WORKERS RIGHTS CENTRE EW!! N 8.30 A.M

Vol.14 No. 3 April 2015 ISSN 0791-458X Dunnes Stores The real Tears for workers protest TTIP impact Palestine Page 2 Page 13 Page 22-23

Launch of Workers Rights Save Centre our bus Page 3 services New generation by Scott Millar Bus drivers across the country will engage in four days of shop strike action during May to defend the public transport stewards service and decent jobs from the threat of privatisation. SIPTU drivers in Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann will conduct 24- Page 9 hour work stoppages on Friday, 1st May, Saturday, 2nd May, Friday, 15th May and Saturday, 16th May. The decision to engage in strike action by over 1,500 drivers follows a refusal by the management of both companies to meet with workers to discuss their major concerns over plans to privatise 10% of bus routes during 2016. Announcing the major escalation of the SIPTU members campaign to defend the public transport system, SIPTU Construction and Utilities Division Organiser, Owen Reidy, said: “The privatisation plan being promoted by the National Transport Authority (NTA) is driven by ideological concerns rather than a focus on im- Banner being displayed on Liberty Hall for the SIPTU Campaign to defend proving services. Privatisation of these routes will be a bad deal for Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann public transport services Photo: William Hederman Anonymous the citizen and tax payer, the travelling public and indeed the work- union ers who provide these services.” 5 6 3 4 1 2 8 He added: “SIPTU has engaged in Labour Relations Commission 7 membership facilitated talks with all the relevant stakeholders for the last nine 10 Equity Crossword 9 Page 20 months. These talks collapsed during April when the bus compa- 13 11 12 14 nies and NTA refused to answer a number of serious concerns Page 31 16 15 win 17 about job security raised by SIPTU members.” 19 The four days of strike action, during which drivers will mount 18 Page 19 21 20 Continued on page 2 WORKERS RIGHTS CENTRE EW!! N 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Monday - Friday 2 Liberty In this month’sLiberty APRIL 2015 News

Health Care Assistants Sector launched Page 4 Dunnes workers on strike on 2nd April Picture: Mandate Dunnes protest march for decent work Battle for Britain A major protest march in sup- an escalation. The 2nd April ac- alleged the management of Page 10 port of the Dunnes Stores’ tion saw over 5,000 striking Man- Dunnes Stores had taken action workers struggle for decent date members receive support against staff who participated in working conditions will take from across the trade union move- the strike. place in Dublin on Saturday, ment. Many SIPTU members and SIPTU Services Division Organ- 6th June. organisers visited picket lines to iser, John King, said: “These work- The decision to hold a protest show their solidarity with the ers have been treated with march to the Dunnes Stores Head striking workers. complete disregard by their em- Gene Mealy interview Office in Dublin was agreed at a He said the workers were forced ployer. Therefore, they have been Page 11 meeting of over 100 Mandate to take strike action due to the left with no option but to take ac- shop stewards who represent company’s system of low-hour tion in order that their demand workers in the retailer on Sunday, contracts which only guarantee for fair treatment be heard. All 26th April. The march will be pre- full time staff 15 hours of work a workers in Ireland should stand ceded by a series of local protests week with shifts sometimes only shoulder to shoulder in solidarity and actions around the country. being confirmed days in advance. with these workers in their prin- Mandate assistant general secre- Mandate claim such precarious cipled stand in defence of what is New equality law tary, Gerry Light, said that while working conditions can result in right and fair.” the 100 shop stewards who met many Dunnes Stores workers re- SIPTU represents over 300 Page 14 on Sunday had opted for the mo- lying on State income support Dunnes Stores workers who are ment not to stage further strikes, schemes and being unable to plan also in dispute with the company they were reserving the right to for the future. concerning the imposition of low undertake industrial action in the The management of Dunnes hour contracts. SIPTU members future if there was no progress in Stores has also refused to recog- are awaiting a Labour Court rec- the dispute. nise the workers’ right to union ommendation in relation to their He said any further industrial representation or to engage with dispute with the company follow- Liberty View action may not be identical to the the State’s industrial relations ing a hearing on 9th April which Liberty mechanisms. management representatives re- Page 15 one-day stoppage held on Thurs- View day, 2nd April, and could involve Following the action, Mandate fused to attend. MAYMAAYY Decision time for DAYDAAYY IN ERS ORK ITY Catalonia? W IDAR 22015015 SOL SS CRO Page 25 A OPE DDUBLINUBLIN CCOUNCILOUNCIL OFOF TRADETRADE UNIONSUNIONS EUR

1 A BRAN UBLIN EM RE, D REM UA ion and L SQ ade un NEL here tr y. PAR Hall w ess rall Liberty ill addr arch to akers w M nity spe commu Sporting comebacks Organised by the SIPTU Dublin District Council and chokes Festival of workers Page 30 social night Fri 1st May - 8.00 p.m. till late Liberty Hall Theatre Bar AllAll SIPTU members areare urgedurged toto attendattend All are welcome to enjoy thesethese eventseventsts on this most importantimportant culturalcultural r efreshments, ‘ceoil agus c andand political dayday forfoorr the workers’workers’ movement.movement. raic’!

Continued from page 1 – Save our bus services picket lines outside bus depots pany puts back into the service improved, services. The reality is Editor: Frank Connolly, SIPTU Head of Communications across the country, will be finan- will be gone in private profits.” for a proper integrated public Journalist: Scott Millar cially hard hitting for the workers The NTA privatisation proposals transport system to operate and Design: Sonia Slevin (SIPTU), Joe Mitchell (Brazier Media) & William Hederman involved but they state that they would see 10% of Dublin Bus cater for the needs of society and Publications Assistant: Deirdre Price have been left with no option. routes and nearly all Bus Éireann the economy it requires state sup- Administrative Assistant: Karen Hackett SIPTU activist and Dublin Bus services in Waterford transferred port, not privatisation.” Produced, designed, edited and printed by trade union labour. worker director, Bill McCamley, to private companies. McCamley added: “SIPTU driv- Printed by The Irish Times, City West, Dublin. told Liberty:, “In the 40 years I SIPTU Sector Organiser, Willie ers are clear that the privatisation Liberty is dedicated to providing a platform for progressive news and views. have worked on the buses I’ve Noone, said: “Despite claims by agenda is really about reducing If you have any ideas for articles or comments please contact: seen nothing comparable to the the pro-privatisation lobby that workers terms and conditions of communications@siptu.ie threat that the service currently there is a legal requirement from employment and breaking up a Liberty is published by the Services, Industrial, Professional & Technical Union, faces. the EU for this privatisation plan successful public service so that Liberty Hall, Dublin 1 “Privatisation is billed as some- that has been shown not to be the profits can be generated for the SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor • Vice President, Patricia King • thing that will benefit the com- case. private sector. These are moves General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn munity but it won’t. The State “State support for bus services that SIPTU members will Production: SIPTU Communications Department, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, subventions will end up being has been significantly reduced in resolutely oppose.” Tel: 01 8588217 • Email: [email protected] higher and the service less. That recent years, while workers have See page 16-17. is because what a public bus com- maintained, and in many cases Liberty 3 News APRIL 2015

Expert advice from new Workers Rights Centre

AYDAY will be fittingly celebrated by SIPTU this year with Mthe official launch of the Workers Rights Centre, Ire- land’s first specialist employment rights ‘one stop shop’ which will provide empathetic and professional advice and representation for individual SIPTU members. SIPTU General This is part of SIPTU’s continu- Secretary ing campaign to bring decency Joe O’Flynn back into the workplace. The Union’s main work is organising groups of workers so that terms and conditions of employment manifestation of our readiness to are improved as well as protected progress and meet the many chal- when they come under attack. lenges facing workers.” This collective mission continues “The by-line to accompany the Some of SIPTU’s apace as workers organised in Workers Rights new name on letterheads and groups get the best results. But Centre team promotional material will be when the issue only affects one Picture: William Hederman Larkin’s slogan of ‘An injury to worker it doesn’t mean that one is the concern of all’. This sig- SIPTU members are left alone to nifies our approach when taking face the employer. The available business demands that workers cluded unfair dismissal, bullying, The development of the Workers cases on behalf of Union mem- resources of the Union are always will need even greater support equality, payment of wages, fixed Rights Centre website in the near bers. We see justice in the work- utilised to ensure that we abide and representation when they term and part-time contracts and future will enhance this service place as the upholding of the by our commitment that “An in- seek to vindicate their rights. a considerable number of individ- to ensure that SIPTU advice and values of solidarity, fairness and jury to one is the concern of all”. SIPTU’s specially trained and ual disputes under industrial re- support will be available at the equality”, he concluded. This capacity has now been qualified Advocates and Informa- lations legislation. click of a mouse and will be trans- tion Assistants in the Workers Most of the Workers Rights acted in a confidential manner, Rights Centre have come from the Centre advocates have legal qual- no matter where a member former Membership Information ifications. The Workers Rights works. The Union’s main and Support Centre (MISC), Centre advocates also have the work is organising which has been the Union’s spe- support of the SIPTU Legal Unit cialist individual representation in complex cases. Employers have SIPTU already has WORKERS groups of workers service since 2010. The record of increasingly relied on legal teams ility for confi- so that terms and accomplishment and effort by to represent them in the Employ- a fac RIGHTS these staff on behalf of SIPTU is ment Rights Bodies in recent p conditions of dential membershi impressive in itself. Over 20,700 years. The Workers Rights Centre where details of employment are separate cases were dealt with will more than adequately face up CENTRE improved as well as and over €15 million recovered to the challenge of this more le- union membership in compensation and settlements galised environment. are shielded from protected when they for SIPTU members. The many Dealing with a high volume of come under attack cases dealt with by the Centre in- cases demands that proper case the employer when management systems are in there is a danger of place. The Centre’s workers who process the cases are also trained victimisation Over 20,700 to the highest degree and there- greatly enhanced in the provision separate cases fore cognisant of their many re- of expert support and assistance sponsibilities under the Data In announcing the launch of through the Workers Rights Cen- were dealt with and Protection Acts. the Workers Rights Centre, SIPTU tre. over €15 million SIPTU already has a facility for General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn, The area of employment law is was recovered in confidential membership where said: “I believe this Centre clearly quite complex and major change details of union membership are encompasses our social mission is envisaged later this summer compensation and shielded from the employer to achieve workplace justice for with the passing of the Workplace settlements for when there is a danger of victim- our members. We are about to Relations Bill. A new system of isation. Prospective SIPTU mem- enter a new era of workplace res- adjudication coupled with a more SIPTU members bers in non-unionised olution with the imminent pass- 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., legalised environment in which employments or sectors can ing of the Workplace Relations Monday - Friday the Labour Court will carry on its choose to avail of this facility. Bill and the new name is just one 4 Liberty APRIL 2015 Health Health care assistants greet launch of new SIPTU sector

By Paddy Cole

HERE WAS palpable excitement in the main hall of the Royal T College of Physicians as health care assistants gathered from across the country for a national conference to outline their demands to Government Ministers and agenda-setters. Some members had never met each other, but there was a sense that they instantly felt a part of something bigger than themselves. Organised by SIPTU Health Divi- sion, more than 200 delegates at- Padraig Peyton, Divisional President, Di- National Campaigns and Equality Organiser Ethel Buckley and SIPTU Health tended the conference. Members visional Organiser, Paul Bell standing Care Assistant Committee present Assistant General Secretary of UNISON Roger with members of SIPTU Health Care McKenzie with tribute to the late health activist and campaigner Jean Atkinson heard presentations and messages Assistant Committee with Minister for of solidarity from health care ex- Health Leo Varadkar. nee Larkin descendent of James and Delia Larkin. Photos: Jim Weldon perts and leading international trade unionists. Minister Leo Varadkar also spoke to members and listened to their demands for recognition, respect and fairness at work. “After years of hard work, training and organising in our workplaces it feels like our health care assistants have finally made it to the ball,” SIPTU Sector Organiser Marie Butler remarked as she officially launched SIPTU’s new Health Care Sector. She told the conference: “Today marks the end of the beginning for health care assistants in Ireland. SIPTU, the health care union, is proud to give a voice to the fastest- growing profession in the health service and to tell them that they are worth it. “Their role is at the key interface between the person and their professional and clinical advisors. They make a big difference in the everyday lives of people that rely Health Sector Organiser Marie Butler addressing delegates at Health on them when they are sick or vul- Care Assistants conference in Royal College of Physicians nerable.” Butler added: “We want the Min- ister to recognise that, and to act vital ‘hands-on’ patient care across SIPTU General President Jack played their role, made a real con- on our members’ demands.” many health settings from mater- SIPTU is proud O’Connor paid tribute to the dedi- tribution to the lives of patients SIPTU shop steward Ann Marie nity to intellectual disability. cation of members in organising and people that depended upon Tibby, who chairs the Health Care “We want to be recognised for to give a voice their workplaces and said that their care. “By launching a sector for the Assistants Committee, claimed the work that we do. We told Min- health care assistants represented to the fastest- health care assistants of Ireland to SIPTU had spent a long time plan- ister Varadkar, in no uncertain all that was good and compassion- ning a strategy to win. growing profession organise in, members of our union terms, that we want a national uni- ate in any decent society. are not just asserting their own in- She spoke in detail with mem- form, we want an agreed job de- bers about how to organise to win in the health O’Connor described the holding terests as individuals in the work- recognition effectively for the vital scription, we want to be registered service and to of the conference as an historic day place, but they are asserting the role health care assistants play in as professionals like our nursing for the union. fact that as a society we must aban- our hospitals and communities. colleagues and we want respect tell them they are He told delegates that health don the interests of the quick buck “Health care assistants provide and dignity in and at work,” added care assistants were the workers and begin prioritising caring and Ann Marie Tibby. worth it... who, after all the others had the common good.” Liberty 5 Marriage Equality APRIL 2015 Marriage equality – your questions answered SIPTU is calling for a ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum on marriage equality on May 22nd. Whether in the workplace or in society, our union fights for members and their families who suffer discrimination or disadvantage. Support for marriage equality is consistent with our values as a union. We recognise that some members have questions about the referendum. National Campaigns and Equality Organiser Ethel Buckley answers those questions for Liberty. Does SIPTU have a policy How does the referendum Will churches be forced on the same sex marriage affect children? to marry same-sex couples? referendum? The referendum is not about chil- No, because the proposal is to ex- Yes. In January 2015 the National dren. Children in Ireland are tend civil marriage rights only. If Executive Council decided to rec- being reared by same-sex couples. the referendum is passed the leg- ommend a Yes vote. However, prior to the enactment islation to be enacted will explic- Why has the union of the Children and Family Rela- itly state that churches will not be taken a position? tionships Act on 6th April 2015, obliged to perform same-sex mar- Up to 15,000 SIPTU members are only one individual could be the riages. lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgen- child’s parent in the eyes of the We already have civil der. The ICTU estimates that law. The Act changes that to pro- partnership. Why do we 56,000 trade union members are vide that both individuals be need marriage? LGBT. These members, along recognised as parents. It also al- Civil partnership does not confer with family members, friends and lows civil partners and cohabiting the rights or status of marriage. neighbours of union members are couples who have lived together For example, civil partners do not currently denied access to mar- for three years to adopt. That will enjoy the protection the Constitu- riage. remain the case irrespective of tion gives to the family. Nor are Have other trade the outcome of the referendum. they entitled to a judicial separa- unions taken a position? The power of the Oireachtas to tion. There is no justification for Yes. ICTU has recommended a Yes restrict surrogacy will not be af- a two-tier system of equality. vote and many individual unions fected by the marriage equality Isn’t a win for the Yes are also actively campaigning for referendum. side a done deal? a Yes vote. Do other countries It is true that the polls put the Yes WEWE WOULDN'TWOULDN'T TOLERATETOLERAATTE What are we being have same-sex marriage? side well ahead. A recent Ipsos asked to vote on? At present, 17 countries including MRBI survey found 74% in sup- Voters will be asked whether the the UK, Holland, Canada, Den- port of a Yes while support for a DISCRIMINATIONDISCRIMINAATTION ININ Constitution should be changed mark, France, Spain, South Africa, No vote was at 26%. In the run up to insert the following amend- Brazil and Argentina as well as to the children’s referendum in THESTo whywhyH shouldshouldE wewe tolerateto leraWORKPLACEWte discriminationdiscrimOination Rinin society?socieKty? PLACE - ment to Article 41: “Marriage may most US states have same-sex 2012, the polls were 80% in be contracted in accordance with marriage. favour. However, the Yes vote law by two persons without dis- Will existing marriages be dropped to 58% on polling. A SO WHY SHOULD tinction as to their sex.” If redefined if the referendum similar trend occurred during the EQUALITY MATTERS passed, married couples of the passes? divorce referendum. Therefore a D opposite sex would be recognised The Constitution does not define win for the Yes side is dependent WE TOLERATETOLERAATTE ON FRIDAY MAY 22N as a family and be entitled to the marriage. A Yes vote would not upon the campaign delivering E EQUALITY constitutional protection for fam- change the constitutional status high voter turnout among Yes MARRIAG ilies. of marriage. supporters. DISCRIMINADISCRIMINATIONATTITION MATTERS IN SOCIETY Mrs Doyle brews up for equal marriage ?

