Union Post April 2011

NEWS YOU CAN USENION POST

APRIL 2011

PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE IRISH CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONSTHE

U

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

DON’TBANKON IT!

Think the EU/ECB have your interests at heart?THE primary objective of the EU andECB is to protect the European bankingsystem, Congress general secretary DavidBegg has claimed.

He told delegates at the PSEU confer-ence in Galway on April 15 that thosevoices from Brussels calling for greaterausterity were not “distinterested actors”in determining who shouldered theburden for the financial crisis.

Rather, he suggested, they were “notwithout responsibility” themselves.

French and German banks had a €900bnexposure to “peripheral” EU economiesbut this amount was now being reduced.

This meant that bondholder exposureto Irish banks had declined at the sametime as ECB emergency funding to theRepublic had risen.

They were, Mr Begg told delegates,“getting out under covering fire providedby the ECB”. FULL STORY PAGE 3

MARCH 26 DEMOS PICTURE SPECIAL P12-15

2 THE UNION POST � April 2011

THE UNION POST is produced by Brazier Mediafor the Irish Congress of Trade Union

Workers’ tribute tomurdered PSNI officer

US mobilises for therights of workers

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8

NIPSA funds Tanzaniadisability work drive

Picture special: Ralliesin Belfast & London

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Fears as Zimbabweactivists targeted 17

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

Irish Congress ofTrade Unions31/32 Parnell SquareDublin 1IrelandTel: +353 1 8897777Fax: +353 1 8872012Email: [email protected]

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UNION POST

STARTS

CROKE PARK AGREEMENT

THE Irish National Teachers’Organisation has claimed pri-mary school teachers in theRepublic are delivering morethan a million additional workhours each year – at no addedcost to the state – under theprovisions of the Croke ParkAgreement.

General secretary SheilaNunan insisted the deal had ineffect given the state “morethan a thousand teachers forno cost” at the same time as itwas cutting up to 700 primaryteaching jobs.

She said:“Primary teachershave stepped up to the markin terms of Croke Park. Every-one in a primary school is

doing more for less.”Ms Nunan made her com-

ments after CommunicationsMinister Pat Rabbitte warnedthat public service workers’pay could be cut again unless

significant savings could bemade from the agreementwhich is to be reviewed nextmonth.

She said: “There are fewerteachers teaching more chil-dren and delivering a betterservice.There is no slack topick up in primary education.”

Ms Nunan pointed out thatprimary schools were imple-menting redeployment proce-dures which would pose hugechallenges for many existingteachers.

She added that the unionhad shown greater flexibility inmanagement duties andagreed revised disciplinaryprocedures.

Nunan: Greater flexibility

Primary teachers deliveringmillion extra hours over deal

CHILDREN and teachersmust not be penalised becauseof a growth in the school-going population.

ASTI general secretary PatKing insisted that educationwas a “vital public good” andwas “key to economic recov-ery”.

He said:“Teachers are veryaware of the extent of Ire-land’s economic difficulties, butchildren and teachers cannotbe penalised because theschool-going population is in-creasing at second-level.”

Mr King pointed out thatsecond-level teachers hadagreed to work 33 additionalhours per year under theCroke Park Agreement – a

total of more than 900,000hours across the sector.

They had also made “a last-ing contribution to economicrecovery”, he said, by agreeingto other arrangements underthe deal that represented “sig-

nificant productivity” againstthe backdrop of a further 500teaching posts being lost in2011.

The implementation of theCroke Park Agreement fol-lows two years of savage cutsin the sector including the lossof up to 1,000 second-levelteaching posts, a moratoriumon middle management postsin schools, and cuts to schoolfunding.

Mr King admitted:“This is adifficult time for many schoolcommunities as well as individ-ual teachers.

“In addition many youngteachers are finding it difficultto get any sort of work inteaching.”

King: ‘Vital public good’

Don’t penalise teachers andpupils over population growth

A TOTAL of €900m is being savedeach year through implementing theCroke Park Agreement, it has beenrevealed.

The savings, generated by publicservice staff cuts and redeploy-ments, were outlined by Croke Parkimplementation body chair PJ Fitz-patrick at the Industrial RelationsNews conference in Dublin lastmonth.

This is on top of €1.8bn saved eachyear through pay cuts, the pensionlevy and public service reforms.

But Mr Fitzpatrick also signalledfurther substantial savings in theyears ahead.

This means that under the IMF-EUdeal agreed last November, therewill be almost 25,000 fewer public

servants by the end of 2014, com-pared with the end of 2008.

The Croke Park implementationbody claims 75% of those cuts willhave happened by the end of thisyear.

But new programme for govern-ment outlines plans for even largerstaffing cuts.

Mr Fitzpatrick claimed the €900msaved each year followed a 16,000fall in public service employmentbetween March 2009 and March thisyear.

Most of this was related to theongoing staffing embargo, although2,000 workers left the health servicelast December through early retire-ment and voluntary redundancyschemes.

€900m saved each yearthrough Croke Park deal

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3April 2011 � THE UNION POST

EU/ECB’s primary objectiveis to protect Europe’s banksCONGRESS general secretaryDavid Begg has claimed the EUand European Central Bank are“not without responsibility” forIreland’s current crisis.

He made his comments to dele-gates at the Public Service Execu-tive Union conference in Galwayon April 15.

Mr Begg said Congress had in-formed IMF/EU/ECB officials at ameeting at the Department of Fi-nance on April 11 that there were“limits” to the “political accept-ability” of austerity before warn-ing that these limits were “closeto being exceeded”.

He continued: “I make thispoint because the people fromthe EU and the ECB who are dic-

tating the terms of our existenceare not without responsibility [forthe crisis], nor are they disinter-ested actors in determining whobears the burden of austerity.”

Mr Begg claimed this was be-cause the primary objective of theEU and ECB was to protect Eu-rope’s banking system and notedthat French and German bankshad a €900bn exposure to ‘pe-ripheral’ economies like Ireland.

