Community & Voluntary Sector News

CE & JI Fight Against Wage CutsSIPTU is making pay claims to the Rights Commissioner on behalf of thousands of its members in Community Employment (CE) and Job Initiative (JI) schemes that have been subjected to unjustified wage cuts. Continued on page 4

SIPTU AND COMMUNITY SECTOR FIGHT FOR INNER CITY PARTNERSHIPSIPTU and community organisations across the country are calling on the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCEGA) Pat Carey TD, to ensure that steps are taken and fair procedures are implemented to prevent the closure of the Dublin Inner City Partnership (DICP). Pobal, the State funding administrators, took the decision to end its contract with DICP on the 30th May. This will effectively close the DICP with the loss of four employees that have years of invaluable experience in the community sector.

It will also jeopardise the important work of the DICP in assisting the most vulnerable communities across the inner city of Dublin.

On Friday (16th April), the Board of Management of DICP took a decision to appeal Pobal’s decision to discontinue its funding.

The Board’s decision is supported by SIPTU which will represent the workers interest within the appeals process. The threat to the survival of the DICP follows the recent closures of 14 Community Development

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Programmes (CDPs) across Dublin with the loss of more than 40 jobs and vital services.

Gerry Flanagan, Community Branch Organiser stated that; “SIPTU will give full support to the members concerned in relation to the appeals mechanism to ensure the continuation of their employment and the survival of the Dublin Inner City Partnership”.

The DICP has been to the forefront in tackling long term unemployment and acute poverty in Dublin inner city for almost twenty years. Its closure will have serious consequences for the inner city community.

Continued on page 2

Pat Carey TD, Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCEGA)

DCEGA Refuses to Address CDP IssuesDepartment of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCEGA) refused to attend a Labour Court hearing on 1st April in relation to its decision to cease funding to 10 Commu-nity Development Programmes (CDP).

The dispute centres on DCEGA’s deeply flawed CDP review and appeals process which has led to the with- drawal of funding for 14 projects in total. The effect of this decision is that 14 projects are facing closure, despite the efforts of dedicated CDP workers struggling to keep their projects open by working on a voluntary basis with no income other than social welfare.

Continued on page 2

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Continued from page 1

SIPTU AND COMMUNITY SECTOR FIGHT FOR INNER CITY PARTNERSHIPNot only will four highly skilled workers be laid off, but the future of the Inner City Employment Service with four Local Employment Centres employing 16 staff will also be put at risk.

Seven other community based organisations, with twelve workers, which work on behalf of the DICP, also face an uncertain future. Many other community organisations that work in co-operation with the DICP will also be affected.

With the impact from the current recession and the severe increase in poverty and unemployment in the most disadvantaged areas in the inner city, the expertise and commitment of the DICP is needed more than ever to lead and coordinate an effective and targeted response.

Continued from page 1

DCEGA Refuses to Address CDP Issues

CDPs are vital projects that support individu-als and communities in tackling the causes and consequences of poverty and disadvan-tage. Simply put, CDPs help communities come together and develop solutions to the problems they face. Their strength comes from being located at the heart of communi-ties, and developing solutions that involve local people at all stages.

In December 2009, DCEGA concluded a review of 180 CDPs nationwide. However there is a consensus within the wider community development sector that the process was fundamentally flawed. For example, in the Community Workers Co-Op (CWC) review of the DCEGA’s appeals process, they stated that “no project was given any information about the review and no project knew the criteria against which they were assessed”. Indeed, neither workers nor management knew a review was even taking place. “Furthermore, the reasons that were given for the withdrawal of funding were spurious, inaccurate and un-evidenced. Examples of reasons included the Department’s view that there was a suggestion for the potential for duplication; another project was judged on information that was years out of date” (CWC, www.tinyurl.ie/rx).

This flawed review process was followed by an equally flawed appeals process. The Department’s Appeals Board did not include any independent person or anyone experienced in community development. Furthermore, the amount of time allotted to projects to file their appeal was inade-quate and unreasonable, a mere 45 minutes.