Screening of PRIDE which lon, District Council Chairperson was held in the SIPTU Office said: “We will be engaging with Galway in support of a ‘Yes’ our colleagues on the issue and Dan O’Neill, left, Séamus Dooley and Rachel Mathews-McKay of Trade Unionists for Civil Marriage Equal- vote in the Marriage Equality encouraging them to actively ity pictured with Fr Ted actress, Pauline McLynn at the launch of Start the Conversation, the May 1st Referendum. campaign in favour of making coffee morning promoted by ICTU. Workers are being asked to host a coffee morning in their workplace Shop Stewards and Activists civil marriage available to all, re- in aid of Civil Marriage Equality. It’s an ideal way of supporting the referendum campaign, with proceeds took posters and leaflets back to gardless of sexual orientation. going to Yes Equality to pay for referendum posters. Photo: Naoise Culhane their workplaces and Seamus Dil- 6 Liberty APRIL 2015 Health Low paid workers must be focus of talks, health conference told By Scott Millar PAY talks for health workers must focus on the low paid and cannot be linked to demands for further improve- ments in productivity was the message from the SIPTU Health Division Conference, held in the Mansion House Dublin on Thursday, 23rd April. Addressing delegates at the conference, titled ‘Ending the Emer- Minister for Public gency’, SIPTU Health Division Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin addressing Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “Looking the health conference to the future we believe that the Photos: Jim Weldon Government working with SIPTU has an opportunity to commence a support services on Intern con- journey which will see the closing tracts are made permanent. of the gap between low to middle Worth every cent: delegates There were also calls for the income earners and those at the make their feelings very clear... practice of issuing zero hours con- top. tracts for those working in commu- “This position is not just about nity sector home care services to pay and economics, it’s about our benefits proportionately better.” only seven months we have had opments during the upcoming be ended along with the outsourc- society going forward.” In her presentation, SIPTU Na- 89,000 visits to the website. We talks process with the Government ing of support service positions to Bell was responding to an earlier tional Campaigns and Equality Or- put out a 100-day user survey re- through a phone bank system, for-profit private companies. address by Minister for Public Ex- ganiser, Ethel Buckley, outlined the cently to members to get their which was currently being devel- Other speakers at the conference penditure and Reform, Brendan union’s plans for SIPTUhealth.ie feedback on what we can do to im- oped as part of the union’s cam- included Orlagh Fawl, of the SIPTU Howlin, in which he stated that and the progress that has been prove the content and layout of paign in support of the marriage Strategic Organising Department, talks between public sector unions made on developing the site so far. the site. Members’ feedback is equality referendum on Twitter Dr. Thomas Stephen, a health pol- and the Government, which are ex- “SIPTUhealth.ie was launched in being actioned and we are very en- and SIPTU Health Plus. icy expert based at Trinity College pected to begin in May, “in the first October 2014 in response to mem- couraged by their contribution.” Among other issues focused on Dublin and Dr. Micheál Collins of instance will concentrate on ensur- bers’ demand for their own dedi- She also said that members at the conference was the need to the Nevin Economic Research In- ing the lower-paid public servant cated communications platform. In would be kept informed of devel- ensure 1,300 health workers in stitute. “My message to conference dele- “This is my very first SIPTU confer- gates was that you need to get Catherine Krauss: ence and I am leaving with great en- ‘no place for apathy’ your colleagues to join the union ergy and hope that we can change so we speak with one powerful things for the better. I put myself for- voice. And when the time comes ward as a shop steward three months to take action, no matter how big ago because as workers we need to organise to stand and fight against the or small, remember you are doing unfairness of zero hour contracts and so to be able to continue to pro- the effect they have on workers and vide a decent living for your fami- their patients. The message I will take lies and a top-class service for back to my colleagues from confer- your clients. There is no place for ence is if we stand together and keep apathy; your families and clients the faith that we will win.” rely on your success. Together we are stronger.” Liz Cloherty, care assistant in the Catherine Krauss, Home Help intellectual disability sector and Shop Liz Cloherty Steward Zero-hours and low pay the norm for young workers A SURVEY of the working lives Hours and Pay Survey’, released in YWN activist Dan O’Neill said: The survey will be part of a sub- period for rosters to at least a of the under-35s, conducted by April, included that 21% of re- “The results of this survey, when mission by the YWN to a study on week and to protect employees the Young Workers Network spondents felt their job could end taken in conjunction with other zero-hour contracts being con- from penalisation, in the form of (YWN), has revealed that nearly at any time, 20% were working on investigations into the terms and ducted by the University of Lim- having their hours cut, when they 90% struggle to make ends meet, zero-hour contracts and 20% said conditions of employment of erick. stand up for their rights, includ- with zero-hour contracts and their employer gave them less young workers, indicates a worry- The YWN is calling on Minister ing organising in a trade union. low pay the norm for many. than one day’s notice of their ing shift towards precarious work of State for Jobs and Employment, Other findings of the ‘Working working hours. becoming the norm for many.” Ged Nash, to increase the notice Liberty 7 News APRIL 2015

Action deferred at UHG Ó Ríordáin takes on drugs strategy MINISTER of State Aodhán Ó dedicated Minister. INDUSTRIAL action at steward, Ann Burke, told Lib- Ríordáin has been given special “My experience as a teacher and University Hospital Galway erty: “SIPTU members have responsibility for the National principal in Dublin’s North Inner (UHG) has been deferred got this result because they Drugs Strategy. City taught me all about the hor- pending implementation made the collective decision Ó Ríordáin, a Labour TD for rors of drug abuse and the need to of an agreement that will to stand up for patients. Dublin Bay North, currently holds tackle the affects that it can have “We had the courage to take the portfolio of New Communi- on families and communities. secure additional cover for “As Minister I intend to meet a stand for what we knew to ties, Equality & Culture across the nurses and support staff. Department of Justice and Equal- with the different community or- be right and have now been It follows Labour Relations ity and the Department of Arts, ganisations and groups concerned successful in improving our Commission-facilitated talks Heritage and the Gaeltacht. with drugs issues and listen to between union representa- workplace and protecting our Speaking following the an- their concerns. tives and management at the patients." nouncement, the Minister said: “I “In 2012 there were 633 drug-re- hospital. SIPTU UHG shop am delighted to be afforded this lated deaths in Ireland. Over the opportunity to take on the Na- next year I will do my utmost to tional Drugs Strategy. It is a vital ensure that we do our best to bring Aodhán Ó Ríordáin Photo: Photocall role that needs the attention of a this number down.” Fight for 15 comes to town Sinn Féin commits to introducing a living wage

Young Workers Network and SIPTU’s Global Solidarity Committee Photo from left to right: David Cullinane Sinn protesting outside McDonalds, O’ Connell Street, Dublin on 15th Féin, SIPTU Sector Organiser Louise O’Reilly, April in solidarity with striking fast food workers in the USA who and Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald, at the launch of the party’s For Decent Work and a Living Wage are fighting for a $15 an hour minimum wage. The campaigners were policy document Photo: Mark Moloney also highlighting the fact that zero hour contracts and low pay are becoming the norm for young workers in Ireland. Photo: Dan O’Neill SINN Féin has pledged to in- Government has a responsibility committed to the swift introduc- troduce a mandatory living to regulate the labour market to tion of collective bargaining legisla- wage, of €11.45, if it is in ensure that work pays. We want tion, reinforcing anti-victimisation Government after the next decent work for decent pay.” legislation and enforcing a ban Bord na Móna workers meet election. About 345,000 people in the zero-hour contracts.” Launching the policy docu- labour force earn an hourly wage The document also states that ment, For Decent Work and a Liv- of less than €11.45. Sinn Féin will: TDs to discuss dispute ing Wage, on Wednesday, 22nd The For Decent Work and a Liv- • Ensure the full implementa- April, SIPTU Sector Organiser, ing Wage policy document also tion of the EU Directive on Part- BORD na Móna (BNM) workers offs for up to four months, Louise O’Reilly, said: “Low-hour commits Sinn Féin to increasing time Work. and their union representatives amounting to a loss of income of at contracts, precarious work and the current minimum wage; the • Attach social clauses to all met with TDs in Leinster House least €5,000 per worker. low pay have wrecked workers restoration of pay and conditions capital and public works contracts on 15th April to present their po- “The TDs have committed to and their families’ lives for too of low-paid public sector workers worth in excess of one million sition concerning attempts by the giving careful consideration to this long. In Government, Sinn Féin as the public finances allow and euro providing much needed em- company to impose changes to information and have invited our would be committed to develop- a review of public works con- ployment for the long-term un- their conditions of employment. delegation to return to meet them ing decent work rather than jobs tracts’ pay and conditions clauses employed, on-the-job work for BNM Group of Unions secretary again for further discussion on the which are low paid and exploita- to ensure full compliance by con- apprentices and development of and SIPTU Organiser John Regan issue.” tive.” tractors awarded public contracts. work-related skills and training. said: “The meeting included dis- At a general meeting of the BNM Sinn Féin’s Workers’ Rights The document states: “Indus- • Prioritise the reinstatement cussion of the BNM plan to slash Group of Unions on 9th April work- spokesperson, David Cullinane, trial relations policy with active of sectoral Registered Employ- and burn the pay of members ers decided that if current talks said his party would deliver an in- labour market interventions ment Agreements with robust working in the company’s business with management at the Labour cremental move to a living wage strengthened by collective bar- compliance and enforcement units by between €5,000 and Relations Commission did not de- over the course of three years. gaining and strong equality and mechanisms attached. €25,000. liver a workable agreement there He said: “There is an epidemic employment rights legislation are • Establish strong wage floors "Other BNM workers face cuts in would be an immediate ballot for of low paid and precarious em- necessary to protect workers.” In in the reconstituted Joint Labour their real earnings due to the im- industrial action across all sections ployment right across the econ- order to achieve this O’Reilly said: Committees. pact of short-time working or lay- of the company. omy. Sinn Féin believes the “If in government Sinn Féin has 8 Liberty APRIL 2015 News The Red Flag flies again in Meath Carnage on the beach Remembering the work and his native north Meath, are SIPTU By Michael Halpenny commitment of former RMT General President, Jack O’Connor, The most recent offering from soldiers and their families at home General Secretary, Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash award winning ANÚ is “PALS”. in Ireland and the characters in will be the central theme of and Assistant Secretary of the In- Set in 1915 in a former Dublin ANÚ’s play reflect that anguish. the 17th annual Jim Connell ternational Transport Federation, Fusiliers base, now Collins Nowadays, the Gallipoli experience is credited with the creation Red Flag Festival in Kells and Stuart Howard. Barracks, it’s the story of four The event includes a two-day of the Australian nation. However, Crossakiel over the May Bank recruits in “D” Company, three there was a catch. This was a white holiday weekend. summer school in Kells, beginning of them rugby players who nation in which the first Aus- on Friday, 1st May, and concludes Crow, who died in March 2014, joined up together in this tralians, the indigenous Aboriginal with a parade through Crossakiel peoples, were excluded as before, was a frequent visitor to Ireland “Pals” company in 1914. on Sunday, 3rd May. Based on real recruits, two are their reserve tribal lands handed and a major supporter of the Jim Among those making their now Home Rulers; one is a unionist and over to returning white soldiers - Connell Red Flag Festival. but not to Aboriginal Anzac troops. traditional visit to Ireland for the the fourth a worker who enlists to Among those speaking at this put bread on the table. Also all but airbrushed from his- event are a delegation of the year’s festival, which commemo- The audience sit cheek by jowl tory in this inter-imperial war are Durham Miners Association led by rates Jim Connell the writer of the with them in their quarters as their the Indian soldiers who fought and General Secretary, David Hopper, story unfolds to its terrible conclu- died, as well as the Egyptian and socialist anthem the Red Flag in and the RMT brass band. Bob Crow sion at Gallipoli where they are Maltese labourers and “Muleteers” headed. Half their company of 220 whose lives counted for even less. were dead or wounded within a And the Irish? week of landing. The Pals poignantly asks – “Will The campaign was the brainchild Ireland be proud of us?” of Winston Churchill and was in- In 12 months, Dublin was in re- tended as a killer blow to take bellion and “all changed utterly”. Turkey out of the war. Instead, it The answer to that question might was a disaster for the Allies and well have been: - “Oh had they was ignominiously wrapped up died at Pearse’s side or fought with after eight months. the brave and true, their graves Casualties were over a quarter of we’d keep where the Fenians a million with 2,500 Irish dead sleep…” (more than New Zealand).Hardly However, Anú leaves the answer an inch of ground was gained. to the audience. IGHTS The ordeal was imprinted on the This is theatre at its very best. 2 N AK Y BRE FAMIL FROM 72 Job losses fear at Ladbrokes 1 DS Job losses are expected to re- erated by the company in the Re- £ I4KI E N QUOT sult from Ladbrokes Ireland public of Ireland. being placed into examiner- SIPTU Sector Organiser, Denis ship following an application Hynes, said: “Unfortunately, this process will result in job losses. by its creditors to the High What numbers are involved is yet Court on April 21st. to be established. A meeting of all SIPTU representatives will meet shop stewards in the company is with the company and examiner in also being organised to discuss the the coming days to discuss ways to situation and what actions our lessen the impact on workers of a members may wish to take in re- restructuring process which will sponse to future developments.” consider the future operation of SIPTU represents approximately up to 60 shops out of the 196 op- 280 workers in Ladbrokes Ireland. SSummerummer BrBreak...eak... Former Ulster Bank workers protest Former Ulster Bank workers who were formerly employed as 2 Nights Bed and BrBreakfasteakfaste with Dinner oon one staged a series of lunchtime bank porters, were made redun- eeveningvening in Assaggio Restaurant, frfromom £172.00! protests during April, out- dant in December 2013. On be- side the Ulster Bank Head half of the workers, SIPTU took a claim to the Labour Court in re- PPricerice based on 2 adults and 2 childrchil eenn (under 12 years). Includes access to Groovies Kids Club Quarters, Georges Quay in ((sub(subjectsubject to availability), Late Checkout,Check Full use of the Leisure Club with 20m swimming pool lation to the inclusion of regular RPKKPLZ WVVS +PZJV\U[ H[ 2PSKHYL =PSSHNL VɈ HKTPZZPVU H[ [OL 0YPZO 5H[PVUHS :[\K Dublin, to highlight the non- and rostered overtime in the cal- VɈ HKTPZZPVU H[ 3\SS`TVYL /LYP[HNL HUK +PZJV]LY` 7HYR implementation of a Labour culation of their redundancy en- Rates arare ree subject to availability and may change based on exchange rate. Court recommendation in titlement. relation to their redundancy “The Labour Court recom- WWeWestgroveestgrooveve Hotel and ConferConferenceence CentrCentree, Clane, Co. KildarKildare.e. terms. mended in favour of the work- T: +353 45 98 9900 | E: [email protected]@[email protected] | wwwwwww.westgrovehotel.comww.westgrovehotel.com SIPTU Sector Organiser, Diane ers’ claim but Ulster Bank has Jackson, said: “These workers, refused to implement this recommendation.” Liberty 9 Workplace Committee APRIL 2015 New generation cuts its teeth

