union post june 2011

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WHEN trade unionists from across Ireland gather for Congress’ BiennialDelegate Conference in Killarneynext month, they will find a tradeunion movement that is in goodshape, fighting fit, and ready for thebattles that lie ahead.

The 800 delegates, observers andguests will hear figures detailinghow membership has remained robustly strong despite the depth ofthe recession and the loss of tens ofthousands of jobs.

Trade unions are working people’sfirst – and last – line of defenceagainst a neoliberal onslaught thathas turned a banking crisis into anattack on jobs, pay, conditions andservices.

But a guiding principle of ourmovement has always been strengthin numbers – and figures show thatthe number of members drawn fromCongress’ 54 affiliated unions nowstands at 797,399.

This is down 19,449 on the 2010figure and represents a 2.4% dip inunion membership.

It is a reflection of the savage assault on jobs and is not an indication of any disenchantmentwith trade unions or trade unionism.

In fact, the figures back this view,showing that decline in union membership has occurred at aSLOWER rate than the general fallin employment.

It should be remembered that inthe Republic alone, there is a tradeunion density rate of 38.3% of theworkforce – one of the highest ratesin Europe.

STRONGERTOGETHER

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50,000 workers atPrague anti-cuts demo

US nurses march onD.C. and Wall Street

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90 trade unionists murdered last year

Activists’ ‘flash mob’action at awards do

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Oxfam: Cards on tabletime at G8 summit 9

Northern Ireland CommitteeIrish Congress of Trades Unions4-6 Donegall Street PlaceBelfast BT1 2FN Northern IrelandTel: 02890 247940Fax: 02890 246898Email: [email protected]: www.ictuni.org

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UNION POST

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ngressA CONGRESS delegation has met with senior

Dutch trade unionists to discuss the Irish and European debt crisis, and organised labour’s response to it.

The delegation – Congress president JackO’Connor, general secretary David Begg and economic advisor Paul Sweeney – met leaders ofthe FNV at their HQ in Amsterdam.

The FNV – the Federation of the DutchLabour Movement – represents 1.4m unionisedworkers across all sectors of Dutch society.

According to David Begg, the meeting is part ofan ongoing initiative designed to change the picture of Ireland abroad and to stress that thedebt crisis is a European issue that needs to beresolved at an EU level.

He said: “The debt crisis cannot be corralled orquarantined in one country – the sickness is atthe heart of the European financial system and

that has to be addressed.”

Congress has already met andbriefed the leadershipof Germany’s mainunion federation, theDGB, as well as theheads of Finland’sleading labour federa-tion, the SAK.

Mr Begg added:“The crisis in Irelandis a manifestation of a wider EU crisis and it requires resolution at that level. But three yearson, the only official response has been to ignorethe problems in the financial sector and imposesevere austerity programmes. That is entirely self-defeating.”

Begg: ‘Self-defeating’

Congress delegation briefsDutch unions on debt crisis

TRADE UNIONISTS fromacross Ireland are heading toKillarney early next month forCongress’ Biennial DelegateConference 2011.

Some 800 delegates, observers and guests will con-verge on the INEC in the CoKerry town for the conference,which runs from July 4-6.

The overall theme of thisyear’s BDC is ‘A Better, FairerWay’ with participants debatinga total of 41 motions, includingfour from the Executive Coun-cil.

Conference formally openson Monday, July 4, at 4.30pm.Taoiseach Enda Kenny is sched-uled to address conference thatevening, while Tanaiste EamonGilmore will deliver an addresson Wednesday, July 6.

Debate will focus heavily onthe economy, the bank crisis andworkplace rights. There are alsomotions on equality and inter-national solidarity.

Findings from eagerly-awaitedreport from the Commissionon the Trade Union Movementwill also be delivered.

A range of other speakerswill address the conference, in-cluding incoming European

Trade Union Confederationgeneral secretary BernadetteSégol, while delegates will alsohear from the head of the globaltrade union federation – theITUC.

The conference will also fea-ture a round table debate onthe theme of ‘Which Way forEurope’, featuring a host of na-tional and international experts.

Killarney mayor Sean Couni-han and homeless charity activist Sister Stanilaus Kennedywill also address delegates.

Delegates moving a motioncan speak for five minutes, witheach subsequent speaker getting three minutes each tomake their point.

Congress organisers haveurged delegates to be punctualand to be present throughoutall sessions.

Delegates are also remindedto show their credential cardwhen entering the conferencehall.

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3June 2011 � THE UNION POST

ACTION PACT!NORTHERN Ireland’s public sectortrade unions have vowed to worktogether to oppose public servicecuts, job losses, pay freezes, attackson welfare benefits and pensions.

Congress assistant general secretary Peter Bunting said theunions that had signed up to theJune 15 declaration had agreed toco-operate in a co-ordinated campaign of industrial action.

He added: “The declaration is asignal to those in government inNorthern Ireland that the unions,

with the support of local communi-ties, will resist the cuts being implemented by the Executive.

“All the unions party to the declaration plan to commencepreparations leading to a ballotingof their members for industrial action.”

Mr Bunting claimed this repre-sented an “unprecedented unity” of workers to prevent further attacks on jobs, services, pay andpensions.

He added: “A co-ordinated cam-

paign of action will galvanise oppo-sition in Northern Ireland to thecuts in public spending and welfarebenefits that will severely damagethe fabric of our society resulting ina huge increase in unemployment inboth the private and public sectors.

“If there is no reversal of theseattacks on ordinary working peo-ple, then we are unfortunately fac-ing a prolonged period of industrialstrife, commencing in autumn orearlier where specific services andjobs are under immediate threat.”

Ireland should lead way in ratifying historic treatyCONGRESS has called on the Irish governmentto take a “global lead” on workers’ rights by becoming the first nation to ratify a landmarktreaty that gives protection to an estimated 53million domestic workers throughout the world.

Legal affairs officer Esther Lynch made the callfollowing the vote at the International LabourOrganisation’s annual conference in Geneva onJune 16.

Speaking from the conference, she said: “Ireland was one of the first countries in the EUto establish a code of practice for domestic

workers, which Congress negotiated as part ofthe Towards 2016 national agreement, in 2006.

“That helped establish rights for an often forgotten and neglected cohort of workers.

“Given that all members of the Irish delega-tion at the ILO voted in favour of this treaty, itwould seem entirely reasonable that the govern-ment could move with speed to ratification.”

The vote was hailed by ILO director generalJuan Somavia as “history being made”. He said:“We are moving the standards system of theILO into the informal economy for the first

time, and this is a breakthrough of great signifi-cance.”

The new ILO standards set out that domesticworkers must have the same basic labour rightsas those available to other workers – reason-able hours of work ,a weekly rest of at least 24consecutive hours, a limit on in-kind payments,clear information on terms and conditions ofemployment, as well as respect for fundamentalprinciples and rights at work, including freedomof association and the right to collective bargaining.

ILO chief Juan Somavia joins a delegation of domestic workers in giving the thumbs up following the landmark vote on June 16

CONGRESS president Jack O’Connorhas slammed as “populist play acting”calls for the dismantling of wage pro-tection mechanisms after the Repub-lic’s jobless rate rose to 14.8% in May.

