June 2012Vol. 11 No.5

ISSN 0791-458X

ORGANISING FOR FAIRNESS AT WORK AND JUSTICE IN SOCIETY • WWW.SIPTU.IE • JOIN ONLINE

Colombia: a timefor peace

Page 4 Page 6-7 Page 26-27

150 years of theDublin Fire Brigade

Irish Cement strike success

Ryanair’sgrab for €1 billionAer Lingus fund

By Frank Connolly

By Scott Millar

Continued on page 2

SIPTU has called on theGovernment to block anattempt by Ryanair to pur-chase Aer Lingus and takecontrol of the airline’s €1 billion in cash reserves.

SIPTU Aviation Organiser, TeresaHannick, said that it is the thirdtime since 2006 that Ryanair hasattempted a hostile takeover of AerLingus. The previous attempts wererejected by the EuropeanCommission on competitiongrounds.

Hannick said; “It is vital that theGovernment use its 25% share-hold-ing to prevent any hostile takeoverof the airline. It would be madnessfor any government to put MichaelO’Leary and Ryanair in control ofour air links with the outsideworld.

“A takeover would also allowRyanair to use a virtual monopolycontrol to raise airline prices to pre-mium levels. Amazingly it wouldalso result in Ryanair having accessto almost €1 billion in cashreserves held by Aer Lingus for apurchase price of less than €700million.”

On the issue of why Ryanairowner Michael O’Leary has decidedto make another bid for Aer Lingus,Hannick said; “There is a view thatthe recent announcement by theOffice of Fair Trading in the UK thatit intends to refer Ryanair’s minori-ty stake in Aer Lingus to theCompetition Commission for fur-ther investigation over competition

report by the state fundedEconomic and Social ResearchInstitute (ESRI) which oppos-es trade union and other calls

for urgent investment in jobs andgrowth, has been slated by theMinister for Public Expenditure andReform, Brendan Howlin. The LabourParty minister, who has been vocal ingovernment in his support for a jobsstimulus through investment in badlyneeded infrastructural projects, saidthat every option to tackle the unem-ployment problem must be consid-ered.

The ESRI economists argued against adomestic jobs stimulus while projecting lowergrowth prospects for the economy next year.

“Academic research is one thing but thesocial imperative of getting people back towork is another and is far more important inthe current climate,” Howlin said in responseto its latest Quarterly Economic Commentaryreleased by the ESRI on Monday (18th June).

His comments were echoed by SIPTUPresident, Jack O’Connor, who described theESRI as cheer leaders for the ‘slash and burn’agenda that is continuing to destroy the qual-ity of life, jobs and incomes of workers acrossEurope.

“Anyone who argues against a jobs stimulusin our current difficult circumstances is livingon another planet,” Jack O’Connor said.

He said that the ESRI argument against adomestic stimulus is consistent with itsendorsement over several years of an ‘inter-nal deflation’ agenda and particularly itsemphasis on driving down the price of

A

Agency workers rightspage 22-23

SupportQuality, Support Jobs in Irelandpage 15-18

Continued on page 2

Howlinslates ESRI onjobs

Firefighter Dave Brunsonwith ‘junior officer’ JackO’Gorman, aged three atthe celebrations markingthe 150th anniversary ofthe Dublin Fire Brigade on Saturday 2nd June page 6-7

NewsLibertyJUNE 2012

2

Advertise in LibertyTo advertise in Liberty, contact the Communications Department on 01 858 6372 or email communica-tionsdepartment@siptu.ie • Liberty offers very competitive rates for advertisements which reach SIPTUmembers countrywide

Workplace Committee:Contract CleanersPage 8

NEC ProfilesPage 10

Investment ProgrammePage 12-13

Liberty ViewPage 14

Home Helps rally for justicePage 19

Racism in footballPage 30

Syriza: a new forceon the European LeftPage 25

Liberty is dedicated to providing a platform for progressive news and views.

If you have any ideas for articles or comments please contact: communcationsdepartment@siptu.ie

Liberty is published by the Services, Industrial, Professional & Technical Union,Liberty Hall, Dublin 1

SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor • Vice President, Patricia King •General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn

Production: SIPTU Communications Department, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, Tel: 01 8588217 • Email: communicationsdepartment@siptu.ie

SIPTU Head of Communications, Frank Connolly • Journalist: Scott Millar • Design: Sonia Slevin (SIPTU) & Joe Mitchell (Brazier Media) • Publications Assistant, Deirdre Price • Administrative Assistant, Karen Hackett

Produced, designed, edited and printed by trade union labourPrinted and distributed by The Irish Times, City West, Dublin.

In this month’sLiberty

Continued from page 1 - Howlin slates ESRI on jobslabour.

“This policy is not only unfairin that it forces working people totake the brunt of the economiccrisis but it is also patently notworking. The key to the future isjob creation and growth for with-out these we cannot look to afuture that offers a better qualityof life for workers, the unem-ployed and their children. Therecent election of the Socialistpresident, Francois Hollande, andother political trends suggest thatpeople across Europe are opposedto the slash and burn, one sidedausterity, agenda. ”

He also rejected as inaccurate an

ESRI claim that a large portion ofany stimulus investment would godirectly into the purchase ofimports.

“It is a proven fact that theimport content of construction proj-ects is only about 20% contrary towhat the ESRI claims,” he said.

Congress and SIPTU havereleased comprehensive propos-als, which have been discussedwith Howlin and his cabinet col-leagues, and which envisage rais-ing more than £10 billion overthree years for investment inessential road, rail, broadband,health and education projects inorder to generate good quality

jobs.The

invest-ment, theproposalssuggest,wouldcome froma combina-tion ofsources including the EuropeanInvestment Bank, the NationalPension Reserve Fund, the com-mercial semi-states and fromleveraging a portion of the morethan €80 billion held by privateIrish pension funds in return for arebate of the pension levy.

LibertyView

HE Bord Na MónaGroup of Unions hasdecided to escalateits industrial actionwith a two day stop-

page on 27th and 28th June. The Group held discussions in

Tullamore, county Offaly onMonday, 11th June, during whichthe group of unions assessed theimpact and response to the one

day stoppage last week.“As the company ignored the one

day stoppage on 5th June we wereleft with no choice but to escalateto a two day action,” the chairmanof the group of unions, OliverMcDonagh of SIPTU, said after themeeting.

He added that the Group ofUnions was available for discus-sions but that talks must be mean-

ingful.“The company has said it is avail-

able for clarifications but theunions are fully au fait with thedeal on offer and clarifications arenot necessary at this time.Discussions must bring aboutimprovements to the offer on thetable and not simply clarify itsdetail,” he said.

Bord Na Móna workers to escalate industrial action

T

concerns may be one motivationbehind this current bid.

Hannick added; “SIPTU membersin the airline are calling on the

Government and shareholders toreject this offer outright and vigor-ously block any attempt by Ryanairto purchase Aer Lingus.

“Our members see this offer as badfor the Irish aviation industry, badfor the airline company, bad for thetravelling public and bad for theworkers in Aer Lingus.”

Continued from page 1 - Ryanair’s grab for €1 billion Aer Lingus fund

UTS to the CommunityEmployment (CE)schemes across Galwaycity and county couldresult in the loss of 1600

jobs, SIPTU Organiser, DianeJackson has warned.

“Hundreds of jobs and key servic-es to the vulnerable and disadvan-taged are on the line unless there isa change in government policies inrelation to CE funding,” Jacksonsaid.

An Open Day to highlight the cru-cial work undertaken by CESchemes in Galway city and countywill take place on Monday, 25thJune, between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00p.m. at St Joseph’s CommunityCentre, Shantalla, Galway.

Peter Connolly, who is a CEWorker employed by the ShantallaDevelopment Company explained;“We are holding this Open Daybecause our communities cannotafford to lose these vital services orjobs. We have invited all of our local

public representatives to attend andwill be seeking their full support forthe restoration of funding and pro-tection of services.”

Diane Jackson called on people toattend the Open Day and show theirsupport for workers in the commu-nity sector.

“Community workers are organis-ing through SIPTU to fight for thefuture of these services and thisaction is one of many taking placeright across the state in defence ofCE schemes.”

C1600 jobs at stake as CE cuts bite in Galway

President Michael D and Sabina Higgins withAung San Suu Kyi (left) and members of theBurmese community greeting her at Grand CanalTheatre on Monday, 18th June. Photos: Photocall

Minister, Brendan Howlin

LibertyJUNE 2012

3News

THE International OlympicCommittee must ensurethat all workers involved indelivering the LondonGames have their rightsrespected.

Congress Equality Officer DavidJoyce made the call as theOlympic torch relay reachedDublin on 6th June.

He told Liberty: “The symbol-ism of the Olympic torch –respect, excellence and friend-ship – also provides an opportuni-ty for us to demand an Olympicsthat respects the human rights ofall workers who help to make theGames possible.”

Calling on the IOC to includethe principle of respect for work-

ers’ rights in the Olympic Charterand Code of Ethics, Joyce pointedto evidence from both the London2012 and Beijing 2008 Games thatworkers making Olympic-brandedgoods and sportswear continue tobe exploited.

“There is systematic and wide-spread exploitation of workers insportswear factories, including

poverty pay, forced overtime, therepeated use of short-term con-tracts to deny workers legal enti-tlements, and workers being toofrightened to join a union, forfear of losing their jobs.”

You can take action online at:http://www.playfair2012.org.uk/what-you-can-do/

All firedup overrights...

Irish Rugby internationalShane Horgan carries theOlympic Flame on the torchrelay leg past Liberty Hall inDublin on Thursday, 7th June.Photo: Jenny Coulahan

HE Vita Cortex work-ers left the compa-ny’s plant on theKinsale Road in Corkfor the last time just

before 3.00 p.m. on Thursday,24th May, bringing to an endtheir 161-day occupation ofthe facility.

The move followed the paymentby the company to the workers ofthe monies agreed as a final and justsettlement to the long-running dis-pute. SIPTU Manufacturing DivisionOrganiser, Gerry McCormack, toldLiberty: “The conclusion of the sit-inat the Vita Cortex plant was a greatrelief for the workers and their fam-ilies. It also brings to an end thelongest sit-in by workers in recentIrish industrial relations history.”

SIPTU Organiser, Anne Egar,added: “The satisfactory conclusionof the Vita Cortex dispute comes asa result of the great resolution anddetermination shown on the part ofthe 23 workers involved.

“I hope the Vita Cortex disputewill be an example to other workersthat if you stay together and nevergive up justice can be achieved.”

Among those who left the plantfor the last time was SIPTU shopsteward Sean Kelleher, a Vita Cortexemployee for 47 years.

He said: “Five months was a verylong time but I’m just glad that wenever decided to walk away.

“The workers wish to thank theirunion, SIPTU, for its support andhard work in achieving this positiveresult.

“They also wish to thank the people of Cork, and further afield,for their solidarity throughout thisdispute.”

The workers were invited byChristy Moore to his concert at theMarquee in Cork on Saturday 23rdJune, to celebrate the successful out-come of their long campaign for fair redundancy payments.

T

It’s all smiles as Vita Cortexworkers end 161-day sit-in

ROM Ireland toSaudi Arabia toColombia, millionsof domestic workersmarked the first

anniversary of the adoptionof the UN InternationalLabour Organisation (ILO)Convention 189 on decentwork for domestic workerson Saturday, 16th June.

Approximately 100 milliondomestic workers worldwide woninternational recognition whenC189 was adopted after a 63-yearbattle to get rights for domestic

workers on the ILO agenda. Mariaam Bhatti, a migrant

domestic worker and activist withthe Domestic Workers Action Group(DWAG) said; "Many domestic work-ers across the world are suffering insilence and have no voice. We arecalling on the Irish government toact now and show leadership. Weneed them to commit to ratifyingthe convention and to support put-ting an end to the slavery and abuseof domestic workers around theworld".

The call to action is part of aninternational campaign, ‘12 in 12'

organised by the International TradeUnion Confederation (ITUC) to get12 countries to ratify the conven-tion in 2012. Uruguay was the firstto ratify this year. The Irish govern-ment voted in favour of the conven-tion last year but has yet to committo ratifying it into Irish law.

In recent years, MRCI has uncov-ered over forty cases of modern dayslavery and domestic servitude inIreland. These include a markedincrease in the exploitation ofdomestic workers employed byembassies and diplomatic staff inIreland.

Call on Government to ratify ILO Convention

F

Domestic workerprotest Dublin onSaturday 16thJune. Photo: BryanMeade

Group hug: Vita Cortexworkers after hearing of settlement to the dispute.Photo: Irish Examiner

NewsLibertyJUNE 2012

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NEW research shows that 39%of Mandate members haveexperienced an average €109per week fall in take homepay over the last year.

The report – Decent Work? TheImpact of the Recession on Low PaidWorkers – launched in May statesthat the Government needs to re-

examine proposed changes to JLCand REA wage-setting mechanismsand the implementation of the EUDirective on part-time working.

The research shows that thefalling wages are driven primarily bycuts in the working hours of retailworkers as well as increased taxesand levies.

Mandate General Secretary, JohnDouglas, said: “This research shows

that Ireland’s labour market crisiswill not be solved with a ‘more jobsat any cost’ strategy. We need to lookat the quality of jobs that are beingcreated. Otherwise, we will justincrease the number of workingpoor.”

Mandate represents more than45,000 workers in the retail trade.

The full report is available at;www.mandate.ie

RISH Cement workersvoted on Thursday, 17thMay, to accept proposalsbrokered between com-

pany and worker representa-tives – an equitable conclu-sion to a dispute at two plantsin Castlemungret, countyLimerick, and Platin, countyMeath.

Irish Cement Group of UnionsSecretary and SIPTU Organiser,

Karan O'Loughlin, told Liberty; “Theworkers voted by a large majority toaccept the proposals agreed betweenworker representatives and the com-pany following a mediation processoverseen by an independent chair-man.

“The implementation of theseproposals will result in the workersbeing paid the monies which thecompany owes to them.”

The workers returned to work onMonday, 21st May, following the lift-

ing of pickets at the plants on 17thMay.

Karan O'Loughlin added: “Theefficient and professional manner inwhich the mediation talks wereoverseen by Joe McDermott, in hisrole as an independent chairman,was pivotal in resolving this dispute.

“The agreement, which containsprocedural commitments on futureengagements between the companyand worker representatives, will beregistered with the Labour Court.”

Pickets were placed on theentrances to Irish Cement Ltd plantson 3rd April following a decision totake industrial action by the IrishCement Group of Unions, whichincludes SIPTU, TEEU and Unite.

The dispute arose from the com-pany’s failure to honour a LabourCourt recommendation concerningthe payment of monies, amountingto between €5,500 to €9,500 perworker.

THE first ever Labour Courthearing of an equality appealunder the Pensions Acts hasruled in favour of a SIPTUmember.

She was represented by theunion’s Membership, Informationand Support Centre (MISC) at thehearing.

The case concerned whether themember had been discriminatedagainst because of her marital sta-tus over payments made to her

from her employer’s income continuance plan, while she wasoff work due to illness.

The calculation used in workingout the plan’s payment rateassumed she was married andwould receive a social welfare pay-ment in respect of her husband,regardless of whether she was ornot.

This meant that she got less thana single person – as the same calcu-lation would not have been

applied to them. The employer,represented by IBEC, at first arguedthat there was no jurisdiction forthe case as they claimed incomecontinuance plans were not cov-ered by the Pensions Acts.

However, SIPTU successfullyargued that the definition of “occu-pational benefits” covering “sicknessor invalidity” under the PensionsActs was broad enough to encompassincome continuance plans.

In upholding the decision of theEquality Tribunal, the LabourCourt held that the member’s pay-ments from the plan be levelled upto that which it would have been ifthe calculation for single personswere used.

The Court also noted that theemployer had changed its schemeand was using the single person’scalculation for all its memberssince the original hearing by theEquality Tribunal.

Member’s equality appeal success

Strikeballotfollowsassetstransfermove

Fall in retail pay revealed

JohnDouglas

Irish Cement workers picketshareholders’ meeting prior tothe resolution of the dispute

A BALLOT for industrialaction of SIPTU membersemployed in local authori-ty water services com-menced on Monday, 18thJune, and will conclude onFriday, 6th July.

The ballot is in response to adecision by the Department ofthe Environment to begin thetransfer of water service assetsand SIPTU members’ duties toBord Gáis and sub-contractorcompanies.

SIPTU Sector Organiser,Michael Wall, said: “Contrary toall assurances given previously,the Department of theEnvironment is proceeding withthe transfer of assets and workin the water services to an out-side agency and private contrac-tors.

“No discussions have takenplace, no forum for consultationhas been established and noassurances concerning futureterms and conditions of employ-ment have been given to work-ers who have provided a profes-sional service to the Irish publicfor generations.”

He added: “A ballot for indus-trial action, including strikeaction, was demanded by SIPTUmembers at a series of regionalmeetings across the countryheld to discuss the Departmentof Environment’s behaviour.”

SIPTU has 2,500 membersemployed in local authoritywater services, which includecaretakers, network staff,plumbers and inspectors.

The result of the ballot will beannounced on Monday, 9th July.

IIrish Cement strike success

By Rachel Ryan

LibertyJUNE 2012

5News

IPTU has called for thehighest priority to begiven to tackling long-term unemployment.It comes as Central

Statistics Office data revealedthe percentage of those out ofwork for 12 months or morehas increased from 7.8% of theworkforce in 2011 to 8.9% inthe first quarter of 2012.