Over the past six months, SIPTU members have been campaigning to keep the CDPs open so that they can continue their crucial work. On 23rd February, a conciliation con-ference was facilitated by the Labour Rela-tions Commission (LRC) where workers and CDP boards of management came together to try and address the proposed closures. However despite being invited to attend, DCEGA was conspicuous by its absence. Un-der these circumstances no progress could be made and the dispute was referred to the Labour Court.

Communities Against Cuts fight continues! The Communities Against Cuts Campaign in the South and South-West is continuing the fight to protect local services. “Following on from our very successful national campaign to prevent the complete closure of the Community Development Programmes as recommended under the infamous “McCarthy” report we are now working with local Board’s of Management and staff to fight the latest round of cuts to community providers,” said Trevor Quinn, SIPTU Organiser, Cork. The latest round of cuts is a direct attack on some of the lowest paid workers in the country. These cuts affect tens of thousands of community workers across the country form Community Employment, Job Initiative to Rural Social Schemes. Across Cork City and County there are 103 Community

Employment schemes, 8 Job Initiative projects, 85 Community Childcare, 15 Community Development Programmes and 4 Rural Social schemes all affected by the latest cuts. SIPTU is to make pay claims to the Rights Commissioner on behalf of thousands of its members in the community sector that have been subjected to unjustified wage cuts. Community Sector Organiser, Eddie Mullins, is heading the SIPTU national campaign to make wages claims on behalf of SIPTU members. “SIPTU is very much aware of the voluntary nature of the boards in the voluntary sector and of the 100% funding structure through FAS. Our issue is with the funder and not the local scheme,” Eddie Mullins said. Workers in the sector have suffered a wage cut of 5.6% to their wage with those on CE/ RSS schemes taking a minimum cut of €12:70 per week and those on Job Initiative projects taking a minimum cut of €24:50 per week. “These cuts to wages were not introduced to our members with any form of consultation or agreement from the primary budget hold-er FAS and as such we have been directed to pursue this issue through the Office of the Rights Commissioner under the Payment of Wages Act 1991. Stated”, said Trevor Quinn.

The numbers of affected community facilities in Region 4 & Clare are listed below:

County CE CC JI CDP RSS

Cork 103 85 8 15 4

Kerry 55 45 0 5 2

Limerick 76 39 11 10 2

Tipperary 77 33 1 5 2

Clare 33 34 3 3 1

Total 344 236 24 38 11

CE- Community EmploymentJI- Job InitiativeCC- Community ChildcareCDP- Community Development ProgrammeRSS- Rural Social Scheme

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As the sole funder of CDPs, DCEGA must take responsibility for its actions and the forced redundancy of over 50 people. Currently many projects are struggling to operate on a voluntary basis. However this situation is unsustainable.

The least workers and communities can expect is that decisions that will have a major impact on lives are made in a fair, reason-able and transparent manner; unfortunately DCEGA has failed to demonstrate this so far.

SIPTU is calling on DCEGA to adhere to any recommendations that the Labour Court may issues in relation to this dispute.

CDPs in theCommunityA look at some of the CDP projects facing closure

North Clondalkin CommunityDevelopment Programme (NCCDP)

The main aim of NCCDP is to work for the social, economic, environmental and cultural development of North Clondalkin in a planned way and with the maximum participation of local people. It does this by supporting and developing initiatives that counter social exclusion and empower local people striving to enable communities to manage these initiatives themselves.

Its work ensures service to the community on 3 levels; individuals, groups and the wider community. The North Clondalkin Community Development Programme (NCCDP) was the first Community Devel-opment Programme to be established in North Clondalkin in 1990. The Management Committee has representatives from the local community, Dublin Corporation, Dublin County Council, Eastern Health Board, Ronanstown Youth Service and Crosscare.NCCDP has been the catalyst for change and growth in North Clondalkin since its establishment in 1990. In this role

the NCCDP has made key contributions to the establishment of new participative community organisations and partnership structures. A key aspect of this role has been to ensure, as far as is possible, that these organisations are inclusive of the community in their management and that their work is aimed at meeting local needs. The NCCDP is a key support to local people who participate in the development of their community. This involves providing support to a network of tenants, residents and environment groups in North Clondalkin and also providing facilitation and support to these groups enabling them to bring about greater social cohesion within the community.