He described the calls from the employer lobby as a cynical exploita-tion of the plight of the unemployed.

Mr O’Connor, who is also SIPTUgeneral president, said: “Far from alleviating unemployment, cutting thepay of the lowest paid 20% of theworkforce is the very last thing thecountry needs because it will only

serve to further depress consumerdemand resulting in the loss of morejobs. To use the latest unemploymentfigures as a pretext for cutting thewages of low paid workers is a cynicalexploitation of those who have beendeprived of employment while enhancing the position of some in the business community.

“Populist play acting to the businessgallery will contribute nothing and illbehoves those charged with responsi-bility for providing leadership in ourcurrent difficult circumstances.”

‘Cynical’ attack on jobless

Jack O’Connor: Pretext

Peter Bunting: ‘Unprecedented’

Public sector unions to co-ordinateanti-cuts campaign across North

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A NEW report has highlightedhow middle and low incomeworkers in the UK have seenbarely an improvement in theirwages over the past 30 years.

But the same data showsthat pay has soared for traditionally high-earning occupations, such as solicitorsand doctors, over the same period.

The TUC paper, The Liveli-hood Crisis by Open Universityresearcher Stewart Lansley, de-tails the sharp divide betweenthe likes of medical practition-ers – seeing a 153% hike intheir pay packets – and bakers,

who have had to stomach aone per cent cut in theirs.

In his conclusion, Mr Lansleywrites: “It is surely now time toopenly acknowledge the failingsof the last 30 years and fashionmore pragmatic and nuancedpolicies that recognise thatmarkets can indeed be power-ful drivers of growth andwealth, but that without signifi-cant corrective measures, theyconsistently fail to provide forall in a fair and humane way.”

According to TUC generalsecretary Brendan Barber, right,

vast sections of the populationhave not derived any benefitfrom economic growth in theUK for decades.

He added: "The financialcrash has exposed decades oflimp wage growth offset bysoaring household debt.

"Unless we radically trans-form our economy – from recasting the role of the stateto prioritising a fairer distribu-tion of new wealth and jobs –we will simply be storing upmore problems for the future."

http://www.tuc.org.uk/tucfiles/28/Britains_Livelihood_Crisis.pdf

30 years of standing still UK SALARIES

CSO FIGURES

THE Communication Workers’Union has slammed plans by Voda-fone Ireland to “off shore” morethan 130 customer services jobs toIndia and Egypt as “breathtakinglycallous and insensitive”.

Deputy general secretary TerryDelany made the comments following a meeting with the communication giant’s senior management on May 27.

It is understood that Vodafone isterminating its contract with RigneyDolphin, its customer care call centre provider in Ireland.

More than 100 jobs in Dundalkand Dublin will go in the move.Thirty more jobs within Vodafoneare moving overseas and a further41 are being outsourced to an Irishcompany.

Mr Delany said: “The company’splan to shift moderately paid Irishjobs servicing Irish customers tooff-shore locations in India and

Egypt at a time when over 400,000people are unemployed and ordinary workers and businessesare struggling to keep their headsabove water, displays breathtakinglycallousness and insensitive.”

Mr Delany also claimed that Vodafone was making a “false distinction” between those directly

employed by the company andthose working at Rigney Dolphin.

He pointed out it was the CWU’sview that Rigney Dolphin had beenan “integral part” of the customercare service.

He added: “The company appearshappy to make profits from its Irishcustomers, enjoy Irish pro-businesssupports and Irish tax rates, but is not willing to reciprocate in supporting Irish jobs to service itsIrish operations.”

Mr Delany called on Communica-tions Minister Pat Rabbitte, to intervene and spell out clearly thatcompanies such as Vodafone thatenjoy the benefits of Ireland’s pro-business tax and investment supports also have obligations –particularly to their workers.

He said:“The entire focus of thegovernment’s economic recovery

policy is on job creation and reten-tion.

“The quid pro quo must be acommitment from large companiesto support jobs in Ireland on theback of the large profits andfavourable tax rates they enjoy.”

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary David Begg has confirmedhe raised the issue with EnterpriseMinister Richard Bruton at a recentmeeting.

He underlined how the Vodafoneplan seemed to “run counter to thespirit and the thrust of the govern-ment’s Jobs Initiative which aims tocreate new opportunities and saveexisting jobs.”

Mr Begg also noted that VodafoneIreland was a highly profitable com-pany that had enjoyed consistentprofits since it entered the markethere.

Terry Delany: ‘Insensitive’ move

CWU hits out at ‘callous’ planto off shore jobs by Vodafone

http://www.cwu.ie/Activists/Vodafone-Campaign-Email-Your-TDs.1008.1.aspxEMAIL YOUR TD AT

NEW figures showing a sharp fall in do-mestic demand confirm the Republic hasreached “the limits of austerity”’ and urgently needs to inject new life into theeconomy, Congress has claimed.

Data released by the Central StatisticsOffice show domestic demand fell by almost €1bn (€990m) – or 3.1% – in theyear to end Quarter One.

There was also a substantial fall inGross National Product of some €4.3%,in the first quarter of 2011.

Congress economic advisor PaulSweeney said: “The austerity programme is crippling the domesticeconomy. It is choking off demand, closing businesses and costing us jobs.

“Even the most ideological of zealotsmust now concede that the programmeis self-defeating as it is killing that whichit purports to try and save.”

He warned the rise of 1.3% in GrossDomestic Product would have little im-pact on the lives of people in Ireland.

“That figure primarily reflects the ex-

ports and flows of funds, the profits androyalties of multinationals

“We have reached the very limits ofausterity and need an urgent change ofpolicy.

“The cost of the bank bailout and cutsin public spending are costing jobs anddevastating people’s lives.”

Mr Sweeney, right, said the first step ina new strategy would be to announce an enhanced Jobs Initiative to boost confi-dence.

He added: “We should invest some ofthe remaining €5.3bn in the Pension Re-serve Fund in job creation, in credit forsmall business, in training and in neededinfrastructure, especially public trans-port and school buildings.”

Congress president Jack O’Connor saidthe data highlighted the “nonsense” ofpursuing an austerity programme thathas “bedevilled our country” for fouryears.

He added: “The figures prove, if anymore proof was needed, the necessity of

re-negotiating theTroika Agreementso that the countrycan get a chance tobreathe and growagain.”

Meanwhile, a newreport has revealedthat – despite thehardship suffered bymost people as a result of the reces-sion – a significantnumber are gettingBETTER off.

The yearly Merrill Lynch/Cap GeminiWorld Wealth Report shows there wereabout 19,000 so called "high net worthindividuals" in the Republic during 2010,an increase from 18,100 recorded a yearearlier.

These high net worth individuals aredefined as having more than €694,000 –the equivalent of $1m – in financial as-sets.

‘LIMITS OF AUSTERITY’ HIT

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THE Biennial Delegate Conference isto signal a major sea change in theway unions operate in Ireland Northand South.

It will come in a report to be delivered in Killarney next month.

Titled ‘A Call to Action’, the report is being presented by theCommission on the Irish Trade UnionMovement against, what the authorsacknowledge, is a “hostile environment for workers and thetrade union movement in general”.

