Mandate Trade Union Shop Floor May 2012

SHOPFLOORMANDATE TRADE UNION MAY 2012

for a better future11 PAGES OF REPORTS AND PICTURES

Vote No

For abetterFuture...

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fiscal treaty referendum

SHOPFLOOR y May 20122

SHOPFLOORMANDATE TRADE UNION • VIEW FROM THE

mandate makes no apology forcalling on its members to vote no inthe may 31st referendum on the fiscal treaty.If passed, this treaty will not create asingle job. Instead, it will choke the lifeout of our domestic economy pushingit from recession to depression. It will impoverish the Irish nation for

generations to come and will lead usinto permanent austerity.Don’t listen to those who claim this isabout ‘good housekeeping’ or ‘managing the householdbudget’ – they are wrong, this is about locking our countryinto an internationally-binding agreement driven by and forthe needs of a corrupt and immoral banking system.This anti-democratic treaty will mean that any future Irishgovernment pursuing progressive economic and social poli-cies that fall outside the narrow fiscal limits set out in thistreaty will face international court proceedings.

In essence, this treaty constitutes a derogation of sover-eignty and is an attack on our basic hard-won freedoms.But make no mistake, you can be sure the bankers willcontinue to profit out of the continuing Market misery of Eu-rope’s economies – out of the pain of Greek, Spanish, Por-tuguese and Irish workers – they will make billions on theway up and will make billions on the way down.And the EU’s political class seems in servile thrall to thismadness – and they have engineered this treaty to build afirewall around the banking system to protect the rich andpowerful at the expense of Europe’s peoples.Decades of social exclusion, mass unemployment and

emigration – and further attacks on workers’ rights andthe welfare system – lie ahead, unless we act now. Say No to permanent austerity. Vote No on May 31st.

Shopfloor is published bi-monthly by Mandate Trade Union. Mandate Head Office, O'Lehane House, 9 Cavendish Row, Dublin 1

T: 01-8746321/2/3 F: 01-8729581 W: www.mandate.ieDesign & Editing: Brazier Media E: [email protected]

Shopfloor is edited, produced and printed by trade union labour

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

DUBLIN Airport Authority, despiteintending to launch a voluntary redundancy severance packageaimed at cutting staff numbers atDublin Airport, recently put a number of temporary retail staff onpermanent contracts. Divisional Organiser BrendanO’Hanlon told Shopfloor this movewas opposed by Mandate.He explained that while the unionwas obviously in favour of creatingpermanent positions, it could notsupport the appointments when itwas clear the DAA intended to tryand force long-serving existing staffto leave and replace them with otherworkers on inferior terms and condi-tions.In another move to casualise retailpositions at the airport, the company

advertised for part-time positions toreplace full-time staff that had left.This was done in the face of anagreement between Mandate and theDAA that the retail jobs would be fulltime. Mandate has written to thecompany about the ads and soughttheir removal pending a meeting todiscuss the matter. Brendan O’Hanlon hit out at thefirm for what he called a “blatantbreach” of a deal with the union.He said: “It had been agreed toprotect new positions created as a result of the opening of Terminal 2.The company are seeking to exploitthe current unemployment situation,which actually requires the creationof meaningful jobs and ones uponwhich workers can build a better future.”

mandate has sought a meetingwith management at argos todiscuss a range of issues.

in the meantime, officialshave asked for feedback frommembers working at the catalogue merchant.

divisional organiser WillieHamilton said: “if a member hasan issue they want highlightedin any review of our currentagreement or is aware of anychanges managers are trying tointroduce before a review hastaken place, they should contacttheir shop steward or speak to aunion official.”

Meeting soughton argos issues

an aGreement was reachedbetween the company and thethree unions that organise atsuperquinn that opened up avoluntary redundancy packageto those members “red circled”at stores across the chain.

Going to print, it is under-stood only a small number ofstaff had approached the company to express an interestin the redundancy package.

the package was worth four

weeks per year of service withall the normal criteria attached.

a list of “red circled” memberswas given to all stores. the closing date to apply for thepackage was friday, may 4th.

divisional organiser davemoran said: “it was emphasisedto all members that this was avoluntary package and therewas no onus on anyone to accept the offer of redundancy.”