The Programme supports local tenants’ groups through a part-time project worker. This involves on-going support to individual groups at their meetings, liaising with the local authorities on their behalf, assisting them to plan their work and apply for funding. Support is also provided to residents and tenants groups to network locally through the Community Development Association.

NCCDP works in partnership with North Clondalkin Community Development Association and other community activists in the area within its management committee structures. All members engage in training which allows them to enhance their skills and knowledge regarding the management of a Community Development Programme.

Community Technical Aid

Community Technical Aid (CTA) was set up in 1995 by the Dublin Inner City Partnership to respond to the needs of local community groups and individuals in the inner city. CTA provides technical support to local communities and projects as well as carrying out work on a contract basis for statutory, community and partnership organisations. The philosophy of the Company is based on community development principles of capacity building. The staff has a longstanding interest and experience in anti-poverty actions, social inclusion and participation. The approach to the work is always interdisciplinary, maximising the experience and skills of different staff members for different tasks.

CTA is currently involved in a range of work, some in Dublin and some in Northern Ireland, most of it with local communities dealing with issues such as regeneration of the communities and homes, training, research and project development.

Mick Rafferty is a leading community activist, Dublin City Councillor and director of CTA who is critical of CDP closures. “A number of the projects

facing closure were key in the strategic development of community infrastructure, including CTA,” he said. The decision to close these projects is political and will lead to greater State control over the community sector. Tragically, it will also result in the implosion of the infrastructure that has taken 20 years to build with severe effects for the social and economic well being of local communities”.

Equal Access CDP

Equal Access Tallaght is involved in a wide range of work for the local community in Tallaght, including;- Fettercairn Commmunity Health Project

(FCHP). Established and run as a commu-nity-led health project, FCHP contributes to the improvement of the overall health and well-being of the people of Fettercairn. Equal Access has been the driving force behind this project and has secured funding to employ a Community Health Worker.

- RAPID/HSE Strategy for Older People Committee. This group was set up in 2008 to support local groups to apply for funding under the RAPID/HSE Capital Grant Scheme. Equal Access CDP assisted in the consultation process of identifying the needs of these groups and applica-tions were made for essential equipment, kitchen upgrades, meals on wheels and community transport.

- Suicide Action West Tallaght. Equal Access participates in the steering group of the Suicide Action West Tallaght which was set up to develop and implement a compre-hensive suicide strategy for Tallaght.

Mick Rafferty

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Partners - TrainingFor Transformation At its heart, “Training for Transformation” is a process designed to build confidence, competence and commitment within and across communities and Partners uses IT to this effect. It involves engagement with real people in real communities on real issues for them in real time. The nature has changed somewhat in response to a changing community land-scape. The following headings provide a rough picture:- Community Development work –

often about getting new people involved and enhancing the work of those already involved.

- Intercultural work – an area of significant growth

- Facilitation Skills – Work with Community People

- Resourcing people and local organisations to strengthen their way of working in the community

- Conflict – how to deal with it and best manage it.

Kilmore West CDP

Currently WTRC is running the following programmes:- The Lone Parents Forum and Tallaght Ac-

tive Parents supporting 78 lone parents.- The only information and advice service in

West Tallaght servicing 3000 people.- Fettercairn pre-school providing 48 child-

care places and employing 5 people.- Intercultural Centre in Tallaght providing

80 hours of English classes per week as well as providing 240 people with infor-mation and advice.

- SIixSteps Together, a unique interagency parenting programme to 61 parents of 185 children.