He pointed out that bond-holder exposure to Irish bankshad declined while ECB emer-gency funding had risen.

As a result, Mr Begg claimedthese bondholders were “gettingout under covering fire providedby the ECB”.

Congress had outlined toIMF/EU/ECB members how Ire-land had to “fight for some jus-tice” and could not carry theburden of debt and austeritybeing laid upon it without causingserious damage “to our quality oflife” and “a generation lost to un-employment and emigration”.

Mr Begg stressed the need for arenegotiation of the deal andwarned that otherwise Irelandwas “heading for a disorderly de-fault”.

He told delegates:“Continuingwith the fiction that we can staywith the package is the triumph ofhope over everything we knowfrom the history of financialcrises.”

Picture:Co

ngress

Visteon pensioners bring their case to Number 10FORMERVisteon employees from Belfast joinedcolleagues from Basildon, Enfield and Swanseaearlier this month in a protest march over pen-sions in London.

Hundreds marched from Unite HQ in Hol-born to Westminster on April 1 where a delega-tion drawn from the four factories handed in

petitions addressed to PM David Cameron andDeputy PM Nick Clegg.The protestors workedfor Ford until 2000, when ownership of theplants was transferred toVisteon UK.

Pensions belonging to the workers were alsotransferred toVisteon, although many employeeshad been paying into the Ford pension scheme

for more than 30 years.These pensions weredevastatingly affected whenVisteon UK wentinto administration forcing the closures of theplants in April 2009.

TheVisteon Pension Action Group has calledon Ford to take responsibility for its formerworkers’ pensions.

Road to Westminster: Visteon pensioners Tom Irvine (Belfast Plant), John Hickey (Basildon Plant), Gerry Campbell (Belfast Plant), GwynBailey (Enfield Plant), John Elvins (Swansea Plant) and Ron Hutson (Basildon Plant) outside 10 Downing Street Picture: Unite

Begg: Disorderly default warning

CONGRESS president Jack O’Connorhas warned the trade union move-ment will resist any attempt to dis-mantle wage setting mechanisms.

He also outlined his suspicion thatthe previous government had indi-cated in talks with the EU/IMF/ECB“troika” that Employment RegulationOrders and Registered EmploymentAgreements would be discontinued.

The revelation follows a meetingbetween Congress and troika repre-sentatives at the Department of Fi-

nance on April 11. Mr O’Connor, whois also SIPTU general president, said:“It is quite clear from the dispositionof the representatives of the troika atthe meeting that they were operatingon the basis of a belief that they havean agreement with the previous gov-ernment that these mechanismswould be eliminated.

“This is further supported by theIMF country report of December2010 which refers to sector specificminimum wage agreements with a

view to their elimi-nation. If this istrue, it amounts tonothing short of ascandalous betrayalof hundreds ofthousands of thelowest paid, mostvulnerable workersin the country whichis all the more shocking as it wasdisingenuously concealed from votersbefore the election.”

Troika thought EROs and REAs ‘were going’

O’Connor: Suspicion

THE UNION POST � April 20114

UNIONS must focus on jobs, decentwork and organising if they are tochallenge the devastating impact ofthe world economic crisis, ITUC chiefSharan Burrow, right, has said.

She made her comments at a meetingof the executive board of the Interna-tional Transport Workers’ Federationin London on April 14.

Referring to the “bitter crisis of un-employment and inequity”, Ms Burrowhighlighted how millions of workers –especially women – were now desperatefor work.

Because of this, more were taking onprecarious employment or were work-ing in the informal sector.

She told board members that unionshad to respond by promoting a drivefor secure jobs, adding that employ-ment was at “the heart of growth”.

Ms Burrow said the ITUC would bestepping up its work with the G20 be-cause the situation of working peoplewas getting worse.

That’s why it was vital that unionsshould opt for “a new growth model” inwhich social protection was crucial.

She said: “We in-tend to make jobsand social protec-tion the funda-mental demands ofthe trade unionmovement.”

Pointing out thatcollective bargain-ing rights werebeing eroded across the world, includ-ing in the US, she added: “We’re underattack and the only way to fight back isto organise.”

Unions must focus on jobs and social protection

Picture:TU

C

NEARLY eight in every 10 UK teaching staff havestudents in their schools or colleges living inpoverty, a new survey by the Association of Teach-ers and Lecturers has found.

The study found the same percentage of re-spondents claimed students living in povertycome to school tired while another 73% said theyarrived in class hungry.

Among sixth form and further education stu-dents, a lack of confidence was cited as the mostsignificant impact of poverty – by 77% of staff infurther education and 70% of staff in sixth forms.

ATL general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said:"It is appalling that in 2011 so many children inthe UK are severely disadvantaged by their cir-cumstances and fail to achieve their potential.

"What message does this government think it issending young people when it is cutting fundingfor Sure Start centres, raising tuition fees andmaking it harder for local authorities to providehealth and social services.

"The government should forget empty rhetoricabout social mobility and concentrate on tacklingthe causes of deprivation and barriers to attain-ment that lock so many young people into a cycleof poverty."

ASTI general secretary Pat King has warned theIrish government further cuts to staffing re-sources in second-level schools would severelythreaten the future prospects of the most disad-vantaged and vulnerable pupils.

He made his comments while addressing a spe-cial conference of principals and deputy principalsin Athlone on April 6.

Mr King told delegates that as leaders in educa-tion they should make no apology for opposingfurther education cuts.

He said:“Many schools are working hard to findcreative and innovative ways to improve the edu-cational experiences of young people despite hav-ing fewer resources.

“However, it is a fact that education cuts havehad a serious negative impact on schools.

“Schools are struggling to deliver a quality edu-cation for all students and further cuts will be thelast straw for many schools.

“This is why we must make no apology for in-sisting that schools are protected from furthercutbacks.”

Mr King pointed out any debate on fundingmust acknowledge schools were already operat-ing on a shoe string before the economic crisis.

He added:“Throughout the Celtic Tiger era,Ireland continued to languish at the bottom ofOECD league tables for investment in second-level education as a proportion of GDP. This isthe context in which the education cuts were im-plemented.”