But the report goes on to point outthat even though unions were facingcrises on an almost daily basis, it wasnecessary to focus on “ways ofstrengthening” the trade union move-ment “in the longer term”.

Formulating a new vision waslikened to “building a ship on astormy sea with no blueprint to guideus”, but the report claims it also affords an opportunity to change the trade union movement “for thebetter” over the next 12 months.

Among its key recommendationsare:

�� The formulation of a new Strate-gic Plan that will set out an alterna-tive to the “severe free market

approach” and develop ways of winning widespread public support forthe intiative.

�� A drive to increase the density oftrade union membership North andSouth and to promote an “organisingculture” within unions. This wouldinvolve calling on ordinary unionmembers to “drive change” atshopfloor level.

�� Encouraging increased co-opera-tion between unions within sectors.This would be driven by sectoralmeetings tasked with strategic organ-ising and with initiating joint cam-paigns as well as looking at poolingtraining, procurement and promo-tional resources.

�� The forming of a Strategic Organising Group that will includeunions from both jurisdictions.

�� The development of a strategiccommunications policy to look at better ways of connecting with unionmembers, unorganised workers andcivil society in general.

�� A review of the Constitution ofCongress.

�� The convening of a Global UnionRoundtable to learn from trade unioncentres from around the world.

ROOT AND BRANCH LOOK ATHOW UNIONS DO BUSINESS

A Call to Action paper puts forward agenda of change

SIPTU and the INMO have backedcalls by The Carers Association forthe introduction of a strategy thatwill allow for the long-term contin-uation of care giving in the home.

It follows the screening of aPrimetime Investigates programmeon May 30 revealing the devastatingimpact health cuts have had onfamily carers.

According to a survey carriedout for the programme, more than82% of respondents said that hadbeen affected adversely by cuts instate services.

Catherine Cox, communicationsmanager for The Carers Associa-tion, claimed the report backed upthe group’s own findings.

She said: “Families are literally skipping meals to keep their headsabove water.

“Viewers may be shocked by thereport’s findings but The Carers Association is already aware thatthis kind of hardship is common-place for many family carers.”

The INMO claimed that anyonewho watched the documentarywould have to question how acivilised society could leave themost vulnerable to suffer in thisway.

President Sheila Dickson said theprogramme showed the true costto society of years of neglect of the

health service. She pointed outthat the new programme of gov-ernment had referred to “mendingthe pieces of a fractured society”,adding: “It is now time to beginmending these fractured lives, tolook after the most vulnerablemembers of our society and tohelp those who care for them athome by giving them the supportsthey need, when they need them.”

SIPTU health sector organiserLouise O’Reilly said the pro-gramme highlighted the need tomaximise the hours of home helpsworking both for not-for-profitagencies and the HSE.

She added: “It is scandalous tothink that our members are havingtheir hours cut when you see thatthey are so badly needed by carers.

“The home help service is a verycost-effective way of providing carein the home for people who may otherwise end up costing the statemore money in hospital.

“The Carers Association hascalled for a national primary carestrategy which would be welcome.In the meantime, the HSE couldmaximise the resources it currentlyhas and alleviate the burden on so many parents and carers as highlighted by Prime Time.”

Unions call for newhome care strategy


Congress hails Rosalba’s releaseCONGRESS has welcomed the releasefrom prison of Colombian trade unionistand human rights activist Rosalba GaviriaToro.

Rosalba. who is president of theWomen’s Movement for Peace andHuman Rights and a member of agricul-tural workers’ union FENSUAGRO, wasdetained in March 2009.

She was accused of “rebellion” and “se-rious conspiracy to commit a crime” butwas released on June 3 after all charges

were thrown out by a judgeat a hearing.

Congress equality anddevelopment officer DavidJoyce said: “Last year, Congress asked for emailsdemanding Rosalba's release to be sent to theColombian authorities.

“Her release earlier thismonth shows that campaigning reallyworks. It's really great news.”

MANDATE has claimed the recentDuffy/Walsh report into JLCs andEROs contradicts assertions frombusiness interests that the wage setting mechanisms hinder job creation.

The paper was jointly authored byLabour Court chairman Kevin Duffyand UCD economics professorFrank Walsh.

Employers’ group IBEC expresseddisappointment with their conclu-sions and claimed the “antiquated”system was “out of touch with thethe urgent need to create employ-ment”.

Director Brendan McGinty said:“Mere tinkering with the currentprocedures will be seen by employ-ers as a failure to address the underlying competitiveness issuesthat are crucial to job creation andeconomic recovery.”

But Mandate general secretaryJohn Douglas hit back and called on employers to stop putting short-term personal gains over theneeds of the country and accept theexpert findings.

Speaking after the report waspublished last month, he said: “Thefact is that this independent reviewdoes not back up the exaggeratedclaims made by the employers’ or-ganisations about the ‘job creation’impact of the abolition of the JLCs.

“It’s important that the record isput straight in this regard – MrDuffy and Dr Walsh are independ-ent experts of the highest integritywho reviewed all the evidence infront of them and came to theirconclusions.

“What the employers’ organisa-tions need to do now is to deal with the facts as presented in thisindependent review – not themyths they’ve been peddling forsome time.”

Mr Douglas also flagged up recent research that had shown thatscrapping JLCs would cost 10,000jobs because of a reduction in thespending power of workers onlower and middle incomes.

He added: “The system which hasstood the test of time and deliveredfor workers and employers alike

throughout times of bust and boomhas been upheld as the best way of maintaining decent jobs and protecting employers and workers.”

The Coalition to Protect theLowest Paid – a group representinga range of organisations includingSIPTU, Mandate and UNITE – alsowelcomed the report’s conclusionthat wage setting mechanismsshould be maintained to protectreasonable employment standardsfor vulnerable workers.

Speaking on behalf of the group,TASC’s Bill Abom said: “We agreethat the terms and conditions set byJLCs, agreed between worker andemployer representatives in a fair

manner, establish very basic provisions which are reasonable insectors where workers need anddeserve greater protection.

“The JLC mechanisms now needto be strengthened in light of thisreview.”

Meanwhile, UNITE has warnedagainst any attempt to dismantle theagreements through the ‘back door’of review and reform.

The union in particular rejects theright for employers to claim deroga-tion from the agreement.

Regional secretary Jimmy Kellysaid: “Employers could form a cabaland put up one of their number asneeding to reduce wages to survive.

“Then the distortion this wouldbring could allow them all to pleadthe same and it is the workers whowill get shafted.

“We will always work to find solutions in cases where there is agenuine threat to survival but to formalise an inability to pay clausewould be like erecting a neon signfor bad employers to bring every-body down.”

John Douglas Jimmy Kelly

Mandate claims report shootsdown IBEC’s assertion on jobs

DUFFY/WALSH REPORT

RADICAL weeklyTribune haslaunched an online archivecovering 75 yearsof its coverage ofthe British labourmovement.

Launched in1937 as a vehicleto unite the left against the riseof Fascism and the threat of warin Europe, Tribune was thebrainchild of UK Labour giantsAneurin Bevan, Stafford Crippsand a staunch band of support-ers and financiers.

