ures are set out in the O T S S Respect at Work review UR E : I conducted by Dinah S C N Rose QC. E T A General secretary LV RG ! Michelle Stanistreet E O W claimed the report S O backed up the union’s N own probe into bullying and harassment at the broadcaster. She said: “It is quite clear that bullying has become an institution - alised problem at the BBC, one that has taken hold over many years “The report's findings underline the fear factor that exists, particularly for those staff on free - lance and short-term contracts.” She added: “That the BBC is now taking action and getting a grip of what is a toxic prob - lem can only be a good thing. It is positive news that investigations will be carried out by an independent panel in future, although we re - main concerned about how efficiently this can be delivered by an in-house approach. “It’s vital that this is a genuine fresh start, one that marks the disman - tling of a culture that A CAMPAIGNING & ORGANISING UNION has allowed bullying and harassment to take WEB: www.mandate.ie EMAIL: [email protected] hold.”

8 THE UNION POST y May/June 2013 G8 protestors at the May 2011 Le Harve summit and, below, at the Quebec summit in 2010 Pictures: Guilliaume Paumier; Socialist Canada, Socialist Quebec (CC BY-SA 2.0); NIPSA

NIPSA chief calls

fNIPoSA genreral sebcretariy Brgian Ca mGpfield 8e qupality corntinoue to itncrease bescauset of has called on union members and their the system and the policies they support.” families to join a protest march and rally in Mr Campfield pointed out that big Belfast on Saturday, June 15 to coincide with business interests in the UK had “overflow - the meeting of G8 leaders in Co Fermanagh. ing” bank accounts – worth more than Trade unions in the North have linked up £700bn – that contributed nothing to with organisations such as Friends of the “the economy or people”. Earth and Amnesty International to plan the He said: “If the G8 leaders were serious protest, which organisers hope will ensure a about tackling hunger, poverty or unemploy - dissenting voice is heard amid all the media ment, steps would be taken to force the brouhaha over the much-hyped summit. release of some of these reserves for Writing in the latest issue of the union’s economic development and/or socially- newspaper NIPSA Reports , Mr Campfield said: useful investment. However, that is not the “While G8 leaders have it in their power to mindset of the G8 leaders as they defer to take decisions that could be in the interest the sacred cow of the free market, the of millions of people across the globe, in interests of the large corporations and the reality they will pursue policies wealthy.” which are designed to prop up Claiming that the hosting of the and defend a system that is summit in Northern Ireland was “at incapable of tackling world best, a dubious honour”, he added: poverty, global hunger and “We owe it to ourselves and to all unemployment. those across the globe, who are the “All the rhetoric around victims of an economic system that measures to tackle corporate cares nothing for working people, tax evasion and avoidance, to mark the G8 summit with a re - behind the use of words like sounding message that there is, as ‘democracy’, ‘peace’, and trade union movement has pro - ‘development’ belies the claimed, a better and fairer way.” reality that poverty and in - Campfield: ‘Resounding message’ Cult of money POPE Francis has blasted SCONcGRhESSo haso welc om‘med otennderintg aond prroscur’e mwent eblelcieveo thamt publeic prd ocur - the “tyranny” of free-mar - the Republic’s Education practices have been leading ers will have to go further ket capitalism in a speech Minister ’s to hidden economy activity, and adopt a policy of to foreign ambassadors decision to appoint moni - runaway contractors and ensuring that tender prices earlier this month. tors to audit compliance the exploitation of work - are sustainable, so as not to He told them: “The with terms and conditions ers.” * encourage bad practice worship of the golden calf of employment in the He claimed the appoint - and to give contractors the of old has found a new and school building programme. ment of auditors would possibility of finishing heartless image in the cult Congress official Fergus send “the right message” to work without having to of money and the dictator - Whelan said: “We have would-be, non-compliant rely on cheap, exploited ship of an economy which been concerned for some contractors. labour.” is faceless and lacking any time that unsustainable But he added: “We truly human goal.”