EDUCATION CUTS

Schools alreadyoperate on shoestring budgets

ATL: Many pupilslocked in poverty

IBOA general secretary Larry Broderick hascalled the announcement that 2,000 jobs at AIBGroup will go by the end of 2012 an “outra-geous blow to staff”.

He claimed members of staff were in “a pro-found state of shock” at the number of joblosses set out in the banking group’s restruc-turing plan revealed earlier this month.

AIB has already shed around 2,000 jobs sincethe onset of the financial crisis in autumn 2008.

Mr Broderick said: "Once they get over theinitial shock, I am certain our members will bevery angry that they are being made to pay theprice.

“They are in no way responsible for thebank's disastrous predicament. But it appearsthat many of them will now be sacrificed in acrude attempt to resolve it.

"These staff are more than collateral damage– they are hard working men and women withfamilies who are facing a very bleak future withfew immediate opportunities for re-employ-ment within the financial service sector in this

Shock at AIBjobs blow

country.” Slamming the lack of detailcontained in the April 12 announcement, MrBroderick added:“IBOA will seek muchgreater transparency and clarification aboutthe bank's precise intentions in the interestsof both staff and customers.”

Larry Broderick: Seeking clarification

Picture:IBOA

ICTU: Eirgrid transferwon’t ‘release value’CONGRESS has queried the valuefor money aspect of some ofthe proposals contained in theMcCarthy review into semi-statecompanies.

Giving a “preliminary response”,Congress general secretary DavidBegg said that while he agreed withthe Review Group’s conclusion thatESB and Bord Gàis should remain inpublic ownership, he disagreed withthe recommendation that theseassets should be transferred toEirgrid.

Noting that such a transfer “runscounter” to prevailing practice inEurope, he added: “No value will bereleased by this transaction and itmay even end up costing money.”On proposals to dispose of nonstrategic state assets – such as li-cences, Bord na Móna and Coillte –Mr Begg noted that many of these

were alreadyhighly lever-aged and that“any net re-turn would beminimal”.

He con-cluded:“Thecorrect reten-tion of regu-lated networkassets in pub-lic ownershipmeans thatthere is littleof significantvalue left to sell.

“Moreover, the experience of pri-vatisation of telecommunicationsassets with the Eircom debacle hasbeen very bad, as evidenced by thepoor quality of broadband infra-structure in this country.”

Review Group leader:Colm McCarthy

April 2011 � THE UNION POST 5

DUBLIN

belfast

SUNDAY, MAY 1

SATURDAY, APRIL 30

PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONRESIST AUSTERITY: THEREIS A BETTER FAIRERWAY!

MARCH & RALLY

ASSEMBLE PARNELL SQ@ 1.30PM

ASSEMBLEWRITERS SQ, DONEGALL ST

Organised by DCTU. All welcome.Includes special youth protest on jobs

GUEST SPEAKERS

SPEECHES 12 NOONMARCH OFF 12.30PM

http://www.ictu.ie/mayday

MAY DAY 2011

Jack O'ConnorPresident, ICTUGrahame SmithGeneral SecretaryScottish TUCAvril Hall CallaghanNIC Chairperson

Tuesday 26 April – Labour

History Walking Tour

5pm – Assemble Custom House

SquareRenowned labour historian and celebrated

author John Gray will lead a walking tour

around the cathedral quarter area.

Friday 29 April, 7.30pm

SHIP (Shared History Interpre-

tive Project) and ICTU Inaugu-

ral Connolly Memorial Lecture.

Dockers Club, Pilot St, Belfast

Through music, verse and words Francis Devine,

Irish Labour History Society, will recall the lives

and contributions of James Connolly,Winnie

Carney and other labour activists and will

explore their legacy in relation to current

economic and societal realities

Saturday 30 April, 1pm - 5pm

Family Diversity Festival,

Writers Square, 1pm-5pm - FREE

After the May Day march, join us for a family

afternoon of diversity, music and entertainment.

Wednesday 4 May 2011, 6pm

INTO presents the 2nd Annual

Vere Foster lecture

Linenhall Library, 6pm - FREE

Vere Foster - The Man Who

Paid Women to Go Away

Speaker: Dr Ann McVeigh, Public Records Office

Northern IrelandFor further information contact INTO 028 90 331831

Friday 29 April – Trade

union rights in Ireland & EU

TEEU HQ, Gardiner Row, Dublin

12.30pm - 2.30pm

Lecture and discussion with Prof Keith Ewing,

King’s College London and Congress general

secretary David Begg

Limited booking: visit ictu.ie/mayday or call 01 889 7777

Tuesday 3 May

Is there a fair resolution to the

EU debt crisis?INTO HQ, 35 Parnell Sq, Dublin

12.30pm - 2.30pm

Talk and discussion with ETUC general secre-

tary John Monk and Congress general secretary

David BeggLimited booking: visit ictu.ie/mayday or call 01 889 7777

Wednesday 4 May

The EU competitive pact and

the attack on wage

IBOA House, Stephens St Upper, Dublin 8

12.30pm - 2.30pm

Talk and discussion with ETUC’s Ronald Janssen

and Congress general secretary David Begg

Limited booking; visit ictu.ie/mayday or call 01 889 7777

May 5 - May 7The Larkin Hedge School

A lively festival of music, song, poetry, dance and

literature hosted by the Clé Club over three

days and venues – only €20 for a festival pass

AND LOTS MORE... FOR FULL DETAILS ON A WEEK OF EVENTS CLICK ON:http://www.ictuni.org/uploads/67b098da-831b-4ef7-ba01-f5111705d2bc/2011%20May%20day%20festival_Layout%201.pdf

FOR FULL DETAILS ON AWEEK OF EVENTS CLICK:


THOUSANDS of workershave paid tribute to mur-dered PSNI officer RonanKerr standing in silence as alone piper played a lament.

The April 6 rally in Belfastcity centre was organised byCongress to demonstratethe trade union move-ment’s utter revulsion atthe callous killing.