It quickly became a platformfor wider debate within thelabour movement and has remained a powerful voice of thesocial democratic left.

Tribune editor Chris McLaugh-lin said: “The creation of a digitalarchive means that a legacy of 75years of Labour history is nowavailable in a few keystrokes.

“It is a remarkable, unrivalledresource for party and unionmembers, students, researchers,activists, journalists, MPs, civilservants book reviewers andmany others.

“Initially the service will befree to new visitors though wedo advise that at some stage frequent users will be given theopportunity to subscribe or payafter what we will aim to ensureis a generous measure of freevisits.”

He added: “Licences will alsobe available to institutions.These steps will be necessary torecoup the large investment thathas gone into creating this unri-valled archive.”http://archive.tribunemagazine.co.uk/about

Tribune archive islaunched online

MARCH PASTAn image from the Library of Congress collection of a rainyMay Day parade in New York on May 1, 1911. 10,000 workerstook part in the march towards the Big Apple’s Union Square


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Improving the working lives of people in the following industries:Telecoms, Postal, Courier, I.T., Engineering, Call Centre,

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IMPACT has claimed the localgovernment sector in the Republic has already met itsend-of-year staffing targets leading to massive savings underthe Croke Park Agreement.

But despite this, the union’slocal government national secre-tary Peter Nolan warned thatsome commentators and econo-mists were now seeking “to sow the seeds of fatalism” aboutfurther pay cuts among local authority workers.

He made the comments at the union’s local governmentand education conference inCastlebar on May 26.

Mr Nolan told delegates: “In2009, they successfully sowedthe seeds of fatalism, telling usover and over again that paywould have to be cut, until it assumed the status of a facteven among some of our ownmembers.

“They are at it again, with dailyopinion pieces saying CrokePark will ‘obviously’ fail and thatit is ‘inevitable’ that more publicservice pay cuts will be imposed.They are wrong.

“The government parties haverepeatedly said that they will honour the agreement so longas it continues to deliver thenecessary savings and reforms.Even the IMF-EU ‘troika’ hastaken the same position.

“Don’t listen to the naysayers,but keep on delivering in orderto protect your jobs, pay, andpensions – and to continue protecting the local services thatour communities depend on.”

CONGRESS’ Public Services Committee has described the findings of the review into theworkings of the Croke Park agreement as “positive and encouraging”.

IMPACT general secretary Shay Cody, who ischair of the PSC, said: “The report reflects thatthe agreement, despite the dire predictions of itscritics, has achieved in its first year what it set outto do – namely, to reduce the cost of deliveringpublic services, while at the same time maintain-ing and, in some cases, improving those services.

“This has been achieved in the first year, exceeding projected targets, which means thatjobs and pay in the sector are protected from anyfurther cuts.” He admitted that “of course” chal-lenges would lie ahead but that it had been a

“very positive and encouraging start”.INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan, PSC

vice-chair, added: “This is a very encouraging signthat the agreement can protect jobs and pay. Itshows clearly how public servants are deliveringvital reforms and at the same time reducing publicspending.

“The report’s findings show that the requiredsavings can be made without recourse to furtherdamaging pay cuts and compulsory redundancieswhich would have an enormously negative effecton the economy, as past experience has shown.”

Patricia King, vice president of SIPTU, claimedthe first review of the implementation bodyshould give critics of the deal pause for thought.

She said: “While there have been occasional

calls to abandon the agreement in favour of further damaging cuts, the evidence is that theagreement is delivering what it promised for allcitizens and for the state. Croke Park has shownthat it can and will continue to deliver value.”

PSEU general secretary Tom Geraghty said:“The report’s emphasis on the importance of industrial peace in helping to rebuild Ireland’s international reputation is welcome.

“The agreement has afforded public servants anopportunity to make a very significant contribu-tion to rebuilding that reputation. Despite the uncertainty brought about by other crises, thissustained effort has provided some certainty. It isa significantly positive achievement at a time whengood news is, unfortunately, a rarity.”

PSC: Report shows Croke deal is delivering

Beware of‘naysayers’on CrokePark deal

Peter Nolan: Media agenda

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Fire saleof state assetsopposedIMPACT members working incommercial state companieshave voted to oppose the sale ofstate assets to the private sector.

Delegates gathered at theunion’s services and enterprisesdivision conference in Castlebaron May 26 heard national secre-tary Matt Staunton blast sell-offproposals contained in the Review Group report into stateassets and liabilities.

He said: “There are only twocompelling reasons to sell stateassets. Either the aim is to improve services or it is to raisecash. In the current economicenvironment, neither of theseboxes can be ticked.

“The money isn't out therefor anyone to purchase state infrastructure and services, or toinvest in their development. Itlooks as though that will remainthe case for some time.”

Mr Staunton flagged up thefallout from previous privatisa-tions where “citizen sharehold-ers” had got their “fingers badlyburned”.

Rather he pointed to ICTU’s“pragmatic approach” allowingfor the sell-off of a minority portion of holdings.

This had the merit of “learningfrom the mistakes of the past”.

He added: “Clearly, in the current climate, there won't be asignificant benefit to the govern-ment by pursuing a clearancesale.”

When the chips are down... does the G8really care about plight of world’s poor?

Picture: Delph

ine Be

del/O

xfam

France

OXFAM has reminded theleaders of the world’s topeconomies that their commitment to the poor is“dangerously off track”.

And the campaigningcharity staged an impromptu game of poker,above, on the fringes of lastmonth’s G8 Summit inDeauville, France, to ham-

mer home the fact. It wasclaimed that the world’smost powerful movers andshakers are gambling withthe future of millions ofmarginalised and impover-ished people.

A spokesperson said: “TheG8 leaders made a promiseto the world’s poorest peo-ple to halve poverty by 2015

and to put people first. “With only four years to

go on that commitment, theG8 must enact an emer-gency plan to deliver the aidthey have promised, and invest in reducing hunger,health and education andtake action to stop richcompanies avoiding taxes inpoor countries.”

PRIVATISATION

Ian Cobain, ofThe Guardian,with Eamonn McCann atAmnestyAwards inLondon

DERRY Trades Council vice chair Eamonn McCann has won a top human rights award forhis reporting on the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.

The award was presented to the veteran reporter and activist at the Amnesty Interna-

tional Media Awards in London on May 25.In his acceptance speech, he toldthose gathered at the British FilmInstitute for the event that thestory of Bloody Sunday was “clearby the day after”.

He said: "It happened in broaddaylight. There were hundreds ofwitnesses overall, dozens of witnesses for each killing, alleager to tell what they saw.

“But no-one in authoritywanted to listen. It took 38 yearsto get that story finally told.”

Mr McCann added: "I want topay tribute to the families of theBloody Sunday victims. It has beentheir tireless efforts for justicewhich have kept me working onthis story for so long.

“This award belongs to them."Picture: Amnesty International

Bloody Sunday reports award Experienced photographer specialises in campaigning photography

for trade unionsand NGOs.

For conferences,campaign launches,

street demos, May Day parades,magazine and PR

photography.Shared commission

rates for ICTU conferences.