May/June 2013 y THE UNION POST 9 WHISTLE-BLOWING IBOA CALL RCN warns of culture of fear in We need Leveson-style some hospitals AROUND a quarter (24%) of nurses in the UK have been probe into Irish banking A

discouraged or warned off raising THE IBOA has called for a “Leve - of bank boards, senior management, O B I

concerns about patient care, a : son-style” inquiry to probe the the regulatory authorities and e r u

new survey carried out on behalf t

dramatic collapse in banking in the government in both the creation of c i of the Royal College of Nursing Republic and its impact on the Irish and response to the crisis. P has revealed. economy. And he claimed the inquiry Following the results, the RCN General secretary Larry Broder - should also have the power to sub - warned of a “culture of fear and ick told delegates at the union’s poena witnesses as well as inviting intimidation” in some workplaces. recent Biennial Delegate Confer - submissions from interested parties Nearly half (46%) of respon - ence that it was remarkable that and the general public. dents who had raised concerns five years into the crisis people Mr Broderick said: "There may be had done so the last six months, were no nearer to understanding some expense involved in conduct - and nearly one in 10 nurses (8%) in the precise causes of the crisis and ing such an inquiry. the week leading up to the survey. the interaction of the various “But how much more expensive Worryingly, just under half players which contributed to it. is the alternative likely to be? Unless (45%) of those who raised con - He said the purpose of such an we take the time to find out what cerns said their employer had inquiry was not to promote a went wrong, we run the risk of taken no action and roughly the witch-hunt but to achieve a repeating the same disastrous Larry Broderick: same number (44%) said fears of thorough understanding of the role mistakes in the future.” ‘disastrous mistakes’ victimisation would make them think twice about whistle blowing. RCN general secretary Dr Peter Carter said: “These responses FLASHBACK illustrate that despite the recent attention which has been drawn State of to the importance of whistle blowing, many nurses are still experiencing a culture of fear and the union intimidation if they try to speak out. This is putting patient safety address... at risk. President John F “Nursing staff want to provide Kennedy speaking at excellent care, but sometimes the the 1962 dedication of systems they work in do not allow a cooperative housing this. Staff know what is safe for project in New York their patients and what is not. City pioneered by the However, they cannot raise con - International Ladies cerns if they feel unsure about Garment Workers what their employer’s policy is or Union. The ILGWU what the repercussions will be.” trail-blazed the push The RCN runs a dedicated whis - for affordable workers’ tle blowing hotline for its mem - housing in the US bers – 0345 772 6300 – if they have Picture: Kheel Center, serious or immediate concerns Cornell University (CC BY 2.0) about patient safety in their workplace, which local processes are unable to resolve.

RECOGNITION Action suspended in goodwill gesture THE TEEU has suspended a work to rule action involving 23 wind farm technicians employed by Siemens as a goodwill gesture in its fight to secure recognition for the workforce. It is understood the union – which has asked formally for Labour Relations Commission in - volvement to settle the dispute – has reminded local management that an international agreement on collective bargaining was bro - kered with the parent company and global union IndustriALL. A TEEU source said: “The union has been actively seeking dialogue IMF ‘threat to collective bargaining’ with Siemens since January but to A NEW report published by the have weakened workplace rights lower unemployment or better no avail. Ironically Siemens recog - ITUC has claimed labour market that have been in place for a gen - export performance than other nises and negotiates with unions policies being pushed by the IMF eration. countries. They do have greater throughout Europe, but refuses to pose a real threat to collective ITUC general secretary Sha - wage inequality. do so here in Ireland.” bargaining. ran Burrow said: “There is no “The economic strategy being Siemens technicians provide The study, Ideology Without Eco - economic justification for these pursued by the IMF, and in crisis maintenance to more than 200 nomic Evidence: IMF Attacks on Col - labour reforms. Countries with countries with its Troika part - wind turbines, mostly situated in lective Bargaining, analyses how little or no collective bargaining ners, is deeply flawed.” the northwest and southwest. the actions of the finance body do not achieve faster growth, http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/ituc_frontlines_summary_report_april_2013_web.pdf