NIC-ICTU vice chairper-son Pamela Dooley told the7,000 office workers andshoppers gathered outsideCity Hall that the tradeunion movement sent itsdeepest condolences toRonan’s mother Nuala andthe entire Kerr family.

She said: “Here today, inRonan Kerr’s name wepledge to strive for a soci-ety where the hurt of the

past is given proper expres-sion though truth and jus-tice and to build a futurewhere no-one, especiallyour new generations, willever again believe that vio-lence has any place in build-

ing that future.”On April 3, Congress’

Northern Ireland Commit-tee called on all armedorganisations to accept thewill of the people anddisband completely.

Assistant general secre-tary Peter Bunting saidConstable Kerr’s murderwas an attack on “a bravepublic servant” and there-fore “an attack on everyworker who serves thecommunity and workstowards a better future”.

He added: “The assassinstargeted Constable Kerrbecause he was Catholic,and that makes this a sec-tarian murder, deliberatelyaimed at intimidating onesection of the community.”

Pictures:K

evin

Coop

er/Pho

toline

Thousands at tributeto murdered officer

Lone piper plays lament outside Belfast City Hall during the rally attended by thousands on April 6

Callous killing: Constable Kerr

WORKING more than 11 hours aday pushes up your risk of heartdisease by 67%, a new MedicalResearch Council-funded study hasfound.

Researchers from University Col-lege London based their findingson more than 7,000 civil serviceemployees whose health had beentracked since 1985.

Prof Mika Kivimäki, who headedthe study team, said: "Consideringthat including a measurement ofworking hours in a GP interview isso simple and useful, our researchpresents a strong case that it shouldbecome standard practice.”

Over the course of the study, 192of the those who took part suffereda heart attack.

The findings showed that thosecivil servants who worked 11 hoursor more a day were more than halfas likely again to have a heart attackthan colleagues who clocked upfewer hours.

And adding working hours toother heart risk factors – such ashigh blood pressure – made theresearchers' predictions far moreaccurate.

The research suggests that if GPswere to add working hours to theirusual list of heart questions, theymight spot 6,000 more of the125,000 people who suffer heartattacks in the UK each year.

Prof Stephen Holgate, who chairsthe MRC's Population and SystemsMedicine Board, added: “This studymight make us think twice about theold adage 'hard work won't kill you'.

“It's crucial that we invest in long-term studies like this one which hasbeen running for over a quarter of acentury, to test our preconceptionsabout what really is good or bad forour health.

“Tackling lifestyles that are detri-mental to health is a key area forthe MRC, and this research remindsus that it's not just diet and exercisewe need to think about.”

ASTI vice president Brendan Brod-erick has called on schools to tacklethe stigma attached to mental healthby nurturing an open and inclusiveenvironment for both students andteachers.

He made his comments at a semi-nar attended by the union’s equalityofficers on April 2.

Mr Broderick said teachers facingmental health challenges must begiven the same support as those fac-ing other types of ill health.

He told delegates:“Teaching is achallenging job.The evidence is thatmental health issues can be a hazardfor teachers, more so than for otherprofessions.

“It is essential that this is recog-nised and that teachers are sup-ported by their employers inlooking after their mental health andin dealing with mental health issuesthat may affect them during their ca-reers.”

Work over 11hours a dayand increasecoronary risk

HEALTH

Tackle mentalill health stigma

Picture:PS

NI


CommunicationsWorkers’ Union

To improve your working life

To ensure your rights are respected

To have a voice in the workplace

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

Managerial, General Communications Industry

Join the CommunicationsWorkers’ Union

[email protected]

www.cwu.ie

www.callcentreunion.ie

Exchequer Buildings19-23 Exchequer Street

Dublin 2Tel: (01) 866 3000Fax: (01) 866 3099

Your Union, Your Voice

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THREATS to cut resource teachinghours to special needs pupils is amatter of grave concern to teachers,the INTO has claimed.

General secretary Sheila Nunansaid that while primary school teach-ers supported the full integration ofspecial needs children, additionalresources were needed and warnedthat “unsupported integration willnot work”.

Ms Nunan cautioned:“Calls to domore with less should not extend tospecial needs children.”

Acknowledging an increase indemand, she pointed out that thiswas related to more children withspecial needs – such as speech andlanguage difficulties – being identifiedby speech therapists.

Ms Nunan said:“The challenge topolicy makers and to society is tofind the resources to support thesechildren.”

She added that the cuts were adirect result of the bank bailout andwas clear evidence children werepaying the price.

“The money paid to rescue thebanks would fund the extra resourcehours for children every year formore than 5,000 years.”

UTU fearscuts to SENprovision

Children paybailout price

SPECIAL school teachers in North-ern Ireland fear their safety could becompromised by budget cuts.

Speaking before the Ulster Teach-ers’ Union conference in Newcastle,Co Down, on April 8, general secre-tary Avril Hall Callaghan flagged up arecent study of teachers in specialschools.

This revealed that three-quartershad to cope with disruption on adaily basis while one in five facedintimidation and a further one in 10had actually been attacked.

Ms Hall Callaghan said:“The surveywas carried out among colleagues inEngland but sadly it reflects the expe-riences of our members here inNorthern Ireland too.

“Being abused or assaulted shouldnever be tolerated in any workplace,yet it appears that there is a certainendemic level of abuse being directedat teachers working in specialistsettings as well as an unspoken un-derstanding that such behaviours areto be expected as part of the job.”

She added the situation had beencompounded by the Special Educa-tional Needs and Inclusion Reviewwhich has increased the number ofSEN pupils in so-called mainstreamclassrooms.

“Inclusion only works if all childrenin the class are receiving the bestpossible experience.

“If a child with special needs has aone-to-one classroom assistant, theirtime in mainstream schools can workvery well.

“Our fear is that cuts could affectthat support, without which ateacher could struggle to give thatchild the support it needs – as well asthe other 30 in the class.”