Kevin Cooper

PHOTOLINE

CONTACT

E: [email protected]: 028 90777299 M: 07712044751

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Public service workers

unite in 24hr stoppage

ETUC DAY OF ACTION

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PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE IRISH CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS

THE

►PROTESTS NORTH, SOUTH AND ACROSS EUROPEDUBLIN

BELFAST

L’DERRY

Meet 12.30pm outside Anglo Irish Bank, Stephen’s Green.March to rally outside Dail @ 1pm

Assemble outside City Hall @ 12.30pm

Assemble outside Guildhall @ 12.30pm GENERAL STRIKE IN SPAIN. DEMOS IN POLAND, PORTUGAL, ITALY, LATVIA, UK,LITHUANIA, BELGIUM, CZECH REPUBLIC, CYPRUS, SERBIA, ROMANIA & FRANCE

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UNDERATTACKBUT WE’RE FIGHTING BACK ...

SEPT 29 DAY OF ACTION PICTURES & REPORTS PAGES 14-17

More cuts: Lenihan

Axe man: Osborne

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© K

evin

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REPORT & PICTURES: P2/3

RISE LIKE LIONS! Eamonn McCann concludes October 23 rally against the cuts in Belfast with a rousing quote from radical poet Shelley

NEWS YOU CAN USE

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U

SHAMEFULNOV 27 NATIONAL DEMO PICTURES & REPORT PAGES 6-11

Axe man: Lenihan

Pict

ure:

MAN

DAT

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CONGRESS general secretary DavidBegg has called the December 10 Dailvote to cut the minimum wage “a day ofshame”.It follows a week of shame as the FiannaFail-led government effectively ceded financial sovereignty to the IMF and the

European Central Bank, agreeing to a humiliating €85bn bailout.Describing it as a “contemptible” move,Mr Begg said the wage cut took €40 aweek from the working poor “in the fullknowledge that there is no economic, po-litical, social or moral justification for it”.

And what’s worse, IMF delegation chiefAjaj Chopra confirmed the cut was NOTtied in with the loan agreement. Rather, Mr Begg claimed it was an “earlyChristmas present” for the “worstgombeen elements” in Irish business andbrought only “misery” to the low paid.FULL BUDGET REACTION: Pages 2&3

NEWS YOU CAN USENION POSTJANUARY 2011

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S OF TRADE UNIONS

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HANDSOFFOUR PAY

European Commission warned over alleged

‘interference’ in Ireland’s labour market

people’scongressFEB 5Octagon Room, King

’s Hall, Belfast

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DETAILS P2

TRADE UNION NEWS NORTH AND SOUTH

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THE European Trade Union

Confederation will met

European Commission chief

Olli Rehn over reports the

EU is "intervening" in

national collective bargaining

rights.Under existing a

greements,

the Commission has no

powers to determine wage

levels in individual states.

In a letter to Mr Rehn,

ETUC general secretary John

Monks, pictured, slammed

the use of "diktat pressure"

to cut minimum wages and

pensions in countries strug-

gling to escape the economic

crisis, claiming this amounted

to "an attack on Social

Europe".Mr Monks told a

meeting in

Dublin on January 19 that

what Europe needed most

was a “a spirit of generosity”

to help hard-hit countries,

“not the kind of penalty

regimes and punishment

squads imposed at present”.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

NION POSTFEBRUARY 2011


THE

UEELLEECCTTIIOONN 22001111

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HERE’S FIVE POINT PLAN►RENEGOTIATE IMF/EU DEAL►CREATE JOBS, PROTECT JOBS►PROTECT PUBLIC SERVICES

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OUR

VOTE FORJOBS ANDGROWTH

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CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WORKERS’ DAY• WEEK OF EVENTS NORTH AND SOUTH • DETAILS AND LINKS PAGE 5

DON’TBANKON IT!

Think the EU/ECB have your interests at heart?

THE primary objective of the EU and

ECB is to protect the European banking

system, Congress general secretary David

Begg has claimed.He told delegates at the PSEU confer-

ence in Galway on April 15 that those

voices from Brussels calling for greater

austerity were not “distinterested actors”

in determining who shouldered the

burden for the financial crisis.

Rather, he suggested, they were “not

without responsibility” themselves.

French and German banks had a €900bn

exposure to “peripheral” EU economies

but this amount was now being reduced.

This meant that bondholder exposure

to Irish banks had declined at the same

time as ECB emergency funding to the

Republic had risen.They were, Mr Begg told delegates,

“getting out under covering fire provided

by the ECB”. FULL STORY PAGE 3

MARCH 26 DEMOS PICTURE SPECIAL P12-15

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IBEC lobby to EC slammedSIPTU has slammed IBEC’s “oppor-tunistic” lobbying of the EU Commis-sion.

It came after the employers’ groupsent representatives to Brussels onJune 15 to win support from Com-mission chiefs for the scrapping ofwage setting mechanisms in the Republic. SIPTU divisional organiserJohn King said: “IBEC should be engaging with the social partners and Irish government rather thantravelling to Brussels to ask the EU

Commission to intervene in a processin which it has no competence.

“The Commission has no authorityto dictate to a member state what itswage policy or wage setting mecha-nisms should be. That is the functionof national governments.

“The IBEC case that the wage set-ting mechanisms for low paid sectorsshould be abolished flies in the faceof the independent Duffy/Walsh report that stated that such a movewould be damaging to the economy.”

Brekkie butties forJune 30 strikers call

PROTEST group UK Uncut hascalled on its supporters to back theJune 30 nationwide strike by morethan 700,000 workers in the mostpractical way possible – by bringingalong mugs of tea and breakfastbutties to feed those on the picketlines.

They’ve dubbed the initiative the‘Big Society Breakfast’ in a passingnod to David Cameron’s electoralpitch, but it will no doubt prove a lotmore palatable to many thousands ofNUT, PCS, ATL and UCU strikers on

the day. A source said: “UK Uncutare used to sit-ins, now it’s timeto stand up with the peoplegoing on strike and the tradeunions who are challenging thegovernment.

“Picket lines will form on themorning of the 30th. We’ve called onour supporters to bring strikers amug of tea and a breakfast butty, andshow them that we’re all in it together against the government. “Indigestible policies:David Cameron

Dave Prentis: Pensions warning

UK govt faces the biggestwave of strikes since 1926

UNISON chief DavePrentis has warned theUK government itfaces the biggest waveof industrial actionsince the GeneralStrike of 1926.

His prediction of“sustained and indefi-nite” strikes over proposed changes topublic sector pensionscame after Treasurychief secretary DannyAlexander claimedunions would be making a “colossalmistake” and be facedwith “uncompromis-ing” change later ifthey rejected the

plans. Mr Prentis –whose union has 1.3million members – saidUNISON was preparedfor “rolling action overan indefinite period”and predicted that, un-like the 1984/85 min-ers’ strike, unionswould win.

Meanwhile, UNITEhas accused the UKgovernment of “gunboat diplomacy” following Mr Alexan-der’s comments whichit claimed was “tanta-mount” to “bombing”the current discussionsbetween ministers andtrade unions.


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90 trade unionistsmurdered last year

AMNESTY Interna-tional has teamed upwith the InternationalTrade Union Confeder-ation to launch a driveto end the persecutionof labour activists inIran.