10 THE UNION POST y May/June 2013 POA CONFERENCE Young offenders present ‘complex challenges’ POA general secretary John Clinton has to 17-year-olds. These young offenders called for 16 to 17-year-old offenders to must be incarcerated when found be taken out of the prison service and guilty of serious crimes and we have no placed in a “separate care and correction difficulty with that. system” more suited to their needs. “Many of these young people will have He made his comments in an committed serious crimes, but they are address to the POA conference in also most likely to have other issues, Athlone on May 4. such as neglect, addiction, education Welcoming a recent report from the deficiencies and often homelessness. Visiting Committee at St Patrick’s Insti - “This government must now follow tution, Dublin, that had praised staff for through on its own commitment, to take their attitude and work performance, he these young offenders out of the prison pointed out that this did not alter the service, and into a separate care and underlying problem, “namely, that prison correction system, with has the facilities officers are not trained to do this work”. and expertise to meet the complex Mr Clinton told delegates: “St Patrick’s is challenges presented in this specific and not fit for the purpose of catering for 16 necessary intervention” John Clinton: ‘Govt must follow through on commitment’ Extra funding necessary or cut custody numbers PRISON Officers Association presi - custody or to make extra funding dent Stephen Delaney has warned available to boost staffing levels. “something has to give” following Conference heard that the POA the release of figures showing an agreed with recommendations increase of 29% in the daily average contained in a recent report from of prisoners held in custody over six the Oireachtas Sub Committee on years. Penal Reform. He told delegates at the POA The report had called for a conference in Athlone on May 2 that “decarceration strategy” to cut the there was now 4,275 prisoners in prison population by a third over custody compared with a daily the next 10 years, involving the average of 3,321 in 2007. commuting of prison sentences, Mr Delaney said: “Something has increased remission and greater use to give. It is just not possible to of open prisons. continue to provide a rehabilitative Mr Delaney added: “All these service for such numbers with measures along with a proper policy contracting resources and reduced to deal with the growing number of level of funding.” protection prisoners in the system He called for “real action” to be must be implemented as a matter of Stephen Delaney: ‘something has to give’ Pictures: POA taken either to reduce numbers in urgency.” Portuguese tell Troika what they tHhUNiDnRkED So of fth otuhsanedsm of workers took to the streets of Lisbon and other cities across Portugal earlier this year with a straightforward message for chiefs at the IMF, European Central Bank and the Euro - pean Commission – “Screw the Troika”. More than half an million protestors packed a boulevard in the centre of the capital on March 2. The rallies were organised by a group of online activists known as Que Se Lixe a Troika or Screw the Troika. The Troika imposed a series of tax hikes and slashed public sector wages as part of a €78bn bailout deal agreed in 2011. The measures have since push joblessness to record levels of 17%. A protestor, right, holds a placard bearing the slogan ‘Politicians are thieves – give us back hope’ Picture: pedrosimoes7 (CC BY 2.0)

May/June 2013 y THE UNION POST 11 Boots should ‘do right thing’ for its staff MANDATE has referred an ongoing years, the company has reported sonable request to seek a pay in - l Boots is insisting that any sales pay dispute between Boots Retail that it has paid out more than €100 crease for all workers in Boots at assistant earning above €12 per Ireland and its members to the million in dividends to shareholders this time, particularly due to the hour must reduce their wages Labour Court. and yet their workers have not financial hardship many of them are below that figure to achieve a 2% in - The union has been seeking a received a single pay increase. experiencing at the moment.” crease. This in some cases means an wage increase for staff members at “In fact, with increases in cost of According to Mandate, the union 18% reduction for a 2% increase. Boots after several years of living, Boots workers have taken an referred the pay dispute to the l All workers who do not re - increased profits teamed with effective pay cut while the company Labour Court due to the exhaus - duce their hourly rate below €12 exceptional growth for the retail has enjoyed increased profits. tion of the Labour Relations Com - will not receive their bonuses in - company’s Irish operation. “Last year alone, Boots Ireland in - mission process. cluding a productivity bonus due in However, Boots has refused to creased profits to €17.8 million, yet Some of the key issues in dispute June or the agreed Christmas bonus give longer-serving members of staff the company is refusing to commit between the company and the union (worth 2%). a pay rise and has threatened these to a wage increase for all workers. are: Mr O’Hanlon said: “Mandate is employees with the loss of produc - “This is completely unacceptable l The union has sought a pay in - calling on Boots Ireland, a hugely tivity bonuses as well as an agreed to our members who have helped crease for all workers in Boots Ire - profitable company paying out enor - Christmas bonus unless they accept build the company during the past land, whereas the company is only mous dividends to shareholders, to a pay reduction of up to 18%. number of years.” offering a 2% pay increase to all do the right thing and reward their Divisional organiser Brendan Mr O’Hanlon added: “Our mem - sales assistants earning below €12 workers by committing to a pay in - O’Hanlon said: “Over the past three bers in Boots believe it is a very rea - per hour. crease for all staff members.” O T N I / n a l o N