Inner City Renewal Group

The Inner City Renewal Group (ICRG) was formed in 1989 by a combination of local community organisations to make an application to the 3rd EU Programme to Combat Poverty. While the bid was unsuccess-ful, the government subsequently decided 15 organisations would be funded as Community Development Programmes, among which was ICRG. Shortly afterwards ICRG was requested by the Taoiseach, Mr. Haughey, to become involved in the setting up of the Dublin Inner City Partnership (DICP).

Long term community activist and director of ICRG Seanie Lambe puts the project in simple terms; “the ICRG focused on getting public and private investment into the North

CE & JI Fight Against Wage CutsContinued from Page 1

CE and JI workers are involved in a range of vital community services including childcare, meals on wheels, drug rehabilitation, elder care, disability and environmental schemes to name a few. However, instead of expand-ing these services during a time of greater need, the Government have slashed their budget, resulting in a wage cut of 5.6 %.

For CE workers this means a minimum cut of €12.70 per week and those on JI schemes taking a minimum cut of €25.40 per week.

Apart from unfairly hitting the lowest paid, these cuts are a double blow to workers as they are in excess of both the Public Sector cut of 5% and the Social Welfare cut of 4.1%.

Community Sector Organiser, Eddie Mullins, is heading the SIPTU national campaign to make wage claims on behalf of thousands of SIPTU members.

He has written to the Boards of Manage-ment of these schemes across the country outlining the Union’s opposition to the cuts and the intention to make individual claims to the Rights Commissioner on behalf of all SIPTU members. Correspondence has been forwarded to FÁS stating the Unions intentions. “SIPTU is very much aware of the voluntary nature of the boards in the sector and of the 100% funding structure through FÁS. Our issue is with the funder and not the local scheme,” Eddie Mullins said.

Gene Mealy, SIPTU Community Divisional Head, condemned the unjustified wage cuts imposed on some of the lowest paid workers in the country and said the Union was deter-mined to reverse them. “These are among the lowest paid workers in the country serving the most vulnerable communities and SIPTU will continue to fight on their behalf to reverse these unjusti-fied wage cuts,” Gene Mealy said. SIPTU organisers around the country are currently running information meetings for CE Supervisors and CE participants on the pay claims.

John Cullen, CE/SIPTU Activist said:“The cuts to C.E and J.I schemes are having a devastation effect on communities around the country, especially in the area’s of childcare and environmental projects.

The area’s of Coolock, Priorswood and Darndale of North Dublin are at melting point due to these savage pay cuts on the low paid community workers and there familys.

I urge all SIPTU members and shop-stewards to unite and fight these unfair pay cuts, which effect all the people living in our communities”.

John Cullen, SIPTU Shop Steward

Seanie Lambe

Inner City. This is now lost and will have a real impact on employment and development for an already economically disadvantaged community”. The mission statement of ICRG is to “ensure that local people get tangible benefits from the regeneration of the local economy” which means it adopts a broad approach encouraging invest-ment by both the public and private sectors into the area, not necessarily into the ICRG. The work of ICRG falls into three distinct categories:- Policy development and networking; involve-

ment with Dublin Docklands Development Authority, Dublin Inner City Partnership, NEIC RAPID, Multi Agency Task Force, YPAR, North Eastern Health Forum.

- Delivery of direct services including; a Welfare Rights Advice Service and a Local Employ-ment Service.

- Project development and support; assisted in setting up The North City Centre Community Action Project, the Inner City Organisations Network, Activities for the Elderly and the SAOL and Citywide drug projects.