It comes as a new report by the humanrights organisationclaims Iranian unionsare being targeted by aregime increasingly intolerant of dissentand desperate to block the spread of social unrest. The report, ‘Determined to Live in Dignity:Iranian Trade Unionists Struggle for Rights’, waspublished at the ILO conference in Geneva onJune 10.

It documents the courage shown by those activists who have defied a ban on independenttrade unions, including the Tehran bus drivers’union, teachers' associations and workers in thesugar industry.

Amnesty’s global trade union adviser Shane Enright said: “The government seems determinedto break existing unions while continuing to bannew, independent workers' bodies that havebegun to emerge, in gross contempt for its international obligations as an ILO member andfor the labour rights of its own people.”

Meanwhile, Tehran bus workers’ union chiefMansour Ossanlu was conditionally released fromjail on June 2.

Amnesty International Iran researcher Ann Harrison said: “Mansour Ossanlu was imprisonedfor almost four years because of his peacefultrade union activities, in denial of his rights tofreedom of expression and association.

“This was part of a concerted campaign of repression being waged against himself and hisunion, Sherkat-e Vahed.”

Two of Mr Ossanlu’s union colleagues, ResaShahabi and Ebrahim Madadi remain in custody.

A third activist, Gholamreza Gholamhosseini,has been released on bail but is facing charges.

ITUC & Amnestydrive on unionrights in Iran

Picture: ITUC

A TOTAL of 90 trade union-ists were murdered last yearfor defending workers’ rights,according to new figures.

The grim tally was outlinedin the ITUC’s annual surveyof abuses of workers’ rightsand published at the100th International Labour Organi-sation conference held inGeneva earlier this month.

Colombia – where 49 activists were murdered –and the Americas still holdthe record for murder andoppression of workers because of their organisingactivities.

The global trends high-lighted in the survey includegovernments not enforcinglabour laws, a lack of supportfor the funding of health andsafety at work, the lack ofrights and abuse of migrantlabour as well as the exploitation of mainly femaleworkforces in the world's export processing zones.

General secretary SharanBurrow said: “Workers, communities and populationsare trying to claim basicrights to decent work and a

decent life, and in manycountries these people arebeing met with sackings, violence and in extremecases murder by govern-ments and by businesses.

“Independent trade unionsare essential to improvingthe living standards of ordi-nary workers across theglobe. The ITUC annual survey shows that in fightingfor basic rights to a decentjob and decent life, manytrade unionists put their liveson the line for the good oftheir communities.”

Warning that the “world’sunemployment queue” isgrowing, she added: “Withoutproper jobs or hope for thefuture, governments risk increasing political instability.Union rights are fundamentalto democracy, to economicgrowth and to a civilised future.”

http://survey.ituc-csi.org/

Still from a shock ITUC video on the targeting of trade union activists

http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=12066

Mansour Ossanlu

�NUJ Irish SecretarySeamus Dooley has

called the shooting of aPA photographer cover-ing rioting in East Belfast“an extremely worryingdevelopment”. The NUJmember was shot in theleg when trouble flaredon the Lower Newto-wards Road on June 21.

Mr Dooley said: “This photographer was injured while doing hisjob. It is vital that jour-nalists should be allowedto carry out their dutieswithout fear of attackfrom any quarter.

“This incident is partof a sinister assault onthe people of Northern Ireland.”


UNISON has claimed a stagger-ing six in every 10 workers inthe UK have been bullied – orwitnessed bullying – over thepast six months.

The findings come from aunion-commissioned survey ofmore than 6,000 employees and,it is claimed, flags up concernsthat government cuts are fuelling workplace bullying.

One in four workers say thatstaff cuts have led to workplacebullying – double the numberfrom two years ago – andaround half say they would betoo scared to raise concernsduring a period of cuts.

And UNISON warns work-place bullying will rocket further,as the cuts really start to bite.

General secretary Dave Pren-tis said: “Workers are stuck in aliving hell, as they are faced witha double whammy of cuts andbullying.

“Our results show that bossesare failing to clamp down onworkplace bullying and staff aretoo scared to raise concerns inthe current climate of staff andjob cuts.

“There is more pressure thanever from management and thelevels of stress are soaring.

“The government must rethink its savage cuts agenda, or see workers' health and efficiency deteriorate.”

He added: “It is more impor-tant than ever that workers joina union, as this may be their onlypoint of call for help.”

6 in every 10have beenbullied in theworkplace orwitnessed it

NIPSA has called on Northern Ireland’spoliticians to rethink their “rushed” approach to slashing corporation tax.

Almost all of the North’s political par-ties currently back a cut to 12.5%, whichwill create a single island-wide tax rate.

It follows the passing of a resolutionopposing any reduction in the levy at the union’s annual conference in Derryearlier this month.

Speaking after the resolution waspassed, general secretary Brian Campfieldsaid: “The delegates at this conferenceseem to be more aware of the deficien-cies in the plan to reduce corporationtax than our politicians who appear to beunited in their rush to gift business a taxbreak without any guarantees about jobcreation.

“The main political parties are pre-

pared to gamble millions of pounds ofNorthern Ireland’s block grant in thehope of delivering additional jobs by giving business a tax break.

“There is no guarantee that privatebusinesses will not just pocket the taxbreak and treat it as additional profit.

“Any public money targeted at the private sector must be conditional on the creation of additional jobs by private sector firms. Reducing corporation tax is an inefficient and unfair vehicle for providing a proper impetus for economicgrowth.

“Playing roulette with public money isunacceptable and NIPSA is calling uponNorthern Ireland’s political parties to engage in a serious rethink and reassess-ment of their policies on corporationtax.”

THE TUC has warned low rates ofcorporation tax both cut govern-ment revenues AND fail to createjobs.

The tax double whammy was out-lined in a new report, CorporateTax Reform And Competitiveness,published last month.

Tax specialist Richard Murphy,right, who authored the paper onbehalf of the TUC, claims recent taxreforms and ongoing cuts in theheadline corporation tax rate willreduce vital tax revenues withoutany significant benefit to ordinarytaxpayers.

The report cites data fromOECD countries to show that theUK enjoys an extremely competi-tive tax rate.

More than 90% of UK businessespay the small business rate of 20%while the effective corporate taxrate for large companies is currentlyestimated by PriceWaterhouseCoopers to be 23.2% – far lowerthan the OECD average of 26.5%.

Previous TUC research has esti-

mated that the effective corporatetax rate is lower than 23.2% and hasbeen falling by 0.5% a year for thelast decade. According to the TUC,it is likely that many multinationalsare now paying a lower rate of cor-poration tax than small businesses.

General secretary Brendan Bar-ber claimed the UK governmenthad been “seduced” by employercalls for more corporate tax cuts.

He said: “While everyone wantsto pay less tax, from multinationals

to ordinary taxpayers, the argumentthat simply cutting corporation taxwill fuel jobs and growth does notstand up to scrutiny.”

Mr Murphy’s report comparedcorporate tax and employmentgrowth rates between 1997 and2010 across OECD countries and found no strong correlation between low taxes and high employment or GDP growth.

Mr Barber added: "UK corporatetax rates are already extremelycompetitive.