a y o M

: e r u t c i P

ERducuatioan Minirsteir Rsuairei Queinn sgot hris ecardd ma.rk.e. d by teachers crying foul over a range of government policies. A number of delegates held up red cards as he addressed the INTO conference last month... Freed miners chief awarded top union gong RUSSIAN miners chief Valentin Urusov, released earlier this year after spending years in jail on trumped up charges, has been named the 2013 recipient of the Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights. Mr Urusov, whose cause was championed by a number of international trade union bodies, headed the Profsvoboda trade union at diamond company Alrosa. He led a 2007 hunger strike involving more than 1,000 workers in protest at what he claimed were inhumane conditions and low pay at the firm’s mines, but was later arrested on drugs possession charges. Prize committee chair Leif Sande said: "Urusov was imprisoned on what were clearly false accusations, and both the UN's Interna - tional Labour Organisation and Russian and ) 0 . international trade union organisations had 3

Y been involved in trying to get him released," B

C Mr Urusov was freed in March after it C (

e became known that he had been nominated z i r for the Svensson prize, awarded by the P

l

a Norwegian trade union movement. n o i t The rest of his five-year prison sentence a n r has been converted into a fine of 15% of his e t n I

income throughout the remainder of his n o

s sentence. In addition, Mr Urusov is not permit - s n

e ted to leave the country. v S

r ITUC general secretary Sharan Burrow said: u h

t “We are glad that Valentin Urusov has won the r A

: prize. We strongly supported him during his e r u

t time in prison and we will do so with every c i P trade unionist illegally detained.”

12 THE UNION POST y May/June 2013 Unite 10 celebrate ‘Crystal clear’ ECJ ruling on

UpNIOeNSn haves wairmoly wnelcos med the April 25 European Court of Justice ruling that the Irish state is in breach of its obligations over pension entitlements for former Waterford Crystal employees. Unite regional secretary Jimmy Kelly said: “The ECJ ruling follows a High Court case taken by the workers in the wake of the The 10 Unite members who took the Waterford Crystal test case to the ECJ show their approval at the ruling company’s 2009 insolvency. obligations under the EU Insolvency accrued pension entitlements in the SIPTU general president Jack “It comes as welcome news for Directive.” event of insolvency, Mr Kelly added: O’Connor, in congratulating the Wa - workers who have seen the value He described as “regrettable” the “The ball is now in the government’s terford Crystal workers and Unite of their defined benefit occupa - fact the state chose to contest the court. They can wait until the matter for the landmark victory, also called tional pensions collapse in the case which had both caused “distress is heard again in the High Court, or on the government to “waste no wake of insolvency. and uncertainty” for the workers they can come and talk to us. time” to change the regulatory infra - “It is now clear that, as argued and ensured that the Irish taxpayer “Either way, the European ruling is structure on defined benefit pen - by Unite, the state’s failure to insti - picked up a substantial legal bill. Crystal-clear – it’s up to the state to sions so schemes are “not forced to tute a system of pension protec - Pointing out that workers in the protect Waterford Glass workers’ close or are diluted by reason of the tion represents a breach of its UK are entitled to get 90% of their pension entitlements.” current arrangements”. IBEC’s ease up on austerity call welcomed but SIPTU warns over pensions SIPTU general president Jack U T P O’Connor has welcomed I S

: e

IBEC’s call for an easing of r u t c austerity but cautioned over i budgetary changes the group P may be seeking to promote. He said: “The decision of IBEC to abandon the sinking ship of one-sided austerity should be welcomed. “We agree with a call for the alleviation of the tax burden on low and middle- income families alongside increased investment in job creation. “However, we are con - cerned that the IBEC call to ease back on tax measures in the forthcoming budget may O’Connor: pensions warning be a Trojan horse for those lobbying the government to burden on lower income abandon its commitment to earners. abolish pension tax relief for “While tax alleviation for high-end contributors. those on incomes at the mid - “It was agreed in Budget dle and lower end of the 2013 that this measure would spectrum should form a key be implemented in Budget part of an economic stimulus 2014. package, which is now clearly He added: “The ending of essential, there is still plenty pension tax reliefs for of potential to raise at least high-end contributors would €1 billion by increasing the result in savings of at least contribution of those with www.fairshop.ie €250 million that should be wealth or high earnings over used to alleviate the tax the next two budgets.”