Voluntary redundancypackage at Superquinn

Mandate hails 2.5%rise for M&S staffMANDATE negotiators have scored anotable success after more than3,000 staff at Marks & Spencer received a 2.5% pay rise.A total of 80% of Mandate mem-bers voted for the package which wasbrokered through direct bargainingbetween M&S bosses and unions. Welcoming the agreement, Man-date general secretary John Douglassaid: “This ground breaking dealproves companies can and should reward staff for their dedication andhard work. “Thanks should also go to our superb negotiating team who did afirst-rate job in the talks. Other com-panies in the sector should now takenote and do likewise.”Talks between Mandate – whichrepresents 2,500 staff at the interna-tional retailer – and managementbegan last October.It is understood pay rates will bereviewed again in April 2013. Mandate divisional organiser

Lorraine O’Brien said: “The deal for a2.5% pay increase reflects Marks &Spencer staff’s high level of co-opera-tion in embracing change, their highlevel of customer service and theirengagement with their employers. “Given the current economic cli-mate, it is difficult to imagine that itwould have been possible to achievea better outcome from local collective

M&S store in Tallaght. Mandate’s first-class negotiating team scored a notable success during pay talks Picture:Informatique (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Make your votecount on May 31

John DouglasGeneral SecretaryMandate Trade Union

bargaining.” Ms O’Brien also praisedMarks & Spencer for its foresight invaluing the commitment staff hadshown to the company. She told Shopfloor: “This agree-ment is the result of working throughcollective bargaining to the benefit ofboth the employer and workers.”There were a number of conditionsattached to the rise, including an acceptance of the need for ongoingadaptation and flexibility – includingthe introduction of new technology –both to improve competitiveness andboost productivity and employment.Both unions and management alsoagreed to adhere to agreed disputeresolution procedures and to remaincommitted to the promotion of industrial peace and stability.Ms O’Brien also expressed confi-dence that the deal would set aprecedent for the retail sector gener-ally with staff being rewarded fortheir hard work after a number ofvery difficult years.

Lorraine O’Brien: Difficult to imagine abetter outcome for deserving staff at M&S

Daa ‘breached’ agreement

May 2012 y SHOPFLOOR 3

Cleaning duties ‘not appropriate’INDUSTRIAL NEWS

Alke Boessiger: Mapa broke talks promise

Massive show of solidarity for Turkish IKEA workers, above, at Mandate conference, top

Picture: Joh

n Cha

ney

MANDATE has written to Tesco man-agement informing them cleaningduties previously carried out by acontract cleaning company is not appropriate work for sales assistants.It follows news that staff in allTesco Express outlets had been instructed by local management toperform cleaning duties previouslycarried out by a contract cleaningcompany.It is understood the work involvesuse of an industrial cleaning ma-chine. Tesco management have saidstaff should continue to carry out

these duties – under protest if neces-sary – but this has not been acceptedby Mandate reps. Divisional organiser BrendanO’Hanlon told Shopfloor: “The company’s decision to remove thecontract cleaning and assume thatstaff would naturally perform thecleaning tasks was contrary to bothindividual contracts of employmentand collective agreements regardingthe introduction of change. “Despite the existence of aRegional Store Forum process whichsees all Express stores meet every

three months to discuss develop-ments within stores, the companyfailed to outline its intentions regard-ing the cleaning operation. “Mandate is seeking a meetingwith the company to discuss theseconcerns – in particular health andsafety matters related to security andcleaning. “In the meantime, members areasked to contact their shop stewardor local representatives should theybe asked to carry out such cleaningduties or have any concerns regard-ing related tasks.”

mandate officials have held a series of meetings with chiefs at superquinn and are awaiting a proposal document on changes to management structures at the retail chain.