SIPTU economist, Marie Sherlock,said: “The growing problem of long-term unemployment is the biggestissue which emerges from the CSOfigures.

“We have already seen an increasein the numbers signing on for 12months or longer on the live register.However, the figures confirm theenormity of the problem with morethan 60% of those out of work beingwithout a job for a year or longer.

“The figures also point to an evenlarger employment crisis than theheadline figure of 14.8% of the work-force out of work suggests with alarge jump in the numbers claimingto be in part-time work but under-employed.”

Marie Sherlock added: “It is nowmore important than ever that allstakeholders in Irish society priori-tise investment plans which seek tomaximise job creation.”

Long-term unemploymenthas to be our top priority

IT HAS been confirmedthat there will be no joblosses this year at thePfizer production plants inRingaskiddy and LittleIsland in county Cork.

The confirmation follows ameeting between SIPTU represen-tatives and Pfizer management onWednesday, 6th June,

SIPTU Pharmaceutical,Chemical and Medical DevicesSector Organiser, Alan O’Leary,told Liberty: “SIPTU representa-tives met with the company fol-lowing staff briefings at which themanagement of Pfizer outlinedthe details and extent of plannedjob losses.

STAFF in Dublin CityUniversity, the University ofLimerick and NUI Maynoothhave been congratulated fortheir success in ensuring theirinstitutions were judged to beamong the world’s top 100universities established with-in the last 50 years.

SIPTU Education SectorOrganiser, Louise O’Reilly, told

Liberty: “It is a credit to our mem-bers who work in many differentroles in these three universities thatthey were judged to be among theworld’s top educational institutionsin the Times Higher Education(THE) 100 Under 50 rankings.”

She added: “For a university to bea successful place of learninginvolves a number of factors.Essential among these is the profes-

sionalism and dedication of the university staff.

“I would, in particular, like tocommend the work of the academ-ic, research, technical, administra-tive, security, cleaning and cateringstaff of these universities.

“The importance of their contri-bution to an educational institu-tion’s success is sometimes notfully appreciated.”

SIPTU economist MarieSherlock has called formajor investment in jobcreation

UNDER-THREAT Colombianpeace activist CarlosLozano has claimed a right-wing paramilitary grouphas put a $200,000 contracton his life.

Lozano, a member of theColombians for Peace organisa-tion, was a part of a delegationthat visited Ireland and spoke atLiberty Hall last month.

The latest threat comes onlyweeks after Lozano’s bodyguard ofeight years was murdered, and fol-lows a series of threats to col-leagues who form part of a massmovement for peace across thecountry.

It is understood the contractwas put up by the Urabeno para-miliary group and directed athired assassins – known as ‘sicar-ios’ – to kill Lozano as soon aspossible.

Although Lozano, who is a hold-er of the French Legion d’hon-neur and editor of Vox newspa-per, has requested the state pro-vides him with additional protec-tion, the National Protection Unithas so far refused to take anyaction to improve his security.

Several members of Colombiansfor Peace, including the group’sleader Piedad Cordoba, have beentargeted for assassination recently,

A group of killers planned to firean anti-tank missile at her.

Lozano, a member of theDemocratic Pole political party, isalso a key figure in Patriotic March,a social movement that aims torevitalise politics in Colombia andput the war-ravaged country backon the path to peace.

After a large mobilisation at theend of April, several members ofthe Patriotic March have beenkilled, threatened or disappeared.

Colombians for Peace has beenat the forefront of efforts to kick-start a peace process in Colombia.Its delegation including Lozanovisited Ireland and the UK lastmonth to learn about the peaceprocess in Northern Ireland in abid to build support for a similarinitiative in Colombia. See pages26-27

$200k murder contract put onactivist

CarlosLozano

“We understand that the compa-ny is preparing to reduce the work-force in Ringaskiddy by 129 andLittle Island by 46. These job loss-

es result from the expiry of thepatent on the drug Lipitor, which isproduced at the Little Island plant,and dramatically reduced volumes

at the Ringaskiddy Plant.”He added: “At our meeting

SIPTU received confirmation fromthe management of Pfizer that inline with an existing agreementany proposed job losses will notoccur during 2012.

“This provides us with a periodof time to engage with Pfizer toexplore all avenues to reduce theactual number of job losses.

“Pfizer is a key employer in theCork region and the union will beseeking support from all stake-holders, including theGovernment, to retain as manyjobs as possible at both plants.”

SIPTU represents 356 workers atthe Ringaskiddy and Little Islandproduction plants.

Staff crucial to successof Ireland’s universities

S

Pfizer confirms no job lossesat Cork plants during 2012

150 years of Dublin Fire BrigadeLibertyJUNE 2012

6

“JUST under one hundredyears ago at dusk on a Tuesdayevening across the River Liffey,my grandmother, then 10years of age, was in the FatherMatthew Hall playing withother children.

They heard a massive rumble thatdeveloped into a thunderous roar astwo tenement houses collapsed intoChurch Street, killing seven of herneighbours.

Two units of Dublin Fire Brigadeand two ambulances were immedi-ately dispatched and took control ofthe rescue. A hundred minutes laterfirefighter, Patrick Carberry, crawled,dug and manoeuvred his way intothe rubble to rescue a young boy.

Carberry later said: “Every minutewe thought we were done for as wewere nearly dead from keeping up allthe weight of stuff crushing ourbacks. The rescue work continuedfor near 24 hours… by that time thedistraught father of two of the vic-tims had written a letter to theEvening Telegraph where he pro-claimed his thanks to Dublin FireBrigade who during all their arduoustoil their only refreshment was coldwater, but if earnest thanks andappreciation are any reward, I forone tender them to the fullestextent.”

Just over three years ago, I wasknocked down in an accident onDublin’s Pearse Street and so becameanother generation of the Duffy fam-ily to rely on, benefit from and begrateful to the men and women ofDublin Fire Brigade – which hasserved the growing population ofthis region for six generations.

So this evening I have been askedto speak on behalf of the countlessthousands whom you have directlyhelped.

By the time of the Church Streetdisaster in 1913, Dublin Fire Brigadehad been diligently serving the capi-tal for just over 50 years – foundedjust over a decade after the greatfamine – and now just under a cen-tury after Mr Sammon wrote to thenewspaper, we can honestly repeathis words to the men and women ofDublin Fire Brigade…if earnestthanks and appreciation are anyreward, we tender them to the fullextent.

And just as the sound, the rumbleand unmerciful roar that destroyedthat late summer night in September1913 was quickly followed by theurgent bells of the Dublin FireBrigade fire engines and the gallop-ing-thunder of horse-drawn ambu-lances and steamers as help arrivedand human endeavour prevailedover human tragedy – today yoursiren sound still brings comfort andaid to the suddenly afflicted.

Ironically, for a service that by itsnature and call must live in the hereand urgent now, and where no call isunanswered, or no one is treated ashistory, your work is very much partof the history of families, socialmovements, tragedies and upheavalsin this capital.

Even within ear shot of where wenow stand in Dublin Castle, thesilent ghostly memories of roaringblazes and tragic disasters echo, asdo the frantic screams and the whis-pered pleas as help arrived. And thesocial history of this city and countycourses through the story of DublinFire Brigade.

Not only are all these incidentsand many more carved into the peo-ple’s history, but your endeavoursfeature in the literature which hasmade this part of the world sofamous, as in James Joyce’s Ulysseswhere Lieutenant John Myers andDublin Fire Brigade – who, by theway, took charge of the rescue effortat the Church Street disaster – areboth immortalised.

Household names like Jacob’s,Arnotts, Kennedy’s Bakery, Johnston

Mooney and O’Brien, PowersDistillery, CIE, Noyeks, Dockrells,Guinness, The Irish Times,McKenzies, Killeen paper mills,Exide Batteries, Rowntrees and ToddBurns, have a different meaning foryou, the scenes of major and danger-ous conflagrations.

Landmark buildings and places,the Custom House, Four Courts,Dublin Castle, Trinity College, Green

Street, Hammond Lane, NorthStrand, Parnell Street, South LeinsterStreet, South William Street, PearseStreet, Ballyboughal, Sackville Streetand Place, Cuffe Street, GPO, TheatreRoyal, Abbey Theatre, BohemianCinema, Spa and Marine Hotels fea-ture in our history because of eventsinside – in your history because ofthe major incidents that you tackledthere.

But most of all it is those who havedied in fires in Dublin that are to theforefront of our minds – decrepitsocial conditions and dangerousbuildings mean that Dubliners suffered more than many in theearly years after your foundation.

And the names of those who diedfrom your ranks, should be remem-bered on this day – Brady, Burke,Doherty, Hearns, Heaney, Horgan,Kite, Nugent, Malone and McArdle.

You will find those names not juston the roll call of the firefighterswho died on duty in this county –similar names almost to a man canbe found on the roll call of the fallenfirefighters of 9-11, where Irishnames like those I have just men-tioned or those in our number herecomprise 105 of the 343 New Yorkfirefighters who died saving the liv-ing on that day.

Reminding us that your professionis global, your calling is worldwide –your response always immediateand local.

Others such as the Stardust areetched into all our hearts because ofthe tragedies therein which catapult-ed vague locations into our nationalpantheon of unimaginable tragedies.

That a member of Dublin FireBrigade, Jim McDermott, lost threeof his children – William, George andMarcella – in that Valentine’s nightblaze which killed 45 others remind-ed Dubliners that you are part ofwhat we are, not only honourablepublic servants but you are our fel-low citizens, neighbours, friends andrelatives.

Because as we stand here in thefading light of another day we knownot what the next day may bring –but we know in times of need, ofwhich there will be many our pan-icked call, our frantic plea, our whis-pered cry will bring the women andmen of Dublin Fire Brigade to ouraid, no matter the hour, no matterthe day.

But you all have many more milesto travel, calls to answer and pledgesto keep. May your journeys continueto be life-saving, life-affirming andlife-giving. Because we can safely sayyou are the lifeblood of this citywhere as far as your calling is con-cerned no one is history.”

Comhgairdeas, dea mhein, buio-chas agus beir bua sibh go leir.

This an extract from a speech by broadcaster Joe Duffy tomark the 150th anniversary of the Dublin Fire Brigade at

Dublin Castle on Saturday, 2nd June, 2012

Responding to call of history

‘The socialhistory of this city andcounty coursesthrough thestory ofDublin FireBrigade’

LibertyJUNE 2012

7150 years of Dublin Fire Brigade

DUBLIN Fire Brigade – “thelife blood of the city” – cele-brated 150 years of service tothe people of Dublin with acolourful march through thecity centre on Saturday, 2ndJune.

The brigade’s glorious past wasmuch on display as emergency vehi-cles spanning the decades – includ-ing an 1898 CorporationAmbulance, a restored 1921 Leylandfire tender and a DFB rescue boat –formed part of the parade.

Veteran firefighters, now retired,joined ranks of serving officers asthey marched from Parnell Square toDublin Castle.

Colleagues from across theRepublic, Northern Ireland,Netherlands and the US also tookpart.

Dublin Fire Brigade’s own pipersand drummers were joined by anumber of US bands representing

fire and police departments fromRockland, New York, Philadelphia,Portland, Oregon, New Hampshireand Florida.

Ordinary Dubliners lined thestreets clapping and cheering on themarchers and bands.

One onlooker said: “It’s clearevery firefighter, both in service andretired, felt nothing but utter prideand admiration at taking part.”

On reaching Dublin Castle, themarchers were addressed by LordMayor, Andrew Montague and ChiefFire Officer, Stephen Brady.

Broadcaster Joe Duffy, who alsoaddressed the marchers, spoke inglowing terms of the brigade’s proudhistory.

He said: “May your journeys con-tinue to be life-saving, life-affirmingand life-giving. Because we can safe-ly say you are the life blood of thiscity where as far as your calling isconcerned, no one is history.”

Education & Development Support SchemeMembers in Further EducationThe scheme will offer up to ten awards each year.

Second-Level Awards for Members and for Members’ ChildrenUp to thirty awards will be made each year to second-level students to cover the senior cycle (the two years up to the Leaving Certificate).

Gaeltacht Awards for Members’ ChildrenUp to twenty-five awards will be made each year for the children of members to cover the cost of their participation (accommodation and tuition fees) in a Gaeltacht course under the scheme operated jointly by SIPTU and Gael Linn.

A member, applying on his/her own behalf or on behalf of his/her child/children, must have at least one year’s membership of the Union and be in benefit when both the application and the payments are made.

Application forms and further information available from your Sector Organiser

Closing date for receipt of completed applications 30th September, 2012 (for awards 2012/2013)

By Brian Murray

Parade marks brigade’s 150 years of service

Pride: DublinFire Brigadecolour party

Dublin Lord MayorAndrew Montague leads 1898 Corporation ambulance.

The refurbished "Dublin Fire Department" Fire Appliance passes the GPO, Dublin, during a parade tocommemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Dublin Fire Brigade on Saturday, 2nd June.

Workplace CommitteeLibertyJUNE 2012

8

HE outsourcing ofcleaning work inthe country’s hospi-tals, schools andoffices has resultedin workers facing

greater uncertainty and inse-curity. Recognising this prob-lem SIPTU has placed a highpriority on assisting contractcleaners to organise withinthe union.

Among the workplaces organised,as part of the SIPTU Fair Deal forCleaners campaign, is Our Lady’sHospital for Sick Children Crumlinin Dublin. The SIPTU organisingcampaign has resulted in the num-ber of union members rising from30% to over 70% among of the hospi-tal’s approximately 50 contractcleaners.

Shop Steward, Martin Brennan, isa member of the Crumlin Hospitalcleaners’ workplace committeewhich has been in operation sincelate 2010.

“The main difference since weorganised in the union has been theprotection it has provided us. Ourshifts can get changed, our days canget changed, all these things themanagement just wants to be ableto implement at the drop of a hat.They just want to change your hoursand don’t understand you have tochange crèche times or that. Theunion gives us a level of protectionfrom that,” he said.

Martin’s colleague, Sarah Kinsella,joined the union when she startedworking in Crumlin Hospital lastyear.

She said; “It is very important tobe in the union, particularly the waythings are at the moment; theemployers think that they have youover a barrel. ‘There are a lot of peo-ple out there looking for jobs,’ thatis what you regularly hear from theemployers. I have always been in aunion. I don’t think people stand a

chance if they are in employmentand not in a union.”

Sarah said the major issues facingthe cleaners are attempts to cutwages and the unpredictable natureof their working hours - “You don’tknow what hours you will get.When you come in in the morningyou don’t know what way it is goingto be.”

Sarah is adamant that any attemptto reduce the €9.50 per hour payrate will be defeated. “On themoney we are on at the moment,just day to day living is a problem,there is no way it can be reduced.”

The Crumlin Hospital cleanersalso include several migrant work-ers. Vanda Tatanasvili is fromLithuania. She has lived and worked

in Ireland for the past six years. Sheserves alongside Martin on thecleaners’ workplace committee.

“I joined the union about twoyears ago. It is of course very impor-

tant to be a member of a union. Inmy own country I have always beena member of a union,” she said.

“The committee meets through-out the year. If a cleaner has anyproblems they can write to us orspeak to a committee memberdirectly,” Vanda said.

The newly formed workplacecommittee “basically consists of thefive or six people who are mostactive in the union,” according toMartin.

Earlier this year the committeemembers took part in a new organis-ing training course which was con-ducted by SIPTU Organiser, EiraGallagher, in the workplace. Oncompletion of this course the work-ers attended a graduation ceremony

held in Liberty Hall at the end ofFebruary.

Martin said; “The training wasimportant in telling you how youdeal with management; how youcan get things started. The commit-tee members meet with manage-ment. The management has general-ly been OK working with the unionand we have been able to resolve allthe problems so far.”

He added; “The major problemwith people committing to the com-mittee is that some [migrant work-ers] are going home. However thereare more and more people wantingto join the union. People are awareof how vulnerable they are on theirown and they want to be in theunion.”

Among those new members isMariusz Parvzez who joined theunion in June. “I have been workingas a cleaner and joined the unionbecause I believe it can make the joba better one,” he said.

TEnsuring a Fair Deal for Cleaners

“The main differencesince we organised in the union has been the protection it has provided us.”

HE latest review ofthe Croke Parkagreement has con-firmed that signifi-cant reductions inpay roll and staff

numbers in the public serv-ice have been achieved overthe period from April 2011 toMay 2012.

A total of €819 million in annu-alised pay roll and non- pay savingshas been delivered for the secondyear of the four year agreement.

SIPTU Vice-President, PatriciaKing, said that the review pub-lished by the Implementation Bodyfor the Public Service Agreement2010-2014 on Wednesday, 13thJune, indicated that significant sav-ings have been achieved.

She added that without theindustrial peace that was ensured

by the terms of the Agreement,such reform and savings could nothave been made.

“It is important to point out thata large proportion of the flexibilityand roster changes have been madeby our members at the lower payscales. These include the generaloperatives and support grades inthe local authorities and healthservice that we represent. Therehave also been significant savingsdelivered by professional gradeswhich are also represented bySIPTU,” Patricia King said.

The report confirms that publicsector workers are continuing toprovide essential services despitethe significant drop in staff num-bers by 17,300 over the past twoyears and an anticipated 11,500more by 2015.

“These savings have been madeon the basis of industrial peace and

could not have happened withoutthis Agreement. It should be noted,

however, that the moratorium onrecruitment in the public service is

having a damaging effect on theability of our members to deliverquality services.