SPECIAL NEEDS

HUNDREDS of thousands ofpeople – proclaiming the slogan"We Are One" – have taken partin more than a thousand eventsacross the US on April 4, the 43rdanniversary of the assassination ofMartin Luther King.

The key themes of this year’scommemorations were the pro-tection of collective bargainingrights, the right to a voice in thepolitical process as well as respectfor work and working America.

A selection of the events in-cluded:

� College students and profes-sor hosted more than 175 teach-

ins across the country,� Local congregrations in

Michigan, Maine, and Coloradotook part in interfaith services,candlelight vigils, and rallies,

� International Longshore andWarehouse Union members inmany US ports displayed Wiscon-sin flags in support of public sec-tor workers in that state, and

� Mass demos in downtownChicago and Manhattan’s TimeSquare.

It comes against the backdropof a nationwide assault on basicunion rights at state level.

AFL-CIO president Richard

Trumka said: "What started inWisconsin has spread to everystate across the country as work-ing people stand together to say'enough’.

“The immense activity thisweek is a direct result of thebacklash provoked by overreach-ing governors and state legisla-tures.

“Working people's energy andcommitment to coming togetherwill continue until the priorities ofmany of our politicians are re-aligned to create jobs rather thanundermine the middle class.”

Pictures:aflcio.org

We Are One protests focuson union rights Stateside


Lunches served Mon - Sat 12pm - 3pmTalking bowls served Fri & Sat 3.30pm - 6pmLive music 6 nights per weekMonthly art exhibitionsThe best choice of local &worldwide beers in the cityNo TVs or gaming machines

REAL BEER • REAL FOOD • REAL MUSIC • REAL PEOPLE

A TRADE UNION PUB FOR TRADE UNIONISTS

THE JOHN HEWITT 51 Donegall Street, Belfast BT1 2FH. 028 90233768

Unite slams Cam’simmigration hype

CONGRESS has warnedthat inflation is “taking hold”in the Republic’s economypiling unsustainable pressureon working people andhouseholds.

Economic advisor PaulSweeney, inset, was respond-ing to figures contained inthe latest Consumer PriceIndex showing that the annual inflation rate hasshot up to 3% – the highest level since October2008.The rate, which has been rising steadily forthe last 18 months, was 2.2% in February.

Mr Sweeney said:“Despite massive spendingcuts, severe austerity and deflationary policies, wehave seen a strong upward rise in the CPI. Priceswere effectively negative for some months, butare now rising rapidly.

“With on-going rises in oil and food prices, in-flation is now taking strong hold in Ireland. In thatcontext the interest rate rise by the EuropeanCentral Bank is very unwelcome and is going toresult in extra hardship for people all over thecountry. Working people are being squeezed ontoo many fronts.There is a limit to the burden ofausterity that any society – or household – cantolerate.”

NIPSA general secretary Brian Campfield hasblasted local politicians for acting as “cheerlead-ers for business” through their support for lowercorporation tax.

He made his comments at a Union Learningevent last month.

Mr Campfield said:“The UK government hasreaffirmed its attack on ordinary people by main-taining its four-year austerity programme whichwill lead to the loss of thousands of public sectorjobs at a time when the UK economy is strug-gling.

“Our Northern Ireland politicians are acting ascheerleaders for business by their virtually unani-mous endorsement of even lower corporationtax levels for Northern Ireland.

“This would represent a free hand out to pri-vate companies with no commitments on thecreation of additional quality jobs in the North-ern Ireland economy.”

Inflation is ‘takinghold’ in Republic

NIPSA chief blastsNI politicos on tax

UNITE general secretary LenMcCluskey has accused DavidCameron of using fears over immi-gration as a smokescreen to divertattention away from the falteringeconomy and attacks on publicservices.

The union also claimed an ongo-ing poll of 143,000 working peoplerevealed immigration lagged welldown the list of concerns sharedby members of the public.

Tens of thousands of responseshave been analysed and ranked byindependent pollsters Mass1.

So far the list of concerns inorder are: 1. Money worries; 2.Cuts to council services and NHSservices; 3. Rising cost of living; 4.Stress; 5. Education; 6. Housing; 7.Job security; 8. Coalition govern-ment; 9. Defence; and 10. Immigra-tion.

General secretary, Len Mc-Cluskey said: "David Cameron isstoking up fears over immigrationto divert attention away from peo-ple's real fears about the economyand public services to give his gov-ernment some cover ahead of thecouncil elections.

"Tens of thousands of workingpeople surveyed for Unite showthat their main worries can betraced back to the impact thegovernment's economic policiesare having on this country.

“Working people are worriedbecause they are struggling tomake ends meet, they are seeingthe cost of food and fuel going up,while their public services arebeing cut.

"Immigration is in fact rankedlast as a concern – with the coali-tion government ranked as agreater threat to people's livingstandards."

Len McCluskey has hit out at British PM on immigrationand claimed public more concerned at cuts to services

Pictures: Unite/TUC


NIPSA helped Irish expats in the Tanzanian capitalDar es Salaam celebrate St Patrick’s Day lastmonth by launching an innovative trade union ini-tiative to employ disabled people.

Irish charity Disability Aid Abroad – sponsoredby NIPSA’s Developing World Fund – helps dis-abled workers and employers design “supportstructures” in the workplace as well as providingon-going support and advice.

Research carried on in Tanzania last year re-vealed that less than 3% of disabled people werein paid employment.

The study found disabled women were themost disadvantaged group – not only in findingemployment but also in having access to basichealth care and education.

The two-year initiative to encourage theemployment of disabled people is run in partner-ship with local union TUICO.

NIPSA assistant secretary Geraldine Alexandersaid:“Disabled people are the forgotten voice ofAfrica and women with disabilities are particularlyvulnerable and marginalised in a country wheredisability is still seen as a social and culturalstigma.

“We are therefore delighted to be able to fundthis project which will make a real difference tothe lives of disabled people in Tanzania.”

Letica Paul, left,is a member ofMwanzaWomen’s Cloth-ing Co-operative– founded by Dis-ability AidAbroad.