By Scott Millar

VAN EDWARDS and Shane Maguire are part The second of a new generation of SIPTU shop stewards round of job Ewho have dealt with the stresses of the economic losses ‘was the downturn and are now cutting hardest thing their teeth brokering local- level workplace pay deals. I’ve done as a It's no easy task but as Evan and Shane showed in securing a 5% pay shop steward. rise over two years for their colleagues in the Wavin Ireland pipe- We worked out manufacturing plant in Balbriggan, a deal with Co Dublin, workplace-level negotiations are key to securing better management, deals for workers. A Dutch company, Wavin has and it was a been producing plastic pipefittings in Ireland since the 1960s. The good deal. plant in Balbriggan once employed several hundred people but with Some people mechanisation the workforce has wanted to go reduced to about 90. The factory is fully unionised with 48 general op- but couldn’t’ erative members of SIPTU, and other workers in the TEEU and Im- pact unions. “If you get a job in Wavin it has held a general meeting with all always been the case of you try and SIPTU members. As shop stewards hold on to it”, said Evan, who is we recommended that we seek a from Balbriggan and whose father 6% pay rise and this was endorsed also worked in the factory. by the meeting. Management is Although just 35 and 33 respec- always approachable but when we tively, Evan and Shane both have went to it with this request it was around 15 years' experience work- immediately batted down.” ing for Wavin. Evan has served as What followed was a year of one of the two SIPTU shop stew- meetings and negotiations. “We ards in the factory since 2008. “I al- Shane Maguire (left) and Evan Edwards at were meeting with the managing the Wavin pipe-manufacturing plant in director and a human resources ways had an interest in how my north Co Dublin. Photo: Scott Millar workplace was run so it was just manager for the Wavin region kind of natural that I got involved which includes Ireland, the UK and in the union.” France,” said Evan, “They were say- Largely supplying the construc- optional, so if something came up said on the Monday they were not involved with management on the ing that the company was still loss- tion industry, Wavin was among with management the union always coming in and by the Wednesday health and safety committee and making but we were able to get the first companies to experience had the card to play of ok, ‘we won’t the head office had been on to the consultative council which information from other unions on the ill-effects of the economic be in Saturday and Sunday’, then management and told it to get pro- meets every six months or so to pay rises elsewhere in the region discuss the buying of new ma- downturn. suddenly there would be talks. duction going again. The workers and countered them with this. chines or any other changes to the “We went through a downsizing However, we’ve sort of lost that were called in and agreement was “Each time there was informa- running of the factory.” in 2007,” said Shane, “with 50 jobs leverage with the downturn.” reached.” tion received from the company we On the level of interest in the gone and in the following year an- Before Evan and Shane joined However, in recent years the would hold a general meeting of union he added: “The majority other 20 jobs. The SIPTU member- the workforce there had been a company has maintained a good SIPTU members. These meetings age-group here would be people ship, the general operatives, has short strike. As Evan remembers level of co-operation with union occurred about every two months. representatives. Shane said: “We’re from 30 to 40, then there are a few nearly halved during this period.” being informed about it, “The lads It was important to keep everyone people in their 50s or 60s. There is Evan was serving as a shop stew- informed.” a reluctance among some younger ard for the second round of job After a year of negotiations, and people to become active, but that losses. “That was the hardest thing before the matter had to be ‘We’re involved with management is changing.” brought before the Labour Rela- I’ve done as a shop steward. We During 2013 it was decided that tions Commission, an agreement worked out a deal with manage- on the health and safety committee the workers should seek a pay rise ment, and it was a good deal. It was and the consultative council which in line with the general campaign was secured between the union the case that some people wanted for increases being conducted by side, including SIPTU organiser Jim to go but couldn’t.” meets every six months or so to the SIPTU Manufacturing Division. McVeigh and management. Shane says the union has a Shane said: “Wages had been “The agreement was passed by strong basis in the company. “The discuss the buying of new static since 2006 but when you take a ballot of all SIPTU members”, older people laid a very strong into account all the cuts and the said Evan, “The majority was union foundation here; if they said machines or any other changes to USC our wages had gone down con- happy with the rise. There were something, that is the way it went.” siderably.” some saying that we should have “Overtime was always a big thing the running of the factory’ Evan recalls the process of the pushed for more but that will in Wavin”, said Evan, “It is obviously wage negotiations. “We initially always be the way.” 10 Liberty APRIL 2015 Politics

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon. Right: attack ads by Labour and the Conservatives. Below: David Cameron. Below left: Ed Miliband.

An all-out battle for Britain By needed for a working majority, the Scottish independence, one thing is In Northern Ireland there are the Ashcroft “poll of polls” has the two certain: the Scottish card would be predictable face-offs within the na- Michael main parties neck-and-neck, with played with panache by the formi- tionalist and republican commu- Halpenny 42% of the seats each – not enough dable double-act of Sturgeon in nity between abstentionist Sinn A possible 50 to govern on their own. The result Holyrood and a revitalised Alex Féin and the SDLP and within would be a “hung” parliament with Salmond leading the charge at unionism between the DUP and seats would N LESS than 10 days’ the seats of the smaller parties crit- Westminster. UUP. However, the integrity of their give the SNP time, on 7th May, the ical. Of course it is this scenario that quarrels and rivalries momentarily United Kingdom, as cur- By far the biggest player here has both Tory and Labour heads on subsides beneath a possible land- should be a resurgent SNP with a swivel. Ed Miliband’s people are scape in which either the SDLP or leverage rently configured, goes to 100,000 activist members and the desperate to publicly distance the larger DUP plays major league Ithe polls in what is being unrivalled prospect of turning the map of themselves from the SNP almost as in a hung parliament. billed as the most intriguing Scotland yellow (the SNP's colour), ferociously as the right-wing press And the prospects for UKIP? since the days election for decades. except for a few Labour constituen- is determined to pin that particular Thankfully the vagaries of the UK's The outcome could deliver yet cies in the central belt. A possible tail on the Labour donkey, hoping first-past-the-post system mean of the old Irish another five years of Tory rule, on 50 seats would give them leverage to scare the voters away by the ap- that while the “people’s army” of their own (unlikely), or in some unrivalled since the days of the old palling vista of “Vote Labour, get Nigel Farage is predicted to garner Parliamentary flaky, right-wing coalition with the Irish Parliamentary Party under SNP”. The irony is that after Nicola about 13% of the vote, this would Liberal Democrats, UKIP and the John Redmond. Singing from the Sturgeon’s performance in the tele- yield only 0.5% in seats – about two Party under DUP. On the other hand, failure by same social democratic hymn sheet vised leaders’ debate, a lot of Eng- or three. Paradoxically for this no- the Conservatives to do the busi- as Labour, but with the inevitable lish people felt that wasn’t the toriously anti-EU party, a Euro- John Redmond ness for a second term will in- demand for another referendum on worst idea in the world. pean-style system of PR would give evitably sign the political death them a much more proportionate warrant of leader David Cameron, return. a collective rescue of the NHS and with power wrenched from his For Labour leader Ed Miliband it a programme to deal with issues well-manicured hands to fuel the Labour and those with a similar is less “cometh the hour, cometh such as zero-hours contracts and vaulting ambition of his rival Boris policy fit could help to shift the the man” and more “cometh the workplace rights as well as holding Johnson. election like the 7th cavalry” to res- off the certainty of further billions The good news is that what balance towards working people cue him from all the wistful specu- of pounds of Tory cuts. In doing so, would bring this about would be a lation about his brother David or Labour and those with a similar result giving enough seats to secure and those reliant on public the “lost leader”, former Labour policy fit could help to shift the bal- a Labour-led coalition or governing minister Alan Johnson. ance towards working people and arrangement with a combination of services, not just in Britain, but With the ball at his feet, he has to those reliant on public services, not the redoubtable Nicola Sturgeon’s kick on now at the head of the only just in Britain, but elsewhere in Eu- SNP, the SDLP, Plaid Cymru, the elsewhere in Europe party with the possibility of leading rope. Greens and others. With 323 seats Liberty 11 Interview APRIL 2015

ABy Scott MillarCorkman with a mission... ITH over four “However, since the foundation decades of experi- of this State, no matter what make- ence in the trade up a Government has been it has union movement, been a right-wing majority govern- W ment in terms of numbers. We representing both private and public sector workers, Gene now have an opportunity to re- Mealy was the choice to align ourselves with genuine par- succeed Patricia King in the ties of the left and we should role of SIPTU Vice-President. pursue that objective as far as it is “I was very honoured to take up possible. I think we have a real op- the role,” he says, when Liberty in- portunity in the next election with terviewed the former SIPTU Public such a realignment.” Administration and Community A member of the Labour Party, Division Organiser in his new of- he adds: “The Labour Party is a fice in Liberty Hall. The proud party of the left. It has to be re- Corkman quips that he is settling alised that at this point in time it in well, the only drawback being is the major party of the left in Ire- that his window has a panoramic land, given its Dáil representa- view “of the Liffey not the Lee”. tion.” Gene’s apprenticeship for the However, Gene’s first two major role of Vice-President began even “jobs of work” in his term as Vice- before he became an activist in the President is actively supporting the Irish Distributive and Administra- rolling out of the union’s Living

We have a very rich Unions must look history in this trade to co-operate and union but I don’t merge where think we can be the possible. I believe prisoners of any we must at the very history. At the end least work more of the day it comes closely together and down to working on make the trade union the ground and movement more delivering for workers cohesive and their families...

Gene Mealy lists the Living Wage tive Trade Union (IDATU) in campaign and pay talks as his first major Wage campaign, which he believes Verolme Cork Dockyard during the ‘jobs of work’ as Vice-President of SIPTU. can become a crucial tool to ad- Photo: Eddie Mullins 1980s. His family background is vance the wider interests of work- steeped in the traditions of labour ers, and leading the union’s radicalism that helped define Cork unionists working on the ground was we had little input into the co-operate and merge where possi- delegation into pay talks with the City. His father was an active shop and delivering for workers, their spending of the proceeds of their ble. I believe to be effective we Government. steward and a cousin of an FWUI families and the disadvantaged in work which they paid in taxes.” must at the very least work more On the latter task he says: “In official. society.” Gene’s experience not only closely together and, if possible, my opinion it could be a lot more “Cork is small enough that He adds: “I look forward to spans several workplaces but also make the trade union movement difficult than a lot of people re- everyone perceives the class differ- working with the activists, Divi- unions. He initially joined the more cohesive,” he said. alise. It is not all solely about ence. It wasn’t named the city of sions, Sectors and the staff of this ITGWU in 1972, while working at While he believes the years that restoration of pay. There are many the merchant princes for nothing union in reinvigorating them to go a manufacturing plant in Cork. His have followed the economic crisis other issues besides, including the and their wealth was created by out and reclaim the ground we later activity in Verolme Dockyard of 2008 have seen the most sus- [public sector recruitment] mora- many people working for little or have lost during the economic cri- saw him serve on the national ex- tained attack on workers that he torium, the whole question of out- less. It was due to this that trade sis.” has known, Gene feels that there sourcing in the Public Service and unionism took root,” he said. ecutive of IDATU (now Mandate). is opportunity for the trade union It is the trade union activism Although he does not dismiss In the mid-1980s, after a period the pension levy.” that defined his early working life the many benefits that flowed to of unemployment when the dock- movement and wider political left. Gene’s commitment to the large in what was then the industrial workers from the partnership yard closed, he became the General “For the last five to six years our workload he faces is clear from the heart of Cork city with its car as- agreements, as well as the basis Secretary of the Irish Agricultural activists have had a difficult and fact that he will be relocating to sembly, ship-building and manu- they laid for economic develop- Advisors Organisation. This body challenging time defending work- Dublin; his second stint in the cap- facturing industries, an activism ment, Gene agrees that this may amalgamated with the FWUI be- ers from attacks on their living ital. which Gene wants to see return. have contributed to a decline in ac- fore that union’s amalgamation standards,” he said, “Society has However, a period of exile will “We have a very rich history in tivism. with the ITGWU in 1990 to form seen inequality rise, Social Europe be small price to pay if he makes this trade union but I don’t think “Trade union members con- SIPTU. has been dismantled, casualisation progress of his wider mission “to we can be the prisoners of any his- tributed massively in the 1980s The process of mergers he sees and low pay have been accepted as contribute to the development of a tory. At the end of the day it comes and the 1990s to the development as being only beneficial to the the norm. These are all things we better society for working class down to this generation of trade of this country but the problem movement. “Unions must look to must struggle to reverse. people.” 12 Liberty APRIL 2015 News

Tom Healy: a radical shift in raising taxes and fostering thriving indigenous industries Photo: Photocall Ireland