“And while some people, includ-ing the Chancellor, have talkedabout emulating the Irish economy'saggressive low tax policies, its current woes suggest this is not asustainable economic model.

"The more that big businessesand the super rich avoid paying theirfair share, the more ordinary taxpayers will have to pick up thetab though tax rises and reducedpublic services.”

CONGRESS has welcomed anew non-partisan reportcritical of planned changes toCorporation Tax in NorthernIreland.

The research, published in April, was compiled by Cambridge University-basedThe Wilberforce Society.

Congress assistant generalsecretary Peter Buntingclaimed the paper effectivelyrefuted nearly all the argu-ments made for cutting therate of business tax in the

North. He said: “This reportis important because it isone of the very few studiesof the arguments aroundCorporation Tax in NorthernIreland whose authors haveno political or material interest in a lower rate fortheir companies or makingsavings for the UK Treasury.

“It is truly ‘disinterested’research in the best tradi-tions of Cambridge Univer-

sity and its independentstance allows it to reach con-clusions which run againstthe grain of perceived opinion on this matter.”

Mr Bunting called for thereport to “widely read andconsidered” in the face of a“high octane campaign”being waged by some political and business interests to lower the levy tomatch that of the Republic.

12.5%CORPOTAX

www.tuc.org.uk/tucfiles/22/corporate_tax_reform_and_competitiveness.doc

Tax double whammy revealed

New report refutes argumentsmade for NI business tax cuts

NIPSA CHIEF HITS OUTAT CORPO TAX ‘GAMBLE’

Campfield: No guarantee

http://thewilberforcesociety.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/TWS_Corporation_Tax_NI.pdf

�AUSTRALIA’S lowest paidworkers are to get an extra

$19.40 a week. The move, an-nounced by the national work-place relations tribunal FairWork Australia earlier thismonth, was welcomed by ACTUsecretary Jeff Lawrence –though he underlined that theincrease did not go far enoughin closing the pay gap betweenAustralia’s 1.4m low-paid work-ers and the rest of the work-force. The ACTU had called fora $28 hike.

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MORE than 50,000people marching underthe slogan ‘Stop Insidi-ous Reforms’ took tothe streets of Praguelast month over government proposalsto radically transformthe pension and healthcare systems.

The May 21 demowas called by theCzech-Moravian Confederation of TradeUnions (CMKOS). It was a colourful and noisy march withprotesters beating drums, blowing vuvuzelas and wavingunions flags with slogans such as "We have had enough”and "People wake up!"

Marchers converged on Wenceslas Square – the heartof the Czech capital.

Once there, Josef Stredula, chief of Czech metal workersunion KOVO, read out a joint proclamation from a coalitionof trade unions and civil society organisations.

He told the crowd: “Reforms of the healthcare system,of the tax, pension and social systems are badly thoughtout, half-baked, ideologically tinged, lacking any analysis of the impact on citizens.

“They are intended to make healthcare, pensions andsocial services serve only profit.”

Pictures: CMKO

S

Sheila Nunan Jack Keane

ASTI president Jack Keane has calledfor adequate specialist resources to be given to schools to protect inclusivity in education.

He made his comments in response to a discussion paper onschool enrolment issued earlier thismonth by the Republic’s educationminister Ruairi Quinn.

Mr Keane claimed the bestschools were those that welcomedpupils with “diverse needs from diverse socio-economic back-grounds and with a variety of abilities”, but warned that inclusiveschools needed adequate specialistsupport and funding.

He said: “Schools which have embraced equality of access andparticipation find that they arestruggling to mainstream pupils with specific needs such as special educational needs and English language learning needs.

“The provision of adequate specialist resources would supportthe practice of inclusive enrolment.”

Meanwhile, INTO general secre-tary Sheila Nunan has also called onthe Department of Education andSkills to make sure schools have the necessary resources to meetthe needs of pupils once they areenrolled.

She said: “There is no point inschools enrolling pupils if the department is not prepared to resource those schools fully interms of teachers, other staff orequipment.”

EDUCATION

INTO raises €60kfor sick children50,000

AT PRAGUECUTS DEMO

Teachersmust haveright toolsto do job

MEMBERS of the INTO have raisedmore than €60,000 to help buy aflexible bronchoscopy system forthe Respiratory Department atOur Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin.

The union organises an annualfundraising draw to support chil-dren’s medical research at theDublin hospital and members havecontributed nearly €1.5m since1990. Deputy general secretaryNoel Ward said primary teachersmade a generous response to theappeal this year and that the moneyraised would make a real differenceto the lives of sick children.

� FRENCH teaching unions areto stage a nationwide one-day

strike in protest over job cuts afterthe summer holidays. Some 16,000teaching posts – 9,000 in the pri-mary sector – are to be scrappedin September. Unions have called onthe Sarkozy administration to stopits policy of only replacing half ofworkers who retire.


HUNDREDS of National NursesUnited members have stageddemos at the seat of US govern-ment – the Capitol Hill in Wash-ington DC – and at America’sfinancial hub – on Wall Street –this month to promote a newcampaign calling for increased tax-ation on big business and to

defend the Medicare and Medicaidprogrammes from cuts.

Dubbed ‘Main Street Contractfor the American People’, theNNU also demonstrated outsidethe Chamber of Commerce HQin Washington where two demon-strators dressed in tuxedoes –one named ‘Goldman’ and the

Pictures: N

NU

other ‘Sachs’ – collected ‘invoices’for ‘pension contribution increases’ and ‘mortgages pay-ments’ from nurses on the stepsof the building.

The new campaign is calling fora decent living wage for workers,equal access to quality, public education, a just taxation systemwhere the wealthy pay their shareas well as guaranteed healthcarewith a single standard of care.

A spokesperson said: “Withthe erosion of living standards formany, and new attacks almostdaily from Wall Street-fundedpoliticians, all Americans need anew contract, a binding relation-ship for their security, for theirfamilies, and for future genera-tions.”

The NNU is the US’s largestnurses union with 175,000 mem-bers.‘Goldman’ & ‘Sachs’ collect invoices at Chamber of Commerce HQ

NUU membersprotested on WallStreet, right, andWashington DC,left, to highlight their union’s call for increased taxeson big business aswell to defendMedicare and Medicaid from cuts

Nurses take healthand tax message to Capitol Hill and Wall Street

STATESIDE PROTESTS


‘We won’tbe madescapegoatsfor crisis’

Consultationlaunched on politicalstructuresUNITE is to consult withits members on politicalstructures following a voteat its Irish Policy Confer-ence in Dublin on May 24.

Regional secretaryJimmy Kelly said the unionrecognised that local poli-tics aroused “great passionand sensitivity” but praisedthe level of debate surrounding a motion calling on UNITE to back aleft-wing alliance in theRepublic.

He said: “UNITE is anall-Ireland union and weneed to work to influenceall political parties to placethe rights and needs ofour community of workingpeople to the fore.”

Mr Kelly added: “Afterthe general election in theRepublic, we called onLabour to avoid the lureof coalition and to opt instead to lead a ‘policychanging’ coalition of theleft.

“We accept that this op-tion was not taken at thetime. We will continue towork to influence all parties of the left, with thetrade union movementand with social and com-munity organisations, toadvance the interests of allour members and allworking people.”