Although se-verely physicallydisabled bychildhood polio,she walks towork every day –a distance ofthree miles eachway.

ThroughNIPSA’s Devel-opment WorldFund, Letica hasnow set up alocal disabilityadvocacy groupto lobby localgovernment andemployers toprovide accessi-ble transportand adequateemploymentdisability adjust-ments.

More than£468,000 hasbeen raised sincethe fund was setup in 1992.

In the main,this has comefrom NIPSAmembers con-tributing throughGive As You Earndonations.

Picture: NIPSA

NIPSA fundsTanzanianwork drive

THE Communication Workers Union is to makean upfront donation of €50,000 to victims of lastmonth’s devastating Japanese earthquake andtsunami.

The decision was taken at a recent meeting ofthe union’s National Executive Council and fol-lows numerous calls from individual members tothe CWU HQ concerning the tragic events ofMarch 11.

So far, a total of 14,000 people have been con-firmed dead in the disaster with another 14,000

missing. A CWU spokesperson said:“Despite theeconomic crisis in this country, members weremoved by the natural disasters that have struckJapan and indeed by the implications from thosedisasters due to the damage to the Japanese nu-clear facilities.

“Those members asked that the NEC considermaking a donation from the CWU CharitableFund to the Japanese people and, in particular, toour comrades in the Japanese postal andtelecommunications industries.”

The CWU has also arranged that individual mem-bers of the union can make private donations to:CWU Charitable Fund Savings AccountAccount No. 41147391Sort Code: 90-00-17Bank of Ireland, 2 College Green,Dublin 2

The spokesperson added:“It’s our intention toadd individual personal donations to the lumpsum agreed by the NEC and disperse it throughunions in Japan to where aid is most needed.”

CWU’s €50k for tsunami victims

DESIGN [email protected]

do you need your unionpublication revamped?

MAGAZINES, LEAFLETS,NEWSLETTERS, POSTERS

THE NUJ has elected its first everwoman general secretary. MichelleStanistreet, the current deputy generalsecretary, will take up the role from July1. She said: “I am immensely proud tobe elected to lead our union. I will repaythe faith placed in me by working hardto build our union, speak up for mem-bers and stand up for journalism.”

Picture:NUJ

THE TUC, through its development arm – TUCAid – has backed the Live Below the Line cam-paign aimed at raising awareness of the need foreliminating extreme poverty.

The World Bank defines extreme poverty asliving on less than 1.25 US dollars (or £1/€1.15)per day. It is estimated that about 1.4 billionpeople in the world are living in extremepoverty.

From May 2 to May 6, the LBL is asking peopleto try and experience living on £1 – or €1.15 – aday to raise awareness and funds for charitiesworking to end the injustice.

Participants will have a total of £5 – or €5.60 –with which to buy all ingredients for their meals

Sign up for the challenge at:

http://www.livebelowtheline.org.uk/tuc

TUC backs ‘pound a day’drive for the world’s poor


UNISON toballot itsmembersover ‘attack’on the NHSUNISON regional secre-tary Patricia McKeown hascalled the McKinsey Re-port into the working ofNHS in Northern Ireland“the greatest attack onour health and social sys-tem since it was founded63 years ago”.

The draft report setsout major changes tohealth and social careprovision which the unionclaims could mean the lossof 10,000 jobs.

The report, published inFebruary, had flagged uphow the growth in de-mand for care coupledwith inflation and a curbon spending would cause asignificant funding shortfallby 2014/15 if services aremaintained at the presentlevel.

UNISON has said it willnow ballot its members inNorthern Ireland on strikeaction.

Ms McKeown said: "Wedo not come to this deci-sion lightly.

"However, our membersare declaring that theycannot continuously bearthe strain of cuts whichare resulting in significantjob loss, stress and illhealth, increased healthand safety risk and distressat the growing inability toserve the public.”

She added: "We arestanding up for our publicservices and public serviceworkers."

��THE Communi-cations

Workers Union hasmoved from its oldoffices at NorthCircular Road tonew headquartersat ExchequerBuildings, 19-23Exchequer Street,Dublin 2.

The main headoffice contact num-ber – 01 866 3000 –is unchanged.

UP to 40,000 trade unionists took tothe streets of Budapest earlier thismonth as EU finance ministers held ameeting in the nearby town ofGödöll.

The April 9 demo, organised by theETUC along with its Hungarian affili-ates, is part of a Europe-wide cam-paign against EU-driven austeritypackages being implemented acrossmember states.

A total of 45 trade unions from 22European countries took part in theprotest. Hungarian civil servants

joined French teachers, Polish minersand Greek transport workers – manycarrying union flags and banners – asthey marched from Heroes Square inthe centre of the Hungarian capital tothe Oktogon where union leadersdelivered speeches.

An ETUC spokesperson, speakingbefore the march, said: “Manyprotests have taken place recentlyacross Europe to express the angerof workers against austerity meas-ures and to demand social justice.

“The policies implemented by Eu-

ropean authorities and national gov-ernments to deal with the economiccrisis are essentially based on auster-ity measures and fiscal consolidationplans.

“These consist of sharp cuts topublic spending, pressure to reducewages and interference in the inde-pendence of the collective bargainingprocess.

“These social regressive measuresare being taken at the same as scan-dalous bonuses continue to be paidto bosses.”

40,000 protest in Budapest atEU-driven austerity policies

ETUC chief John Monks addresses the crowd in Budapest

Pictures: E

TUC

McKeown: Jobs fears


MARCH 26 DEMO

Taryn Traynor, of Unite, with ICTU’s Peter Bunting and Jack O’Connor


BELFAST DEMO SETSA SHINING EXAMPLE

John Freeman – one of the leading lights of thetrade union movement in Northern Ireland –died on March 15.

A native of Belfast, he was born in 1934 be-tween the Shankill and Crumlin Roads.

In the late 50s, he found work in Australia be-fore returning home to Northern Ireland in thefollowing decade. He got a job at Shorts where hebecame a trade union activist.