“The review also confirms thatthose workers at the lowest paylevels across the public service havecontributed substantially to thereforms in work practices to datethrough roster changes, redeploy-ment, the extended working dayand loss of allowances. They havealso suffered from the loss of regu-lar, rostered over-time which, inthe majority of cases, is calculablefor pension purposes.

“The big challenge for the nexttwo years of the agreement is theaccelerated implementation of criti-cal reform and change and toensure that the burden of suchtransformation is shared across alllevels of the public service,”Patricia King said.

The Minister for PublicExpenditure and Reform, Brendan

Howlin, also welcomed the review’sfindings

He said; “Almost €900 million ofsustainable pay and non-pay sav-ings have been successfully deliv-ered in the second year of theCroke Park agreement. This meansthe agreement has achieved almost€1.5 billion in pay and on pay sav-ings in its first two years. Weshould not lose sight of the factthat the Croke Park agreement hasenabled these savings to be deliv-ered in a climate of industrialpeace across the public service.

He added that the review provid-ed strong evidence that, under theAgreement, the public service isconsistently "doing more withless", as management, unions andstaff work together to implementthe fundamental changes that arenecessary to keep the public serv-ice functioning with far fewer staffand resources.

TCroke Park review confirms importance of Agreement

The big challenge for the next two years of the agreement is the accelerated implementation of critical reform andchange and to ensurethat the burden of suchtransformation is sharedacross all levels of thepublic service

For more informationon the Fair Deal for Cleaners Campaign contact SIPTUTel: 01 858 6389e-mail: cleaning@siptu.ie

Fair Deal for Cleanerscommittee members: (L toR) Marivsz Parvzez, SarahKinsella, Vanda Tatanasviliand Martin Brennan

LibertyJUNE 2012

9News

IPTU General President,Jack O’Connor, hasdescribed James Connollyas an internationalist bet-ter known in revolu-

tionary circles across Europe thanother leaders of the 1916 Rising,but noted that he was also a prag-matist unafraid of compromise inhis trade union work.

He made his comments in akeynote address delivered at a recentre-dedication of a limestone bust ofthe revolutionary at the JamesConnolly Memorial Hospital inBlanchardstown, Dublin.

Jack O’Connor said that the abilityof the former acting general secretaryof the ITGWU to reach a settlement tothe Wexford Foundry lock-out of 1911and 1912 illustrated Connolly’s prag-matism.

When some of the striking workerscomplained that they had notachieved all their demands followingthe bitter dispute, Connolly repliedthat sometimes it was important justto reach an agreement – “any agree-ment” – in order to place them in abetter position for future strugglesand claims. The re-dedication wasorganised by Connolly Hospital’sChief Shop Steward Mick Lawlor andhis team – all of whom received a spe-cial James Connolly badge from Jack

O’Connor in recognition of theirefforts.

In his speech, Lawlor praised thecommitment shown by the localunion committee in restoring thememorial and in working with stu-dents from the BlanchardstownInstitute of Technology to create a gar-den for patients.

He also explained how the Connollybust was first placed in ConnollyHospital.

“The bust was transported at speedfrom the ITG&WU in Cork in the early1970s to Connolly Hospital inresponse to an attempt to change thehospital’s name.

“James Connolly was placed firmlyoutside the main entrance remindingall comers that the hospital wasnamed after a great patriot and martyrfor the working class people ofIreland.

“The hospital was constructed as asanatorium for TB sufferers by thecountry’s first Labour HealthMinister, Dr Noel Browne, and that ishow it was named after the 1916 andtrade union leader.”

Mick Lawlor added: “In more recenttimes, another attempt to rename thehospital was seen off by SIPTU andthe local community.”

SConnolly ‘Internationalist and pragmatist’

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LibertyJUNE 2012

10

‘The cowboyemployersare on theirway back’

Christy Waters, who hasserved for two years on theNEC, sees himself as repre-senting the interests of lowpaid workers. He has workedfor many years in the securityindustry and is currentlyemployed by Manguard Plus(formerly Security Plus), whichis based in the TogherBusiness Park in Naas, countyKildare.

He first joined the FWUI in thelate 1970s when he worked inLenehan’s hardware shop on CapelStreet in Dublin and has been anactive trade unionist all his workinglife campaigning for better termsand conditions for all low paidworkers. When he joined SecurityPlus in 1989 the job was notunionised and through his effortswith others, SIPTU negotiated anagreement with the company.

“In the security industry thingshave gone fill circle since I started inthe late 1980’s when there was aRegistered Employment Agreementthat was challenged and then struckdown by the courts. That created ahuge vacuum and the black econo-my was allowed to run rampant inthe industry. I was involved in theSIPTU campaign to get new regula-tions and eventually a Joint LabourCommittee was set up in the late1990’s.

“We were able to meet withemployers and improve terms andconditions and get the cowboys outof the industry. Over the years,everything improved with trainingcourses, a proper rate of pay, includ-ing Sunday premiums and nightallowances, holidays and better

working conditions. A private secu-rity authority was set up to regulatethe industry. Now with the JLC’sagain struck down by the courts weare left in a vacuum and the cowboyemployers are coming back,”Christy told Liberty.

Christy and his colleagues inSIPTU organised and fought hard forthe respect and recognition theyearned in a difficult industry andthose gains are again under threat.He is active in the Cleaners Forumwhere his experience is greatlyappreciated by other low paid work-ers

“Across all the low paid sectorsthere are serious attempts to drivewages down and take away longheld rights. I have attended and spo-ken at the Cleaners Forum which isabout defending the most vulnera-ble low paid workers.

“I am on the NEC to make surethat the people at the bottom of theladder are represented and I’mhappy to say that everyone gets afair hearing on all the importantissues of the day. I feel privileged tohave been voted by members to theexecutive.”

“My father once said to me; ‘Ifyou want to get on in your workinglife it helps to like what you’redoing but never just do what youlike.’ I certainly like what I’m doingand hope I can continue to be avoice for all low paid workers.”

Born in the Liberties, Christy livesin Clondalkin with his wife, Susan.They have five children and threegrand-children. When he gets thetime he enjoys playing golf andsnooker.

Christy WatersNEC PROFILE

Defending the low-paid:Christy Waters speaks atthe Cleaners’ Forum inLiberty Hall earlier thisyear.

Helen MurphyNEC PROFILE

RETIREMENT Martin Naughton

NEC decisions May 2012Audited accounts 2011

The Union Trustees and NationalExecutive Council adopted theaudited accounts for 2011.

Sector Organisers PanelThe Staff Recruitment sub-

Committee report was adopted inrespect of a new panel for sectororganisers.

Terms of reference – NEC’sRestructuring sub-Committee

The Terms of Reference for theNEC’s Restructuring sub-Committee were adopted and theCommittee will comprise of thefollowing:

• Ten members of the NEC (twomembers from each Division)

• Reserved Seat – N. Ireland• Three General Officers• The Head of the MISC • The Head of Organising• The Head of Finance • The Head of Infrastructure• Five Divisional Organisers

Other mattersNEC paid tribute to Martin

Naughton, Head of Finance &Administration on his retirementfrom the Union on 18th May 2012.

Organising initiativesJoe Cunningham, Head of the

Organising Department, gave adetailed and comprehensive reporton the organising initiatives todate.

Temporary Agency WorkersDirective

NEC was notified of the signinginto law The Protection ofEmployees (Temporary AgencyWork) Act 2012 by the President ofIreland, Michael D. Higgins.

Bereavements notifiedMichael Scanlon – Vice

President, Retired Members’Section Committee and FormerHonorary Branch Secretary,Mitchelstown

Tom McCarthy – Former Head ofSIPTU College, Retired

Sheila Conroy – Former Secretaryof the People’s College and formermember of Executive CommitteeITGWU

Meeting challengesthat lie ahead for usHELEN Murphy has been amember of SIPTU’s NationalExecutive Council since 2004and is currently serving hersecond term.

Originally from Crossmolina,county Mayo, after taking herLeaving Certificate in GortnorAbbey, she started nurse training inLewisham, London.

She qualified as a General Nursein 1974 and after returning toIreland the following year startedworking at the Regional Hospital,Galway.

In 1978, Helen was among thefirst group – of approximately 200nurses – in the Regional to berecruited into the ITGWU by former union official and currentLabour Party minister Pat Rabbitte.

She became an activist in 1980and has continued representingnurses and others since.

Helen felt especially privileged tobe nominated as the nurse repre-sentative by the ITGWU to success-fully contest the Western HealthBoard elections.

She served on the Board from

1987 to 1992. Among other posi-tions she held were chief shopsteward for nurses and president ofthe Galway 2 branch.

She also represented SIPTU onthe Partnership Committee and theNurses Forum in University CollegeHospital, Galway, becoming joint

chair of both bodies.Helen has also taken many

courses provided by SIPTU Collegeover the years and believes thishas hugely equipped her to repre-sent workers.

She believes that the role a shopsteward takes on can be bothonerous and rewarding. However,looking back, Helen claims shewould do it all over again.

She told Liberty: “It was a greathonour to be elected to the NEC. Ifeel very privileged to have thetrust of workers to representthem at the highest office for ordi-nary members.

“I was part of the decision mak-ing to implement the new struc-tures which are now in placealmost two years.

“We are in very challengingtimes and I believe those struc-tures best equip our members tomeet the challenges facing ordi-nary working people.”

Helen is also a member of theNursing Sector Committee, theEquality Committee and theGalway District Committee. Sheretired from UCHG in December.

HelenMurphy

SIPTU Head ofFinance andAdministrationMartin Naughtonwith TeresaO’Callaghan at hisretirement partyin Liberty Hall onFriday 18th May.

LibertyJUNE 2012

11Economy

EU growth plan hopes fading OOMSDAY talk ofa Greek exit, col-lapse of the euroand the terrifyingconsequences for

Ireland has taken on agreater relevance and signifi-cance over recent weeks.

A close run election in Greece withthe centre right New Democracycoming in ahead of Syriza means anuncertain period faces a peoplealready under serious strain.Coupled with the rising pressure onSpain and Italy these developmentshave pushed deeply unpalatablealternatives into the open includingthe possible collapse of the singlecurrency project or ever closer mon-etary and fiscal union.

Even for those that advocategreater EU federalism this would befar from an ideal union, but rather ashotgun marriage designed to staveoff complete disintegration andwhich would put core EU countriessuch as Germany in the driving seat.

A meeting of the EU heads of stateis scheduled for 28th June and it wasinitially expected that the new-found growth agenda would domi-nate the discussions.

However, there is now growingconcern that events in Greece and,more particularly, Spain, will derailany focus on longer-term growth

measures, as once again politicalminds will be focused on the imme-diate priority of saving Spain andcontaining any EU-wide contagion.

To date, the signs remain far fromencouraging that EU leaders standready to put in place a comprehen-sive growth and stability package.

The Spanish ‘bail-out’ agreed byEU finance ministers on 9th Junehas proved itself to be as sham.

Despite claims that it would reas-sure bond markets, sovereign bondyields for Spain climbed above 7%just days after it was agreed.

Labelled by the Spanish govern-ment as ‘non-economic’ financialassistance, Spain attempted to sepa-rate the burgeoning public financecrisis from the banking problem andthe strategy wonas EU leadersacceded to a‘bank-only’ bail-out.

While the deal,at best, provides at e m p o r a r yreprieve for theSpanish govern-ment in attempt-ing to cope with acrippled bankingsystem, at worstthe deal marks avery dangerousturning point inthe efforts to savethe euro zone.

This latest bail-out may well buytime for Spain butit risks prolongingthe crisis all themore if and when the Spanish gov-ernment is forced into seeking an‘economic bail-out’.

Since the new government tookoffice in November 2011, Spanish10-year bond yields have not fallenbelow 5%, with yields rising above6% for the past month reflectingfears that the administration isattempting too much in too short aperiod.

Very tough fiscal measures andlabour law reformsdesigned to reas-sure investors andimposed to meetthe general gov-ernment target ofa 3% deficit by2014 are by andlarge having theopposite of theirintended effect.

Spanish GDP isset to contract by acumulative 2.1%between 2012 and2013, driven by a10.2% cut to cur-rent governments p e n d i n g .Unemployment isforecast to climbeven higher to astark 25.1% nextyear. The Spanish

deal is also dangerous in that itmakes a mockery of the bail-outnegotiated with Ireland and the

other programme countries in twokey ways. It is worth rememberingthat no sudden deterioration in theIrish public finances or massive leapin Irish sovereign bond yields precip-itated the Irish government’srequest for aid during October 2010.Instead the arrival of the IMF/EU andECB into Ireland at that time cameoff the back of a threat by the ECB towithdraw a vital funding stream tothe Irish banks.

The second key factor is that theSpanish government successfullyargued that its programme of labourand fiscal reforms is well under wayand in doing so has averted the typeof conditions, reporting require-ments and monitoring that is charac-teristic of the Irish, Greek andPortuguese bail-outs.

It is worth recalling that theFF/Green/PD government at the timehad already undertaken a major fis-cal adjustment. Indeed its four-yearplan was largely adopted by theTroika when it released its pro-gramme of actions for Ireland duringthat winter of 2010.

Ultimately, political tolerancewithin the existing bail-out coun-tries will wear thin should EU lead-ers continue to conduct businesslike this. All eyes will be on the sum-mit in late June.

Marie Sherlock is a SIPTU economist

DBy Marie Sherlock

‘Spanish deal is dangerous in that it makes a mockery of the ‘bail-out’negotiated with Ireland and other countries’

study entitledCosts of Workingin Ireland, whichsuggested that upto 44% of

employed people with chil-dren would be better off onthe dole was withdrawn bythe Economic and SocialResearch Institute (ESRI)during June.

The ESRI stated that the workingpaper’s “underlying analysis requiresmajor revision” and that the bodywas concerned “that the public couldbe misled by its content.”

The working paper was in themain the work of academic RichardTol. The Dutch economist left theERSI last year claiming that outsidegroups had a malign influence onthe organisation’s research. Whenthe ERSI was forced to withdrawCosts of Working in Ireland, Tolclaimed on RTE’s Morning Irelandthat the trade unions might havehad some role in the decision. Theclaim is completely without founda-tion and Tol has been requested towithdraw it.

Tol’s work is clearly deeplyflawed, based as it is on the selec-tive use of out of date data.However it does raise some impor-tant issues relating to the costs ofworking in Ireland.

When the working paper sur-faced many in the media were quickto jump on its flawed findings,using them to back up politicallymotivated claims that the social

welfare system was overly generousand was acting as a disincentive towork. Yet the data used in the studyactually suggests the opposite. Thefigures were drawn from the2004/2005 Household Survey.During this period there was nearfull-employment in Ireland, provingthat joblessness was not seen as amore desirable scenario despite theadditional costs associated withwork.

The paper’s conclusion that thecosts of working are high in Irelandis not radical, taking into accountchildcare, transport and otherexpenses. However, certain costs

incurred by jobseekers, such astransport, were not adequately fac-

tored into the analysis. Accordingto the ESRI, the contention in the

original text that 44% of people withchildren would be better off onunemployment benefit, rather thantaking up work, is erroneous and arevised version suggests this is thecase for fewer than 10% of suchhouseholds.

However the research does raiseimportant issues, namely the prob-lem of low pay and the dearth ofaffordable childcare.

Research by the Nevin EconomicResearch Institute (NERI) showsthat for many household types (par-ticularly those with infants or chil-dren in third-level education) theminimum wage is below the mini-

mum essential standard of living.NERI’s most recent working paperhighlights that the cost of work (e.g.increased local authority rent, child-care and transport) makes it moredifficult for certain households toachieve a acceptable basic livingstandard.

It is noticeable that the at-risk ofpoverty level (below 60% of medianincome) increased from 14.1% in2009 to 15.8% in 2010, notwith-standing the fact that the incomethreshold fell from €12,046 in 2009to €10,831 in 2010.

However, while the NERIresearch indicates there are consid-erable costs associated with workersentering low paid employment it isonly a side issue. Recent EUresearch indicates that for every jobvacancy in Ireland there are 26 jobseekers.

Freed from the media spin theunderlying issues revealed by Costsof Working in Ireland indicate thatcalls for a reduction in the mini-mum wage and the dismantling ofpay protections for low incomeworkers would be counter-produc-tive. The need for a genuine debateabout the adequacy of income fromwork, challenging jaded argumentsabout competitiveness, should notbe lost by mis-directed attacks oncurrent benefit levels.

It is critical that Irish society’sfocus remains on the creation ofdecent jobs, rather than being side-tracked into a debate based arounda false dilemma of low paid workversus social welfare.

ABy Loraine Mulligan

ERSI withdraws flawed report

Protest in Puerta del Solsquare in Madrid in May2012. Photo: Wikipedia

People queueing at the SocialWelfare Office at Bishop Square inDublin. Photo: Photocall Ireland

The paper’s conclu-sion that the costs ofworking are high inIreland is not radi-cal, taking intoaccount childcare,transport and otherexpenses.

LibertyJUNE 2012

12 Economy

fter four yearsof economicu p h e a v a l ,harsh budgets

and massive job losses,the Irish economy verymuch finds itself at across roads at this pointin time.

To the outside world record highlevels of exports sold abroad hasmeant that the economy is stabilis-ing. But inside, the Irish domesticeconomy is set to enter its sixth suc-cessive year of contraction in 2012,weighed down by a burgeoningunemployment problem and persist-ent fear and uncertainty about thefuture of both the Irish andEuropean economies.

