Locked out February 27, 2013
Posted by doctorfive in media, Trade Unions.11 comments
Perhaps it will get a proper airing later in the year
ICTU Calls for an End to Protests and Condemns Attempted Murder of Police Officer December 12, 2012
Posted by Garibaldy in Trade Unions.1 comment so far
TRADE UNIONS CONDEMN ATTEMPTED MURDER OF PSNI OFFICER AND CALL FOR END TO PROTESTS
Speaking after the attempted murder of a PSNI officer and the ongoing disruption on our streets, Peter Bunting, Assistant General Secretary of the ICTU said:
“The NIC-ICTU condemns the attempted murder of a police officer last night, as she protected the office of an MP who is, in turn, under threat.
“The trade unions further call for a complete halt to all protests, pickets, and violent and verbal attacks related to the issues of flags, on any building in Northern Ireland.
“We also call on the elected representatives in the NI Assembly and local government to suspend motions calling for the raising or lowering of flags with immediate effect.
“At last, the leader of one of the main unionist parties has called for the end of street protests related to flags, but others still repeat that protests are all right as long as they are ‘peaceful’, ‘dignified’ and ‘good-humoured’.
“The trade union movement has years of experience of bringing people onto the streets to protest against violence from all perpetrators, and for equality and justice, but there are rules that we follow. The first rule is the priority of the safety of all who participate and who witness the protest – No one gets hurt. That means dealing with the civic authorities well in advance and ensuring that the protest is well-stewarded by competent people who are clearly identifiable. We always co-operate in advance with the PSNI, Road Service, Translink, local government and anyone else who may be affected, to ensure that the first rule is obeyed, and everyone goes home safely.
“Calling for others to take to the streets and then walking away from the consequences is the act of a coward.
“In the past week, we have seen attacks on public buildings, on the homes and offices of public representatives and on the police. There has been an escalation in sectarian attacks. An MP is living in fear for her life. Sinister men are working in the background and an identifiable fascist is cheered at the gates of Belfast City Hall.
“This is not a ‘crisis’ of Irishness, Britishness or cloth. This is a crisis of our democracy and our society’s willingness to listen to facts and not self-serving myths about identity.”
SIPTU: Charting a New Economic Course November 20, 2012
Posted by Garibaldy in Trade Unions.18 comments
A Left-friendly email service provider? October 15, 2012
Posted by Tomboktu in Capitalism, Community, Ethics, Internet, Other Stuff, Society, Trade Unions, Workers Rights.7 comments
Hi Folks,
My main email account has been with ireland.com since the 1990s. Today they sent an email to say they are closing the service in less than a month (so the domain can be transferred to Tourism Ireland).
I could simpy transfer everything to my back-up gmail account, and may do that simply to ensure that I have the data. However, I was wondering of any readers of CLR know of a Left-friendly email service provider?
So, what would be Left-friendly? My ideal would be one run as a co-op, and I wouldn’t mind paying for that, but I’ve no notion if there are any or if any I might find thrpugh an internet search are secure or reliable. My second preference would be one run by a company that recognises unions. (When I got my first mobile phone, I checked with the CWU to see which providers recognised it and/or other unions. The initial reply gave me a list of companies where the union has members, but I did get an answer the specific question a few days later. I don’t know how often the union gets a query like that.)
Thanks,
Tomboktu
Dear Account Holder,
The Irish Times and Tourism Ireland today announced a digital content cooperation agreement to promote Ireland as a tourist destination. The agreement spans a number of areas, including the sale of the ireland.com domain name to Tourism Ireland. Tourism Ireland will use the ireland.com url to attract more web traffic and enhance the promotion of Ireland overseas.
As a result, we wish to inform our @ireland.com email subscribers that the service will be discontinued from November 7th, 2012. From midnight on this date, you will no longer be able to send or receive messages. You will, however, be able to access your account until December 7th for the purpose of transferring any data (i.e. emails, tasks, documents, appointments and/or contacts) currently saved on your account. We are writing to advise you of this change and to ensure the transition to a new service provider is as seamless as possible.