He was elected to the General ExecutiveCouncil of the Amalgamated Transport and Gen-eral Workers Union (now Unite) before his ap-pointment as Regional Irish Secretary in 1974 – atthat time the union had 100,000 members.

John served in that role until he retired in 1998.During his time as Regional Secretary he waselected and re-elected on to the Northern Ire-land Committee of the Irish Congress of TradeUnions and, in due course, served as its chairper-son.

He also served with ICTU on its General Pur-pose Committee and, in 1995, was elected presi-dent. John brought the ICTU conference to thethen newly-opened Waterfront Hall in Belfast in1997.

He also represented both the Northern IrelandCommittee and Congress on a number of bodies– both here and in Europe.

“These are the basic facts,” said Unite’s Re-gional Co-ordinator Eugene McGlone as he paidtribute to John at his funeral at Roselawn onMarch 21.

He added: “But they do not describe the man,his ideals or motivation.

“However, some hint of what this all meanscould be seen in the sympathy notice from theINTO which simply read ‘Freeman, John, formerpresident of the ICTU and Irish Regional SecretaryATGWU, progressive trade union leader during thelong years of carnage’.”

“This,” he added, “I think is the best place totry and understand what John stood for. It’s easyto forget, as the INTO notice reflects, that for al-most all of his tenure of office as Regional Secre-tary of the ATGWU, there was a bloody andvicious war being waged on our streets, in ourplaces of leisure and work.

“People, some of whom were our members,were being killed for the work they did or wereperceived to do.

“The Irish Regional Committee meetings of theunion were frequently preceded by a minute si-lence as a mark of respect for the deaths ofmembers, staff or relatives of members who hadbeen victims of the ‘carnage’. That was not a goodplace to be for a prolonged period.

"Johns greatest achievement was that he man-aged to bring the opinion formers in the unionalong a path, a shared path based on class con-sciousness, which was a better way.

“Not everything he attempted was universallywelcomed – how could it be, the union merelyreflected our society,

“Ultimately, how successful he really was will befor history to determine, what is certain is thathe did try to leave things better than he foundthem.

“His epitaph should, perhaps be the words ofthe Templepatrick Weaver Jemmy Hope which hehad inscribed on the union banner:

‘The right divine of LabourTo be the first of earthly thingsThat the worker and the thinkerAre manhoods only kings’."

John Freeman1934 - 2011

Picture: Unite

THE SUN shone brightly as 6,000trade unionists and their familiesmarched against the cuts through thecentre of Belfast on March 26.

The march was held as up to half amillion workers rallied in central Lon-don at the TUC’s ‘March for the Al-ternative’.

ICTU assistant general secretaryPeter Bunting told a cheering crowdoutside the City Hall: “A million feetare on the move, through Whitehalland Westminster, past the hedge

funds of Mayfair and the glass palacesof the banks, and they are telling theCon Dem cabal that there will be nosilent assent to their plan.”

Branding the Con Dem plan to “re-balance” the UK economy “half wit-ted”, he added: “Austerity meanspoverty for the already poor and themillions who are threatened bypoverty, with frozen wages and infla-tion soaring and stealth taxes forthose who cannot afford any morepain.” LONDON DEMO PIX P14/15

PICTURES: KEVIN COOPER/PHOTOLINE


ULSTER Teachers’ Union pastpresident Lexie Scott haswarned “the worst is yet tocome” in terms of cuts to edu-cation provision.

He made his grim predictionas UTU members discussed theissue at their annual conferencein Newcastle, Co Down, onApril 8.

Mr Scott, who is head atGracehill Primary School, calledon all school staff to unite toprotect services offered to chil-dren in schools “from teachingto classroom assistant support,school dinners to school buses”.

He told delegates: “We haven’treally begun to feel the severityof the financial cuts yet as theMinister has been able this yearto divert funding from capitalprojects into revenue.

“But whoever takes up thatpost after the May electionswon’t have that luxury and that’swhen services will really beunder threat.

“Teachers are at the frontlineof services delivered to childrenin schools, but for many familiesthe availability of, for instance,free school transport or freeschool dinners is a financial life-line too.

“Members of the UTU – andimportantly, other unions whosemembers work within schools –need to unite in an awareness-raising campaign to safeguardthose services to children.”

UTU delegateswarned ‘worstis to come’

Scott: Unions unite call

Picture: U

TU

Experienced photographer specialises in campaigning photography

for trade unionsand NGOs.

For conferences,campaign launches,

street demos, May Day parades,magazine and PR

photography.Shared commission

rates for ICTU conferences.

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PHOTOLINE

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

MARCH 26 DEMO

LONDON’S CALLING FORALTERNATIVE TO CUTS

TUC’s Brendan Barber & Frances O’Grady head up demo


PICTURES: TUC

TRADE UNIONS - ARE YOU GETTING A FAIR HEARING IN THE MEDIA?WORKERS - ARE YOU FED UP WITH

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IT has been reported that since FebruaryZimbabwean police have launched a crack-down against human rights activists.

Those targeted in the latest wave of re-pression include members of WOZA.WOZA – the acronym of Women of Zim-babwe Arise – is an Ndebele word meaning‘come forward’.

The group has a countrywide member-ship of more than 75,000 women and men.It was formed in 2003 as a women’s civicmovement to provide Zimbabweanwomen, from all walks of life, with aunited voice to speak out on issues affect-ing their day-to-day lives.

Members of WOZA have been repeat-edly arrested over the years, while takingpart in peaceful demonstrations againstthe worsening social, economic, andhuman rights situation in the country.Amnesty is particularly concerned aboutthis recent escalation.

In one incident, on February 28, sevenmembers of WOZA and Men of ZimbabweArise (MOZA) were arrested in Bulawayoand detained for two days.

It is alleged they were tortured duringdetention at Bulawayo Central police sta-

tion. It is understood that while in cus-tody the detainees were also repeatedlyasked for details of the whereabouts ofJenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu.