following rejection of the previous proposal on changes to the management structures in february, superquinn ceo tim Kenny and Hr director claire leonard had outlined the rationale behind the changes toduty managers at a general meeting held at the Green isle Hotel, dublin,on march 21st.

divisional organiser david moran said: “the meeting was very well attended and our members had the opportunity to question the company over proposed changes. a members-only meeting then tookplace, giving members the chance to outline their concerns over thechanges and to elect a sub-committee to represent duty managers at anylater negotiations. the document when received will be the subject of allmembers of the duty manager grade”

Superquinn restructuring

mandate has sent a mass message of solidarityto retail workers organising in iKea stores inturkey.

members gathered for the union’s biennialdelegate conference in Wexford last monthunanimously backed a motion calling on bossesat the iconic swedish multinational to “put itsown values into practice” and to allow its work-ers in turkey to join a union “without fear of re-taliation or recrimination”.

the motion, put forward by mandate’s nec,called on the company to enter into talks withuni Global union to broker a worldwide agree-ment guaranteeing basic union and workerrights.

it stated: “if iKea is able to impose the sameconcept and appearance to all iKea stores, all

the way down to meatballs in its restaurantsworldwide, the company should also apply thesame principle for a global labour relations policy, union and bargaining rights.”

meanwhile, it is understood that “serious on-going issues” with the way in which the fran-chise operation in iKea turkey operates maylead to the iKea Global union alliance calling forsolidarity actions to be taken across the world indefence of turkish workers and in solidarity withtheir union, Koop-is.

national coordinator brian forbes said: “thisis unacceptable behaviour on the part of iKeaturkey and can no longer be tolerated. the iKeaparent company can no longer stand idly bywithout taking concerted and direct action to re-solve these serious issues

THE UNI IKEA Global Union Alliance have launched a newmobilisation plan to supportTurkish IKEA workers.It comes after IKEA’s localfranchisee, Mapa, went back on apromise to kickstart talks withthe workers’ union Koop-Is.And Head of UNI Commerce

Alke Boessiger hit out at Mapaover claims it is involved in harassing workers.Turkish IKEA workers have reported workplace harassmentand even threatening visits totheir homes as they battle to winrecognition for Koop-Is.It is claimed local managers

have also taken workers to a notary and paid the fee so thatthey would disaffiliate from theunion.Ms Boessiger told Shopfloor:“We are demanding that IKEA’sglobal management interveneimmediately to stop this harass-ment of workers and their fami-

lies. It is completely unaccept-able that IKEA management inTurkey would monitor or inter-vene in their employees’ familylife and it raises a troubling spectre of the company’s attitudetowards workers’ privacy andpersonal rights.”

IKea alliance moblises aftercompany reneges on talks

We stand with you!


NEWSCommissionerrules Dunnesbreached actover changeof contract

union seeksmeeting withclub bosses

a recent rights commissioner’sdecision has been issued againstdunnes stores after a worker’scontract was changed without notification.

mandate brought the case before the commissioner after theemployee, who was a sales assis-tant, was given cleaning duties.

it was held that the claim waswell-founded and that the retailerhad breached terms contained inthe Employment (Information) Act1994 - 2001. compensation wasawarded.

divisional organiser amandaKane, who presented the case, toldShopfloor that attempts to resolvethe matter directly with manage-ment had been unsuccessful.

she added: “this lead to unnec-essary and avoidable litigation.this approach by dunnes stores todealing with staff issues will continue to be challenged by allmeans available.”

mandate has contacted manage-ment at erin’s isle Gaa club over anumber of issues raised by mem-bers of staff – but has yet to receivea reply.

staff at the finglas sports clubhave a number of concerns overpay rates, working hours as well asissues relating to health andsafety.

industrial officer dave miskell,who is dealing with the issue, described the lack of responsefrom erin’s isle management as“regrettable” and claims the unionhas no option but to seek the helpof the labour relations commis-sion.