NERI: better Trade unionists joined an Irish delegation to Brussels hosted by Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy to discuss the concerns activists have with the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partner- ship (TTIP) free trade deal currently being negotiated between the European Commission and the USA. Ireland is about Pictued (L-R): Martin O' Rourke (SIPTU), Mark Lohan (SIPTU), David Gibney (MANDATE), Ryan McKinney making choices (NIPSA), Louise O'Reilly (SIPTU) and Kris Bailie (ICTU Youth) sources vital to human well-being: Lusitania sinking remembered IRELAND in the 2040s could be a country of thriving in- income, employment, health, edu- On the centenary of the Lusitania sinking, digenous enterprises, func- cation and caring.” the International Transport Workers’ Feder- tioning high-quality social In order to achieve the aim of a ation (ITF) and SIPTU (Services, Industrial, services and free at the point better functioning society, Healy is Professional and Technical Union) will hold of use healthcare if we proposing radical shifts in the way a one day conference at the National Mar- choose it to be, NERI director taxes are raised, from a model of industrial development based on itime College of Ireland, County Cork, on Tom Healy has claimed. Wednesday 6th May. Healy outlined his ideas of a attracting foreign companies to The ground-breaking Maritime Labour Convention long-term socio-economic agenda one fostering indigenous enter- is commonly described as the seafarers’ bill of rights. for the trade union movement at prise. and workers on vessels fishing in Irish waters. It comes into operation in Ireland this year. The con- seminar on 9th April in Dublin, There is also a central emphasis The event takes place from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., ference will investigate the experience of countries His paper, titled A Future Ireland placed on environmental concerns. after which attendees will travel out to sea to lay a that adopted it earlier, and how the lessons they Worth Working For: A Social Vision In the question and answer ses- wreath in memory of those who died on the sion which followed Healy’s pres- learned can be used to remedy some of the scan- and Economic Strategy, seeks to Lusitania. provide a vision for the Irish econ- entation, one activist asked had he dalous treatment of ships’ crews visiting Irish ports omy stretching into the future. thought about the political forces Healy told the gathering of trade that would need to be harnessed to unionists and political activists: advance his economic project. An- “The paper is not intended as a other questioned what room for blueprint or model that is to be manoeuvre Ireland had as part of Retirement of veteran activist rolled out, but as a contribution to the European Union. a debate on our economic future. Responding to the questions, “In this vision we are intent on Healy said work on the vision was creating an economy where the continuing and that input from as bust-and-boom cycle has been wide a range of progressive opin- abolished. There is also emphasis ion in Ireland was being sought. on how economic synergies on an To read the working paper, A Fu- all-island and cross-island, Ireland ture Ireland Worth Working For: A and Britain, basis be harnessed.” Social Vision and Economic Strat- He added that behind the vision egy, and view a video of Tom “is the concept of economic equal- Healy’s presentation to the semi- ity relating to access to those re- nar, go to www.nerinstitute.net

SIPTU Shop Steward, Teresa O’Toole, has retired after almost 35 years as a trade union activist. SIPTU Services Division Organiser, John King, paid tribute to Teresa’s commitment fighting for the rights of contract cleaners. He said: “Teresa was active in the 1980’s when workers across the contract cleaning industry served strike notice. An hour before pickets were to be placed the employers conceded and a Joint Labour Committee (JLC) was introduced for the industry. It is fitting that Teresa can retire now having been part of the campaign to re-secure a JLC in 2015 for her industry after the High Court declared them unconsti- tutional in 2011.” Pictued (L-R): (rear) Sebastian Sieczak, Shop Steward, Noonan Cleaning, Mater Hospital Dublin, SIPTU Tony Merriman (4th from left) and members of the SIPTU national committee in Organisers, Joe Kelly and Ger Dempsey, SIPTU Services Division Organiser, John King SIPTU Organiser, the ESB at the launch of Tony's successful bid for re-election as worker director. Kevin Glackin. – Centre, Teresa O' Toole, Shop Steward, Noonan Cleaning, Mater Hospital. Liberty 13 TTIP APRIL 2015 Flawed report on TTIP's impact in Ireland

percentage points since a similar survey in 2013), 57% (up two By points) predicting a “moderate Ger Gibbons agreement”, and 14% (up six points) believing the most likely outcome was no agreement. GOVERNMENT re- While not directly comparable, port claiming up to it’s worth noting that the Europe- 10,000 Irish jobs wide study said a “less ambitious” could be created by agreement could lead to a 0.25% ATTIP, the controversial pro- GDP rise (i.e. just half the forecast posed EU-US trade deal, fails of an “ambitious and comprehen- to stand up to scrutiny be- sive” agreement). It would have cause its forecasts assume the been useful for the Irish study to consider a similar (and more realis- deal would be “ambitious and tic?) scenario. comprehensive” and because Secondly, while the Irish study it ignores the assistance Irish claims to be based on the same workers would need to change “liberalisation” assumptions as the sectors. Europe-wide study, the Irish study The long-awaited study, commis- assumes a reduction of just 50% in It’s a deal: protestors gathered sioned by the Government and car- outside Dublin Castle on 27th agriculture and food products tar- ried out by Danish consultants March as Minister Richard iffs, and not 100% as under the Eu- Copenhagen Economics, on the Bruton and EU Trade ropean study. If the final outcome Commissioner Cecilia possible impact of the Transatlantic Malmstrom launched TTIP. is closer to the latter figure, then Trade and Investment Partnership Picture: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland the negative impact on primary – currently being negotiated in se- production could be even greater. cret by the US and EU – was finally Thirdly, unlike the Europe-wide launched in Dublin Castle on 27th survey which acknowledges that March. up to 0.5% of the EU workforce (i.e. The study forecasts that TTIP about 1 million workers) would could increase Irish GDP by 1.1%, need help in changing sectors (see real wages by 1.5% and employ- the February 2015 edition of Lib- ment by between 5,000-10,000 (i.e. erty), the Irish study says very little 0.5%). Sectors it forecasts will ben- about helping workers in Ireland efit include pharmaceuticals, elec- whose jobs could be threatened. It tronics and “other machinery” could and should for example have manufacturing, dairy and examined Ireland’s record with the processed foods and insurance European Globalisation Adjust- services, while sectors that could ment Fund, and made appropriate suffer include business services recommendations. (i.e. industrial cleaning, packaging This study is useful in that it services, legal, accounting, audit- does consider some of the implica- ing, architectural, engineering and tions of TTIP for Ireland, and pro- related technical consultancy) and vides data that wasn’t previously primary production (particularly available. However, it does seem to beef). be based on assumptions that are A 1.1% rise in Irish GDP compares However, closer scrutiny of the ment, entailing the abolition of all one person’s red tape can be an- unlikely to materialise and it is by to a forecasted 0.5% rise in Europe- Irish study casts doubt on many of remaining transatlantic tariffs, a other’s red line, many commenta- no means a comprehensive assess- wide GDP (after 10 years) according the forecasts. 50% reduction in public contracts tors believe such a deal is unlikely. ment, particularly in relation to to a 2013 study for the European First of all, the study assumes the barriers and a 25% cut in “non-tariff A 2014 survey by US and German jobs. A more realistic, and wider, Commission, thereby prompting negotiators will reach what is barriers” (i.e. “unnecessary red think-tanks of 300 trade policy ex- consideration is urgently needed the claim TTIP could benefit Ireland clearly understood as an “ambi- tape”). perts found just 29% forecasting a before negotiations go any further. more than most other countries. tious and comprehensive” agree- Aside from the fact that what is “broad agreement” (down eight

EDUCATIONEDUCAATTION & DDEVELOPMENTEVELOPMENT SSUPPORTUPPORT SSCHEMECHEME

MEMBERS IN FURTHERFURTTHERHER EDUCEDUCATIONATION TThehe scheme will offer upu to ten awards each yearyear.. T SECOND-LEVELSECOND-LEVEL AAWAWARDSWWAARDS FFOROR MMEMBERSEMBERS AANDND FFOROR MMEMBERS’EMBERS’ CCHILDRENHILDREN R RECEIP Up to thirty awards will be made each year to second-level students to DATE FO NS LOSING PLICATIO cover the senior cycle (the two years up to the Leaving Certificate). C TED AP COMPLE 15 OF MBER, 20 SEPTE 6) A member, applying on his/her ownn GAELTACHTGAELLTTACHT AAWARDSWARDS FOR MEMBERS’ CHILDREN 30TH 015/201 WARDS 2 behalf or on behalf of his/her UUpp ttoo ttwenty-fivewenty-five aawardswards wwillill bbee mmadeade eeachach yyearear fforor tthehe cchildrenhildren (FOR A child/children, must have at least ooff mmembersembers ttoo ccoverover tthehe ccostost ooff ttheirheir pparticipationarticipation ((accommodationaccommodaattion one year’s membership of the Unionn and be in benefit when both the aandnd ttuitionuition ffees)ees) inin a GGaeltachtaeltacht ccourseourse uundernder tthehe sschemecheme ooperatedperated application and the payments are jointlyjointly byby SIPTUSIPTU aandnd GGaelael LLinn.inn. made. 14 Liberty APRIL 2015 Comment

focus for trade union discussions and negotiations within individual By public sector workplaces. It could Niall Crowley valuably be a focus in the forth- coming negotiations around a suc- New equality law worth cessor to the Haddington Road HERE is a new legal agreement. duty on public sector A standard needs to be set as to bodies that trade how public sector bodies imple- T unions and their ment this duty so as to ensure it members in this sector could taking a close look at has a real and positive impact on usefully take note of. the situation and experience of all It is all a bit under the radar so public sector employees. far, yet it could make a positive im- The Equality and Rights Alliance pact and improve the situation and experience of public sector work- has identified three important ers. stages to its implementation. The The duty is tucked into the Irish first stage involves pre-planning, Human Rights and Equality Com- when public bodies establish a mission Act 2014. It requires a high-level group to lead the work wide range of public bodies at na- on the public sector duty; set out tional and local level to have regard what the duty requires them to do to the need to eliminate discrimi- and how they will fulfill these re- nation, promote equality of oppor- quirements; and put in place a tunity and protect human rights. mechanism to enable a diversity of It is a dramatic development in employees to participate in its im- equality and human rights legisla- plementation. tion generally. However, when it The second stage involves as- comes to employees of the public sessment and action planning, sector, it holds a very particular po- when public bodies engage with tential. their employees; review their poli- Under the legislation, public cies and procedures to identify bodies are legally and specifically equality and human rights issues required to have regard to the need for their staff; and identify actions to promote equality of opportunity and treatment and to protect the they will take to address these human rights of their staff. This equality and human rights issues. should be an equally dramatic de- The third stage involves moni- velopment in public sector work- toring and reporting, when public places. This is alongside similar bodies set and assess progress on obligations in relation to people to indicators for equality and human whom public bodies provide serv- rights of their staff; and report on ices. this progress annually. The duty includes government maker, and procurer of goods and on the public sector duty and has The Irish Human Rights and departments, local authorities, the services. Under the legislation, advanced a useful values-based Equality Commission has been HSE, universities and Institutes of As an employer, they are re- approach to its implementation given a role to guide public bodies Technology, and Education and public bodies quired to set out an assessment of (see www.eracampaign.org). The in implementing the duty. To date, Training Boards. It includes bodies the human rights and equality is- are legally and new Human Rights Subcommittee they have been silent on this. It established under statute and fi- specifically required of the Oireachtas Committee on will be important to encourage nanced wholly or partly by a gov- sues for their staff. They must identify the policies, plans and ac- to have regard to Justice, Defence and Equality has some prioritisation by the Com- ernment department. Semi-State decided to look at how public bod- mission of this public sector duty bodies are included as is An Garda tions in place or proposed to be the need to promote ies in the justice and equality sec- to ensure its potential is realised. Siochána. put in place to address these is- equality of opportunity tor are gearing up to implement A code of practice setting out an Public bodies must formally con- sues. They have to report on devel- and treatment of this duty. sider the elimination of discrimi- opments and achievements in ambitious approach to implement- their staff and to Trade unions and members in ing the public sector duty would be nation, the promotion of equality, relation to these issues on an an- protect the human and the protection of human rights nual basis. public sector settings could take an important and valuable first in their role as an employer, as The Equality and Rights Alliance rights of their staff this on to champion this public step in this regard by the Commis- well as service provider, policy- has published a briefing document sector duty. It could usefully be a sion.

Thinking of holidaying els ating hot in Ireland? f particip Make the right choice for list o A at: you and your family - make available e the Union choice of a Fair is tels.i Hotel irho www.fa Liberty 15 Liberty View APRIL 2015 Liberty By JACK O’CONNOR SIPTU General President View Rebuilding public services must get priority

Public spending should be prioritised over tax cuts Chart 1 - Announced cuts and revenue increases 2008 - 2014 on a ratio of a minimum of 2:1 as resources become available in a growing economy. Our public infra- structure has been severely damaged by six years of one sided austerity. Approximately €30 billion has been taken out of the State budget in the effort to cut the gap between revenue and spending. This was implemented on the basis that for every euro by which tax was increased, public spending was cut by two. (See chart 1). At a very minimum, that ratio must now be reversed as resources become available over the next number of years to approach the levels applying across the EU. (See chart 2).

It is now critically important that we embark on a major investment programme to rebuild our public health serv- (Adapted from Tom Healy NERI - Did austerity work? blog, January 2015). ice which is clearly at the point of collapse. In parallel with this, there is an urgent need to invest heavily in elder care, childcare and for people with disabilities. Similarly, an ac- Chart 2 - Government Revenue & Spending - Ireland v EU celerated public investment programme is necessary in the education sector to provide for the anticipated increase in the relevant population cohorts over the next decade.

With regard to Social Welfare, the system must be ex- panded to recognise the reality that more than half our population have no retirement income other than the basic State pension. In particular, now that the emergency is over, the Government must address the major income deficit for those retiring at age 65, with no Transitional Pension. Local authority services have suffered dispropor- tionally over the crisis years and there is now an urgent requirement to re-establish a proper level of provision.

The Public Housing Programme must be accelerated even beyond the target set out in Budget 2015 as we still have nearly 100,000 on waiting lists and a major housing crisis, which is generating unsustainable levels of rent inflation.