Without investment in the coun-try’s infrastructural capacity, into theskills and training of those out ofwork and those with a job and intoexisting Irish businesses, there willbe no growth of any real impact onemployment and on consumerdemand in the Irish economy. SinceMay Day 2011, SIPTU has persistent-ly called for a jobs and investmentprogramme. This has culminated inthe publication in May this year bySIPTU and ICTU of proposals todeliver jobs and growth.

Outline of the proposals

We are proposing a targeted strate-gic investment of upwards of anaverage of €3bn each year for thenext three years. In addition to theGovernment’s own public capitalprogramme, our plan has the poten-tial to provide an annual boostworth almost 2% as a share of GDP.In the context of the general govern-ment debt set to peak close to 120% asa share of GDP and with Ireland effec-tively locked out of the internationalcapital markets, the Governmentfaces very clear constraints inattempting to borrow additionalmoney to fund these proposals.

So imaginative ways have to befound to leverage private sources offunding and, where possible, keepthe investment off the State’s bal-ance sheet. Our plan is based onfour main sources of finances, (i)direct investment by the National

Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF), (ii)incentivised investment by Irishoccupational pension funds, (iii)cofinancing by the EuropeanInvestment Bank and (iv) co- financ-ing by the commercial semi-statecompanies. Together, this fundingwould be invested in much needed,strategically important, projects inthe areas of broadband develop-ment, energy efficiency, water andwaste water treatment, hospitalsand schools.

Shift in Balance ofpower in the EU butthis will not be enoughto lift Ireland

Recent events across the EU havedemonstrated that many EU leadersnow recognise that one sided auster-ity will not cure the economic crisis

and that there is a need for a coordi-nated fiscal stimulus if the eurozoneis to avoid a double dip recession.President Hollande of France ispushing for a growth pact and eventhe deeply conservative Germanfinance minister has acknowledgedthe need for a rise in German wagesto spur domestic demand. Already,German metal workers have negoti-ated a pay rise worth 4.4%, whilepublic sector workers will see theirwages increase by 6.3% over the nexttwo years.

For Ireland, these are significantdevelopments and we can hope tobenefit from an increase in fundingto be made available through the EIBfor investment in infrastructure andother sectors. For the thousands ofIrish businesses that export into theEU, it should also provide a welcome boost. It is worth remembering that

some 58.2% of Irish goods exports goto other EU countries.

Major shortfall ininfrastructure stillexists in Ireland

But these developments alone willnot be enough to lift the stagnantIrish domestic economy onto a sus-tainable growth pact. At a timewhere there is significant sparecapacity of skills in the construction

and craft sector and where construc-tion tender prices are back at 1998levels, it would be very opportune toramp up infrastructural spending. Itwould have the relatively immediateimpact of generating thousands ofjobs in these projects and over themedium term it would tackle theinfrastructural deficiencies that existin the Irish economy and which will

have such a long term bearing on ourfuture growth potential. WhileIreland recorded one of the highestlevels of public investment acrossthe world during the boom years,with the exception of our inter-city road network, few in this countrywould argue that we now enjoysuperior levels of education, healthand telecommunications facilities.

The Sources of FundingLooking across the Irish Sea, local

authority pension funds are a primeexample of how the pension fundsof ordinary workers can be put touse by investing in projects in thelocal area on a commercial basis.With upwards of €80bn in Irishoccupational pension funds and thevast majority of this invested abroad,there is now a real opportunity toattract some of this funding intoIrish projects and assets.

The challenge is to incentivisepension funds and to reassure pen-sion fund trustees that investing inIreland can produce a commercialreturn, which in turn will add to theproductive capacity of the State. Thepension fund levy was imposed bythe Government during 2011 and thesecond payment of the levy is due inSeptember this year. We propose thatthese payments be rebated back tothe pension fund at a future date, oncondition of investment in specificGovernment-approved projects orfunds. Legislative provisions would

have to be put in place to ensure thatthe rebate is immediately payablewere the pension fund to wind up. Invalue terms, this has the potential toinject upwards of €4bn into the Irisheconomy over the next 3 years.

Funding from the NPRF wouldform the second source and webelieve that half of the remainingfunds of €5.4bn could be directedtowards infrastructure projects.

By Marie Sherlock

A

Deliver Jobs and GrowthProposals to fund a major newinvestment programme in Ireland

Continued on page 13

Few in this coun-try would arguethat we now enjoysuperior levels ofeducation, healthand telecommuni-cations facilities.

LibertyJUNE 2012

13Comment

Reinventing our democracyand Claiming Our Future...

HERE was a heatwave on SaturdayMay 26th. We weregetting our wholesummer in oneweekend and still

some 200 people turned up inCroke Park for Claiming OurFuture’s event on reinventingdemocracy.

There was clearly an urgency togetting to grips with the parlousstate of our democracy.

The debates held a big focus onreinventing democracy from thelocal level. There was strong supportfor developing more participativeforms of governance and decisionmaking at local level.

The need for devolving powers tolocal authority level and developingfunding streams for local democracywas emphasised.

The political culture that prevailswas seen as a barrier to change. Apolitical fatigue was identified in theabsence of real alternatives in politi-cal debate and in the inability ofgroups to move beyond their ownnarrow interests.

The issue of distance from deci-sion making was a key source of dis-content. A sense of powerlessnesswas articulated in the absence of anyreal participation in – or influence

over – decision making by the peo-ple affected by those decisions.

Action at the national level wasalso supported. In particular, the

need for a Dáil that might be fit forpurpose was articulated.

Proposals to reduce the power ofthe whip system and to give greaterpowers to Oireachtas committeesreceived high levels of support.

The electoral system was alsoidentified as being in need of reformif we are to get politicians with a

capacity to grapple with the criseswe face and if we are to get a diversi-ty of representation that reflects theactual composition of our society.

The danger to democracy in thesilencing of voices of dissent wasraised in the debates. There wasstrong support articulated for a con-stitutional provision to protect advo-cacy by community groups repre-senting those living in poverty andinequality.

The proposed Constitutional

Convention was identified as amoment of opportunity to raiseissues of democratic reform, giventhat so many of these issues require

constitutional change. The current proposals around the

Constitutional Convention are asource of disappointment – and inmany ways reflect the politicalfatigue highlighted in the debates.

There was a call for Claiming OurFuture to organise an alternativeConstitutional Convention – an

alternative where the voices of thoseexperiencing inequality and povertywould have influence and where theagenda would contribute to a realreinvention of our democracy.

The importance of equality as avalue to shape democratic practiceand perspective was highlighted.

There is an absence of shared val-ues to shape political processes,debates and decision making.Equality needs to be one such value.

Accountability was also identifiedas another key value that is current-ly lacking visibility.

The 1916 centenary was viewed asanother key moment for examiningthe issue of our democracy. A realrepublic would be governed by dif-ferent values and would require dif-ferent political processes.

The Claiming Our Future debateshave set a valuable agenda for this.

A working group will now takethese ideas forward.

Contact can be made throughinfo@claimingourfuture.ie. This isclearly a timely focus on an urgentissue. However, the powerful ideasthat came from Croke Park will onlybe realised if people from across civilsociety are ready to take them on.

TBy Niall Crowley

‘The 1916 centenary wasviewed as another keymoment... a real republicwould be governed by different values andrequire different politicalprocesses’

EIB funding is the third componentand already the EIB have fundedenergy, school and housing projectsin Ireland. To date, take up of loansby Ireland has been low. Since late2011, there has been much discus-sion at EU level about EU projectbonds and the first bonds are due tobe piloted in late 2012. The participa-tion of the EIB in these project bondswill attract other sources of finance

and it is hoped that these can be putto use for Irish projects.

Lastly, the commercial semi-statecompanies have well establishedinvestment programmes, whereearnings are reinvested back intocapital projects. Already, there is aprecedent for some of the largersemi-state companies to co-financeprojects in the areas of telecommuni-cations etc. Although the

Government has made an agreementwith the Troika to allocate upwardsof 50% from the proceeds of the saletowards a job and investment plan,we do not consider this as part of ourfunding model.

The economic impactWhile our investment plan will

not solve the employment crisis in

this country nor is it enough tosecure full economic recovery, it doeshave the potential to (i) help to kickstart investment, provide a boost todomestic economic activity and meetthe country’s long term vital infrastructural needs, (ii) generatethousands of direct and indirectemployment in the construction andrelated sectors and (iii) impact on the

general government deficit and thepublic finances. The Exchequerwould gain directly via an increase inincome and construction related taxrevenues and indirectly through sav-ings to the Social Welfare fund fromthe numbers exiting the LiveRegister. For every €1 spent on aninfrastructure project an estimated€0.51 accrues back to the State.

Deliver Jobs and Growth - continued from page 12

CommentLibertyJUNE 2012

14

By JACK O’CONNORSIPTU General President

LibertyView

OR some yearsnow, the statefunded Economicand SocialResearch Institutehas been pursu-

ing a ‘slash and burn’ agen-da. It is influenced by theneo-liberal thinking whichsuggests that economicrecovery can come from driv-ing down wages and the costof labour. It is a policy ofinternal devaluation that isfavoured because in thiscountry, as members of theeuro zone, the Irish govern-ment cannot devalue its currency to soften theimpact of the fiscal andbanking crises.

It is the sort of thinking thathas dominated political discoursein the US where it forms a coreprinciple in the Republican Partyattempt to unseat Barack Obamalater this year, and in the coun-tries across Europe that are, orhave been, led by centre-rightparties. In the EU, it involves thedismantling of the social modelfavoured by Mitterand andDelours in the 1980’s with a sav-age attack on wages and on the

mechanisms that protect theincomes and conditions for work-ers.

By electing François Hollandein France, and giving his SocialistParty a clear majority in theassembly the voters of the secondlargest EU economy have firmlyrejected the one sided austerityagenda and gone for a growth

strategy. The problem with the ‘slash

and burn’ approach is not onlythat it is unfair to working peo-ple and their families for whomit provides no hope of a better

quality of life but that it does notwork. It has failed to protect jobsand, in this country, it has failedto generate the growth needed toput over 450,000 people back towork or to stem the tide of emi-gration of our young people.

The ESRI has recognised, some-what belatedly, that an EU widestimulus is required if there is to

be any hope of economic recov-ery in those countries sufferingfrom high unemployment, partic-ularly among the youth, but thatis no excuse for it rejecting theonly coherent proposals for

domestic job creation that haveemerged over the past two years.

Since May 2011, Congress andSIPTU have developed detailedproposals for a domestic jobsinvestment package that couldput tens of thousands back towork within a few short yearsand have identified both thesources of funding and the proj-ects which could stimulategrowth and recovery.

The funds can come from avariety of sources including theEuropean Investment Bank andthe National Pension ReserveFund while commercial semi-state energy and communicationscompanies could be encouragedto invest in job creation projects.

The €80 billion held by Irishprivate pension funds can beleveraged by offering them arebate from the pension levy inreturn for the investment of aportion of those monies. Thereare essential infrastructural gapsin transport and rail, broadband,health and education that can befilled while providing Irish work-ers, the unemployed and theirchildren with some hope that thefuture can be brighter.

F By electing François Hollande inFrance, and giving his Socialist Party a clear majority in the assembly thevoters of the second largest EU economy have firmly rejected the one sided austerity agenda and gonefor a growth strategy.

Opening Hours:Thursday 7 p.m. - 8.15 p.m.Saturday 9.30 a.m. - 12.00 noon

If you are interested in joining the Jim Larkin Credit Union Tel: 01-8721155 or email: jimlarkincu@eircom.net

Jim Larkin Credit Union

The Jim Larkin Credit Union is regulated by the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority (IFSRA)

The Credit Unionfor all SIPTUmembers andtheir families inthe DublinRegion

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LibertyJUNE 2012

15Supporting Quality

Support Quality,Support Jobs in Ireland.

Protecting Quality Jobs in IrelandPromoting Quality Irish Products

SUPPORTINGQUALITY

Joe O’FlynnSIPTU General Secretary

The SIPTU Supporting Qualityconsumer campaign is aimedat protecting jobs in Irelandand supporting quality Irishproducts.

Supporting Quality encourages consumers to consider thewider economic and socialimpact of their shopping choices.

The campaign grants productswhich are produced in unionisedworkplaces in Ireland the right toindicate this with a SupportingQuality mark and their inclusion on the Supporting Quality website.

The Supporting Quality campaignand associated products will also be continually promoted among the200,000 members of SIPTU and theirfamilies.

More and more people are realising that there is a need to supportbrands produced by companies

which support decentemployment inIreland. Indigenousmanufacturing will becentral to the country’seconomic recovery andthe Supporting Qualitycampaign allows con-sumers to play theirpart by choosing quali-ty Irish products pro-duced by companieswhich provide decentjobs.

The economic impact ofthe right consumerchoices on the indige-nous manufacturing sec-

tor is very significant. It goes all theway from the factory floor to productpackaging, transportation and ware-housing through to the shop counter.Bigger companies sustain hundredsof smaller suppliers by buying rawmaterials, technologies and mainte-nance services. In turn, this con-tributes billions in income tax, cor-poration tax and VAT to the Irishexchequer every year.

In order to tackle the unemploymentcrisis in Ireland the focus has to beon creating new jobs and maintain-ing existing ones. The futureprospects for the Irish economy willdepend on the survival and growthof existing and start-up indigenouscompanies.

At the start of the crisis in this coun-try, some 70% of all manufacturingbusinesses employed fewer than 20workers. The potential for expansionis huge but it depends on Irish con-sumers “thinking quality” when theynext go to buy a new lock for thedoor, a box of chocolates or contactlens solution. A number of Irish foodand drink products are synonymouswith Irish unionised companies.However, there are also many morecosmetic, hardware, machinery andother products made in Irishunionised workplaces which needour support.

Opting to support quality work-places does not necessarily imply ahigher cost but it will mean the dif-ference between survival and failurefor many Irish businesses. Joiningthe Supporting Quality campaignsustains existing quality Irish jobsand allows you play your part inreviving the Irish domestic economy.

Check out the Supporting Quality

website

Sign up to receive

the SupportingQuality Newsletter

Sign up to receiveregularupdatesvia email

www.supportingquality.ie

LibertyJUNE 2012

16 Supporting Quality LibertyJUNE 2012

17

If cost and quality areequal between Irishmade and non Irishgoods, almost 80% ofconsumers would optto buy Irish.*

Britvic“In Britvic Ireland we believe that a local

focus makes a real difference. A real

difference to the economy, to our employees,

to our consumers and to our customers. Over

95% of what we sell in Ireland – great brands

such as Club, Miwadi, Ballygowan, TK,

Cidona, Energise, Edge, C&C Lemonades,

Robinsons and Fruit Shoot are all made in

Ireland, either in Ballyfermot in Dublin or

Newcastlewest in Limerick. We are delighted

to be part of SIPTU’s Supporting Quality

Campaign. If we all pull together we can put

Ireland back on its feet.”

Kevin Donnelly, Marketing Director, Britvic Ireland.

Coca Cola“The Supporting Quality campaign is an

excellent initiative which raises the profile

of Ireland's all-important manufacturing

industry. Coca-Cola is proud to play its part

in offering careers in manufacturing

through our local production of a range of

well known, high quality brands including

Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Fruice

and Deep RiverRock.”Denise Collins, HR Director,

Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland

NewbridgeSilverware“Since 1934 Newbridge Silverwarehas been manufacturing in Ireland.We are proud to continue the cre-ation of our EPNS cutlery and jew-ellery at our craft centre inNewbridge. We wish to emphasisethe importance of the SupportingQuality Campaign as Irish heritageand expert craftsmanship are thelifeblood of the NewbridgeSilverware brand.”

Phil Donnelly, MarketingManager, Newbridge Silverware

Protecting Quality Jobs in Ireland

Promoting Quality Irish Products

SUPPORTINGQUALITY

Basta“Basta and the union have a long

history of success. Since the union

organised in the company in the

early 1960s, Basta has always been

willing to work with SIPTU. Basta

was one of the first companies to

make partnership work in Ireland

in a manner which benefited both

company and employees.”

Shop Stewards David Curran and Sean Clarke

ProductsLocksHinges

Handles

Tegral“Tegral is proud to participate in the

Supporting Quality Campaign. Our unparal-

leled knowledge of the Irish market and in

particular of Irish roof building requirements

gives us the edge when it comes to designing

roof coverings that can withstand whatever

weather conditions mother nature throws at

them. This in turn, gives proud home-owners

confidence in the knowledge that their roof

covering is ideally suited to the Irish climate

and that in buying from Tegral they are sup-

porting Irish jobs.”

