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Vol.13 No. 5 June 2014 ISSN 0791-458X CRISIS AT BAUSCH PRIVATISATIONdscsdcsdcsdcsd THREAT cdscdscdscdsDEFENDING IRISH AND LOMB TO BUS SERVICES UNIVERSITIES Page 2, 6, 7 PagePage xxxxxxxx10 PagePage xxxxxxxxx 22 REMEMBERING No to THE TUAM BABIES further Page 9 budget ENDING THE HOUSING CRISIS cuts Page 13 by Frank Connolly Labour in Government must insist that there will be no further cuts affecting working fami- lies or those who depend on public services in the October budget, SIPTU President Jack O’Connor has said. He said the plan for a further €2 billion in cuts or LIBERTY new taxes is not justified in the light of recent excheq- CROSSWORD uer returns which are €1.2 billion ahead of target for the first five months of the year. WIN A HOTEL BREAK O’Connor said that the new leader of the Labour FOR TWO... Party must resist the call for the €2 billion adjustment in any talks with Fine Gael over Budget 2015 and to Page 31 leave the Government over the issue, if necessary. 1122 33454 5 “If the public finances remain as good as this for the 7 8 remainder of the year there will be absolutely no justi- 9 10 fication for a budget of anything remotely approaching Activists from the SIPTU Fair Deal for Cleaners Campaign held a series of colourful events to mark 111211 12 13 International Justice Day for Cleaners on Monday, 16th June in Dublin, Cork and Galway. 14 €2bn. Therefore, it is perfectly feasible to insist that 15 16 Pictured at the event in Connolly Station in Dublin were from left to right: Galyna Korytko, 17 there must be no further cuts affecting working 18 19 20 Jay Esteron and Carmen Maria Villanueva See page 3. Photo: Darragh O’Connor Continued on page 2 2 2 Liberty In this month’sLiberty JUNE 2014 News Bausch and Lomb workers accept cost savings deal Paris Bakery SIPTU members in Bausch and by 11 days of talks between union which it was decided to put them to representatives, lead by SIPTU Vice- ballot. The result was announced on sit-in Lomb have voted to accept a cost savings deal which management President, Patricia King, and manage- Monday, 16th June. SIPTU Organiser Alan O’Leary said: Page 5 has said will secure the future of ment. The talks’ process was facilitated by the Labour Relations “These proposals were very difficult the multinational’s contact lens Commission (LRC) and broke up for our members to accept. However manufacturing plant in Water- without agreement after two enhanced compensation means that ford. marathon overnight sessions con- these cuts won't be felt for some time The crisis at the Bausch and Lomb cluding on the morning of Thursday, which provides a vital cushion. Also, St James’s SIPTU plant in Waterford began on 29th 12th June. The LRC then published a new gain sharing commitment from the company equivalent to 10% of May with a shock announcement to the final proposals tabled by the Committee savings on unit labour costs shared workers that Valeant, the owner of management side. equally among workers provides an interview the company, was seeking 200 job The agreement includes a wage re- opportunity to mitigate the losses.” Page 11 losses plus a 20% cut in wages or it duction of 7.5% in basic pay; elimina- In a letter to workers the Valeant would close the facility. tion of some bonuses; one hour Chief Executive Officer, J. Michael The demand for cuts was not due added work per week and a reduction Pearson, stated that the agreement to falling profit margins but based on in the Sick Pay scheme. The company would enable management to “keep Rosie Hackett a claim by management that €20 mil- also agreed to work with the IDEAS the Waterford plant open and viable Bridge opened lion in cuts were necessary to keep Institute to develop innovation in the for the long term.” He also commit- the Waterford plant open as payroll operation of production lines. ted his company to further invest- Page 17 costs were running at 30% higher These proposals were presented to ment in the plant; the letter also than in the company’s facility at a general meeting of SIPTU members praised the “constructive negotia- Rochester, New York. in the company canteen on the tions” between union leaders and The announcement was followed evening of Thursday, 12th June, at management. LGBT Rights training course Strike at Roadstone Woods Ltd Page 20 Strike action by SIPTU members The strike action will continue Due to the unrealistic demands of began at Roadstone Woods Ltd until a fair resolution of the dispute management these talks broke down. facilities across the country on is achieved. Union representatives are prepared Monday, 16th June, in a dispute SIPTU Organiser, Davy Lane, said: to engage with the company in real- concerning an attempt by man- “Over the last