There is absolutely no justification for using scarce public resources for the purpose of gifting the wealthy and those on higher incomes with tax cuts. There is still room to raise revenue through wealth tax and other levies on capital as well as on higher incomes and all of this should now be used to alleviate the burden of the USC on strug- Source: NERI Institute gling low to middle income families. 16 Liberty L APRIL 2015 SAVE OUR BUS SERVICES

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A way forward in bus dispute

By Owen Reidy

fallen every year for seven years cerned that the legislation might 3.In the unlikely event that some million. This is unreasonable SIPTU members in the trans- (prior to this year), workers con- create a situation in which the workers choose to transfer, we and should not happen. Nor port sector of the Utilities and

Construction Division have tributed to restructuring by doing NTA would be compelled to ten- expect the regulator – the NTA should workers be asked to fund

more with less, and the service has der out the remaining 90% of – to actually regulate and create this through yet another restruc- been campaigning against the improved. SIPTU continues to argue services. This would create chaos, a regime that comes down hard turing. flawed plan by the National in all forums, (including on the side be unsustainable and unaccept- on operators who breach work- Transport Authority (NTA) and of Liberty Hall) that this proposed able. We need answers now on ers' conditions of employment 6. Both bus companies should

the Government to privatise privatisation will be a bad deal for this. with a triple lock that would in- enter into a Registered Employ-

up to 10% of bus routes cur- the worker, the taxpayer and the volve: A) fining them; ment Agreement (REA) with rently being operated by B) removing their contract; C) re- SIPTU to protect members’ condi- Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann. voking their licence to operate. tions of employment, and the Members of SIPTU’s anti-bus-pri- Only a tough regime from the NTA, Department of Transport and vatisation committee – comprising The NTA argues that we need outset will create a fair culture of both companies should support senior activists in Dublin Bus and competition in the bus market. compliance. SIPTU’s calls for an REA setting Bus Éireann – have lobbied, cam- minimum terms and conditions of

paigned, protested and sought to 4.The cost of the provision of employment in the industry. We In fact, we already have plenty negotiate a better way for the future labour must not be a factor in must be assured taxpayers' money of competition in the bus market of public transport and for those the criteria for tendering out going to private operators is guar- who work in it. the contract. If it is, it will en- anteeing drivers with those opera- The NTA argues that we need courage would-be operators to tors a living social wage. competition in the bus market. In travelling public. 2.We believe that no bus worker cut corners and pay merely the fact, we already have plenty of com- While we will continue to seek to should be compelled to move to minimum wage. This will drive Each of these six points is reason- petition in the bus market. Bus persuade Government and the NTA a private operator under Trans- down standards and commence a able, rational and fair-minded, and Éireann competes with private op- that they have got it wrong, we have fer of Undertakings legislation race to the bottom in the indus- any right-thinking person would erators across the State every day developed a six-point agenda which (TUPE) against their will. We try. It will also have a further neg- find it difficult to object to them. To

and Dublin Bus competes with we believe will go some way to ad- know only too well that the TUPE ative, knock-on effect in both of avoid serious transport chaos and

other transport providers and dressing the consequences of this regulations do not protect work- these CIÉ-owned bus companies. disruption, both employers and

modes of transport for market flawed privatisation plan, in the ers sufficiently and we believe it other stakeholders will need to share, including the DART, the event that common sense does not would be a useless instrument in 5.Both public bus companies have start engaging and reaching agree- LUAS, taxis, the private car and the prevail and it were to proceed. this instance. We require both stated on the record that if they ment on these points too. bike scheme. There is no legislative bus companies to confirm that are unsuccessful in bidding for imperative in either EU or Irish law 1.We need clarity as to what the they will guarantee security of the 10% of services (and they Owen Reidy is the SIPTU Construction requiring this. NTA will and can do in 2019 tenure for all members in this haven’t a chance unless point 4 and Utilities Divisional Organiser. Despite the Government subven- (when the next contract for bus matter. above is conceded), they will tion for the bus service having services is due). We are con- carry legacy costs of up to €40 Liberty 17 S US SERVICES APRIL 2015

FRAN McDONNELL Dublin Bus worker “I’ve been on the buses for nine years. I’m still what is called a ‘spare driver’. That

l l a means that I don’t know what my working c

o t o hours will be each day till the day before. h

P / n “SIPTU was asked into talks with the o t t u NTA and the company. When the talks

a SIPTU members protest outside r started off nothing was to be agreed. It u a the offices of the National L was to be exploratory, and as the talks : Transport Authority in Dublin. e r u carried on there was less and less infor- t c i P mation coming out. I personally feel the NTA was disingenuous to staff because the way it panned out is that we asked a question and they said they were looking for clarification but came back with nothing. ‘We have to draw a line in the sand’ “At this stage bus drivers are worried about what is coming down the line. This is the biggest hit we can take because Some of the SIPTU members campaigning against privatisation of bus routes spoke to Scott Millar people are concerned about their terms and conditions – and with TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings) who are they going to be working for? You have to remember

that bus drivers have not seen all their TINA AHERN BILL McCAMLEY terms and conditions restored from the Dublin Bus driver Dublin Bus worker director previous round of cuts in 2013. Going for- “There is a lot of bad feeling towards the “In the 40 years I have worked on the ward the concern is what effect this is company at the moment due to the at- buses I’ve seen nothing comparable to going to have on our families because tempt to force drivers over to whomever the threat that the service currently mortgages and other bills have to be might take over the routes. We are very faces because there is no way back once paid. concerned about what this is going to it is done. The terrible crime of it is that “I have three children. Because of the mean to terms and conditions of employ- they are following a strategy that has way I work at present we are a one-in- ment. People are talking about what hap- been seen to fail elsewhere such as in come household. I’m only told at one o’- pened to the Greyhound workers with the London. clock every day what hours I’m going to I know it is billed as something that privatisation of the refuse service. It’s be working the next day. My wife can’t something that greatly concerns us be- will benefit the community but it won’t. have a job and meet family commit- cause most of us have mortgages and The subventions will end up being higher ments.” and the service less. That is because what children to worry about. That is why we have decided that there is a public bus company puts back into the driving down workers’ wages and neutral- I’ve worked for Dublin Bus for 16 years no other option but to take strike action. service will be gone in private profits.” ising trade unions. and I have never seen such a sense of As is the case with any strike it will cost WILLIE O'DONOGHUE “This action is about securing our fu- “What we need to do is bring Irish leg- concern about our jobs and the service as us financially and nobody can really af- Bus Éireann driver ture by putting in the necessary protec- islation back to EU legislation. We have there is now. I have three children myself ford it but it’s about saving jobs and the “In Limerick we’re not threatened di- tions. I also believe that we need to been told for the last ten years that we and during the pervious restructuring service. You have decide to take a stand rectly with this tendering process at examine the role of the National Trans- are obliged to follow EU legislation in re- processes in the company have lost a lot sometime and myself and my colleagues the moment. However, if they get port Authority (NTA). Unfortunately previ- gards to bus privatisation but in fact the in terms of our conditions of employ- have decided that time has come.” away with what they are trying to do ous governments set it up with the Irish legislators have made it even worse ment. We really don’t know where we stand. in Waterford, which is effectively pri- primary focus of fragmenting the service, and we need to address that. vatise all services in the city and to Tramore, then its going to result in costs for the company and lead to LIAM WESTON PETER O’TOOLE further restructuring exercises and Dublin Bus worker Bus Éireann driver more cuts. “There is great support from all drivers “In Waterford we are facing nearly 100% It is clear that TUPE will not protect drivers’ terms and conditions of for the action because there is a real fear privatisation. If it proceeds, Bus Éireann for the future. I’m in the job 20 years and employment. The company is refus- will be gone from the city altogether during that time we have always been and the bus depot itself will be under ing to give guarantees on this and is prepared to adjust but it has come to the also failing to say what will happen threat. time that we have to draw a line in the “This is just an ideological drive that in 2019 when it is feared that all sand because both companies have had is aimed at reducing workers' terms and services will be put out to tender. opportunities to give us guarantees but conditions of employment. In the 23 years that I have been a they haven’t. “Waterford bus drivers are fully in bus driver this is the biggest threat “There is no reason why they could not favour of the action in May. We are 10 to the public service we provide. have given us these guarantees regarding months in the LRC talking and what is There are already several private op- our terms and conditions of employment needed is action. erators working routes. In Limerick but they have shied away from it all the there are three private companies “Unemployment in Waterford City is time. doing the Dublin route, so it is clear very high and this will just be another “We have already endured the impact 10% of routes that were going out to ten- blow. The public of the city is well-in- there is already plenty of competi- of stealth taxes and charges but what der. tion. What they are doing here is formed about the threat to their bus we’re facing now is an even bigger threat “They said that from day one drivers service and we’re receiving overwhelm- pushing the public service out. No to our families’ livelihoods. What we are would be getting less terms and condi- ing support.” one knows where things will be in a facing is a race to the bottom with drivers tions if they were driving these routes few years and that is why across the set to suffer. That was indicated from day and that is a clear sign of the way things country we are taking action now to one when they started talking about the are going to go.” defend what is an essential service.”

18 Liberty APRIL 2015 Supporting Quality

SUPPORTINGSNSUPPPAORTING QQUALITYUAAPLITY CAMPAIGNCAMPPAAIGN PPROTECTROTECT QQUALITYUALIT Y JJOBSOBS ININ IRELANDIRELAND BBYY PPROMOTINGROMOTING QQUALITYUALIT Y SERVICESSERVICES ANDAND PRODUCTSPRODUCTS MMANUFACTUREDANUFACTURED IINN IIRELANDRELAND

a jointjoint initiativeinitiative VIEW OUR THETHE POWERPOWER UNION SHORT FILM onon wwww.supportingquality.ieww.supportiinngquality.ie toto hearhear ffromrom membersmembers tthemselveshemselves wwhyhy itit isis soso iimportantmportant toto supportsupport ourour campaigncampaign aandnd qqualityuality jjobsobs iinn IIreland!reland! Liberty 19 Arts & Culture APRIL 2015

Paying the piper for the tune

MOST people love to listen, download and play music over the internet. What they may not realise, however, is that the vast majority of performers making this material available do not receive any revenue from the online exploitation of their recorded performances. Even if the artist does manage to get paid from internet-based serv- MUI Vice-President ices, here is how it breaks down. This Eamon Murray is based on an example of a €9.99 monthly subscription to a music- PICTURE: GotCredit (CC BY 2.0) streaming service (France): Tax many other performers’ organisa- in Brussels at the Museum of Musi- with journalists, to the event. Cam- €1.99: Copyright €1.00: Intermedi- receive a fair and equitable remuner- aries €6.54 and, for the performers, ation every time their performances tions around the world. cal Instruments. paign leaders and some featured a whopping €0.46. are accessed online via a download The Musicians’ Union of Ireland A press conference will be fol- artists will also take the floor for the Consequently a campaign is being or a streaming service. (MUI) is affiliated with FIM and is lowed by a music performance by launch. launched with the objective of updat- The FAIR INTERNET campaign is supporting this campaign. On May Agathe Iracema. Members of the Eu- Log on to the FIM website at ing the EU legislation in order to pro- being carried out by FIM (Interna- 5th this year the FAIR INTERNET ropean Parliament and the European www.fim-musicians.org to stay vide all performers with a right to tional Federation of Musicians) and campaign will be officially launched Commission will be invited, along tuned for updates. Halt cuts to NI Court backs Irish Equity in royalties battle culture sector IRISH Equity is coming of age right and Related Act 2000 which IRISH Equity passed a mo- with its recent policy deci- provides that all artists are entitled tion at its Annual General sions agreed by the general membership. to equitable remuneration for the Meeting in late March call- Foremost of these is the union’s exploitation of their performance. ing for a moratorium on decision that all contracts agreed In other words, all artists are enti- proposed cuts to the fund- for the future must provide for the tled to fair pay for the transmis- ing of the cultural sector in payment of royalties and usages involved – only for the producers sion and usage of their work. Northern Ireland. payments. and the commissioning body. “The Equity membership is now The motion also sent “solidar- The absence of these clauses in Equity has had some success clearly saying that the interpreta- ity and support” to the members of Equity Northern Ireland who Irish contracts has long been a with smaller productions in agree- tion put on these rights by Irish source of contention for Equity ing contracts with royalties and us- are “opposing these dreadful producers is wrong and they are no cuts to the arts, particularly to and separates the union uniquely ages payments but the big longer prepared to tolerate it. from all other English-speaking challenge for the union to archive theatre, now being proposed.” “This comes in conjunction with countries. global coverage remains. SIPTU Arts and Culture Sector For a number of years now Eq- Last November, the union was in the membership decision to con- Organiser, Karan O’Loughlin, uity has been endeavouring to ne- the Labour Court with the produc- tinue to build its relationship said: “In light of this threat to Karan O’Loughlin: the all-island cultural sector, gotiate a contract that allows for ers’ representative body, Screen contractual changes within SIPTU and to continue to these types of payment on Irish Producers Ireland (SPI). The Court needed for Irish actors nurture the collaborative and suc- Irish Equity is supporting the productions. supported the union position by cessful collegiate relationship that call for the members of the Until recently, all Irish produc- recommending that the parties has been developed with Equity Northern Ireland Assembly to tions operated on the basis of pay- conclude an agreement containing motion adopted by the union UK and the International Federa- intervene before the funding re- membership is particularly rele- ductions are implemented to ing the actors up-front with no the royalties and usages provisions tion of Actors.” follow-up royalties regardless of sought by the union. Discussions vant now as World Intellectual allow for a longer-term examina- She added: “Such solid collective how successful the production. are currently continuing but are Property day, or IP day as it is re- tion of the impact of these cuts." Irish drama such as Love/Hate, nearing the end of the deadline set ferred to, approaches on 26th direction and decision-making for Irish Equity is part of SIPTU Amber etc. which have been sold by the Court. April. Irish Equity can only lead to better and represents actors, theatre di- around the world will never make Sectoral organiser for Irish Eq- “In Ireland, Intellectual Property outcomes for Equity members in rectors, stage and set designers. another penny for any of the actors uity, Karan O’Loughlin, said: “This Rights are supported by the Copy- the Republic of Ireland.” 20 Liberty APRIL 2015 Know Your Rights

ANONYMOUS MEMBERSHIP Confidential and cost-effective advice

By Tom O’Driscoll

T IS widely accepted by academics and government-commissioned research – both in Ireland Iand across the globe – that workers are better off in trade unions. Unionised workers enjoy better pay, benefits and conditions. The CSO National Employment Survey for Ireland in 2006 found that on average, unionised workers were better paid than non-unionised workers. More recently, this year economist Frank Walsh of UCD found, amongst other things, that union members were much less likely to exit employment during the recent crisis, compared to non- union workers. The many benefits of unions for the greater Irish economy are often ignored. These include increased morale, productivity and equality. Most importantly, higher wages boost demand. If workers are paid more, they can afford to buy the products they make. It is a virtuous circle in which higher pay leads to higher demand leads to higher pay and so on. So why then are people are not joining trade unions in greater

that workers in non-union em- recognise there are workers who the employment rights bodies is well-organised workplaces. But ployments were more likely to need the special protection of one of the core benefits of union there will be members who have view unions as confrontational anonymity for various reasons but Cost-free and to fear that joining a union the usual common denominator is might damage their career the fear that the employer will representation prospects. find out. Where strength in numbers at the It would be folly to ignore such The Workers’ Rights Centre of perceptions, and even though the SIPTU is an advisory service avail- doesn’t exist, confidential employment broad mission to collectively or- able to all individual SIPTU mem- ganise workers carries on apace, bers, including those members membership might be the rights bodies SIPTU does recognise that in some who choose to keep their member- answer... We recognise there are employments, enough trade union ship details shielded from their is one of the hostility is stirred up by the em- employers. Expert staff in the Cen- workers who need the special ployer to deter prospective mem- tre constantly address such con- core benefits bers from joining. Strength in cerns and step up to the mark also protection of anonymity for of union numbers is the usual answer to if representation is required either such behaviour. at enterprise or third-party level. various reasons membership Where this doesn’t exist, “confi- The service is empathetic, confidential” membership might be the dential and cost-effective (regular answer. The facility of confidential union subscription). membership and fortifies the fun- daughters, sons, sisters, brothers membership has been available for Employment litigation is costly damental union principle “An in- or friends in employments where some time now in the union to and many a non-union member numbers? The answer is complex those workers in non-union em- jury to one is the concern of all”. the reach of trade unions has yet has seen quite substantial com- and multifaceted, but the findings ployments who wish to keep de- The readers of this paper are in- to extend. Now is the time to in- pensation whittled away in legal of Prof John Geary of UCD, in a tails of their union membership variably union members and form them of the benefits of fees. Cost-free representation at wide-ranging study in 2006 found hidden from their employer. We therefore recognise the value of union membership. Liberty 21 News APRIL 2015