George Robinson, Marketing Executive, Tegral

ProductsThrutonePlus &

ThrutonePlus Relief Slates

Supercem & Graphite Blue Slates

AgribildPlus Metal Sheeting

Largo Foods“The ‘Supporting Quality Campaign’ is an excellent initiative as it recognises and heightens awareness ofthe importance of manufacturing activities in Ireland.Largo Foods is proud to play its part in maintainingmanufacturing jobs in Ireland through the productionof our Tayto, Hunky Dorys, King and Perri brands atour factories in Meath and Donegal.”John O’Connor, Commercial Director, Largo Foods

“The Supporting Quality Campaign is good for bothemployees and employers. Staff at Largo Foods aredelighted that the campaign has been recognised andsupported by the company. We are pleased to seemembers supporting our products and products manufactured in Ireland.”Tommy Naughton, Shop Steward, Largo Foods.ProductsTaytoHunky DorysKingPerri

ProductsCoca ColaDiet CokeCoca-Cola ZeroSpriteFanta

LiltDr PepperFruiceDeep RiverRockDeep RiverRock Flavours

BPM

BallygowanClubCidonaMiwadi

RobinsonFruit ShootPepsiEnergise

7 UPTK SportClub mixers

Products

Protecting Quality Jobs in IrelandPromoting Quality Irish Products

SUPPORTINGQUALITY

OlhausenProductsPuddingSausagesRashersBaconPorkCooked Meats

Valeo FoodsProductsOdlumsBatchelors

ErinShamrock

Sqeez

Real Irish Food Company

ProductsCutleryJewellerySilverware

*Source: Amárach Research for theGuaranteed Irish Campaign

If households were to

spend an extra €4 per

week on Irish goods

produced here it would

generate an additional

6000 jobs in Irish

companies.*

87% of Irish consumers believeit is important thatIrish companiesdistinguish themselves as Irish made.*

Over three quarters

of Irish individuals

and households try

to buy Irish some

or most of the

time.*

Awareness and adequate

identification of Irish

made goods is vital, as

63% of Irish consumers

feel that buying Irish

helps contribute to the

Irish economy and to

sustain Irish jobs.*

“Batchelors is

proud to support

SIPTUs 'Supporting

Quality Campaign'.

Batchelors has

enjoyed a long-

term relationship

with SIPTU, which

has continued over

the years.”

Paddy Corrigan, Declan

Malone Shop Stewards,

Batchelors

Kerry Spring

ProductsStill & Carbonated

(Sparkling) Natural Mineral

Water bottled

Still & Carbonated

Flavoured water products

www.supportingquality.ie

Supporting QualityLibertyJUNE 2012

18

The Supporting Quality team is committed to making this major new consumer campaign a success for consumers and union members and thecompanies involved. If you wish to receive information on how to become involved in Supporting Quality contact; Fabia Gavin, MarketingDirector, Supporting Quality Campaign at fabiagavin@supportingquality.ie

“Representingalmost 50,000workers in theManufacturingDivision alone,SIPTU is commit-ted to workingwith unionised

firms to ensure that together wecan provide maximum exposure totheir brands among the union’s200,000 members, their familiesand their communities.”

Gerry McCormackSIPTU Manufacturing DivisionOrganiser

“In supportingthis campaign con-sumers can help toprotect decentunionised jobsacross the foodprocessing, manu-facturing and phar-

maceutical sectors, while con-tributing positively to the econo-my. I believe the SupportingQuality campaign will play a cru-cial role in the coming years indeveloping sustainable growth inthe Irish economy.”

Alan O'Leary Supporting Quality co-ordinator -Pharmaceutical Chemical andMedical Devices Sector

“This campaignoffers an opportu-nity for companiesto show their commitment toIreland’s economicrecovery throughthe protection of

jobs and the maintenance of quality workplaces. A recentstudy carried out by AmárachResearch has found that if Irishconsumers spent just €4 extraeach, every week, on Irish goods,we could create up to 6,000 jobs.Such statistics should encourageIrish consumers as we seek to re-invigorate our economy.”

Fabia GavinSupporting Quality MarketingDirector

"I would encour-age all SIPTU members to getfully behind theSupporting Qualitycampaign becausethe benefits areenormous. In

buying Irish products from SIPTUorganised employments theyknow they are getting a qualityIrish product. In addition, it promotes one of the cornerstonesof trade unionism, solidarity.Solidarity with their fellow SIPTU members."

John McCarrickSupporting Quality co-ordinator -Engineering, Electronics andIndustrial Production Sector

“Unemployment inIreland is set toremain a majorproblem over thenext five years. Thefocus has to be oncreating muchneeded new jobs

and maintaining existing ones.Key to the future prospects forthe Irish economy is the survivaland growth of existing and start-up indigenous companies; this iswhere the Supporting Qualitycampaign can play a crucial role.”

Marie SherlockSupporting Quality economic dataco-ordinator

“SupportingQuality is based onsimilar highly suc-cessful and longrunning campaignsin the UnitedStates. Ireland’seconomy depends

on the maintenance of good jobsand a return of consumer confi-dence. The Supporting Qualitycampaign can play an importantrole in ensuring the developmentof both.”

John DunneSupporting Quality co-ordinator

“The future healthof the Irish econo-my will be builtupon sustainableenterprises and there-igniting ofdomestic consumerdemand. In the

agriculture and food sector Irishcompanies have always led theway in producing top qualityproducts. It is crucial that unionmembers support these enterpris-es and by doing so support theirfellow workers.”

Andrew McCarthySupporting Quality co-ordinator -Agriculture, Ingredients, Food and Drink Sector

“The way to recov-ery for the Irisheconomy and oursociety is throughmaintaining andcreating good jobsin unionised work-places. The

Supporting Quality campaign provides consumers with the ability to choose to play theirpart in supporting the economyand assist in maintaining the jobsof their fellow union members.”

Miriam HamiltonSupporting Quality co-ordinator

The Supporting Quality team

Proud history of ‘Union Made’THE concept of the ‘union label’– marking products which areproduced in unionised work-places where workers are guar-anteed fair treatment and wages– originated in the UnitedStates in the middle of the 19thcentury.

The first genuine union labels begancropping up in the 1850s as early craftunions in the US began the struggle fora shorter working week.

In 1869, the Carpenters’ Union inSan Francisco, California, launched aneight-hour day campaign with theunion’s emblem affixed to any mill

products from companies that hadagreed to reduce workers shifts by twohours from the usual 10 hours.

The concept proved popular withthe public. Workers across all indus-tries in the US were fighting for aworking week that allowed adequatetime off and enthusiastically took theopportunity to spend their hard-earned dollars supporting others fight-ing the same campaign.

In 1881, along with the birth of theAmerican Federation of Labor came theclasped hands symbol that has lasted,with only minor alterations, until today,as the ‘Union made’ label in the US.

By 1909, the American Federation ofLabor had created its Union LabelDepartment. This department is stillgoing strong today, with tens of thou-sand of products produced byunionised workers in the US bearingthe union label.

While marking products, particularlybooks and newspapers, as “made withunion labour” has occurred in Irelandand elsewhere in Europe the idea ofthe union label has never been as pop-ular as in the US.

This is something SIPTU seeks tochange with the launch of the‘Supporting Quality’ campaign.

Protecting Quality Jobs in Ireland

Promoting Quality Irish Products

SUPPORTINGQUALITY

OME helps andhome care atten-dants organisedrallies in Cork andDublin last month

in the lead up to a crucialLabour Court hearing.

They took to the streets to call onMinister for Health, Dr James Reilly,and the HSE to treat them with thedignity and respect they are entitledto as care workers in the communitylooking after some of Ireland’s mostvulnerable people.

The ‘Be Fair to Those who Care’rallies were attended by angry mem-bers and concerned service users.SIPTU Health Division Organiser

Paul Bell, addressed a rally of up to1,000 home helps organised by localSIPTU officials Ted Kenny andSharon Cregan on Cork’s GrandParade.

Directing his comments to DrReilly, he told the crowd: “We have amessage for you Minister Reilly. Wethe health workers who serve thecommunity are not going back to theday our members were paid 50pence from the “biscuit tin” andwhen our members had no employ-ment rights.

“We have fought hard to assert theright to decency and fair treatmentas key deliverers of social and med-ical care in the community and we

demand that our members be afford-ed the same rights as all healthworkers with the issuing of propercontracts of employment and theapplication of rights to which every

worker in this state is entitled bylaw and in the eyes of every fairminded citizen.”

Tina Barrett, a Home Help in theDublin area, said she was concernedabout the increased time constraintsbeing placed upon her work.

She said; “There is less time beingprovided to work with clients' fami-lies. These new procedures are beingimplemented by management with-out proper regard for the interests ofclients or the experience of HomeHelps working on the ground.”

Sector Organiser, Louise O’Reilly,speaking in Dublin called on allhome helps in the HSE and volun-tary sector to join SIPTU and organise

in every parish and communitythroughout the country.

She said: “We have dragged theHSE kicking and screaming to theLabour Court in order to addressfundamental issues which should beapplied in the contract of employ-ment for home helps and all com-munity health workers.

“We are confident that the LabourCourt will help our members securethe terms of contract which they areentitled to and that the abuse ofissuing hours to ‘for profit’ compa-nies using taxpayers money at ourmembers’ expense will be broughtto an end.”

LibertyJUNE 2012

19Health

Rallying for justice

H ‘We have foughthard to assert theright to decencyand fair treatment’

EW research high-lighting the com-parative impactgovernment eco-nomic and social

policies have had on bothsexes over the last four yearshas been published.

Titled The Untold Story of theCrisis – Gender, Equality and NewInequalities, the report by academicsUrsula Barry and Pauline Conroylooks at employment, unemploy-ment and migration trends amongmen and women.

The paper, commissioned by pro-gressive think-tank TASC, alsoprobes the way in which the reces-

sion has spread from the construc-tion industry into the services sec-tor, particularly retail and hospitali-ty.

Public sector cuts in employmentand services are examined – specifi-cally the impact on women who con-tinue to have the primary responsi-bility for increasingly unsupportedsystems of care.

The report’s authors also investi-gate the effect the Universal SocialCharge (USC) has had on people onlow incomes.

Targeting of lone parents throughthe sharp cuts in the ‘earnings disre-gard’ and the cutting of child sup-port are examined as well as the newpolicy to create a system of compul-

sory take-up of paid employment bythose on One Parent FamilyPayment (once the youngest childhas reached seven years of age).

Systems of inclusion and exclu-sion that operate within the finan-cial sector are uncovered with theaim of bringing the prevailing macrofocus on banking policies to a microfocus on those who are financiallyexcluded in Ireland.

The paper argues that the reces-sion has been used to dismantle theequality infrastructure built up overthe last 15 years through huge anddisproportionate cuts to the budgetsof the Equality Authority, IrishHuman Rights Commission,National Women’s Council. It has

also been used to close or relocate(from independent status to cen-tralised government departmentcontrol) key agencies such asCombat Poverty Agency, NationalConsultative Committee on Racismand Inter-culturalism, Women’sHealth Council and Crisis PregnancyAgency.

By analysing the growth in pover-ty, inequality and low pay the paperreveals how the austerity policiesbeing imposed on Ireland and thepolicy choices made by governmentare impacting negatively on thosewho can least afford it – women,lone parents and low-income house-holds.

NGender impact of crisis probed

Home Helps rally inCork on Saturday, 26thMay. Photo: Jim Weldon

LibertyJUNE 2012

20 Community

Why changes to CE will onlythreaten childcare services

VISIT to the ClareFamily ResourceCentre is an inspir-ing experience – adedicated team

delivering the highest stan-dards of childcare allied to astate-of-the-art premises on apar with the best in Europe.

You see at first hand a communitymodel that works – affordable, high-quality childcare in a warm, caringenvironment. Staff cater to a diverserange of 110 children, including chil-dren with special needs and childrenwho are vulnerable.

General Manager, Maureen Keane,explained: “Ever since the centrewas set up in 1994, we have beenmotivated by the need to cater forthose who are not in a financial posi-tion to avail of the services providedby the private sector. CommunityEmployment (CE) has been centralto the success of this project.”

There are currently 24 staff, allprogressing to FETAC levels 5, 6 and7 qualifications over the course ofone to three years before moving onto work in the childcare sector.

Three of this team are seconded toClare Haven Services which providessupport and accommodation towomen and children who have expe-rienced domestic abuse.

Maureen told Liberty: “All of ourRoom Leaders started off as CEworkers – this shows you howimportant CE is to our operation.Our people are always very soughtafter by other employers becausethey are so well trained.”

Magda Bola Ogunniyi is an exam-ple of this successful approach.

Originally from Nigeria, Magdacame to Ireland 14 years ago. Shebegan her career at the centre 12years ago as a CE participant, workedher way up to Room Leader and hasbeen the scheme supervisor for fouryears now.

She said: “Working here is fantas-tic – CE gave me a lifeline to buildmy career.”

Presumably this is just the type ofmodel of childcare that MinisterJoan Burton had in mind when shecalled recently for the setting up of“a system of safe, affordable andaccessible childcare, similar to whatis found in the Scandinavian coun-tries”.

Indeed Maureen Keane spent timein Scandinavia when researchingbest practice for the design of theirpremises in Ennis which wasopened just three years ago.

So it’s hard to believe that sincelast December’s budget there hasbeen increasing concern over futurefunding for the centre.

Materials and training grants havebeen slashed leading to cutbacks of€25,000 in funding which was usedto pay for equipment, toys, heating,electricity and phone costs as well ascore FETAC training.

This is in addition to the cut to thespecific skills training fund – a lossof another €9,000.

Maureen added: “Courses in firstaid, lifting and handling, fire andsafety and food hygiene are manda-tory, and that’s before you move onto the rest of the FETAC course con-tents. All of this costs money but wewill no longer receive funding forthis unless things change.”

As a direct result of these cuts, asister company to the centre – theClare Training Resource Centre – isbeing forced to close permanently inJuly, with the loss of a part-timeadministrator, and the withdrawal

of FETAC recognised training inchildcare for the local community.

Maureen claims changes to loneparent payments have piled furtherpressure on the Centre.

She said: “We depend on new par-ticipants joining our CE scheme –many of whom would have beenlone parents, but budget changesmean lone parents will now receivejust €20 a week as an additional pay-ment.

“This is supposed to cover theirown costs of transport and childcare.

Not surprisingly, the result has beena dramatic reduction in lone parentsapplying to join the course.”

And there is another cause forconcern amid speculation that theGovernment’s review of CommunityEmployment will recommend thatworkers will be restricted to just oneyear of CE.

“It takes time to learn childcareand continuity of care is very impor-tant,” explained Maureen.

“The quality of care must alwayscome first. Restricting CE to one yearmight work in other scenarios but itwon’t work in childcare.”

All of these factors are causinggreat worry to Maureen and herteam who are now facing an uncer-tain future. ““As things stand, I don’tsee us being able to run a trainingscheme next year, but I hope that wecan. I am particularly concernedabout the impact these cuts couldhave on our support for the ClareHaven Services.”

SIPTU Organiser, Diane Jackson,hailed the Clare Family ResourceCentre as a template for communitychildcare of the highest order.

She told Liberty: “The Departmentof Social Protection should recognisethe damage that is being done bythese cutbacks, recognise the hugevalue of schemes like the ClareFamily Resource Centre and act nowto ensure the security of its futurefunding.”

MARIA McNamara is on her secondyear of Community Employmentworking as part of the Christ theKing CE team in Caherdavin, a sub-urb of Limerick City.

The scheme carries out a widerange of gardening and environmen-tal work and won a prestigious TidyTowns award last year in recognitionof improvements to the local area.

Maria, who works as a gardenerand is also helping to computeriselocal parish records, is exasperated atthe threat to CommunityEmployment and the treatmentmeted out to lone parents in particu-lar by this government. “We are all

tarred with the same brush by politi-cians and media. I am a lone parentwith one child as a result of a divorce.I’ve worked hard all my life – eitherfull-time or part-time since I was 12.I had a good job in Limerick, but hadto leave due to cuts.

“I started my first year on CE earn-ing €238 for 19.5 hours a week. Nowthat’s been cut to €208. Losing €119a month is a huge cut to me. We’refacing losing more money now thatthe Department of Social Protectionis cutting the child eligibility age forpayments back to seven. This is sounfair – if I do get a job how would Iafford childcare after these cuts?

“It’s illegal to leave your childrenon their own – so what does theGovernment want us to do?”

Maria faces a monthly mortgagepayment of €957 – a payment shewas able to maintain while she wasin full-time work. Now she strugglesto make the interest-only payment of€452. “I’ve had to put my house upfor sale because I may not get a thirdyear on CE. I’ve been paying a mort-gage since I was 22 and now it’s cometo this.”

The frustration of facing furthercuts to her income and the curtail-ment of her time as a CE worker isclear. Maria added: “I’m sickened. I

want to work – I have a good CV andhave over 100 rejection letters sittingat home, so why is the Governmentpunishing people like me?

“All of these things are pushing meout of my home, a home I haveworked all my life to get.”

Fellow worker, Ger Cantwell, con-trasted the circumstances of CEworkers with the recent commentsof Áine Collins, a Dublin South FineGael TD for Cork North West.

He told Liberty: “She said howhard it was to manage on €140k ayear. We’re on one fourteenth of herincome, I wonder how she’d managewith that?”

A

‘Working here is fantastic –CommunityEmploymentgave me a lifeline to buildmy career’

By Paul Gavan

Magda and Maureen,top, part of the dedicated team behindstate-of-the-art ClareFamily Resource Centre

‘So unfair... how can I afford childcare?’

Livelihoods threatened: GerCantwell & Maria McNamara

LibertyJUNE 2012

21Community

YOURHEALTH

MIND

By ILLONA DUFFY

Illona Duffy is aGP and member ofthe Irish MedicalOrganisation

LL of us have had dif-ficulty sleeping atsome stage – but,thankfully. for most

it was a short-lived problemand we returned to our nor-mal sleep pattern easily.

Insomnia varies from difficultyin falling asleep, to repeated wak-ening, to feeling un-refreshed aftersleep. Sufferers also complain offatigue, poor concentration andday-time sleepiness.

We all require different amountsof sleep. During childhood theaverage sleep time is 12 hours. Thisis reduced to six to nine hours dur-ing adulthood and it is proven thatas we get older we require even lesssleep.

It is, therefore, important forfamilies of elderly people to realisethat they will naturally sleep for amaximum of six hours at night andthis will be reduced further by day-time napping.

Often older people are encour-aged to go to bed early but thismeans that they are likely to wakeearly also.