May/June 2013 y THE UNION POST 13 IMPACT CONFERENCE Collective bargaining must become legal right IMPACT national secretary (Amendment) Acts have been with workers. “Employers Matt Staunton, right, has called rendered unworkable by the should not be permitted to on the Irish government to leg - Supreme Court ruling in the create in-house associations to islate to compel employers to Ryanair case and that Ireland is frustrate and undermine trade respect the “fundamental right” failing in its duty, under interna - union collective bargaining. to collective bargaining. tional laws and conventions, to “Ensuring that workers can Speaking to delegates at the secure respect for the funda - organise and bargain collec - IMPACT conference earlier this mental right to collective tively, free from coercion, month, he said: “When workers bargaining.” intimidation, interference and want a union to represent He called Irish laws to be retaliation, is essential. them for collective bargaining amended to require employers “It is vital that legislation purposes, there should be a to engage in collective bargain - provides effective protection duty on the employer to recog - ing and give unions the right to from penalisation, victimisation, nise that right. distribute information and pro - and other prejudicial acts aris - “Our analysis is that the vide opportunities to meet and ing from members exercising 2001-2004 Industrial Relations discuss collective bargaining their trade union rights.”

Keeping tabs: Shay Cody and Louise O’Donnell give Minister Reilly’s Future Health reform programme the once-over Pictures: Dylan Vaughan Photography Reilly gets red-carded by IMPACT IMPACT has claimed Irish tion it had received from role of local hospitals, national secretary Louise Health Minister James the Department of Health developing new approaches O’Donnell said: “IMPACT Reilly has missed out on 18 on how these measures to staff planning and believes the minister’s out of 20 implementation were progressing. succession, and the putting reform plans were flawed dates six months after According to IMPACT, the in place of management from the start. They are launching his Future Health missed implementation systems to enable ‘money incapable of delivering reform programme. dates are linked to meas - to follow patients’. value for money and he And the union has ures needed to introduce The union also claims chose the wrong model for produced a ‘scorecard’ to universal health insurance Minister Reilly’s chosen universal health insurance. hammer home the point. by 2016. model for universal health But even on his own terms, The scorecard was col - They include steps to - insurance is unlikely either the implementation record lated by measuring 20 ac - wards setting up new hospi - to deliver value for money so far suggests that he’s tions to be implemented by tal groups and primary care or universal access to unlikely to deliver universal April 2013 against informa - structures, assessing the healthcare. IMPACT health insurance.”

GET LATEST REPORTS FROM FRONT LINE & SHOP FLOOR TRhttAp://wDww.Eyoutu beU.comN/userI/TrOadeUNnionT VITrelanVd#p/u/0/ATDACnrvRqg

14 THE UNION POST y May/June 2013 Young teachers facing years of temporary posts THE difficulties faced by young rary employment – including on a nity.” More than half of all second- low incomes, and with little em - second-level teachers in securing contracted hourly basis – for at level teachers under 30 are on ployment certainty. This is no way employment is impacting on least five years. “Often this means contracts of one year or less and to begin a career as a teacher.” the quality of education in the moving from school to school, many of these posts are part-time. Commenting on an OECD study Republic, ASTI general secretary teaching for maybe four hours or Mr King added: “Many teachers detailing how a high level of substi - Pat King has warned. 10 hours a week, year after year. face the double whammy of being tute and temporary appointments He made his comments to a “For most teacher graduates, temporary and part-time. had a negative impact on classroom seminar for new and recently-quali - the vocational aspect of teaching is “Cuts in the salaries of new learning environments, he added: fied teachers at the Gresham key to its initial attractiveness. Yet teachers, coupled with the creeping “This is not due to the age or Hotel, Dublin, on May 11. these teachers face the paradoxical hours culture, means that those experience of teachers, but rather Mr King pointed out that the experience of being unable to lucky enough to find work in it is due to the perceived status of vast majority of second-level teach - make a real connection with and teaching can expect to spend a short-term, temporary teachers ers can expect to secure tempo - commitment to a school commu - number of years on low to very within the school community.” e n i l