This is a change in fortunes for the pair,because on November 26, 2010, the Justiceof Appeal at the Supreme Court ruled thatWilliams and Mahlangu had been wrong-fully arrested and detained following apeaceful protest two years earlier.

The court also ruled that as a result oftheir arrest and detention, they had hadtheir rights and fundamental freedoms violated and that the state had failed toprotect them.

Yet this latest information from Zim-babwe seems to indicate a return to thepersecution Williams and Mahlangu havebeen subjected to in the past.

Sources claim that since FebruaryWOZA activists have been threatened andassaulted by police officers, who have alsoobstructed their access to lawyers.

To demand that this reported harass-ment stops, take action here:

http://action.amnesty.org.uk/eacampaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=1194&ea.campaign.id=10087

Zimbabwe activists ‘targeted’REPORT Magodonga Mahlangu

& Jenni Williams


Picture: Amne

sty Internationa

l

TaxpayersAllianceblasted on mileageclaimsNIPSA has hit back at the Taxpay-ers Alliance after it attacked thelevel of mileage payments to UKlocal government workers.

The organisation, which lobbiesfor lower taxes and greater effi-ciency in the public sector, claimedcouncils were wasting millions ofpounds last year paying employeeson average 16p above the then-HMRC-approved rate of 40p permile.

Director Matthew Sinclair said:"Ordinary motorists who are feel-ing the pinch will be shocked thatcouncil staff are getting such agenerous deal for their mileageclaims. It simply isn't fair.”

But NIPSA spokespersonBumper Graham slammed theclaims and pointed out the mileagerates were set independently bythe AA.

He said: “The costs include allaspects of motoring costs – pur-chase, interest, depreciation, tax,insurance as well as the ever in-creasing cost of fuel. These ratesreflect the UK average and inmany respects the cost of motor-ing in Northern Ireland is muchhigher than the UK average.

“The Inland Revenue rate wasset many years ago and is totallyunrealistic, its introduction hadnothing to do with motoring costsbut was just another stealth tax.”

The current mileage rate for2011-12 approved by HM Revenueand Customs is 45p.

Graham: Rates set by the AA

Picture: NIPSA


Picture: MAN

DAT

E

MANDATE has warned the re-view into Joint Labour Commit-tees and Employment RegulationOrders should not be used toattack the wages of low-paidworkers.

Around 240,000 employees –100,000 of whom work in theretail grocery sector – havetheir wages and other terms setby JLCs.

Assistant general secretaryGerry Light said: “It is vitally im-portant that the current reviewmust be transparent and inclu-sive of the perspectives of allvested interests – not just thevarious employers’ groups thathave been campaigning to drivedown the wage rates of low paidworkers.”

Employers’ groups have ar-gued the JLC structure is nolonger needed because a statu-tory national minimum wage isin place.

Mr Light countered by accus-ing employers’ groups of operat-ing a double standard overwages set by JLCs.

He said: “During periods ofeconomic boom, employers arequite happy to accept the wagerates set by the JLCs becausethey act as an effective ceiling onwages in sectors such as retailand restaurants.

“However, during recessionarytimes they are not prepared toaccept the same wage levels de-spite the fact that they provide avery effective protective floor toensure that low paid workersdon’t fall into poverty or are notexploited.”

UNITE has called on NHSBlood Service chief LindaHamlyn to give a “copperbottomed” guarantee therewill be no further privatisa-tion of the service.

It comes as an independentpoll of 18,000 people revealedwidescale opposition acrossthe UK to the move.

The poll, commissioned bythe union, revealed 74% of respondents were against the privatisation of bloodservices.

Unite has warned the out-

sourcing of any functions“whether frontline or backoffice” will “contaminate” thewhole of the service.

The Department of Healthis currently leading a reviewinto how the NHS BloodService can cut costs.

It is understood Depart-ment of Health officials havetalked to private providers aspart of the review.

The union has repeatedlycalled for clarification, butboth the Blood Service andthe Department of Health

have failed to rule-out pri-vatisation. Unite national of-ficer Jennie Bremner said:"Whether it is the frontlineor the back office, privatisa-tion of any part of the bloodservice contaminates thewhole of the blood service.

“It is totally wrong to allowprivate sector companies toprofit from men and womenwho freely donate their bloodto help others.

“The message is clear, thepeople of this country say noto blood money."

74% against privatising blood services

Workers Memorial DayApril28

2011

MOURN FOR THE DEAD

FIGHT FOR THE LIVING

MOURN FOR THE DEAD

FIGHT FOR THE LIVING

Workers Memorial DayPictures: NHSBT

Don’t useJLC reviewto hit thelow paid

Gerry Light: ’Double standard’

Labour History Museum, Beggars Bush, Dublin 10.30am-1pmSpeakers include Congress President Jack O'Connor; Ciaran Austin, Console, manager ofthe 1Life service; Breffni McGuiness, Bereavement Expert and Author; Eamon Devoy,General Secretary, TEEU and Chair of Congress Health and Safety Committee.

No Booking Required

International day to remember those who have lost their lives due to work-related injuries or illness.This year the focus is on work-related suicide as job losses and debt put people under enormous pressure.

APRIL 28

Every wipeof his eyestakes Tallacloser toblindness

©Jenny Matthews/Sightsavers

Talla is just five. He has trachoma, a painful eye disease whichcan lead to a lifetime of blindness. Repeated infections causethe eyelashes to turn inwards and slowly and painfully everyblink damages the eye and leads to blindness.Trachoma canbe treated effectively in its early stages with a courseof ointment costing just 50p –but for millions of peoplethis is still too much.

If, like Sightsavers, you believe that nobody should go blindneedlessly from trachoma, river blindness or cataract,please make a donation today to support our eye care workin some of the most deprived communities in the world.

Euro donations, please call 1850 50 20 20 or visit www.sightsavers.ieSterling donations, please call 0800 089 20 20 or visit www.sightsavers.orgPlease quote ICTU. Thank you!

Registered charity numbers 207544 and SC038110

©Jenny Matthews/Sightsavers

Union Post April 2011

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Transcript of Union Post April 2011