Most insomnia is caused byother illnesses or problems and thecure is therefore treating the

underlying cause.Stress and depression are a com-

mon cause of sleep problems.Often people will have noticedeither low mood or anxiety beforesleep becomes affected.

They may complain of difficultyin falling asleep followed by wak-ing early in the morning and onwaking often being anxious andworrying about minor problems.

Early morning wakening isalways seen as a warning sign ofdepression by doctors.

Common night-time symptomsthat upset our sleep include pain,restless legs (described as a creep-ing or restless feeling and involun-tary leg movements), urinary prob-lems (especially in men withprostate problems), night-timesweats (especially in menopausalwomen or those with an overactivethyroid gland) and breathing prob-lems.

An increasing respiratory prob-lem associated with poor sleep isobstructive sleep apnoea.

These patients may not complainof wakening during the night butwill commonly say that they areun-refreshed after their night’ssleep and may find themselvesnapping during the day.

Careful questioning of theirsleep partner may reveal a historyof loud snoring, gasping or gulpingand very short episodes of no-breathing (apnoea).

Commonly these patients areoverweight and weight loss willhelp improve their problem. Theymay also require a machine to helpthem breathe at night (CPAP).

Over-stimulation prior to bedtime will also lead to poor sleep.Caffeine is a stimulant chemicalfound in tea, coffee, chocolate,Coke and other soft drinks.

Smoking also stimulates us andcreates difficulty in falling asleepand a delay in reaching our deepand refreshing sleep.

What to do?1. Keep a sleep diary – these are

readily available online.2. Avoid all caffeine and ciga-

rettes in the evening.3. Daytime exercise will help cre-

ate a physical fatigue but exercisein the late evenings will createstimulating hormones in our bod-ies and thus keep us awake.

4. Create a good bedroom envi-ronment. There should be no tele-vision or other electronic items(especially mobile phones). The

room should be dark with a com-fortable temperature with externalnoise kept to a minimum.

5. Create a routine for sleep, try-ing to get up at the same time everyday and going to bed at the sametime.

6. If you are unable to sleep with-in 15 minutes of going to bed, it isadvisable to get up and go to anoth-er room with low lighting and dosomething relaxing such as read-ing. Do not watch the television.After 15 minutes try going back tobed again.

7. Sleeping tablets are usuallynot the solution to poor sleep.They all have an addictive poten-tial, meaning that one can become‘hooked’ or dependant on them.

In the elderly they are associatedwith an increase in falls both dur-ing the night and the followingmorning. However, they may beused for a week or two in the caseof short stress-induced sleep prob-lems, to try and retrain the body.

Relaxation tapes and exerciseshave been shown to help and areeasily accessed through the inter-net. If insomnia continues to be aproblem, always consult your doc-tor.

A Combating Insomnia

INSOMNIA

By Trevor Quinn

COMMUNITY Childcare isunder unprecedented attackfrom Government cutbacks,threatening the viability ofthe entire sector.

Workers throughout the sector arereeling from:

• Cuts to materials and traininggrants which have begun to freezeexisting FETAC training pro-grammes. Promises that additionalfunding would be made available toservices from the Department ofSocial Protection have so far failed tomaterialise.

• The withdrawal of recognisedtraining which will render workexperience in the sector pointless asonly people with FETAC level 5 qual-

ifications are allowed work in theEarly Years/Childcare sector.

• A real threat to the quality ofchildcare as services face theprospect of totally untrained staffhaving access to work placement.New CE participants won’t evenhave funding for first aid which is arequirement of the pre-school regu-lations.

• The loss of the dual paymentsfor lone parents looking to enrol inCommunity Employment. A meagre€20 is not enough to pay the cost ofgoing to work such as transport andchildcare costs.

• The proposal to restrict place-ment on CE to just one year isthreatening to undermine both thequality of the service and any

prospect participants may have hadof gaining the recognised FETACqualification.

Sector Organiser DarraghO’Connor told Liberty: “The cut-backs to date coupled with the pro-posals now on the table to furtherrestrict CE placement will have theeffect of totally undermining theviability of community childcare.

“We are calling on theGovernment to restore the materialsand training grants, and ring-fencefunding for these services.

“Otherwise, Community Childcarewill be consigned to history, leavinghundreds of families and their chil-dren right across the State withoutany service in the months and yearsto come.”

Government cutsput communitychildcare in crisis

Know Your RightsLibertyJUNE 2012

22

New protections and rights fortemporary agency workers

Tom O’Driscoll

Who is covered bythe Act?Agency workers are defined asindividuals employed by anemployment agency under acontract of employment byvirtue of which the individualmay be assigned to work forand under the direction andsupervision of a person otherthan the employment agencyi.e. the hirer.

A managed contract wouldseem to be outside the scopeof the Act if it is the type ofcontract whereby the contrac-tor genuinely supervises andmanages the workers on a day-to-day basis e.g. facilities man-agement company for securi-ty/cleaning.

However, each and every oper-ation would need to be scruti-nised to ensure that the man-aged aspect is a not “sham”designed to circumvent theAct.

Also excluded by the Act arework placements adminis-tered by FAS, NationalInternship Scheme or anyvocational training, integra-tion or retraining scheme,financed out of public moniesas specified by MinisterialOrder.

What are the entitlements ofagency workers?Agency workers are now fromday one of their contract ofemployment entitled to thesame basic working andemployment conditions as ifthey had been hired directlyby the hirer under a contractof employment.

The wording in the Act is sim-ilar to the European Directiveon Temporary Agency Work(2008) which gives it effect.

The important issue to notehere is that the agency workerhas no comparator for the pur-poses of the Act but enjoys thesame basic pay and conditionshad he/she been recruiteddirectly by that undertaking todo the same work currentlybeing done on that particularassignment.

What are the “basic working andemployment conditions“ referredto in the Act?

• Pay (see further definition below)

• Working time

• Rest periods

• Rest breaks

• Night work

• Annual leave

• Public holidays.

How is pay defined in the Act?

• Basic pay

• Shift premium

• Piece work

• Overtime

• Unsocial hours worked

• Hours worked on a Sunday.

Furthermore, if the agencyworker is covered by a futureEmployment Regulation Order(ERO) or Registered EmploymentAgreement (REA), the Act doesnot undermine the right to sickpay, pension or any other condi-tion provided by the ERO orREA.

What is not coveredas “pay” for the purposes of the Act?Sick pay, pension schemes andfinancial participation schemes.

What is the excep-tion known as ‘The SwedishDerogation’?This is in respect of pay only.Section 6(2) of the Act basicallysays that if an agency worker isemployed under a permanentcontract with the agency and ispaid between assignments thenthe equal treatment provisions donot apply.

There are, however, certain mini-mum requirements that must bemet before this derogationapplies.

These are:

• The worker must have a perma-nent contract of employmentwith the agency.

Main provisions of the new Act...

The Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Act,2012 was signed into law by the President on 16th May. This Act gives the right to equal treatment to temporaryagency workers in pay and terms and conditions of employment. Pay can be claimed retrospectively to 5thDecember 2011. It also allows access to collective facilities at the hirer enterprise and abolishes recruitment fees.

•Equal pay and equal treatment from day one•Accumulation of service and entitlements•Access to collective facilities•Abolition of recruitment fees

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Demo outsidethe Dáil callingfor equal rightsfor agency workers in 2008

LibertyJUNE 2012

23Know Your Rights

SIPTUMembership Information & Support Centre (MISC)

8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Monday - Friday

• The contract must have been given to theagency worker before the first assignment.

• The agency must pay at least half the pay(but at least the minimum wage) the work-er would have received at his or her lastassignment between assignments.

What are the anti-avoidance provisions?Under Section 7 of the Act, agency work-ers on a series of assignments with thesame hirer cannot be assumed to be putback on a new contract each time a newassignment commences.

This would, in effect, deny the worker theopportunity to accumulate service andother entitlements under employmentlaw and is not allowed. However, a three-month break between assignments wouldhave such an effect.

Can a collective agreement between theemployer and trade unionallow derogation from theAct?Yes, in the same manner as it is allowedunder the Organisation of Working TimeAct. This involves registration at theCourt but the Court is obliged to ensurethat the appropriate checks and balancesapply and that the agreement respects theoverall protection of temporary agencyworkers before an agreement is regis-tered.

What about hiring or recruitment feescharged to the agencyworker by the agency?These are now abolished under Section 13.

Can agency workersaccess facilities ordinarilyavailable to directemployees at an enter-prise? Yes. The Act states in Section 14 that thehirer cannot treat the agency workers “noless favourably in relation to access to col-lective facilities and amenities. The col-lective facilities and amenities are notlisted in the Act but it would be assumedto include childcare facilities, canteens,gyms, transport facilities etc.”

The agency worker is also entitled to begiven full information about job vacan-cies with the hirer in the same manner asit is given to the directly employed work-ers.

How is a case takenagainst an employer whocontravenes the Act?The agency is liable with regard to contra-ventions of the pay and conditions provi-sions while the hirer is liable for contra-ventions of the access to information andcollective facilities provisions.

If the hirer fails to provide the necessaryinformation to the agency for the applica-tion of equal treatment, then the hirerand not the agency becomes liable.

The agency worker(s), or trade union act-ing on their behalf, must submit theircomplaints to a Rights Commissionerservice within six months of the allegedcontravention with a subsequent appealto the Labour Court.

Last Word...This is not an exhaustive list of the provi-sions under the Act and neither should itbe used as a legal guide, but instead setsout the main provisions on the bottomline entitlements for an agency worker.The first port of call for further informa-tion should be the SIPTU official oractivist. The mission for trade unionists,as always, is to seek to achieve fair payand conditions for workers above statuto-ry thresholds.

Tom O’Driscoll is Head of SIPTU LegalRights Unit.

Galyna Korytkory, Iryna Lapshynal and Mary McBride from the Fair Deal for Cleaners Campaign stand in front of Jim Larkin’s statue in Dublin to markInternational Justice Day for Cleaners on Friday, 15th June. Photo: Photocall Ireland

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NewsLibertyJUNE 2012

24

UNDREDS ofpeople all overthe country havetaken advantageof the FREE one

day computer trainingcourse offered by IDEASInstitute, the SIPTU ownedtraining company.

From Sligo to Cork and acrossto Dublin participants havelearned how to use computersthrough the innovative coursedesigned by Ideas Institute.

In Sligo, large numbers of SIPTUmembers and others attended thecourses at the local SIPTU office.

SIPTU’s John McCarrick toldLiberty: “We in this area takeadvantage of any course offered.You can’t beat education and train-ing.”

In Cork, local SIPTU staff mem-ber Sharon Creegan joined up withthe unemployed members’ groupand Cork Council of Trade Unionsto organise one of the trainingevents.

Feedback from those attendingthe training session was very posi-tive. Many of those who attendedhad never sat in front of a comput-er before but all were confident

they could now use the technology.But the course is not limited to

trade unions and IDEAS Institutehas also delivered the course inpartnership with Ballymun JobsCentre and the Arc Cancer SupportGroup.

The course introduces partici-pants to computers and teachesthem how to buy a computerexplaining all the jargon used bysalespeople.

When this section is complete,participants are given training onhow to use the internet for search-ing, banking, accessing governmentservices and e-commerce.

Then it’s on to email where par-ticipants learn how to set up anemail address, send and receiveemails and how to attach docu-ments.

Finally participants are taughthow to use the computer to maketelephone calls and for managingphotos. All-in-all a busy day but onethat participants enjoy.

Places are still available on cours-es throughout the country. Formore information phone IDEAS at01 4531440. The course is funded bythe Department of CommunicationsBenefit3 Programme.

One day it just all clicked!H Keyboard skills:

Fergal Crowley, PatHartnett, Jim Allan,Ethna Farr, JohnMurphy, NoraO'Donovan, Dick Duffand Derry Desmond

Poor manual handling is topcause of injuries in workplace

ANUAL handlingin the workplaceis extremelyimportant, as itsimpact is seen in

virtually all workplaces. Poor manual handling practices

can have a high risk of injuries thatin turn have the potential to causevery serious harm to a worker.

While a manual handling injurymay not be life-threatening, it couldturn out to be life-lasting.

Manual handling is frequentlyregarded as lifting something heavybut the term covers a much widerrange of activities. A useful defini-tion is, “any transporting or support-ing of a load by one or more employ-ees which includes lifting, puttingdown, pushing, pulling, carrying ormoving a load, which by reason of itscharacteristics or unfavourableergonomic condition, involves risk”.

In Ireland, manual handling con-tinues to be the highest cause ofreportable injuries, i.e. those thatcause four plus days absence fromwork. It is estimated that over one-

third of all accidents are manualhandling related. The resultantaverage time absent from work isabout 10 weeks, with a significantnumber never returning to workagain because of their injuries.These statistics are similar in the UK.

The costs of manual handlinginjuries are fairly substantial – in2008, there were 972 employer lia-bility claims with a total award of€31.4m, averaging around €32,000per case.

In the health sector, the cost of 35manual handling claims was esti-mated at €2m in 2007, averagingaround €57,000 per case.

The avoidance of these manualhandling injuries is achievable ifemployers carry out proper riskassessments in each of their work-places as is required by occupationalsafety and health (OSH) legislation.

Under Section 19 of the Safety,Health and Welfare at Work Act2005, employers are obliged to carryout risk assessments and consultwith workers and their representa-tives. Workers should always insist

that this is done and ask to see thewritten risk assessment, as is theirright.

In carrying out such risk assess-ments employers must take intoconsideration the general principlesof prevention which are outlined inSchedule 3 of the Act. Note that providing training is the last of thenine principles – there are some

engineering interventions that arerequired beforehand.

Regulation 69 of the Safety, Healthand Welfare at Work (GeneralApplication) Regulations 2007

underpins this requirement where itstates, inter alia, – “An employershall:

(a) take appropriate organisationalmeasures, or use the appropriatemeans, in particular mechanicalequipment, to avoid the need for themanual handling of loads by theemployer’s employees…”

The Health and Safety Authorityhas developed some very usefulguidelines which are availableonline and free-of-charge.

They are endeavouring to focusthese guidelines on a sector basis soas to have maximum relevance andeffect.

I would encourage safety repre-sentatives, shop stewards and work-ers to visit the HSA website atwww.hsa.ie to view these guidelinesand download them as appropriate.

One criticism I would make is thatit appears that there was little or notrade union input into these guide-lines, particularly in the case ofthose dealing in the hospitalityindustry.

The guidelines developed for the

healthcare sector look very good andcontain interesting case studies,entitled Guidance on theManagement of Manual Handling inHealthcare. Anyone connected withthe heath sector should check outthis guide.

In these times of economic crisis,employers are seeking ways ofreducing or eliminating expendi-tures – but cutting back on occupa-tional safety and health is not aclever thing to do.

Injuries Board Chief Executive,Patricia Byron, warned: “Cutting cor-ners on employee safety is a cut toofar”.

In this era of crisis every advan-tage in term of productivity, unitcosts and competitiveness is essen-tial – all of these are enhanced whenoccupational safety and health isproperly and effectively managed.

It is estimated that up to fourtimes the cost of safety and healthcan be returned in savings – makingexpenditure on OSH a wise invest-ment in economic terms not to men-tion the impact on human suffering.

M‘Cutting back on occupational safety andhealth is a cuttoo far...’

By Sylvester Cronin

HEALTH & SAFETY

LibertyJUNE 2012

25International

The battle ahead mustbe waged within Europe

YRIZA MP DespinaCharalampidou is amodest woman.Addressing Irishleft-wing activists at

a meeting in Wynn’s Hotel inlate May, she apologised ifher translated answers werenot clear enough – “I’m onlya working class lady and nota career politician,” sheexplained. Following elec-tions on Sunday 17th June,Syriza emerged as the secondlargest party although it hasrefused to enter government.

Elected to the Greek parliamentfor the first time on 6th May torepresent the city of Thessalonikishe has behind her a life time oftrade union and political activity.

From a left-wing family back-ground, her trade union involve-ment led her into activity with theGreek Communist Party (KKE).

Charalampidou left the KKE inthe early 1990s, remaining anactivist in the various coalitionsthat have sought to unite theGreek left since then.

Her current position is that nosingle left party has a monopoly onthe correct strategy to respond tothe current crisis.

She said: “We must listen toeveryone. The left has a lot of voic-es and many ideological currentswithin it. We obviously must listento everybody and strike a balance.”

On the key debate within Syrizaon Greece’s relationship to the EU,Charalampidou said: “There are

comrades who say no to the eurobut as Syriza we concluded that thebattle has to be within Europe inorder to create a common struggletogether with the other peoples ofEurope and to accomplish changein the architecture of Europe.

“Instead of the Europe of thebankers and big capital as we havetoday, we aim for a Europe of the

workers and the peoples.” The leader of her local textile

workers’ union, Charalampidoubelieves that the progressivechange in Greece can only comeabout through mobilising the tradeunion movement.

“I believe that the working classonly has one area where it canmobilise and that is through the

unions. Trade unions [in Greece]have really limited union power inthe private sector of the economy;in the public sector we have 100%membership in the trade unions.

“I’m going to tell from my heart,this is my opinion – it is not aSyriza opinion – that if we do notorganise the working class in theprivate sector, then the best of Leftgovernments can still not achieveanything.”

A mother of two children in their

20s, her son was among 28,000Greeks who left their homeland inApril. This makes her particularlyconcerned about the need to organ-ise young people, a constituencyamong which Syriza has had somenotable successes.