To aid the transition, we have provided a step-by-step guide and FAQs on ireland.com and a helpline has been established to assist wherever possible. The helpline will operate between 8am and 8pm weekdays on telephone 1890 876 666 or 01 685 6999 or email customerservice@digitalworx.ie .
We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to our valued customers.
John O’Shea
Head of Online, The Irish Times
Garda body seeks trade union rights July 20, 2012
Posted by Tomboktu in Human Rights, Labour relations, Trade Unions.41 comments
[Cedar Lounge Revolution isn't a news site, but it looks like we may be the first to report on a development that has been made public in recent days. I haven't seen this reported in any news media, and I coudn't find any reference to it in searches, including on the GRA, AGSI and EuroCOP websites.]
A legal compalint has been lodged against Ireland for its refusal to allow members of An Garda Síochána join a trade union.
The complaint has been brought under a human rights charter at the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe.
The European Confederation of Police (EuroCOP) lodged the legal challenge in June with the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), a parallel structure to the European Court of Human Rights. The legal challenge was made public by the ECSR on Wednesday.
The Garda Síochána Act 2005 states that “a member of the Garda Síochána shall not be or become a member of any trade union”. It allows gardaí to form staff associations without full trade union status. The two main bodies established for that purpose are the Garda Representative Association (GRA) and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI)
The document initiating the legal challenge states that the staff associations do not have access to the Labour Court or the Labour Relations Commission. “The police associations are not allowed to join an umbrella organisation such as ICTU. This means that the police organisations are kept out of the overall negotiations that ICTU conduct on behalf of their members, such as those on salaries”, EuroCOP says.
The Irish law is alleged to breach three articles of the Revised European Social Charter: the right to organise, the right to bargain collectively, and the right to information and consultation.
The case is being taken by EuroCOP on behalf of the AGSI because complaints against a state must be taken by a European organisation registered with the Council of Europe.
http://www.coe.int/T/DGHL/Monitoring/SocialCharter/NewsCOEPortal/CC83_en.asp
Mother Jones Festival, Cork, 31st July – 2nd August July 16, 2012
Posted by Garibaldy in Commemoration, History, Trade Unions, United States.1 comment so far
The 175th anniversary of the birth of the legendary trade union activist and “Miner’s Angel”, Mary Harris Jones is being celebrated in Cork by the Mother Jones Festival, following a motion from Ted Tynan (WP) for a memorial to her to be erected being passed by the City Council. The website of the broad-based committee responsible for putting together the Festival is here. The Festival has a wide range of sponsors, including the City Council, SIPTU and UNITE.
Highlights from the very impressive programme include
31st July with Irish premier of film “Mother Jones, America’s Most Dangerous Woman” with talk by film producer and writer Rosemary Feurer (USA).
1st August Opening of the Mother Jones Exhibition on 1st August at 12.15pm at the Firkin Crane Centre
1st August, the Inaugural mother Jones lectures and discussion with Prof. Elliott J. Gorn (Brown University), whose books include Mother Jones: The Most Dangerous Woman in America and Marat Moore, herself a former coal miner, union activist and writer. She was a founder of the Daughters of Mother Jones who played a big role in the Pittston Mine Strike in 1989, and is the author of Women in the Mines.
1st August Official Unveiling of the Mother Jones plaque at John Redmond Street
1st August “Freedom Bells” concert with Andy Irvine
Full details of the various events and venues can be found in the programme.
Dublin Dockworkers’ photographic exhibition launch in Liberty Hall, 7pm 9th May May 8, 2012
Posted by Garibaldy in Irish History, Trade Unions.4 comments
SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor, will launch the Dublin Dockworkers’ Preservation Society photographic exhibition in Liberty Hall on Wednesday, 9th May, at 7.00 p.m.
SIPTU is hosting the photographic exhibition as part of the 2012 May Day celebrations in Liberty Hall Theatre, Dublin, from Wednesday 9th May to Wednesday 16th May.
The exhibition of 40 photographs and over 500 slides features images of life and work on the Dublin Docks from 1940 to 1990.
Also speaking at the launch is Dublin Dockworkers Preservation Society spokesman Declan Byrne, and labour historian Padraig Yeates.