Kilmore West Friday morning in Kilmore West CDP a group of older people get together for an art class. But between the idyllic paintings of west Cork and Irish wildlife, there is something very powerful happening. “You feel part of the community and it all stems from here” states Jimmy McGee who is one of the participants at the CDP. The impact of the art class goes far beyond painting a picture. Bound to a wheelchair and living with diabetes has not been easy for Jimmy; “at times I’m in so much pain that I’d be better off dead, and this brings me back to life”. The CDP is a life line for Jimmy, connecting him with the neighbours and wider community; “Art

is the life blood of everyone that is disabled”. For people with limited mobility there are limited opportunities to get out and about. For Jimmy this is all too true, with one notable exception; “There is nothing else for the people in a wheelchair in the area, if you either go to a hospital or go to your art”. The art class in Kilmore West CDP is just one of the many activities that are facilitated by the project, but it is the intangible outcomes that are at the core. For Jimmy, Kilmore West CDP is where isolation is broken, friendships are forged and strong communities are built.

West Tallaght ResourceCentre The community in West Tallaght had a problem with anti-social behaviour. Burnt out fires on green areas and household rubbish were mak-ing it unsafe for children to play outside. This is why local people came together with the West Tallaght Resource Centre CDP. Christina McDonnell who volunteers at the project was involved in helping to solve this problem. After initial contact with South Dublin County Council, local residents canvassed their neighbours to support the development of a play area for all ages. The outcome was a success with the Council supplying the land, RAPID supplying the funding and the residents maintaining the space.

It is this type of collective activity that builds communities and a pride of place. Strong social bonds are a long term solution to anti-social behaviour and their root causes. Kathleen Tracey has lived in West Tallaght for 28 years. She sees the CDP as a focal point and a key resource for the community; “if you have a problem big or small, you are never turned away from the door”.

The impact of the CDP closing worries Christine deeply; “the area would be back to square one... because people feel like they have been let down”. Kathleen is concerned about increasing anti-social behaviour such as joy riding and fires; “we had it for a long time and don’t want to see it back here”.

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Christina McDonnell and Kathleen Tracey of West Tallaght Resource Centre.

Interview

My CDP,My Community

Jimmy McGee: except for the Kimore West CDP “there is nothing else for people in a wheelchair in the area”.

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SIPTU Community & Voluntary Sector News

North ClondalkinCommunity DevelopmentProgramme

Gay Kelly has lived in North Clondalkin since the first housing estates were built, but it was very different back then; without schools, sports centres or even shops. “There was literally nothing in the community for anybody when we moved up here” she states. However, North Clondalkin CDP (NCCDP) has helped build a community and enable local people solve the problems they face. For Gay, the CDP has got her “involved in my area and different groups and I have taken more of an interest in my community”.

Noreen Byrne, activist and co-ordinator of NCCDP recognises a broad attack against community development and its principles of empowering communities. She said; “Commu-nity development is an effective instrument for challenging Government policy which ensures the reproduction of inequality and discrimina-tion, encourages social exclusion and reinforces the lie that marginalised people/communities are the cause of their poverty. The continuation of this robust challenge by CDP’s, has led to forces within state agencies and Dáil Eireann to withdraw funding from CDP’s and the abolition of community infrastructures.” For Noreen Byrne a major function of the programme is to develop community leaders who have the confidence and respect of their neighbours; “in terms of leadership, it’s about people coming out and knowing if they do get involved in their community that there will be a result, there will be support”.

One of the many successes of the programme was the establishment of the Dublin Bus Forum. In June 2008 the NCCDP received a

request for assistance from Dublin Bus drivers who were considering the withdrawal of serv-ices due to stone throwing incidents.

With only one bus route into the city, the withdrawal would have left people without any transport. Hospital appointments, going to work, visiting friends and family, even doing the weekly shop would have been very difficult for many people. In July 2008, the NCCDP called a public meeting for residents, Garda, politicians and bus drivers on the issue. This resulted in the establishment of a dedicated forum that also included the local youth services, the local authority and Dublin Bus management. The CDP highlighted the personal effect of the withdrawal of the bus service through its “Buzz” newsletter and local meetings. Together with actions by other groups, the number of incidents was reduced from forty eight a month to no more than two. There was been no withdrawal of the service since the forum was established.