Is your family struggling FRI 26TH & SAATT 27TH+6/& t*/*45*0(& $0,*-,&//: to make ends meet? 8TH"//6"- (&03(& #308/ By Raemonn McDunphy sessed as income for the medical card. It is a qualifying payment THERE may be help available for the Back to School Clothing to you from the Department and Footwear Allowance and for $0..&.03""55*0/8&&,&/% of Social Protection. They run home improvement grants from a scheme called Family In- Sustainable Energy Association of come Supplement (FIS). Ireland. If you are employed for more Example: Factory worker than 38 hours each fortnight and have family income less than a set with three children. limit, you could qualify for a sup- Spouse/civil partner/ cohabitant is a homemaker. plement. The income limits are based on the number of qualified children Gross Earnings 2014: €32,599.99 you have. A qualified child is one Pension Deductions: €0 under 18, who normally resides with you or between 18 and 22, Income Tax: €1,654.09 who is in full-time day education. Employee PRSI: €325.30 Family income is based on your USC: €1,874.55 earnings after pension deductions, Net Assessable Earnings: €28,746.05 Income Tax, Employee PRSI and the Universal Social Charge plus Weeks Employed: 52 any other income your family has, Average Assessable Earnings €552.81 e.g. self-employment, social welfare payments, rental income, pri- Other Income €0.00 vate pensions etc. The income Total Family Income: €552.81 limits are as follows: FIS Income Limit €703.00 Number Annual Weekly of Income Income children Limits Limit Difference €150.19 1 €26,312 €506.00 FIS Payable weekly: €91.00 2 €31,304 €602.00 The requirement to work 38 3 €36,556 €703.00 hours per fortnight means that the scheme is open to work-sharers. In fact, a couple can share the 4 €42,848 €824.00 hours to qualify. For example one could work 10 hours a week while 5 €49,400 €950.00 the other works nine hours. The scheme is open to single 6 €55,432 €1,066.00 parents as well as those who are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting. 7 €62,504 €1,202.00 Further information and an application form can be obtained 8 €67,496 €1,298.00 from www.welfare.ie, by email to [email protected] by If your family income is less phone to 043-3340053 or in writ- than the set weekly income limit, ing to FIS Section, Department of the Department of Social Protec- Social Protection, Government tion pay a supplement worth 60% Offices, Ballinalee Road, Long- of the difference. If you qualify ford. at all, there is a minimum pay- Reamonn McDunphy works in the De- partment of Social Protection and is a ment of €20 per week. member of the Public Service Executive FIS is non-taxable and is not as- Union

PICTURE: GotCredit (CC BY 2.0) 22 Liberty APRIL 2015 Palestine A ‘small ray of light to the oppressed’

DESPITE Israel blocking a tion for the formal recognition of with El Farra addressing the con- turbing photographs brought keynote speaker from attend- the Palestinian State. Overshadow- ference by telephone from Gaza. home the realities of the depriva- ing, the SIPTU Conference on ing the conference was the recent She expressed regret that she could tion and poverty endured by them. Palestine succeeded in pro- re-election of Israeli Prime Minis- not be there in person but vowed She discussed the Israelis’ use of voking informed political dis- ter Benjamin Netanyahu. to speak on behalf of the silenced thirst and starvation as a political cussion among trade union In his contribution Sabri Saidam, Palestinians. El Farra said that re- weapon and highlighted the use of and solidarity activists on the a former Palestinian Authority (PA) gardless of whether peace was Palestine as a weapons-testing fa- way forward for the Palestin- minister and adviser to President found by a one or two-state solu- cility for the Israelis. ian people. Abbas, highlighted Netanyahu’s re- tion, there must be justice. In particular, she outlined the unexplained injuries suffered by SIPTU General President Jack cent statement that “there will She described how Gazan chil- some Palestinians – seen as evi- O’Connor opened the conference never be a Palestinian state”. dren are denied schools or general dence of the experimental use of organised by the SIPTU Global Sol- He also flagged up Israeli refusal amenities and said what was most new weapons systems. idarity Committee on Saturday, to allow the building of schools needed was solidarity and under- During the conference’s clos- 28th March in Liberty Hall. and their denial of education to standing. ing question-and-answer session, He highlighted the absence of Dr the Palestinians, in particular their El Farra asked the conference to Congress President John Douglas Mona El Farra, projects director of refusal to allow computer labs. “remind the world” that the Israeli Dr Mona El Farra supported the call for a co-ordi- the Middle East Children’s Congress Global Solidarity Com- military onslaught against Gaza nated and effective boycott cam- Alliance, who was refused a visa to mittee Chairperson Mags O’Brien that took place in the summer of Palestine. paign against Israel. leave Gaza by the Israeli authori- called for a discussion on how to 2014 “must never happen again”. Having recently returned from Mags O’Brien recalled the grass- ties and could not travel through implement a boycott and encour- Palestinian Ambassador to Ire- Palestine, Elaine Bradley, former roots trade union actions of the Egypt due to the almost perma- age divestment from Israel. land Ahmed Abdelrazek said Pales- CEO of Volunteering Ireland, pro- past, in particular the Dunnes nent closure of the Rafah check- She also raised the need for the tine would accept Israel only after vided the conference with a vivid Stores workers’ strike against the point. Israeli trade union movement to it stopped stealing its land and account of her experience living purchase of goods from Apartheid- O’Connor said he hoped the con- face up to the injustice and crimi- recognised its right to exist. He and working in the West Bank and era South Africa in the 1980s and ference would offer “a small ray of nality of its government and op- said the world must no longer wait Gaza. She discussed the hardships said similar action against Israel light to the oppressed” and urged pose illegal settlements on for Israel to recognise the Palestini- suffered by the Palestinian people should be supported. those present to lobby all candi- Palestinian land. ans, but should instead push for- and in a series of graphic and dis- My Tears for Gaza – Page 23 dates in the nex Irish general elec- The afternoon session began ward and recognise the state of New documentary reveals why it pays Israel to make war By Scott Millar IN HIS documentary The Lab, “Young people doing their mili- freelance Israeli filmmaker tary service now become more Yotam Feldman explores how right-wing and supportive of mili- the regular onslaughts on tary force. Up to 250,000 people were involved in the last assault on Gaza by the Israeli military Gaza and during this time these benefits the country's inter- people are indoctrinated. I think it national trade in high-tech had a huge effect on the result of weapons and the impact this the last election. You see so many has on political decision- people coming back from war and making. voting for Likud.” Visiting Ireland for a series of showings of his film during April, the intensity of the conflict in Perhaps surprisingly, Feldman Feldman spoke to Liberty about Gaza. “Israeli politicians have was not overly disappointed at the the processes which have made Is- links with the military-industrial electoral victory of the extreme rael by far the largest per capita complex and they have personal right-wing Benjamin Netanyahu in weapons exporter in the world. benefits from going into Gaza. the Israeli election in March. “I think to a great extent the Is- However, I think the main factor is “I think Israeli society was al- raeli economy is a conflict econ- the institutional incentive in using ways racist. I think in some way omy,” he said, “which is actually these weapons. the distance between the way based on profits from the offen- “Weapons companies invest a lot things actually are and what peo- sives on Gaza. in marketing, they take on ex-army ple think of Israel is becoming smaller. What you actually see now “What we see is that after every officers as marketeers and they sell is closer to the reality.” offensive on Gaza there is a rise in products to their ex-colleagues. the sales of Israeli weapons – Once these weapons are sold to He added: “I think if there is drones, accurate missiles, military Gazan school: in the crosshairs of the IDF the army I think there is great pres- hope for change it will come training, surveillance, all of these sure to use them in future Gaza through civil disobedience through popular struggle and I think this products are sold to Europe, Latin wars.” America, North America. They are marketed all over the world.” Feldman said. kind of popular struggle can only very big business and they are fun- In his research, Feldman also He believes the links between Feldman is concerned at not really be achieved when the gov- damental to the Israeli economy.” shows how the profits generated private companies and the Israel only the militarisation of the Is- ernment has a face which is com- raeli economy but also its society. According to Feldman, it is not by the conflict also spread to other Defence Forces is a key factor in patible with what it is.” the expertise of Israeli weapons sectors of the economy beyond He remains “very hopeful”, con- manufacturers which is key, rather weapons production. What we see after every offensive on cluding: “Although people in Israel that the weapons have been tested “High-tech devices, private secu- think the current situation is sta- on human targets. rity, training, fences, cameras are Gaza there is a rise in the sales of ble, in reality it can change at any “Israel has a live conflict, a live among the many exported prod- Israeli weapons – drones, missiles, moment. You know people before laboratory where these weapons ucts and services which are very the French revolution thought can be tested and shown to be ef- tightly connected to the occupa- training, surveillance... monarchy would last for ever but fective. This is the way they are tion of the West Bank and Gaza,” then reality changes.” Liberty 23 Palestine APRIL 2015

By Elaine Bradley

OR 51 days in the summer of 2014 Israel pitted its state-of-the-art mili- Ftary machine against a people with no formal army, air force or navy. Operation Protective Edge was My tears for Gaza the latest chapter in a campaign against Gaza that has been deemed genocidal by Evo Morales and Fidel Castro, among others. Some 2,230 Gazans were killed, of whom 539 were children. An- other 10,895 people were injured – two-thirds of them seriously. Of the 3,306 children injured, more than 1,000 will be left with a permanent disability. Almost half of Gaza has been laid to waste. There is no sewage treatment, no clean water, little elec- tricity and no means to generate it. 96,000 homes were destroyed leaving 350,000 people displaced or homeless. During the offensive I was in the West Bank, documenting the process of medical evacuations from Gaza, interviewing doctors who worked with the injured and Elaine Bradley saw the utter devastation wreaked by Israel military machine meeting some of the victims. It was horrific – the injuries were complex due to the tactics and mu- failed the Palestinian people, and nitions used. Around 80% of those Nasser Abu Sae'ed and his children have therefore failed us all. West- killed and injured were civilians – standing on the ruins of their home. many were targeted in their own His wife was killed in a previous ern governments have placed homes or while fleeing. offensive against Gaza PICTURE: Activestills.org diplomatic relationships with the The use of controversial DIME rich and powerful over their re- (Dense Inert Metal Explosive) sponsibility to ensure justice for bombs resulted in high levels of the vulnerable and oppressed. amputations, burns and neurolog- In this time, in these circum- ical damage resulting from crush- stances, it falls upon us – people of ing or shrapnel injuries. conscience, civil society – to act. There was little that could pre- pare me for the sight of Asraah, a 19-year-old mother who had burns and both her legs blown off, or Everything was Hala, the little girl found uncon- scious in an olive tree. Hala was reduced to making a steady recovery but rubble... people didn’t know that her mother and siblings were all dead. The injuries with nowhere to I witnessed were but a drop in the go lived in ocean of Gaza’s suffering. At the end of the offensive I makeshift tents on went to Gaza and saw for myself what Israel had done. Standing in top of the piles of the formerly bustling neighbour- rubble that had hoods of Shujaiya, Beit Hanoun, 539 children were killed and Khuzaa and Johr Al Deek, I wit- thousands more injured in Israel’s been their homes nessed utter devastation reminis- ‘Protective Edge’ operation cent of Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Dresden. the previous offensives from priation of houses and land, home stone Report, issued in the wake of The tools at our disposal are tools Everything was reduced to rub- which it has never recovered, the demolitions and imprisonment, Operation Cast Lead 2008-2009, of non-violence that succeeded in ble, including hospitals. People ongoing and crippling siege im- often without charge, of large num- were never acted on. bringing down South Africa’s with nowhere to go lived in posed in 2007 by Israel continues. bers of the population including According to Wikileaks, UN Sec- apartheid regime. We must boy- makeshift tents on top of the piles Deemed illegal by the UN, as it children are commonplace. retary General Ban Ki-Moon played cott, divest from and sanction Is- of rubble that had been their constitutes a collective punish- The history of the occupation a direct role in quashing any action rael until it complies with homes. ment, the siege is now ironically has shown that as long as Israel at the behest of the US Depart- international law, ends the occupa- The neighbourhoods were popu- and disgracefully being adminis- continues to act as a State above ment of State – Israel’s key friend tion and observes the rights of the lated with sick, hungry, trauma- tered by the very same UN under the law, it will continue to violate and protector. More recently Israel Palestinian people, including those tised people in unimaginable the Serry Mechanism, with Israel international law with Palestinian has lobbied its allies to withdraw dispossessed to return to their numbers. More than 50% of Gaza’s holding the ultimate control for civilians – the ‘protected persons’ support from the International homeland. population are children – five ba- what and who enters and leaves of the Geneva Conventions, con- Criminal Court in an attempt to We must insist on an end to Is- bies died of exposure in a two- Gaza. Meanwhile, in the West tinuing to pay the price. avoid investigations into its crimes rael’s impunity and use all legiti- week period alone. Bank and East Jerusalem, it is busi- Impunity for Israel is the result in Gaza and the West Bank, thwart- mate means at our disposal to This suffering is all man-made ness as usual with the ethnic of international collusion – a coming Palestine’s bid for justice. ensure that this is the case. Civil and therefore avoidable. As Gaza cleansing of Palestinians continu- bination of indifference and polit- It is clear that the institutions re- society must stand in solidarity struggles with the latest catastro- ing. ical expedience. Indeed the sponsible for upholding interna- and insist on justice for the Pales- phe, compounding the effects of Settlements expansion, expro- recommendations of the Gold- tional law and human rights have tinian people! 24 Liberty APRIL 2015 Reflection A writer with radicalism in his veins EDUARDO Galeano, who has columns of Raúl Sendic, a trade soon settled down to write a series died aged 74, was one of the union leader who subsequently be- of books that embellished the for- great writers of Latin Amer- came the leader of the Tupamaros mula that had proved so successful guerrilla group. Galeano signed his ica; his unusual and idiosyn- with Open Veins, combining con- cratic works served to cartoons with the name Gius, designed as a Spanish form of his fa- temporary observations with his- illuminate the history and torical anecdote. politics of the entire conti- ther’s name. Later, he migrated as a desk editor to Marcha, the influ- “I’m a writer obsessed with re- nent. ential political and cultural weekly, Born in Uruguay, he was a signif- membering,’’ he once said, “with edited by Carlos Quijano. Then, remembering the past of America icant part of the “boom” generation caught up in the prevailing enthu- above all, and above all that of of the 1960s, inspired by the Cuban siasm for the Cuban revolution, he revolution that put Latin American moved briefly to be editor of the Latin America, intimate land con- fiction on the global map. Although left-wing daily, La Epoca. He trav- demned to forgetfulness.” Galeano wrote novels, he was a rad- elled to China and wrote a book Galeano was a charismatic figure, ical journalist by trade, a poet and about his adventures, and he also popular on political platforms and an artist, and a brilliant editor. visited Guatemala and wrote about in print, with a tireless if some- One of Galeano’s early works, the guerrilla movement there, in times melancholic enthusiasm for the seminal Open Veins of Latin País Ocupado (1967). Perhaps his socialism and national liberation. America (1971), received an unex- most famous moment as an editor pected publicity boost in 2009 came when he was first exiled to As a journalist, he interviewed when the late Hugo Chávez, presi- Buenos Aires in 1973 and put in most of the famous figures of the dent of Venezuela, thrust a copy charge of the weekly magazine, continent, including Fidel Castro, into the hands of the US president, Crisis. After the death of President Perón when exiled in Spain, Chávez Barack Obama, at a summit meet- Juan Perón in 1974 and the coup and Salvador Allende, who was a ing in Trinidad. d’état of General Jorge Rafaél Videla close friend. Galeano was born in Montevideo in 1976, Crisis was closed by the to a solidly middle-class and military, and Galeano again found Galeano is survived by his third Galeano had a tireless if sometimes wife, Helena Villagra, whom he Catholic family. His father, Eduardo himself in exile. melancholic enthusiasm for socialism Hughes, was a civil servant of Ital- He re-established himself in married in 1976; a daughter, Veron- ian and Welsh descent. From his Spain, writing an autobiographical ica, from his first marriage, to Silvia PICTURE: Mariela De Marchi Moyano (CC BY-SA 2.0) mother, Licia Galeano, he acquired account of those years, Days and Brando; and Florencio and Claudio, Brazil and Uruguay. When Galeano Quijano, had died in exile in Mex- his pen name. His newspaper ca- Nights of Love and War (1978). This the children of his second mar- is a frightening story, familiar to all returned to Uruguay in 1985, after ico, they decided to give it a new reer began at the age of 14 when he riage, to Graciela Berro. drew cartoons for El Sol, the those who lived through the mili- the fall of the dictatorship, he de- name, Brecha. weekly of the Uruguayan Socialist tary dictatorships that seized con- cided with friends to re-establish By now, Galeano had an estab- Eduardo Galeano 1941 – 2015 Party. Sometimes, he illustrated the trol of Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Marcha. But since the old editor, lished voice as a writer, and he (Courtesy of Richard Gott and the Guardian)