All are encouraged to come along and enjoy this unique celebration of Dublin’s working class history.
Protest Rally Called by members of the Teachers Unions -Tuesday 27th March at Teachers Club, Parnell Square March 22, 2012
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Education, Trade Unions.2 comments
Thought this might be of interest
At the emergency meeting that was held by the Dublin West Branch a couple of weeks ago it was decided that some action should be taken to start to bring all teachers together be they permanent, part-time or students. We have been working hard over the last number of weeks in trying to bring together various activists in the three teachers unions. We have now with their help set up a large protest rally on the 27th of March in the teachers club on Parnell Square Dublin at 8.30pm. This is rally is OPEN TO ALL TEACHERS REGARDLESS OF UNION, BRANCH OR SCHOOL Please find attached the leaflet that we have produced for the rally. Please do try to make it along to the Rally if at all possible, but also please print it, photocopy it and spread it around your staff room and if you can email it as far and wide as possible to any contacts that you have that would be a great help. The bigger the attendance we get the bigger impact we will have in trying to defend ourselves and our students from these disastrous austerity measures.
ASTI Fightback
Alex Ferguson Phones Vita Cortex Workers with Support February 14, 2012
Posted by Garibaldy in Trade Unions.1 comment so far
Spotted this on LookLeft’s Facebook page.
Football legend Alex Ferguson supports the Vita Cortex workers
Date Released: 13 February 2012
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson made a surprise phone call to the Vita Cortex workers on Monday (13th February) afternoon to tell them he supported their fight and to “stick in there” until they secured victory. The football legend, and committed trade unionist, expressed his admiration and support for the workers’ stand for justice. He told the workers that he had been involved in the apprentice strikes in the Clyde ship yards in Glasgow in 1961 and that he understood what they are going through in their battle to secure their agreed redundancy terms.
SIPTU Organiser, Anne Egar, said; “It was a magical moment to hear Alex Ferguson give his backing to the workers and reassure them that they will succeed if they stick together and fight for what is just. When someone like Alex Ferguson tells you perseverance and teamwork will see you win out it is of course a huge boost.”
Vita Cortex worker Jim Power, who spoke to Alex Ferguson, described the phone call as a “massive boost”.
“He spoke about his involvement in an apprentice boys’ strike in Glasgow in 1961 and told us to ‘stick in there. I’m a Manchester United supporter so I’m delighted but everyone here, even the Liverpool FC guys, are saying ‘fair play’.”
The phone call from Alex Ferguson was received two days after Cork city centre came to a halt as over 5,000 people marched in solidarity with the Vita Cortex workers. The march began outside the SIPTU offices at Connolly Hall, Lapps Quay, at 2.00 p.m. on Saturday (12th February), and was described by Gardaí as the largest protest in Cork in recent years.
The people of Cork applauded the Vita Cortex workers as the march made its way along Patrick’s Street ending with a rally on Grand Parade.
Addressing the rally, SIPTU Organiser Anne Egar thanked the Cork Council of Trade Unions (CCTU) for organising the event and the people of
Cork for their “support from Day One” for the workers in their struggle to secure their agreed redundancy terms.
Anne Egar said the Vita Cortex workers had shown “stamina and principle” in pursuing their fight for justice and would not succumb. She added that Vita Cortex owner, Jack Ronan, should “pay his bills and not expect everyone else to pick up his tab.”
Vita Cortex worker, Martina Anderson, told the crowd that the fight to secure their agreed redundancy payments had been hard on the workers and their families but they were determined to see justice done.
SIPTU General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn, pledged the union’s support for the workers and said all was being done to bring a just conclusion to the dispute. CCTU president Anne Piggott spoke of the workers resolve in the face of an employer who refused to honour his obligations.
The Vita Cortex workers are entering their third month occupying their former workplace on the Kinsale Road, Cork. The facility was closed on the 16th December with company management claiming they could not honour the workers agreed redundancy terms.
The Vita Cortex workers are seeking payment of an agreed ex-gratia redundancy package of 0.9 weeks per year of service. The full amount needed to fund these payments is just over €370,000.