Youth Sector Workers Angered by Minister’s HypocrisyYouth sector workers were angered by Minister John Gormley’s recent comments that the Government cannot stop pay rises for Anglo-Irish Bank staff. On the 27th March, Minister Gormley stated that Government could not interfere in the pay rates of the “zombie bank”

as the State does not directly control the contracts of the bank workers; however when it comes to youth sector workers the same principles don’t seem to apply.

Workers in the youth sector are employed by independent companies which are con-tracted by the State to deliver services and programmes for young people. Despite the independent standing of these companies, City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB), a State funding body, has instructed companies to cut workers pay by 9%. The decision to cut pay rates was taken without consultation with the workers or the opportunity to make alternative savings through non-wages expenditure. The pay cuts were in addition to funding cuts in 2009. Youth worker, Fran McVeigh, said: “there seem to be one rule for the apparently untouchable bankers who are receiving pay rises, but when it comes to youth workers and others in the community sector, there are no issues with dictating pay cuts, even though we are employed by independent companies”. In response to this unilateral action by the CDYSB and other funding agencies, youth sector workers have decided to fight against cut backs by organising in a Union. On the 28th January over 60 workers attended a meeting in Liberty Hall organised by Dublin youth service workers where a unanimous decision was taken to defend wages and funding against cuts. Since then youth workers have been successfully or-ganising with their colleagues and in late March the issue of pay cuts was referred to the Labour Relations Commission.

SIPTU activists have also been involved in a wider campaign to protect funding for the youth sector including a Dublin Focus on Youth organised protest on 27th January at Dáil Éire-ann where hundreds of workers and teenagers delivered a loud and energetic message to Government.

A video of the event by independent photo journalist Paula Geraghty can be seen at

tinyurl.com/y93ocjj.

Noreen Byrne

Gay Kelly

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CommunitySolidarity for MigrantWorkers - the Right to Change Employer On Tuesday, 13th April the Migrant Rights’ Centre Ireland (MRCI) launched a national campaign calling on the Minister for Enter-prise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe, TD, to give workers in the employment permit system the right to change em-ployer.

Currently there are approximately 25,000 non-EEA workers in the employment permit system in Ireland. Workers are only allowed to work for the employer stated on the permit and cannot freely change employer. Between 2006 and 2009, the MRCI lodged over 250 formal complaints for violations of workers’ employment rights and received €1.3 million for workers in awards and settlements. 80% of these cases involved workers in the employment permit system.

“It doesn’t take an expert to realise that when you bind workers to their employer and deny them the right to freely change jobs it leads to exploitation. Denying the right to change employer is also a major cause of workers becoming undocument-

ed,” says Siobhán O’Donoghue, Director of the MRCI. “It puts workers in a power-less situation, completely dependent on the employer for their permit and legal status.”

Surinder Singh was one of four workers who spoke at the launch. Mr. Singh, who was employed for six years in the work permit system, detailed his experience of working 16-hour days, with no days off, for €100 per month. According to Mr. Singh; “When I asked for a day off my employer told me that if I want a day off I could go back to India. He would say to me, ‘You are on my work permit!’ It is not fair that we cannot freely change employer. If I had that right, I would not have stayed so long in that bad situation.”

The MRCI launch also featured a recorded conversation between a domestic worker from the Philippines and her employers who threatened her with deportation if she left her job. According one of her employ-ers; “If you leave this house you are going deported back home. You are going back in shackles back to Manila, in chains.” (see www.mrci.ie for complete audio) Currently, the employment permits system requires that a worker stay a minimum of 12 months with an employer, and then submit an entirely new permit application, pay another permit fee (€1,000) and wait several months, during which time they are not allowed to work. These restrictions completely hinder workers from freely changing employers and discourage most employers from considering them for a position.

According to Ms. O’Donoghue, “There is a better and fairer way for the 25,000 migrant workers still in the employment permit system in Ireland. Employment permit holders deserve the basic right to freely change employer within their job category. It would provide a fair chance to move from bad situations and get back into employment quickly. We also need to protect compliant employers who are being undermined by those who take ad-vantage of workers in this situation.”