MEMBERS of the Restaurant andCatering Workers Forum staged aninnovative ‘flash mob’ action at theannual Irish Restaurant Awards dinner last month to support theircall for fair and decent wages in the sector.

Several RCWF members mingledincognito with Restaurants Associa-tion of Ireland invitees at the May 25event in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin.

As guests prepared to enter thefunction room where the awardswere being presented, the flash mob-

sters – sporting bright yellow T-shirtsemblazoned with slogans – revealedthemselves.

Earlier outside the venue, Forummembers had offered gift bags to dinner guests, asking fellow chefs,workers and restaurant owners attending the event to support theircall for fair and decent wages andconditions for restaurant workers.

The RCWF is a joint initiative ofMigrant Rights Centre Ireland andSIPTU. Pat Ward, of SIPTU, said: “Therestaurant industry is driving an

attack on minimum wage rates andbasic protections for workers, whilelower-wage workers are struggling tosurvive.

“This is not about saving jobs – thegovernment’s recent review of theJLC mechanisms has shown thatabolishing these minimum standardswill not generate jobs.

“The industry’s attack on wages forthe lowest-paid workers is shameful.Now, more than ever, we must ensure protections remain in placefor those who need them most.”

FLASH STANCE!

Pictures &

video grabs: M

RCI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfc_mUxcssM&feature=channel_video_titleCHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT:

RCWF staged a more traditional protest outside Irish Restaurant Awards venue, above, while inside...

AROUND 3,000 civil andpublic servants in the PCSin Northern Ireland havevoted overwhelmingly tostrike over cuts to theirjobs, pensions and pay.

The workers were in-cluded in a UK-wide ballotof more than 250,000 PCSmembers in which 61.1%voted for a strike and83.6% voted for otherforms of industrial action,on a turnout of 32.4%.

Regional committeechair Barney Lawn said:“Both Westminster andthe Northern Ireland Assembly need to listen tothis ballot result. Publicsector workers will not bemade the scapegoats foran economic crisis theydidn’t cause.

“Attacking our mem-bers – many of whom arelow paid and alreadystruggling financially – is adisgrace when millions arebeing wasted on consult-ants, contractors and casual staff and billions of pounds of avoided and evaded tax goes uncollected.”

UNITE

PCS

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3AMNESTY International has appealed toZimbabwean authorities to drop chargesagainst six men arrested earlier this yearfor organising and attending a lecture aboutthe recent wave of protests in North Africa.

The men were charged with “attemptingto subvert a constitutionally-elected gov-ernment” and are expected to go to trial onJuly 18. If found guilty, they could face up to20 years in jail.

The six – Eddson Chakuma, AntonaterChoto, Hopewell Gumbo, Munyaradzi Gwi-sai, Tatenda Mombeyarara and WelcomeZimuto – were arrested along with 39 othermen and women in February.

All 45 were originally charged with trea-son after attending a lecture entitled ‘Revolt in Egypt and Tunisia: What lessonscan be learnt by Zimbabwe and Africa’.

The charge of treason was later droppedand 39 of the 45 were released after a mag-istrates court dismissed the charges.

The remaining six either spoke at the lec-

ture or work with the Zimbabwean chapterof the International Socialist Organisation.

A charge of treason against the men wasdropped on May 30

Amnesty International considers the remaining charges brought against thesemen to be a breach of their right to freedomof expression and appear to be politicallymotivated.

The human rights organisation has calledfor the charges to be dropped immediatelyand unconditionally.

The men were held in solitary confine-ment for 23 hours a day until they weregranted bail on March 16.

Amnesty International has also expressedconcern about the deteriorating situationin Zimbabwe.

Since February the organisation has noteda significant increase in harassment and intimidation of human rights activists bypolice.

Zimbabwe six face 20 yearsin jail for speaking at lecture

REPORT Chakuma, Choto, Gumbo,Gwisai,Mombeyarara and Zimuto


Picture: Leo Cackett

John is newTUI gen sec JOHN MacGabhann is to be thenext general secretary of theTeachers Union of Ireland.

He will take over from TUI veteran Peter MacMenamin, whoretires later this year.

Mr MacGabhann, a native ofClonmel, Co Tipperary, was appointed TUI education and research officer in 2003 before becoming assistant general ecretary in July 2006.

He has also held the posts ofhonorary secretary and vice president with the union.

Bernadetteto lead ETUCTHE European Trade Union Con-federation elected a new generalsecretary – French trade unionistBernadette Ségol – at the organisa-tion’s annual conference in Athenslast month.

Ms Ségol, who is to speak atCongress’ Biennial Delegate Con-ference in Killarney next month, isa former head of UNI Europa.

She has also been a member ofthe ETUC’s Executive Committeesince 1985.

Bernadette Ségol: Leading role

Picture: ET

UC

John MacGabhann: New position

Picture: TU

I

Top Nigerian actress andsinger OmotolaJalade Ekehindehas endorsedAmnesty's campaign onfreedom of expression


CONGRESS presidentJack O’Connor hasclaimed falling salaries are impacting on the Irisheconomy and hitting consumer demand.

He made his commentsafter data released byEurostat revealed thatwages in the Republic fellby an average of 2.6% inthe first quarter of 2011when compared with thesame period last year.

Salaries rose in all other EU states apartfrom Greece.

Mr O’Connor, who isalso SIPTU general president, said: “These figures confirm what wehave been saying formany months.

“Wages have beenfalling across the econ-omy and the effect of thisis to further depress consumer demand.

“This is contributing tothe downward spiral inthe economy.

“It confirms the eco-nomic stupidity of thosewho wish to cut wages,particularly those of low-paid workers, who invariably spend all oftheir incomes.”

The latest Eurostat figures, published on June20, show the biggest fallin wages in Ireland wasrecorded in the construc-tion sector with an average decrease of11.6%, in industry the decrease was 2.8% and inservices 0.8%.

THE NUJ has congratulated RTÉ Radio on beingnamed broadcaster of the year at the New YorkFestival Awards.

In addition to the nomination, RTÉ Radio pro-grammes secured a further 16 plaudits at the June20 awards ceremony.

These included seven awards plus a Grand Awardfor RTÉ Radio 1's 'Documentary on One', sixawards for RTÉ Radio 1's 'Drama on One', and oneaward each for RTÉ Lyric FM and RTÉ Gold.

Irish secretary Séamus Dooley said the top gong“highlighted the value of public service broadcast-ing and reflected the wealth of talent within RTÉacross all platforms and at every level of the or-ganisation.”

NUJ vice president Barry McCall said the awardunderlined the importance of securing the futureof public service broadcasting in the Republic andwas a timely reminder of “the unique place occu-pied by RTÉ on the cultural landscape.”

Mr Dooley added: “The public service obligationsplaced upon RTÉ are an additional burden but theseawards provide international affirmation of the factthat RTÉ Radio not only meets these obligationsbut does so with style and distinction.

“It is recognition of the quality of Irish broad-casting and will be celebrated not just by RTÉ staffbut by those who are served by RTÉ on a dailybasis.”

NUJ congrats after RTE Radio scoops top gong

Drop inwages impactsdemand

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