Charalampidou pointed out thatthe wave of youth protests, whichoriginated in Spain in 2011 andthen spread to Greece, was largelyorganised on the internet.

However, she added: “Syriza wasthere to support it and organiseevery day meetings, concerts,speeches on the economy etc. Thegoal, and now the achievement of

Syriza, was to get the youthinvolved. Young people didn’t justwake up one day and say, ‘We aregoing to follow Syriza’. Much effortwas put into gaining their sup-port.”

According to Charalampidou, theother key factor in building sup-port for the Left in Greece has beenthe 14 general strikes and numer-ous other industrial actions whichhave convulsed the country sincethe onset of the crisis in 2008.

But the Greek crisis has also pro-vided an opportunity for theextreme right, in the form of neo-Nazi Golden Dawn, to organise.

Charalampidou said she waslargely unconcerned with the largevote this neo-Nazi outfit achievedamong members of the Greek mili-tary and police, adding, “We regardthat as normal.”

The “really high percentages of10% or 12%” Golden Dawnachieved “in some urban centres –mostly in poor areas – is a lot moreworrying for me.”

She believes the key to anyfuture success for the Left must bean acceptance of change.

“Because a goal has beenachieved in one way, that is not theway it will always be achievable.

“We have to approach peoplebetter – the trade unions should bemore suitable for the new genera-tion. They must ‘fish’ for peoplebut in a very smart and sophisticat-ed way.

“Otherwise the new generationwill not come and without the newgeneration there is no future.”

S

“If we do not organisethe working class inthe private sector,then the best of Leftgovernments can stillnot achieve any-thing.”

HE Ki lkennyCouncil ofTrade Unionsmarked the

May Day festival by stag-ing a special conferenceon the impact austeritypolicies were having onthe lives of workers.

SIPTU General President JackO’Connor fielded questions on

jobs and the economy, whileINMO General Secretary LiamDoran spoke on health and JoeMcKeown of INTO tackled edu-cation.

The 21st May event, held inKilkenny’s Newpark Hotel, waschaired by Paddy Kavanagh ofthe TEEU.

Conference organisers hopethe event – aimed at “broaden-ing the scope and public aware-

ness of the trade union mes-sage” – will become an annualfixture.

In local media coverage of theconference Paddy Kavanaghand SIPTU’s Phil Funchion,who is secretary of the localTrades Council, underlined theimportant protections given toworkers through membershipof trade unions.

TConference tackles austerity

Section of the audienceat the inauguralKilkenny Council ofTrade Union’s May Dayfestival conference

Syriza MPDespinaCharalampidouclaims tasksahead is tochange EuropeSyriza Rally June 2012

Photo: Mehran Khalili

it does not deal with the roots of theconflict then we will probably havethe continuation of some form ofviolence.

“The violence will mutate like itdid in Central America were itbecame social violence or organisedcrime.

“There are three key problems forpolitics in Colombia. We have theneed for the reform of the ruralworld. The ownership of land is

massively over concentrated, with1% of the population owning 60% ofthe land. This in itself generates andfeeds the conflict. There is also theissue of the need for greater realdemocracy which would allow for agenuine political opposition toorganise.

“Thirdly, a greater limit must beplaced on US interference andinvolvement in the conflict, as wellas in Colombian political and sociallife. Without a doubt the US is a fac-tor in the conflict in our country.

“These three conditions are theminimum conditions for a lastingpeace and if they are not achievedwe will then probably enter a newcycle of violence.”

LibertyJUNE 2012

26 Colombia

Hopes grow for peaceafter 40 bloody years

Ivan Cepeda CastroMOVICE spokesperson

ONGRESSMAN IvánCepeda Castro is thespokesperson of theMovement of Victimsof State Crimes

(MOVICE). He was elected tothe Colombian Congress forBogotá in parliamentary elec-tions in 2010 representingthe Alternative DemocraticPole political party.

It was Castro’s family back-ground which drew him into politi-cal involvement.

“I am the son of family whichwas always socially and politicallycommitted. My mother was a coun-cillor in Bogotá and my father was aSenator. They were both membersof the Colombian Communist Party.

“I was a university professoruntil my father was killed in 1994.He was the last living congressmanof the Patriotic Union. The PatrioticUnion was part of an earlier peaceprocess in the 1980s. Seven othersenators and congressmen and twopresidential candidates from thispolitical organisation, as well asthousands of members, were killedby right-wing paramilitaries.

“From the time of the killing ofmy father my life changed and I

ENS of thousandsof Colombians tookpart in a 'patrioticmarch' through thestreets of Bogotá on

Monday, 23rd April. Theevent marked the launch ofthe National PatrioticCouncil (CPN), a new coali-tion of more than 1,000Colombian left-wing socialand political organisations.

The creation of the CPN is the lat-est piece in the jigsaw of a develop-ing peace process in Colombia. Itfollows statements by the country’sright-wing President, Juan ManuelSantos, that he believes a politicalsolution to the conflict is possible.

In late May a delegation from the Colombians for Peace groupvisited Ireland to brief political leaders and trade unionists ongrowing hopes for an end to the long-running conflict in theirhomeland. Scott Millar reports

TFollowing this, the main guerrilla

group, FARC, released its last securi-ty force prisoners. The smaller ELNguerrilla group has also stated that itis willing to agree a bilateral peacedeal with the government.

Among the groups leading thesearch for a political solution to theconflict is the Colombians for Peace.A Colombians for Peace delegationcomprising Congressman Ivan

Cepeda Castro, Dr Carlos LozanoGuillen and Marleny Orjuela trav-elled to Ireland in late May. The visitwas organised by the Irish section ofthe Justice for Colombia solidaritygroup.

At a meeting in Belfast onMonday, 21st May, Northern IrelandFirst Minister, Peter Robinson, andDeputy First Minister, MartinMcGuinness, pledged to do all they

could to support the promotion ofpeace in Colombia.

The following day the delegationtravelled to Dublin where they metthe Minister of State for ForeignAffairs, Joe Costello, and officialsfrom his department, the JointCommittee for Foreign Affairs andTrade, and representatives of variouspolitical parties. The Lord Mayor,Andrew Montague, also formally

greeted them at the Mansion House.While in Dublin the delegation

visited Liberty Hall where they metwith SIPTU General Secretary, JackO’Connor, and discussed the plightof Colombian trade unionists.

Colombia once had one of thestrongest trade union movementsin South America. Since 1986 morethan 3,000 trade unionists havebeen murdered by right-wing para-militaries.

The delegation also spoke toLiberty about their personal experi-ences of the Colombian conflict andthe search for peace.

dedicated myself to human rightswork, firstly looking at the case ofthe Patriotic Union and the left.

“The extermination of thePatriotic Union was in fact a politicalgenocide which had serious conse-quences. Firstly, it halted the peaceprocess and secondly it made theFARC (Revolutionary Armed Forcesof Colombia) guerrillas think therewas no real possibility of legitimatepolitical activity and therefore inten-sified the conflict,” Castro toldLiberty.

But Castro believes anotheropportunity for peace has arisen inColombia. “I think it is positive thatthe present government has recog-nised the existence of an internalarmed conflict in Colombia. It mayseem incredible but the previouspresident, Alvaro Uribe, had refusedto recognise this.

“There is also the fact that theFARC recently released its last mili-tary hostages and has made a com-mitment that it will no longer kid-nap people for economic reasons. As

well, the ELN has stated it wouldlike to sign a bilateral ceasefire withthe government.

All of this gives us hope andenthusiasm, with the PatrioticMarch movement also providing anew space for activism, particularlywithin rural communities.”

The future is, however, still veryuncertain, according to Castro.

“If the war ends then Colombiawould have been able to get over itsworst problem which is violence.But if the solution is superficial and

Colombian CongressmanIvan Cepeda Castro’s fatherwas murdered by right-wingparamilitaries

“If the war ends thenColombia would havebeen able to get over its worst problem whichis violence. But if thesolution is superficialand it does not dealwith the roots of theconflict then we willprobably have the continuation of someform of violence.”

C

Agrarianreformkey forpeacethat lasts

LibertyJUNE 2012

27Colombia

Marleny OrjuelaAsfamipaz President

MARLENY Orjuela is thePresident of Asfamipaz, anorganisation which repre-sents the families of securitypersonnel held by rebelgroups. She has, in recentyears, become something of aheroine in Colombia for hertireless work trying to negoti-ate the freedom of soldiersand police held by the guerril-las.

Orjuela began her work in 1998after her cousin was among thosecaptured by the FARC when theguerrillas overran the garrison in thetown of Miraflores, about 400 milessoutheast of Bogota.

She said; “My organisation wasset up after the kidnapping of 129police and military personnel inMiraflores.

“The need arose for a legally con-stituted independent group whichdid not represent the interests ofthe government but which soughtthe freedom of those who had beenkidnapped. So the relatives of thecaptured soldiers and police set upsuch a group.

“Through much perseverance weachieved the 2001 humanitarian

agreement, which resulted in theFARC releasing 349 police and mili-tary personnel and the release ofanother 52 by the smaller ELNguerilla group.

“The agreement had been that theguerrillas would release 55 captivesand in exchange 15 guerillas held ingovernment prisons would be freed.However, in a unilateral move, theguerillas freed a further 300 cap-tives.

“This left 47 police and militarypersonnel held by the guerillas.Unfortunately, we had two terms ofa president called Álvaro Uribe whoinsisted on no negotiations with theguerrillas and the military rescue ofthose held – something whichAsfamipaz opposed.

“On 2nd April this year the last 10captives held by the FARC, forbetween 12 and 14 years, were uni-laterally released. We hope this uni-lateral release will prompt a dia-logue with the government.

“If peace is achieved the ruralareas, the so-called red zones, whichhave been most affected by the con-flict would be able to undergo agrar-ian reform. With peace there wouldhave to also be significant economicand social reform.”

Unilateral FARCmove must sparkgovernment talks

ARLOS Lozano is alawyer and editor ofVoz, a popularColombian left-wing weekly maga-

zine. He has been a leadingfigure in the search for peacefor over 20 years and livesunder constant threat fromright-wing paramilitaries. InMay, his political opponentsissued a $200,000 bounty forthis murder.

Speaking to Liberty beforeaddressing ICTU activists inDublin, Lozano said: “It is still tooearly to say whether or not anypotential future peace process inColombia might be successful, nomatter how much we would want itto be.”

However, Lozano believes “aspace for dialogue” between thevarious sides involved in the 40-

year long conflict has opened.“Under the current government

of (President) Juan Manuel Santosthere are some very timid, smallhints that progress is possible.They are very small and it is still fartoo early to say whether they mightbe successful.”

But Lozano is under no illusionsabout the Colombian Presidentwho was elected in 2010, claiminghe represents “continuity with thelong line of previous govern-ments”.

He added: “These governmentsall had neo-liberal agendas thatfavoured transnational corpora-tions, the Colombian oligarchy andto a large extent fell in line with USforeign policy and promoted USinterests in the region.

“Perhaps the difference between

Santos and the previous president,Alvaro Uribe, is that he is a calmer,more civilised president but hedoesn’t represent a change of poli-cy.”

Lozano sees the role of the pro-gressive media, such as his ownVoz magazine, as crucial to assist-ing peace.

“A media, such as ours, shouldpush for a peace process and pushfor a greater stability in such aprocess. In other words, do theopposite of the big media which tryto feed the war, feed confrontationand encourage hatred.

“So our role is to seize on what-ever small glimmers of hope theremight be…for example Santos hassaid he holds the key to peace inhis hand.

“We have to try and stimulatethat as well as the other small ges-tures that have been made in the

tone and the actions of the guerril-las which point towards the possi-bility of dialogue.”

How the progressive media oper-

ates in Colombia is not just ham-pered by economic barriers.

Lozano explains: “It is very diffi-cult to talk about a true freedom ofthe press in Colombia when we arecontinually threatened. There havebeen bombing attempts on Voz’soffices and our journalists do nothave freedom of movementthroughout the country.

“In that sense even though free-dom of the press is written into theconstitution, they are really deadletters. There is no action behindthe legal status.”

Although Lozano believes thepath to peace for his own countrymust by its nature be unique, hewas encouraged by his visit toBelfast and the successes of theNorthern Ireland peace process.

“The Irish peace process is spo-ken about quite a lot in Colombia.It is a reference point. The govern-ment of Juan Manuel Santos refersto it frequently. However, there is

no possibility of copying it. There isno model of a peace process we canjust follow, not even in LatinAmerica.”

He believes the key lesson frompeace processes throughout theglobe is that violence must be halt-ed before progress can be made.

“New problems will arise andstructural problems will continuebut they can be resolved through apolitical life which occurs withoutweapons.

“I don’t think that we have toresolve all of the problems to get topeace but we need to resolve theessential problems. In Colombiathese are to do with democracy,which does not really exist inColombia, and some social prob-lems which are part of the rootsand origin of the conflict.”

Carlos LozanoVoz editor and lawyer

Violence must end first

Editor and lawyer CarlosLozano speaking in Dublinduring last month’s visit byColombians for Peace group

SIPTU General PresidentJack O’Connor greetsMarleny Orjuela beforethe meeting in LibertyHall Pictures: ICTU/John Chaney

C

“It is still too earlyto say whether or notany potential futurepeace process inColombia might besuccessful, no matterhow much we wouldwant it to be.”

LibertyJUNE 2012

28 International

Even the Rain (Tambien la llluvia)Directed by Icíar BollaínCast: Gael García Bernal,Najwa Nimri, Luis Tosar,Juan Carlos AduviriSpanish� Rated 15A�

THE water wars whichshook Bolivia in 2000form the backdrop of thisambitious film.

Written by Paul Laverty, theScotsman who wrote the 2006release The Wind that Shakesthe Barley, Even the Rain usesreal footage of the water wars,which adds to the sense ofauthenticity of the story.

The film tells the story of twoMexican film-makers, directorSebastián (Gael García Bernal) andexecutive producer Costa (LuisTosar), who travel to Bolivia tomake a film of the original Spanishconquest of Bolivia.

Things quickly get complicatedwhen Daniel (Juan Carlos Aduviri),who plays the leading rebel resist-ing the conquest gets deeplyinvolved in the anti-water privatisa-tion campaign.

Speaking on the film at theDublin premiere organised in earlyJune by the Latin AmericanSolidarity Centre, Laverty explainedthe experience of filming in Bolivia.

The film left substantial benefits tothe communities in which it wasfilmed.

Pay for each extra appearing in thefilm was set by local communities,who put forward what they thoughtwas appropriate remuneration forthe work.

The realism on offer in the movieis accounted for by the researchundertaken by Laverty in Bolivia,where he interviewed many of theleaders of the water campaign.Many of the film’s extras were activein the water campaign.

The style of character develop-ment will be familiar to those whoknow Laverty’s work.

He introduces a series of dilem-mas which test the characters’ moralviews. The audience may be sur-prised about how they react.

The film is timely – with a newcompany set up to manage water inIreland, and the introduction ofwater charges on the agenda, thethreat of water privatisation loomslarge here.

But the film steers clear of intro-ducing a straightforward politicallesson. The message of the film ismore complex and much deeperthan this, and the twists containedin the plot will surprise and keepthe attention of the audience.

Paul DillonGael GarciaBernal, left

Director Iciar Billain

Scene frommovie

The Bolivian water wars

ITH talk of a“soft coup” inEgypt and theUN declaringthat Syria hado f f i c i a l l y

entered a “civil war” theseare troubling days for the socalled Arab Spring.

In Cairo, ‘Liberty’ was in TahrirSquare on the blistering hot morn-ing after the historic presidentialelections in which MuslimBrotherhood member MohammedMursi emerged victorious.

His supporters jumped for joy inthe geographical heart of theEgyptian Revolution carrying pic-tures of their man, the first demo-cratically elected President inEgypt’s modern history.

However, there were deep con-cerns over an announcement madeby the military leadership on thenight of the election outlining howthey intended to limit the powers ofthe new President.

The military was to keep powersin areas of budget, defence and war.

It was also going to have a signifi-cant say in the writing of a futureconstitution.

This move by the military, com-bined with the controversial disso-lution of the elected parliament byjudicial decree, led many to slamthe military for engaging in a “softcoup”.

The Muslim Brotherhood domi-nated parliament had its doorsclosed by the military following theshocking decision by the EgyptianSupreme Court.

As a result of these developments,some analysts say that the newPresident Mursi will have littlepower. There are some in the oppo-

sition calling for a “second revolu-tion” to finish the complete transferof power to civilian authority.

Alongside this anger there wassome genuine relief among support-ers of the revolution that rival can-didate Ahmed Shafiq did not win.Shafiq was ousted dictator HosniMubarak’s final Prime Minister andmany felt a vote for him would be avote for counter-revolution.

With Mursi winning little morethan 50% of the vote, following avery bitter campaign Egypt seemsmore divided than ever since theJanuary revolution.

A Shafiq defeat may mean lessstreet clashes in the short term.However, a big confrontationbetween the Brotherhood and themilitary leadership in the mediumterm is a strong possibility.

As the economy continues toslow, with increasing pressures onworking people’s wages, especiallythose in the tourist sector, problemsmount in Cairo.

With yet more parliamentary elec-tions now needed later in the year itis expected to be an unpredictablesummer in the Arab world mostpopulous nation.

On the morning of the electionresult there were deadly clashes onthe Egyptian Israeli border. Israeliauthorities claimed militants had

crossed the Egyptian border andkilled one worker. Two Palestinianswere killed by Israeli troops.

Israel continued its policy ofattacks on the Gaza Strip later thatday with a missile assault killinganother four Palestinians.