Lynn Ruane receives her award from SIPTU’s Dan O’Neill Photo: USI, Conor McCabe Photography Trinity Student President scoops top activist gong TRINITY College Students’ Ruane, who left school at 15 have avoided the worst parts of Union President Lynn Ruane when she became pregnant, is a austerity – but it is not the case. has been awarded Activist of former community worker. “Over the last few years, stu- the Year at this year’s Union The first female TCSU Presi- dent services have been cut. Also, Molly Connell re-enacts the raising of the flag by her own of Students in Ireland Stu- dent in well over a decade, she many departments, particularly aunt Molly O’Reilly on Palm Sunday 1916. The re-enactment dent Achievement Awards led projects in the Bluebell in those in the Arts, are working on outside Liberty Hall on Easter Monday, 6th April, was part of on 21st April. Dublin’s south inner city, but see- a shoe string. a special commemoration, organised by the North Inner City The award, which was held in ing the cutbacks in the commu- “It is important that people be- Folklore Project to mark the contribution of women volun- Dublin Castle, was presented by nity sector, decided to return to come organised and unions can teers of the Irish Citizen Army and Cumann na mBann. Fol- SIPTU Social Media campaigner education and attend university. play a role in giving people a plat- lowing the hoisting of the flag, there was a march to Foley and former USI Deputy President, She told Liberty: “It sometimes form to be heard.” Street where a plaque was unveiled to honour their bravery. Dan O’Neill. appears that students in college Liberty 25 International APRIL 2015

PICTURE: SBA73 (CC BY -SA 2.0)

By Daniel Garcia ATALONIA is not simply a territory where a group of people live. CIn fact, it is the history of the people which forges a territory and its lim- The right to decide in its. Those change through time and in relation to its physical characteristics, a conditioning factor which has brought about specific activities and settlements. And Catalo- nia is precisely this: a territory with its history but, above all, its people. 21st-century Catalonia From a historical perspective, it Or that the most industrialised which economic and social policies as are our energy resources, that is quite obvious that geographical region in Spain is the Vallès we want to develop. characteristics such as the Mediter- ‘Catalonia’ and can influence the goods and serv- county, next to Barcelona. Or that So that we are able to decide ranean Sea and the northern bor- ices of our productive model for the first petrochemical industries which actions would be most effec- ‘Barcelona’ are der with France have greatly the better or the worse. influenced the development of its and nuclear power plants were lo- tive for our productive economy, brands known society, as well as the inclusive and cated in Tarragona and in the Ebro for the small and medium-sized throughout the And we shouldn’t forget our flag- internationalist character of its valley, in Southern Catalonia. enterprises which compose the in- ship industry: tourism. “Catalonia” Catalonia is a land of opportuni- dustrial network of our cities and world and have people. and “Barcelona” are brands known ties which, thanks to its strategic give employment to thousands of It is not a mere coincidence that a value added throughout the world and have a the first textile companies in Spain geographical position, is able to families. decided to set up operations in offer a professional and social fu- To finally value education not as which transcends value added which transcends the Catalonia, interested in its river ture to all its citizens, provided a simple expense, but as an invest- the benefits of benefits of our climate. they are allowed to decide which ment, for only through education basins or that, influenced by entre- Catalonia means dynamism, de- policies should be applied. And can we reach greater equality of op- our climate preneurial European trends, they sign, culture, tradition, freedom, started exporting throughout the this is precisely what we wish to portunities in society. To promote world. do: we want to be able to hold an training for workers, necessary to To be able to decide about our in- technology, but more than any- Neither is it a coincidence that agreed referendum to decide the forge a new productive model, for frastructures, such as airports, thing else, it is and will be what its future of our society, as has re- it will not be cheap labour which ports and our road and rail net- the first tourists in Spain were first citizens decide. And it is simply for seen in Costa Brava and Maresme, cently happened in Scotland. will make us competitive, but works so we can have a well-com- these reasons that we want to de- nor is it strange that – nowadays – What for? Not only so we can in- rather value-added products, and municated territory, connected the ports of Barcelona and Tarrag- crease our economic capacity, but this is why we should also invest with Europe and the world and cide. ona are the most productive in also to be able to decide what we in research, development and in- thus be more competitive. Daniel Garcia is National Secretary of Spain. want to use these resources for, novation. Logistics are an important factor, the UGT in Catalonia 26 Liberty APRIL 2015 Reflection

FOUR OF THE CUBAN FIVE TOOK PART IN A MOVING CEREMONY TO SCATTER BERNIE’S ASHES

Gerardo Hernández Ramón Labañino Fernando González René González Bernie ‘set free’ by the Cuban Five NMarch 6th, 2015, over the US and Europe highlight- Cathleen O’Neill said to me that the ashes of interna- ing their unjust incarceration. She Bernie had come to say goodbye to tional activist Bernie Bernie Dwyer: a reflection was driven by their campaign. us all. I thought about that state- Dwyer were set free Today the Cuban Five are enjoying ment many times and I realised it O By Rita Fagan, friend and comrade their freedom and happiness as a was a very precious night. by the ‘Cuban Five’ in her beloved Havana and in the result of all the solidarity shown Bernie survived a few more by people such as Bernie. months. I went to see her in Beau- presence of her loving family mont Hospital where she was sit- and friends. She would come home to Ireland to visit her family and grandchil- ting up in blue pyjamas reading an Bernie had died of cancer in July Isabel Allende book. She could not 2013 – a disease against which she dren. Bernie really adored her grandchildren. She would always talk anymore but she could write – courageously battled for eight full so it did not stop her conversing. years. She lived and worked in come along to the city-wide Inter- national Women’s Day (IWD) cele- Bernie would have celebrated Cuba for 11 years and during this the recent changes for Cuba and bration organised by the Family period, I visited her 25 times. would have been there to welcome In 1998, Bernie came with a pro- Resource Centre in St. Michael’s the Cuban Five home last Decem- posal to the Family Resource Cen- Estate. ber. They were truly there to wel- tre to conduct a cultural exchange One year we happened to be in come her home to Cuba. with Cuba. Her idea was for us to Havana for IWD and we organised Her family and the men took her fund-raise to bring a Cuban film a big party on the roof of Anna’s maker, Xonia Zayas – a member of Casa Particular, where all the the Union of Cuban Artists, Poets women from the streets joined us. & Writers – to Ireland. They sang, danced, recited po- Zayas, who came to Ireland in etry and gave a great rendition of Bernie, our March 1998, was shocked to see the Internationale which brought the conditions in which people tears to my eyes as I saw true inter- friend and lived in St. Michael’s Estate, nationalism taking place. Inchicore. During her stay, she met The last IWD celebration Bernie comrade, with many urban, rural and Trav- attended in Wynn’s Hotel was in eller women’s groups. March 2013. She was very sickly was scattered then but her spirit was true to In May 1998, both Marian Keogh, Bernie (centre) with Rita Fagan a local community activist, and I (right) and a Cuban comrade form. to the winds took off for Havana. Bernie was at On the night community activist the airport to meet us. by the men The Cubans did not know what hit them! Wild Irish women! she had Everyday we had four political meetings and visits to projects, fac- spent years tories and ministries etc. We were hungry to get a close understand- defending ing through the eyes of communities and workers in Cuba of how society was organised. We were embraced by Cuban to the sea where on many nights families and friends. We were she would sit on the Malecon taught Salsa, learned about Cuban sipping rum. Bernie our friend and art, culture, politics from the grass- comrade was scattered to the roots and witnessed the amazing winds by the men she had spent spirit of the Cuban people. years defending. Bernie Dwyer committed herself It was a great week to mark her to the struggle of the Cuban peo- freedom and liberation from her ple. She became a journalist at urn – as the Ewan MacColl song Radio Havana, Cuba. She ran the goes, ‘Take me to some high place English programme which went of heather, rock and ling out all over the Americas. She Scatter my dust and ashes, feed made films relating to Cuba. me to the wind Bernie was a true defender of So that I will be part of all you Cuba. see, the air you are breathing’. She took up the campaign of the Bernie Dwyer, friend and com- Cuban Five – Cubans imprisoned rade, would be in her element in the United States for their anti- Bernie, left, leads the singing in a stirring rendition of the Internationale knowing she was given such a terrorist activities. She travelled all beautiful farewell. Liberty 27 Reviews APRIL 2015 Powerful and poignant look at teen suicide

I Used to Live Here torway and what follows over the A film by Frank Berry next seven days is an examination of how they and their friends, fam- THE Republic of Ireland has one of ilies and the wider community re- the highest reported rates of youth spond. The film tells that story at suicide in Europe and figures re- a pace and a tension that captures cently released from Childline the viewer for its 80 minutes, al- show that up to 300 children “at ways engaging the emotions but urgent risk of suicide” contacted never exploiting. The cinematogra- them over the last year. phy (Colm Mullen) is compelling The impact of such deaths is and the score by award-winning therefore something that individu- Daragh O’Toole lays down an at- Dead end: scene from als and communities are all too I Used to Live Here mospheric bassline for the drama. harrowingly familiar with. The film is well deserving of its It is against this background that went on general release in cinemas local community. Amy (Jordanne (James Kelly) and her younger five stars, as are both the young director Frank Berry (Ballymun in April has notched up a string of Murphy) and Dylan (Dafhyd brother. and not-so-young non-professional Lullaby, 2012) brings to the screen four and five-star ratings. Flynn) are faced with other chal- To complicate matters, her fa- cast, but especially also the people a work described by the film mag- Originally workshopped with lenges as well. Amy’s mother is ther’s former girlfriend moves in of Killinarden and other local areas azine List as not only “…an engag- community groups in Killinarden, dead and she has to cope not only with her baby. Dylan, her friend, is where they and community working piece of storytelling…” but “… Tallaght in Dublin, and using non- with navigating adolescence with- being bullied at school by a gang ers (many union members) work a genuine social wake-up call”. professional actors, it explores the out her but also has to take on the who are involved in drugs. on a daily basis to fashion hope It won an award at last year’s “ripple effect” of teenage suicide adult responsibilities of house- Then a young man jumps to his out of such despair. Galway Film Fleadh and since it on other young people and on the keeping for her widowed father death from a bridge over the mo- Michael Halpenny The bloody business of revolution Inside the GPO 1916 – teer group as Collins. as he says with considerable A First-Hand Account He travelled over to Dublin self-deprecation, by “playing By Joe Good with an to take part in the preparations the clown”. introduction by Robert for the Rising, joining a group The rest, however, is grind- Ballagh of mainly British-born Volun- ingly real with teers quartered at a derelict fac- little of the romantic in its THE ORIGINAL 1907 A Sol- tory owned by the Plunkett telling. This is a soldier who diers’ Song by Peadar Kearney, family at Larkfield in Kim- has no time for heroic postur- written in English, was mage, Dublin. ing but understands the adopted and popularised by The largest contingent was bloody business of revolution. the Irish Volunteers in the from Scotland, with a good Yet his record, phlegmatic in years from 1916 (It was not number from Liverpool, Man- tone, possesses a rare power of until 1923 that the Irish ver- chester and London. There, Joe description that places the sion, Amhrán na bhFiann with also took part in making reader inside the GPO at the lyrics by Liam Ó Rinn, emerged weapons and munitions, in- height of the fighting and dur- to be later adopted as the na- cluding bullets, bombs and ing the inevitable bloody with- tional anthem). even pikes. drawal to Moore Street, the The second line of its chorus On Easter Monday morning, women fighters refusing to go goes: “Some have come from a the Kimmage garrison, loaded before the men. with those arms and ammuni- land beyond the wave” and Sometimes critical of both tion, boarded a tram and set Kearney’s anthem in the mak- plans and personalities, he is out on the road to rebellion. ing was never more defiantly yet generous, even insightful, sung than by the GPO garrison Some of the passengers grum- bled at their presence. Their in his assessment of the rebel during Easter Week 1916, leadership. He writes: “…If many of whom were from such Commanding Officer, George Pearse was the soul of the Ris- a “land beyond the wave”. Plunkett, brother of Joseph, ing; James Connolly was its Written in 1946, this is the even offered the fare for the first-hand account of the part ride. heart…” Above all he saw the played by Joe Good, one of But that was almost the last IRB’s Sean McDermott as its those overseas volunteers. gentle revolutionary moment, mind. He was born in Soho, Lon- certainly for Joe Good. From Joe Good’s memoir of 1916 don, in 1895. His mother was then on it was all the mayhem and the War of Independence Irish and her family had con- and confusion of urban war- stands with the best of its nections with the Fenians. As fare in a revolt against over- genre. Grittier than Ernie a young man, he gravitated whelming odds. O’Malley’s seminal book on first to the Gaelic League, then The tale of Joe Good’s war, in the period, On Another Man’s the GAA and later the Irish Vol- the Rising and in the years that Wound, it nevertheless has an unteers after it began organis- followed, is told with rare mo- outstanding ability to convey ing in the city in early 1914. ments of humour. There is a the stark reality of revolution, Of course he wasn’t the only ridiculous episode when, de- thus rendering even more re- young man or woman moving tailed with two others to hold markable the generation, in- O’Connell Bridge armed only in such circles, whether Irish cluding those from a land with a or British-born, and he first beyond the wave, who carried met the youthful Michael shotgun and an axe, he is con- fronted by a squadron of that burden. Collins at a GAA meeting, later Michael Halpenny enrolling in the same Volun- mounted lancers. He survived, 28 Liberty APRIL 2015 Obituaries