HOUSING o t o h P

: e r u t c i

Increase in P UNION MAGS homelessness NEWSPAPERS ‘consequence YOU CAN of austerity’ DEMAND for emergency homeless ac - CONTROL THE commodation is soaring as more fami - lies seek emergency accommodation, MEANS OF an IMPACT conference has been told. Liam Wynne, who works in Dublin City Council’s homeless accommoda - PRODUCTION! tion services, made the claim at the FIND OUT HOW... union’s local government division con - [email protected] ference in Wexford on May 22. He told delegates that while B&B type accommodation had long been a short-term solution for people who had become homeless, the emergency PHOTOLINE solution has now become a long-term Experienced experience for many. photographer “Now the short-term stop gap solu - tion is the sleeping bag. More and specialises in more of them are being issued every campaigning week. As demand increases, the emer - photography gency solution has become much more basic, as all we can do for many people for trade unions is just to make sure they stay warm at and NGOs. night.” Mr Wynne added, “A growing num - For conferences, ber of the people I meet now are fami - campaign launches, lies who’ve just become homeless. It’s street demos, also becoming more obvious to me that there are a huge number of peo - May Day parades, ple and families who are just one pay magazine and PR cheque away from homelessness. Congress assistant general secretary Peter Bunting addresses a Union photography. “That’s the real consequence of Learning Representatives development conference in Belfast on March 28 as austerity.” Shared commission Stormont Employment & Learning Minister Stephen Farry looks on rates for ICTU conferences. Unite and SIPTU call over X Case legislation CONTACT UNITE has urged the Irish UNITE regional equalities legislate may run counter to Kevin Cooper government to legislate organiser Taryn Trainor said: its commitments under the immediately for the X Case, “The trade union movement UN's Convention on the Elim - E: [email protected] and to ensure that rights has a proud record of cam - ination of all forms of Dis - T: 028 90777299 under such legislation are paigning for equality and crimination Against Women. M: 07712044751 easily accessible. human rights. “UNITE is calling on the The call was made as Unite “Access to abortion where government to bring forward joined with SIPTU to hand in there is a risk to the woman’s X Case legislation immedi - a statement to the life, including from suicide, is ately, and to ensure that a on April 23. a fundamental human rights woman can easily access her Speaking outside the Dáil, issue, and Ireland’s failure to rights under the legislation.”

May/June 2013 y THE UNION POST 15 AUSTRALIA TAXATION Billions lost after cuts to tax collection

sRESeEArRCvH irecleaesed sby the European Federation of Public Service Unions has highlighted the impact austerity policies have had on tax collection services across the EU. The study, published on March 25, revealed that since the start of the cri - sis, instead of investing in tax services that collect much-needed revenues to finance public services, 24 out of 28 European governments have done the opposite and cut jobs in the sector. In total, almost 50,000 jobs in tax services were axed between 2007 and 2011 with most governments planning further job losses. The research shows the impact the cuts have had on the efficiency of tax administrations – fewer checks and controls, an increased backlog of work, Young CPSU the loss of experienced staff and pun - supporters ishing work demands on those still beam out the employed. message... EPSU general secretary Carola Fis - chbach Pyttel said: “The report shows that reducing employment in tax serv - ices undermines the good intention to tackle tax dodging. Cutting jobs will Public services are smiles better! cost money rather than save it.” AUSTRALIA’S Community to cut at least 12,000 public jobs. It is our duty on behalf The research also sets out and Public Sector Union has service jobs and slash of our members to take the examples of how much revenue escalated a major campaign government spending by fight to those who advocate employees bring in and how much is to fight proposals that between $50bn and $70bn. the destruction of all that being lost by cutting staff. would inflict savage cuts on The Opposition Coalition we hold dear as a union – In Denmark, it is estimated that 400 the public sector. led by Tony Abbott is also jobs, rights and fair condi - job cuts in tax administration cost The Cuts Hurt drive fol - proposing large-scale tions. more than €1.3 billion in non-col - lows a “council of war” by outsourcing of public sector "Public services will be at lected tax. In the UK, €1.2 billion of union activists in Canberra work to various multina - the heart of this election additional revenue was lost following in late March organised in tionals. campaign and we will mount the shedding more than 3,300 staff. the run-up to federal elec - CPSU national secretary a robust defence against the Ms Fischbach Pyttel added: “It is tions later this year where Nadine Flood said the union cuts and plans by the Coali - estimated that around €1,000 billion a the public sector is set to be was stepping up its Cuts tion and its acolytes to out - year is lost as revenue in the EU as a a major battleground. Hurt campaign to protect source large swathes of it to result of tax fraud and tax avoidance. It is understood the Fed - public sector jobs and the private sector with Big We urge the European Parliament and eral Opposition is pushing essential services. Society-style reforms that Council to beef up the proposed EC a David Cameron-style "We will stand up for will benefit no one other action plan against tax fraud and austerity agenda with plans quality public services and than large corporations." support investments in tax services to Picture: CPSU Australia make it effective.”

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