number of months istic and meaningful negotiations Jimmy Hall’s agement to implement major both SIPTU and the TEEU have en- when it indicates it is willing to do story cuts to workers’ wages. gaged in negotiations with the man- so.” agement of Roadstone Woods Ltd. Page 24 Ballot on Irish Rail proposals Plight of Filipino SIPTU members in Irish Rail are clude definitive clarity on exchequer The SIPTU National Rail Commit- subvention for the rail service for the tee decided on Monday, 16th June, to rural poor to ballot on fresh proposals for cost saving measures in the com- next three years and a guarantee that put the proposals to a ballot of mem- Page 26 pany. the company will not seek further bers. The ballot will take place from pay reductions or changes to condi- 19th June until 6th July and will be According to SIPTU Sector Organ- tions of employment during that counted on 7th July. iser, Willie Noone, the proposals in- time. Sport SIPTU to study Aer Lingus/DAA pensions report Page 29-30 SIPTU will carefully study the (IASS) which was issued on representatives in Aer Lingus and final report of the Expert Panel Monday, 16th June. the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) on the resolution of industrial “We will carefully study the report on its content and recommenda- relations issues in the Irish Avi- over the coming days and will con- tions,” said SIPTU Pensions Policy Advisor, Dermot O’Loughlin. ation Superannuation Scheme sult with our members and their Continued from page 1 – No to further budget cuts families or the people who depend which are largely the result of grow- ment Bank. Editor: Frank Connolly, SIPTU Head of Communications on public services,” Jack O’Connor ing employment in the economy. “If it could be established in time Journalist: Scott Millar said. “Of course, the levels of growth for September it could compete at Design: Sonia Slevin (SIPTU), Joe Mitchell (Brazier Media) & William Hederman “We have already come out publicly must be maintained in order to en- auctions for the €400bn in low inter- Publications Assistant: Deirdre Price calling on the incoming leadership of sure that the gap between tax rev- est loans for the SME Sector which enue and spending does not expand Administrative Assistant: Karen Hackett the Labour Party to insist on this as a has just been announced by the Eu- beyond 3% of GDP by the end of 2015. Produced, designed, edited and printed by trade union labour. red line issue in any talks with the ropean Central Bank. Generating jobs Printed by The Irish Times, City West, Dublin. This is why we are urging the Labour Fine Gael Party and we have also is the key to recovery and gradually Liberty is dedicated to providing a platform for progressive news and views. Party within the Government to ramp called on them to make it clear that improving living standards once If you have any ideas for articles or comments please contact: up its emphasis on measures to stim- [email protected] they will leave Government on this ulate the growth of domestic demand. again. After that, the next most im- portant element is increasing wages Liberty is published by the Services, Industrial, Professional & Technical Union, issue if necessary.” This accounts for three quarters of Liberty Hall, Dublin 1 He said that it was possible to GDP and two thirds of it is comprised which also increases employment be- SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor • Vice President, Patricia King • achieve the deficit target of less than of consumer spending,” he argued. cause it improves spending power General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn 3% of GDP without anything re- He said the Government must within the economy. We have to use Production: SIPTU Communications Department, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, motely like a €2 billion correction press ahead quickly with the estab- every opportunity to press the case,” Tel: 01 8588217 • Email: [email protected] given the growth in tax revenues lishment of the new Strategic Invest- Jack O’Connor said. See page 15. Liberty 3 News JUNE 2014 Housing top priority for Dublin City Alliance OR the first time pro- He added: “The parties and indi- There was a broad welcome for gressive parties and viduals in the Dublin City Alliance Burke’s election as Mayor given his Independents have share many core beliefs and the many years of service on the coun- come together to agree housing crisis will top the agenda, cil for the citizens of the city. F both in terms of assisting those During the centenary celebra- a programme for the running who are homeless and seeking to tions of the 1916 Rising, in 2016, of Dublin City Council over increase the number of social the position of Lord Mayor will be the next five years.