TUC: Northern Ireland to be Hardest Hit by Public Sector Job Cuts January 17, 2012
Posted by Garibaldy in Northern Ireland, Trade Unions.add a comment
Thanks to John O’Farrell of the ICTU for the following
NORTHERN IRELAND TO BE ‘HARDEST HIT’ OF ALL UK REGIONS BY PUBLIC SECTOR JOB CUTS.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions calls on the NI Executive to take account of the impending cull in Public Sector jobs and take firm action to defend the economy of Northern Ireland from the plans of the Tory/Lib-Dem coalition government.
Based on official statistics, the TUC today produced an analysis which demonstrates that 25,992 public sector jobs will be destroyed and that this region will be the worst affected in the entire UK. (See Below).
Responding to the analysis, ICTU Assistant General Secretary Peter Bunting said:
“The draft Programme for Government pledges to ‘promote’ 25,000 new jobs. This analysis proves the inadequacy of that modest ambition. Even if achieved, the PfG target will run a thousand jobs short of the expected cull in public sector jobs.
“There are serious consequences from these policies. Thousands more jobs in the private sector would go if our fragile economy were to see so much demand sucked out of the market. It is time for the NI executive to take serious political action, aligning itself clearly alongside other opponents of the wasteful and arrogant policies of the Tories and their LibDem collaborators.
“The analysis of the Trade Union Movement has been proved correct time and again. There is no growth in the economy and the private sector is not capable of reproducing jobs sacrificed in an ideological assault on the public sector.
“The NI Executive and Assembly must by now recognise the reality of the threat facing the living standards of every citizen of Northern Ireland, and start to counter-attack. This is not a time for half-measures.”
Public sector job losses to add to gloomy employment outlook
With the first unemployment figures of 2012 due out this week, the TUC is warning today (Tuesday) that additional job cuts in local government, education, the NHS and the civil service – announced in November’s autumn statement – will have a devastating impact on regional labour markets.
Using official statistics the TUC has analysed the most recent regional unemployment figures and local public sector employment numbers to look at which parts of the UK are going to be hit the hardest by the 710,000 jobs set to go across the public sector.
Although it is not possible to say exactly where public sector jobs are to go between now and 2017, assuming that the job losses take place in proportion to current levels of public sector employment, the TUC has calculated that Northern Ireland and the North East are amongst the areas hardest hit.
Prior to last year’s autumn statement the Office for Budget Responsibility had expected to see 400,000 jobs go across the public sector. But back in November it revised its forecast to announce that an extra 310,000 public sector jobs would disappear by the end of 2017.
So for example, TUC calculations suggest that by 2017 Northern Ireland is likely to see 25,992 jobs going across its public services (a 3.2 per cent hit on employment across the nation), and the North East will suffer a 2.9 per cent cut in employment, as 32,668 public sector jobs are likely to go across the region.
Based on regional employment levels, the South East and the East of England (both regions are likely to see a 1.9 per cent fall in the number of jobs available locally), will be the least affected, with public sector job cuts of 80,836 and 52,937 respectively.
The TUC is concerned that the coming cuts in public sector employment will make it even harder for those out of work to get back into the labour market, raising the prospect that long-term unemployment will become the grim reality for many thousands more people. With unemployment levels ranging from 6.1 per cent in the South East to 11.7 per cent in the North East, the public sector job cuts planned will have a devastating effect on local economies, says the TUC.
Commenting on the analysis, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “Tomorrow’s figures are unlikely to bring good news. For the 2.6 million people currently without work, their prospects of finding a job look ever harder, and with thousands of jobs set to go across our public services while private sector job creation stagnates, the picture is set to get much, much worse.
“Apart from the huge effect that the job cuts will have upon the provision of public services across the UK, mass redundancies across the public sector are bad news for our struggling economy, and will have a devastating impact upon local high streets, as newly-unemployed public sector workers simply stop spending.
“The government needs to devote much more time and energy towards solving our growing jobs crisis. Instead it’s making the problem worse, cutting jobs in the public sector and failing to secure growth to protect private sector employees.”