Israel has signaled concerns overa possible Muslim Brotherhood vic-tory in the Egyptian election- andhow that could affect the long

standing Camp David peace accordsbetween the nations.

Elsewhere in the Arab world, thesituation in Syria descended intofurther chaos and bloodshed. Callsfor “western intervention” on theside of the opposition forces, havebecome stronger on the Republicanright in the United States. AndSyria, as well as Iran and its “nuclearintentions” could be significant pol-

icy debates in the November USelection.

Earlier this month U.N. Under-Secretary-General for PeacekeepingOperations Herve Ladsous said hewould characterise the violence inSyria as a civil war.

The regime in Damascus and theopposition “Free Syrian Army”exchanged accusation and counteraccusation over a series of bloodyincidents in recent weeks.

The UN has called on Damascusto cease the shelling of cities andhas removed its monitors in reac-tion to violations by both sides of aKofi Annan backed peace plan.

Opposition forces have chargedBashar al-Assad's army with mas-sacre and ethnic cleansing whileDamascus claims the rebels are ter-rorists, supported by foreign inter-ests.

As the weeks go by, the crisis inSyria continues to become a moreinternational affair, with the UnitedStates and Russia deeply divided onthe issue.

Over 10,000 people have died inthe violence that began in March2011.

*David Lynch is the author of “ADivided Paradise An Irishman in theHoly Land (New Island Books). Hehas reported from Cairo sinceOctober.

www.davidlynchwriter.com

Arab Spring enters volatile Summer

A Shafiq defeat maymean less street clash-es in the short term.However, a big con-frontation between theBrotherhood and themilitary leadership inthe medium term is astrong possibility.

As the weeks go by,the crisis in Syriacontinues to becomea more internationalaffair, with theUnited States andRussia deeply dividedon the issue.

By David Lynch

W

LibertyJUNE 2012

29Obituaries

OBITUARY Michael Scanlon

Deep thinker and committed activistMICHAEL Scanlon, who diedon 10th May, 2012, spentmost of his life working withDairygold in the MillingSection where he developedan interest in the ITGWU.

He was a very active shop stew-ard, always striving to improve payand conditions of employment andbecame active in the localMitchelstown Branch.

Serving as the Honorary BranchSecretary for a period, Michael alsoserved as a delegate to the nationalbody for the dairy industry formany years, where he sought to pro-mote quality employment in theindustry.

He was widely respected as adeep thinker and for his ability toinfluence decisions and solutions towhat sometimes seemed intractableproblems.

In 1990, Michael was elected tothe Regional Executive Committeerepresenting the Munster area fol-lowing the formation of SIPTU.

His work, commitment and hisaffable manner were admired by allhis colleagues and resulted inMichael being elected VicePresident of the ExecutiveCommittee from 2000 to 2002 andas President in 2002 to 2004.

For most people when they retirefrom work they take a well-deserved rest. However, for Michaelthis was never even considered asan option.

Instead, he joined the RetiredMembers’ Section in Cork, wherehe eventually was elected asSecretary and then as a delegate tothe National Committee.

Again his many talents were putto good use and I know he was

delighted when he was electedNational Vice President of theRetired Members’ SectionCommittee in 2011 – an honour hetruly deserved.

Michael was also active in theCork Branch of the Irish SeniorCitizen’s Parliament and was a dele-gate to the Parliament’s NationalDelegate Conference on many occa-sions.

Michael passionately believedthat senior citizens deserved to livein dignity and respect and no moreso than in the area of health care.

He was trenchantly opposed tothe privatisation of our health caresystem and campaigned tirelesslywith his retired colleagues for qual-ity affordable public provision ofnursing home beds and eldercare inthe community. Among very manyother issues were campaigns on

pensions and travel.His standing with his fellow col-

leagues was again recognised whenonly recently he was selected to rep-resent them on the newly-estab-lished Cork District Committee.

His wealth of knowledge andcommitment will be greatly missedby all his colleagues and friendshere in Cork, but also throughoutthe country.

Michael was a wonderful, caringand compassionate colleague whomwe all were so proud to call a friend.

His great work on behalf of thou-sands of workers and their familiesis greatly appreciated and I hopewill be of comfort to Michael’s fam-ily, daughters Michelle, Susan andson James, his sister Ann and hisextended family and friends.Joe O’Flynn, SIPTU General Secretary

MichaelScanlon –a wonderful,caring andcompassion-ate colleague

OBITUARY Sheila Conroy

SHEILA Conroy, who died inMay, aged 95, was many thingsin her long life – hotel worker,trade unionist, a women’sactivist, Labour Party member,wife, widow, an adult educatorand a prison visitor.

She had many “firsts” – the mostsignificant being that she was thefirst woman to be elected to the IrishTransport & General Workers' UnionNational Executive Council in 1955.

Sheila was the first women to beappointed Chair of RTE, and the firstwoman appointed to chair a statebody.

Added to that, she served on theCommission on the Status ofWomen, the Commission on AdultEducation, the Health EducationBureau, the Rents Tribunal and St

Patrick’s Institution VisitingCommittee. Originally from Bantry,she worked as a waitress in Cork,where she helped organise hotelworkers in the city to join theITGWU.

In 1944, she moved to Dublin andcontinued to be active in the ITGWU,culminating in her election to theExecutive. She was obliged to resignfrom her union position on her mar-riage to John Conroy in 1959 butmaintained her interest in promot-ing women’s rights.

Her husband’s death in 1969 ledher into new directions towards theactivities which occupied the latterpart of her long life.

She was a founder member ofNAWI (National Association ofWidows in Ireland) and played an

active role until recently, serving aschairwoman on several occasions.

She became organiser/secretary ofthe People’s College in 1969 at theinvitation of Ruaidhrí Roberts, gen-eral secretary of the Irish Congressof Trade Unions (ICTU) and becameits President in 1988.

In that year she was awarded anhonorary fellowship by the Collegeof Industrial Relations. And in 2001,an honorary degree was conferredon her by NUI Maynooth.

She saw her involvement withAontas and Foras Eireann as part ofher commitment to promotingadult, workers and community edu-cation. She was an active participantin the work of the IFWEA(International Federation ofWorkers’ Educational Associations)

for several years.It is the People’s College which is

her most enduring monument andshe devoted her considerable energyand skills to ensuring first its sur-vival and then its continuing suc-cess.

Sheila encouraged the develop-ment of the debating society and setup the People’s College choir, whichwas the apple of her eye.

The choir did her proud at herfuneral, singing at the Mass andthen singing her favourite song –The Banks of my Own Lovely Lee –as she was lowered into her finalresting place beside her husband inDeansgrange Cemetery.

The last years of her life were chal-lenging but Sheila fiercely held on toher independence as long as she

could. Her contribution to the life and

success of her College will be longremembered.

She is survived by her step-daugh-ters, Kathleen Gormley andMargaret Murphy.

Blazing the trail for women

OBITUARY Teófilo Stevenson

IN THE iconography of post-revolutionary Cuba, one ath-lete stands above many oth-ers alongside Fidel Castroand Che Guevara.

When the greatest heavyweight inthe history of amateur boxing,Teófilo Stevenson, died recently atthe age of 60, he took with him a lit-tle of the past that probably willnever be revisited.

It is hard to imagine in this era ofreadjustment after the Cold War thatany athlete who would so dramati-cally attach his loyalty to his idealsthe way Stevenson did in 1974,when the American boxing promot-ers Bob Arum and Don King tried,separately, to entice him away fromCuba to fight Muhammad Ali.

Had he gone, he might well have

won. Ali was in the fading days of hisbrilliant career and Stevenson, at 22,had just won the first of the threeOlympic gold medals that wouldsecure his place in boxing history,with a murderous right hand andexquisite ring skills.

For a big man, he moved with thegrace that Ali had once owned.Although there were clear differ-ences between the skills of thethree-round amateur sport and thelonger version of professional box-ing, the call on who would have pre-vailed ultimately was irrelevant;Stevenson's real victory arrived in asingle sentence.

As famous as he was as a boxer, hewould become an international stan-dard bearer of the left with a shortand eloquent declaration: "What is a

million dollars worth compared tothe love of eight million Cubans?"

When the Cuban team arrive inLondon for the Olympics, they willhave no Stevenson, no obvious talis-man of their revolution.

They will have a strong, well-drilled team capable of again win-ning several medals on behalf oftheir 10 million compadres. Theywill enjoy the adoration of the box-ing community and, inevitably, willbe tempted by the fruits of the west.Some might not resist that tempta-tion.

Teófilo – whose father boxedbefore the revolution, when the Mobran the professional sport and laun-dered its money in the nightclubs ofHavana – first stepped into a ring,aged nine, two years after the fall of

the Batista regime.Around that time Castro declared

professional boxing, for so long asporting staple of the island, illegal.

From there on, glory would beunpaid but universal.

For Stevenson, there was neverany question of abandoning Cuba.Not only was he a believer, he wasactually adored in his own country.He was feted by the government,indulged in an idyllic life amongpeople who asked no more of himthan he stay.

Stevenson owed everything hehad to boxing and a regime that sawin its raw appeal an instrument ofpropaganda, as well as a reason tofeel proud.

It was a mutually pleasant arrange-ment. (Courtesy Guardian news service)

Cuba’s patriot boxer they couldn’t buy

Union organiser and adult educator.

Glory unpaid but universal

LibertyJUNE 2012

30 Sport

Racism 2 UEFA 0... andit’s not even half time yet

JohnDouglas

SPECTRE is haunt-ing the EuropeanChampionships andthat spectre isracism. Marx and

Engels were not footie headsbut I’m sure one of the great-est practitioners of socialismwould have approved the plagiarising and strangulationof the famous intro to theCommunist Manifesto for acause close to his heart.

Ever since his urchin days as ballboy and kit carrier for Edinburghclub Hibernian, James Connollyremained a lifelong supporter of theclub and his astuteness in eventual-ly choosing the Easter Rising aheadof Easter Road was inspired, giventhe latter day misfortunes of theHibs!

He surely would recognise that hisbeloved “beautiful game” is beingtainted by a combination of recklesscapitalism, ultra hype and, mostinvidiously of all, by racism.

Disgraceful racist taunts emanatedfrom the pitch last season, mostnotably in the Premier League inEngland. It was hoped that UEFAmight salvage the situation some-what by taking a strong stand against

racism at EURO 2012. The prospectsare somewhat bleak.

Clarke Carlisle, the ex-Burnleydefender and chairman of theProfessional Footballers’ Associationsaid in a BBC interview at the start ofthe championships that “nobodyshould be abused in the workplace –especially not racially”.

He added: “We don’t want anyform of discrimination at all in foot-ball. This will be a real test of UEFAto see if they have empowered theirofficials to take control of the situa-tion.” Don’t hold your breath,Clarke!

Michel Platini, the UEFA presi-dent, gave the usual rhetorical flour-ish about kicking racism out of foot-ball but his public comments couldbe more convincing.

Platini suggested that if Italianstriker, Mario Balotelli, carries outhis threat of walking off the pitch ifsubjected to racial taunts he wouldbe given a yellow card.

No one has yet received a red cardfor racism but a yellow card is threat-ened instead to be shown to a 21-year-old black player who had thebottle to tackle racial abuse head on.

Furthermore, Platini’s response toquestions in interviews with the

press unveils a worrying stoicalapproach.

Platini on human rights – “I don’tdo politics, I do football, if I wantedto do politics I would be a politi-cian.” `

Platini on racism – “This is a prob-lem for society, not just for football,and I am not the president of socie-ty.”

Michel seems to be treading awell-trodden path. Sepp Blatter, nowFIFA president, infamously suggest-ed that racism can be forgotten witha handshake.

It seems that UEFA officials havetaken deliberate dives already on

week one. Black players in theDutch squad were subjected to mon-key calls from sections of the crowdat their initial training session inKrakow. The response of UEFA wasthat they believed the abusive chant-

ing was against Krakow not beingchosen as one of the Euro 2012hosts.

The Czech Republic player,Theodore Gebre Selassie, who has anEthiopian father and Czech mother,was racially taunted by Russianfans – a fact identified by two moni-tors from Football Against Racism inEurope (FARE). As yet no action hasbeen taken by UEFA.

Oleg Blohkin, the Ukrainiancoach, has strenuously denied thatracism is endemic among someUkrainian fans despite a recent BBCPanorama programme whichshowed evidence to the contrary.

Blokhin still remains cautious,however, about answering questionsabout his interview with the NewYork Times in 2006, when he said“the more Ukrainians that play inthe national league, the more exam-ples for the young generation – letthem learn from Shevchenko orBlokhin and not some Zumba-Bumba they took off a tree, gave himtwo bananas and now he plays in theUkrainian League.”

Blokhin is still a national coach atEURO 2012 but Balotelli is portrayedas the enfant terrible.

The Man. City striker might havedone just about enough last seasonto deserve the reputation of being afirebrand, with a touch of eccentrici-ty thrown in, but his courageousstance against racism must be laud-ed. Far from sorting out racism inthis championship, the inaction ofUEFA officials is allowing this malig-nancy to blight the proceedings.

The card for racism has to be astraight red – on and off the pitch.

ABy Tom O’Driscoll

‘The card forracism has to be astraight red – onand off the pitch’

Mario Balotelli has threatened to walk off the pitch if subjectedto racial taunts.Photo courtesy of Steindy.

LibertyJUNE 2012

31

ONE of the big successes ofthe Larkin Hedge School wasthe walk through Dublin citycentre led bylabour historianPadraig Yeates.

In betweenPadraig’s scholarlyinsights at varioushistoric spots associ-ated with Larkin,singers and perform-ers drawn from AnGóilin and the Cléclub sang songs andread poems.

The stop at theold IndependentHouse offices atMiddle Abbey Streetgenerated a bit ofinterest as Padraigrecalled the legacy of WilliamMartin Murphy.

After the reading of Kavanagh'spoem to Larkin, the group movedon to O'Connell Street but not

SENATOR John Whelan pos-sibly went over the top at theOireachtas committee oncommunications when heinterrogated Tom Savage onthe perceived conflict ofinterest between Tom's roleas Chairman of the RTÉBoard and his role asChairman of theCommunications Clinic.

Tom for his part seemed toprotest too much as the Labourman laid into him about theinvolvement of Terry Prone andAnton Savage, wife and son, in theClinic.

Clearly angry, Savage resorted toexpressing pride in his past associ-ation with the Catholic Church as apriest.

It was only afterwards itemerged that the CommunicationClinic (but NOT Tom Savage) hadprepared the Irish MissionaryUnion in the run-up to the broad-casting of the controversial PrimeTime Investigates programmeMission to Prey.

Oddly, it was left to Terry notTom to say that her husband knewnothing about the IMU contractbecause there are what's known asChinese walls in the family runClinic.

It was hard not to ponder onwhat Terry would have said on oneof her many forays to radio studiosif she had been dissecting the per-formance of Tom Savage.

She'd probably have said heshould have got all the facts andthen come clean, putting every-thing out there from day one – likeBen Dunne did – and let the publicdecide rather than have a drip-feedof information. And she'd havesighed and tut-tutted about howimportant it is to appear and soundcredible. The sort of sound adviceshe gives to people like the guys inthe IMU.

Educate to be freeOireachtasgrilling onperceivedconflicts of interest

before being stopped by a youngcouple in high spirits and clearlyunder the influence of somethingother than Padraig's oratory.

"Did this fellaLarkin support Dev orCollins?" asked themale in a strong Corkaccent.

Hedge SchoolChairman SéamusDooley explainedthat 1913 predatedthe Civil War andbegan an animatedchat with the guy. Hisgirlfriend was lessimpressed byDooley's mini semi-nar and insisted onurging Mickey to "forJaysus sake hurry up".

To which Mickeyearnestly declared: “F**k off, luv,I'm being educated."

While he might have put it differ-ently, Larkin would have approved.

JimLarkin

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Liberty CrosswordAcross7 Mitt Romney is the former governor (13)8 Ancient name for Ireland (8)9 Big show (4)10 Weapon used by whalers (7)12 To make amends (5)14 A South Dublin TD (5)16 Ireland's largest union for retail workers (7)19 Food for sea urchins (4)20 Loud noise can damage them (8)22 Dates of special significance (3, 6, 4)

Down1 Holiday Island struck by a terrorist bomb in 2002 (4)2 Not alert (6)3 SIPTU General President (7)4 Teófilo Stevenson's nationality (5)5 Material made in plants near Limerick and Drogheda. (6)6 "Hurry up!" (Three words) (4, 2 ,2)11 From around the globe they are heading to London (8)13 Obstacle (7)15 Weapon of mass destruction used in Vietnam (6)17 Mock (6)18 The people of Ireland, Scotland and Wales (5)21 In which county was NEC member Helen Murphy born? (4)

Correctly fill in the crossword to reveal the hidden word, contained by reading the letters in the shaded squares from top to bottom. Email the hidden word to communicationsdepartment@siptu.ie or post to Communications Dept.,Liberty Hall, Dublin1 along with your name and address and you will to be entered into a prize draw to win two nights for two people in one of Ireland’s Fair Hotels.

The winner of the crossword quiz will be published in the next issue of Liberty.

SIPTU Services Division Organiser, John King, 3F Cleaners' organiser, Jane Egholm, 3F ISS convener, Ina Sloth Madsen andSIPTU National Equality and Campaigns Organiser Ethel Buckley in Liberty Hall on Thursday, 7th June.

SIPTU meets activists from the United Federation of Danish Workers – 3F

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