OBITUARY Jim Quinn 1930 – 2015 Ardent Larkinite and internationalist JIM Quinn, who died on 2nd 1967 and Chairman in 1969. He ple who needed to be organised”. April, was a lifelong socialist was re-elected every year until the He was proud to serve as a Na- and trade union activist. mid-1990s. Inspired by the aspira- tional Trustee for the first five Born in 1930 in Dublin’s inner tion that “the 70s would be social- years of the new union’s existence city, he was the eldest of the four ist”, he was a candidate in the 1969 and went on thereafter to become children of Jimmy and Margaret General Election along with deeply active on the Retired Mem- Quinn . His father, who worked in Michael O’Leary in the then con- bers’ Committee, serving as its the butchering trade, was a deeply stituency of Dublin North-Central. Chairperson for a number of years committed Larkinite and Labour Unfortunately, it was not to be. and remaining involved until the man who served on the National Jim was to remain a member of day he died. Executive Council of the Workers’ the Labour Party until the day he Jim epitomised all the great val- Union of Ireland. Growing up he died, adopting a position on the ues of the trade union movement met Jim Larkin on many occasions. Left, opposing coalition with Fine and the Left. He was a bright, in- Young Jimmy left home and Gael. However, he was to devote telligent, self-educated and fear- went to sea at the end of the war most of his energy to his trade less man, characterised by an union work. He became a National in 1945 at the tender age of 15. He authoritative but friendly de- Trustee of the WUI in 1972, again eventually ended up in the Mer- meanour. taking on a position on the Left at chant Navy and was to become Internationalist in outlook, he deeply involved in the activities of National Executive Council meet- abhorred the inter-union factional- the Seamen’s Union. ings, along with others such as ism and the sectarianism that has In 1957, Jim met the woman Tom Geraghty, Hilda Breslin, Larry who was to be his wife and lifelong Bateson and Austin Byrne. so retarded the development of the partner, Ellen, also a member of a As Chairman of the Finance working class movement and the family which was deeply involved Committee, he was to play a Left. in the trade union and labour prominent part in the talks which Despite his intellect and courage, movement. resulted in the merger with the his most profound characteristic He left the Merchant Navy and Irish Transport and General Work- was his absolute selflessness and took up employment in the Dublin ers’ Union and the formation of unremitting kindness, which ex- Port and Docks Board, joining the SIPTU in 1990. tended even to his opponents. Workers’ Union of Ireland (WUI) Jim was always very clear on the Apart from his family, all of becoming immersed in its activity. need to bring about the reunifica- whom he loved dearly, the trade He also became active in the tion of the two unions which had union and labour movement and Labour Party and played a promi- been founded by Jim Larkin – an the service of the working class nent role in the successful cam- aspiration which had eluded John and its attendant endless cycle of paign by Denis Larkin (who was Conroy and young Jim Larkin in meetings, rallies, strikes and nego- later to become General Secretary 1968. tiations occupied virtually every of the WUI) to regain the Labour He saw it as a critically impor- thinking moment of his life. seat in Dublin North East in 1965. tant step on the road to building a He is survived by his wife Ellen, In 1966, he was elected on to the Jim Quinn speaking on behalf of retired members movement that was sufficiently daughters Margaret, Antoinette, Branch Committee of the Dublin at the SIPTU Biennial Delegate Conference in 2011 powerful to “defend the gains the Caroline and Sarah Jane, brother Photo: Bernard C. Byrne No. 2 Branch of the WUI, going on working class in Ireland had made Ken, and sister Olive. later to become Vice-Chairman in since 1913 and to organise the peo- Jack O’Connor

CALL AND Jim Larkin James Connolly DROP-IN Memorial Lecture 2015 CENTRE Credit Union If you are interested in joining the Jim Larkin Credit Union The Region 4 Retired Members’ Tel: 01 8721155 or Section is setting up a call and email: [email protected] drop-in centre regarding issues and information for retired members. The C redit Unio fo n Saturday, May 9th at 2pm in the A room in Connolly Hall, Cork, r all SIPTU membe rs and the New Theatre (43 East Essex Street, will be designated for this fami ir lies in the purpose. Dub Temple Bar, Dublin) lin Region ‘Building resistance to austerity and opposing the European Union’ OPEN FIRST TUESDAY OF OpeningOpening Hours:Hours: EVERY MONTH FROM ThursdayThursday 7.007.00 p.m.p.m. - 8.158.15 p.m.p.m. Speaker: Sister Teresa Forcades 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Benedictine nun from Catalunya, a leading campaigner SaturdaySaturday 9.309.30 a.m.a.m. - 112.002.00 noonnoon The Jim Larkin Credit Union is Tel: 01 8794327 regulated by the Irish Financial Services against austerity and for women’s rights Regulatory Authority (IFSRA) Liberty 29 Obituaries APRIL 2015

OBITUARY Owen Doyle A good man to have had on our team IT WAS with deep regret that General Secretary, asked me why I many jobs as possible. His son Owen spoke movingly we learned of the recent wanted to be a full-time official. Of Indeed, he spoke very passion- about him at the funeral Mass in death of our friend and col- course, what I should have said ately about the need for tobacco league, Owen Doyle, former the Church of Our Lady of Good Secretary of Dublin No. 3 was that I wanted to commit my- production to diversify as a result Counsel in Drimnagh, and listen- (Food, Drink and Tobacco) self to the struggle and work for of the inevitable job losses brought ing to him it was obvious that he the development of the movement about by new technology, globali- Branch. summed up very well the Owen Owen was a dedicated and com- blah, blah, blah... sation and the changing attitude we all knew and respected. mitted trade union official who “What I actually said was, ‘Well, towards smoking at the time. An indication of the esteem in started his career in Donnelly’s the old job is a bit dodgy and the Owen was also a keen soccer Bacon factory where he was an ac- future of Donnelly’s is a bit inse- player in his time and played at which Owen was held was the tivist and shop steward before be- cure’... Micky just glared at me – League of Ireland level with Long- number of former colleagues, in- coming a Branch Assistant and I’m not sure if he was impressed, ford Town in the 1950s. cluding present and former Gen- subsequently Branch Secretary in but I got the job anyway.” A tough and skilful player, his ca- eral Officers, who attended the the old ITGWU Dublin No. 3 He brought the same pragma- reer was cut short when he ran funeral Mass to convey their con- Owen Doyle: no-nonsense Branch. tism and common sense to contri- foul of the footballing authorities and pragmatic official dolences to the family. He will be remembered as a no- butions he made as a member of after an on-pitch incident with a He will be sadly missed by Vera, nonsense and pragmatic official the old ITGWU Dublin District referee. in a kick-about when a number of his three daughters, three sons, who had the best interests of his Council. “I gave him a clatter,” he ruefully us came together to show off our grandchildren and the extended members uppermost in his mind During the 1980s he showed explained afterwards. skills even though we were well family, friends and former col- at all times. great dedication and skill in the The incident meant that Owen leagues. In fact his no-nonsense ap- negotiation of a major change in a was subsequently suspended for past our best at the time. proach is best illustrated when he number of industries, including life. However, on occasion, he used He was also a dedicated family Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. recalled details of his initial job in- Irish Distillers, the tobacco indus- to brag: “I was once Sports Star of man and when Owen mentioned Jimmy Somers and terview before the No. 3 Branch try and others, bearing in mind the the Week in the Longford Leader.” his wife, Vera, he spoke about her Brendan Byrne Committee. “Micky (Mullen), then ultimate imperative to protect as In later years he would take part with great affection.

OBITUARY Dick Roche 1926 –2015 Newspaperman had courage to confront power DICK Roche was born in 1926 known republican and journalist, settlement but no apology. It Islands of Lore and Legend. He in Skar in Duncormick, Co Sean Cronin. showed the courage of a man pre- also wrote a series of historical Wexford, to Dolly Dillon and They co-wrote Freedom the pared to challenge the proprietor pamphlets on Co Wexford. He was Lar Roche. His mother was a Wolfe Tone Way. He helped to es- who was among the most powerful always in demand for his knowl- schoolteacher and his father tablish Wolfe Tone Society and was men in the country. edge of local and national history. a farmer. involved in the Irish language When he took early retirement He had worked as a trawlerman He was educated at St Peter’s movement through music and cul- at 62, he was one of the most in Kilmore Quay before entering Secondary School in Wexford town ture in the late 1950s and early senior editorial figures to take a journalism and maintained a boat and then with the Cistercians in 1960s. He was also involved in the redundancy package but on the on the Shannon for many years. Roscrea. As the oldest son he was anti-ground rent and housing agi- condition that he did not work for Dick also penned a history in line to inherit the farm and tation and against absentee land- a rival national title. He went on to column in The Irish Times after went to UCD to study agricultural lords as well other Sinn briefly edit the Enniscorthy Echo. retirement which he typed on an science but ended up going into Féin-supported campaigns of the Dick, who retained a youthful old portable typewriter in a digital journalism starting with local Wex- period. demeanour and disposition, age – much to the frustration of ford newspapers and then to the He joined the Irish Independent was central to the 1798 commem- the paper’s sub-editors. Author and journalist Dundalk-based Argus. and went up the ranks as Books ed- Dick Roche –remained a orations in Wexford in 1998. He remained a sub-editor cor- His father was a republican who itor, Irish language editor, Arts ed- dedicated ‘sub’ to the end He later helped to organise jour- recting spellings and grammatical organised to come out in 1916 and itor and Features editor before nalism courses in Newman and errors in the newspapers to his working so close to the border in becoming deputy editor of the then Griffith College and was head final days. the 1950s, those sentiments were newspaper. him but Dick said the reference to of the journalism faculty in the lat- History was his abiding passion. revitalised in his son. He moved to He was embroiled in controversy positions he had held in the Irish ter before he finally retired. His great love was for his wife Dublin to become a sub-editor – or when he claimed the then owner He wrote a seminal work on the Betty, his daughter Darina, his sons Independent identified him. ‘sub’ – in the Evening Press, then of the newspaper defamed him in Norman Invasion of Ireland and Lorcan and Ronán, and his grand- the Irish Times where he entered a a book called Paper Tigers. The au- The book was pulped and Dick co-wrote with ornithologist Oscar children Oisin, Eve, Piper, Juliette life-long friendship with the well- thor Tony O’Reilly did not name told friends he had received a large Merne a book titled Saltees – and Isobel. 30 Liberty APRIL 2015 Sport

Dublin’s failure to be ‘closers’ is not unique. Nor does it make them ‘losers’. The only losers are those who never take a chance. Picture: Simon Fitzpatrick (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Comebacks, chokers and closers By Matt Treacy

OBODY asked ing of Cork in the league semi-final. Actually, we really ought to think back was possibly Offaly scoring 2- Milan. In basketball it was the me, but…” was Well, we all know what happened of such turnabouts as tributes to 5 in the final five minutes of the Boston Celtics overturning a 24- the device used there. the teams who come back rather 1994 All-Ireland final to beat Lim- point third-quarter deficit to beat Not taking away from Cork’s than as moral failings on the part erick. But my favourite comes cour- the LA Lakers in the 2008 NBA by Jimmy Cannon magnificent comeback – from 12 of the teams who lose! tesy of famous actor Jeremiah play-offs. ‘Nto open his daily sports col- points down at one stage – but no In GAA terms there have been O’Leary, who witnessed Wexford Fittingly, American football’s all- umn for the New York Post on team in any sport ought to lose quite a few, even on big occasions. coming from 15 points down to time Lazarus moment featured the the occasions when he such a lead. There was a strong Unfortunately the Boys in Blue fea- beat Tipperary in the 1958 league unfortunate Buffalo Bills who lost couldn’t think of anything to wind in Kilkenny that assisted both four straight Super Bowls between say sportswise. That gave him Waterford and Cork in overturning 1991 and 1994, and have never won deficits, but it was hardly Hurri- it, nor are ever likely to. Before the the excuse to dispense a litany cane Katrina. Hopefully such a turnabout – 1994 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, of pearls of wisdom from the Hopefully such a turnabout – right back Thurmann Thomas was perspective of a Mick out of reminiscent indeed of the days reminiscent of the days when the asked if he thought they would Hell’s Kitchen. when the Dublin footballers were Dubs were almost a byword for head lose. “Yeah man, I fucking came I suspect it was also a ruse for almost a byword for head staggers here to Atlanta lose. How can you when one of his teams or favoured of Shakespearian proportions – will staggers of Shakespearian ask me such a stupid question?” boxers got beaten. He followed the not haunt them for the rest of the Anyway, on the way to the 1993 New York Giants in baseball before year. proportions – will not haunt them for NFL play-off, Buffalo came from 32 they decamped to San Francisco in I am not big into psychological points behind against the Houston 1958 where in 2010 they won their theories of sport, and I hate listen- the rest of the year Oilers half way through the third first World Series since 1954. ing to teams and players being de- quarter to take the game to over- Cannon claimed that the Giants, scribed as “losers” and “bottlers”, time which they won. Perhaps they whose home was the Polo Grounds or as having caught the “jibs” as our later wished they hadn’t, but I in Harlem where the 1947 All-Ire- American friends put it. At the tured in two of most famous, final. Apparently the great Nicky doubt it. People probably remem- land football final between Cavan same time coughing up big leads spurning a late, six-point lead over Rackard had smashed up the table ber that game more than most and Kerry was played, were the real can become a habit. Mayo to lose by a point in the 2006 in the dressing room at half time Super Bowls which, with the excep- New York team. “The Yankees are Which, in a sad attempt to avoid All-Ireland football semi-final, and and told the boys there would be tion of this year, are often one- strictly for tourists”. any further dissection of the disas- of course Keith Barr missing a no Jaysus tea until they stood up sided affairs. Anyway, what brought him to ter, led me to think of famous col- penalty which would have put like men. So there you have it. Dublin’s mind was my writer's block after lapses in which teams choked up Dublin 10 ahead in the four-game In soccer it surely has to be Liv- failure to be “closers” is not assuring our esteemed editor that I seemingly unassailable positions. epic against Meath in 1991, only to erpool’s coming back from three unique. Nor does it make them would pen a splendiferous eulogy Chokers! Another epithet for that lose to a Kevin Foley goal. goals down to win the 2005 Cham- “losers”. The only losers are those to the Dublin hurlers for their beat- sort of thing. Hurling’s most amazing come pions League final against AC who never take a chance. Liberty 31 Liberty Crossword APRIL 2015 PRIZE DRAW TO WIN TWO NIGHTS FOR TWO Liberty PEOPLE IN ONE OF IRELAND’S Crossword FAIR HOTELS ACROSS DOWN 1122 3453 4 5 6

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