Sitting at the top table (L-R ): Siobhan O’Donoghue, Director of MRCI, Rajat Bhatnagar, MRCI Board member and Olga Dubyna, migrant worker from the Ukraine.

Campaign for the Right to Change Employer Dear Colleague, On Tuesday, 13th April, the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland launched a national campaign calling on the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe, TD, to give workers in the employment permit system the right to freely change employer.

See news coverage on: http://www.mrci.ie/news_events/index.htm#MobilityCampaign Today, we are asking you and/or your organisation to help take action in this campaign. Please take a few minutes to write a short letter via post or email to Minister O’Keeffe (minister@entemp.ie), asking him to give workers in the employment permits system the right to freely change employer. Please also forward this email to others who may be interested.

For campaign materials and sample letters log onto http://www.mrci.ie/news_events/index.htm#MobilityCampaign In Solidarity,Fr. Bobby GilmoreChairperson, MRCI

Migrant Rights Centre

Ireland – Working to promote

Justice, Empowerment and

Equality for migrant workers

and their families

SIPTU Community Sector News

Contact SIPTUTo find out more about the campaign or to arrange a meeting, please contact your local SIPTU Branch or the Community Sector Organising Campaign at:

Telephone: 1890 747 881

E – mail: community@siptu.ie Web: www.siptu.ie/community

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JUST E-MAIL YOUR NAME/ PROJECT & E-MAIL ADDRESS TO : community@siptu.ie WITH THE SUBJECT “SUBSCRIBE”.

Get Organised –Shop Stewards Becoming a (shop) steward can often be daunting – “what am I getting myself in for” has gone through the mind of many a newly elected steward. But with the support of their colleagues and union, shop stewards fulfil the most important role of the union movement. A shop steward speaks on behalf of their fellow workers, whether to management or at a union committee meeting. In the community and voluntary sector, many shop stewards are also involved in campaigning and lobbying. All this is done with the support and advice of their union. A shop steward is also the link between workers, the union official and workers on other projects. It is by building these connec-tions that we build a strong union; seven workers on a project may not be able to change Government policy, but 7,000 union members working to the same goal have a fighting chance. SIPTU also provides training for shop stewards, ranging from a 1 day basic introduction to HETAC accredited courses. If your employment doesn’t have an elected shop steward, simply call 1890 747 881 or e-mail community@siptu.ie to contact a union organiser. If you are currently a shop steward and would like to do training, you can use the same contact details as above.

Membership BenefitsAs well as gaining access to effective work-place representation and the other services provided by the Union, SIPTU members can also avail of a number of financial benefits through their membership of the Union.

The first category of benefits are those defined in the Union Rule Book covering payments such as Dispute Benefit, Mortality Benefit and Marriage Benefit.

The second category of benefits involve a range of financial services and products available at special rates for members of SIPTU and the TEEU through the TUF Membership Plus scheme.

SIPTU members in the Dublin Region can also participate in the Jim Larkin Credit Union. For further information contact Paddy Moran at 01-8787272 or e-mail retired@siptu.ie.

SIPTU Members Stay Informed To keep informed about what’s going on with your union and the Community Sector Campaign, subscribe to our mailing list.

Solidarity with Hotel WorkersSIPTU’s campaign to protect the jobs of our members in the hotel industry and to promote quality employment in the sector is going from strength to strength. Organisations in the Community Sector are leading the charge to support the FAIR HOTELS campaign to choose unionised hotels for conferences, meetings and leisure. Many organisations in the sector have already adopted a policy of only using unionised hotels.

As trade unionists we have to ensure that we do not patronise hotels that exploit workers. Please ensure that your organisation only deals with hotels that treat staff fairly.

SIPTU and a broad coalition of allies will shortly launch a new campaign website www.fairhotels.ie. Meanwhile, check out Liberty Online (link available on www.siptu.ie) for special offers and discounts in unionised hotels for union members.