He told Shopfloor:“the staff involved are all locals and it is unfortunate that an organisationlike this that relies on the supportof the community in finglas wouldrefuse a legitimate request from itsstaff to address their concerns in ameaningful way.”

by Frances byrneOPEN, Barnardos and the NationalWomen’s Council of Ireland havecome together in a new campaign –7 is Too Young – about one-parentfamilies.The three organisations shareprofound concerns about the im-pact Budget 2012 has had on loneparents and the declared intentionof the Government to reduce eligi-bility for the main social welfarepayment to when the youngest childin a one-parent family turns justseven years of age.First, it’s important to note thatall three organisations and manyothers want social welfare reform.The system is not perfect. It is com-plex. It doesn’t support part-timework the way it should. It doesn’tadequately support the welfare towork journey for any parent, notjust those of us parenting alone. Itneeds to be reformed. This is notthe way to do itthough.In Budget 2012,there were a set ofgeneral cuts, which af-fected families whorely on a weekly,means-tested social in-come support such asthe Back to SchoolClothing & Footwear Al-lowance, Rent Supple-ment and the FuelAllowance. For our fami-lies though, there were aseries of additional ‘re-forms’:• The Earnings Disregard elementof the One-parent Family Payment(OFP) was reduced by €16.50 to aweekly amount of €130. And theDepartment has signalled that thiswill reduce further over four yearsto €60 per week.• For lone parents on CommunityEmployment (CE) before January2012, the Qualified Child Increase(€29.80 per week per child) of theirCE payment will no longer be paidfrom February 20, 2012.• Recipients of the OFP, who begina CE scheme, will no longer receivea reduced OFP payment. At the time of going to print, the

CAMPAIGN 7 IS TOO YOUNG

Communication Skills/ Personal Development and EffectivenessFor those who want to brush up on their writing and spelling skills while youdevelop personal and interpersonal skills which are important for dealing withworkplace situations and improve communications in everyday life situations

Communication through ComputersThis course is ideal for adults just learning about computers and confidence for communicating on-line.

MathsPerhaps you’d like to brush up on your everyday maths, including home budgets, tax and weights/measures.

Name

Address

Workplace

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Adult Education Courses for the WorkplaceMandate Trade Union with the VEC network is offering a programme of Training Courses called Skills for Work. Skills for Work offers members the opportunity to get back into education at their own pace with a wide range of courses to choose from. Each course has 6 – 8 participants and may beheld locally and outside of working hours. Some of the courses include:

Courses are free and open to members who have not achieved Leaving Certificate or whohave an out of date Leaving Certificate. You can also achieve a FETAC Level 3 Award.

Please tick the box or boxes of the courses which interest you and return this form with your details to: Mandate’s Organising and Training Centre Distillery House, Distillery Road, Dublin 3

Phone 01-8369699, email [email protected] Closing date Thursday 31st May 2012

You will be contacted to confirm places after Thursday, 31st May 2012 Skills for Work is funded by the Department of Education & Skills

Making our seven year oldsausterity’s poster children

Government is bringing the SocialWelfare & Pensions Bill 2012 throughthe Oireachtas. Section Four will seethe eligible age for the youngest childin a family in receipt of the One-par-ent Family Payment, go to 12 in2012, 10 in 2013 and then seven in2014 for new applicants for the One-parent Family Payment. For loneparents already on the payment, this,the reduction to age seven, will hap-pen in 2015.In short, the cumulative impact ofBudget 2012 and the Bill will actuallymean that lone parents will find itmuch harder to move off welfare,those in work already and on a re-duced welfare payment will suffer

further cuts and poverty willincrease inevitably.When introducing the Bill inthe Dáil on April 18th, theMinister gave an undertakingthat by December, when thenext Budget is announced, un-less “a credible, bankable childcareplan” is in place so that “Scandina-vian childcare” can be deliveredfrom January 2014, she wouldn’tproceed with the provisions of theBill.We are, of course, delighted tohear a government minister recog-nise that quality, affordable andpublicly subsidised childcare iswhat is needed for all parents. Weadmire her ambition but we haveserious doubts in the capacity ofthe Government to have this inplace by 2014.And we are asking serious ques-tions which nobody seems pre-pared to answer, except in vagueterms about the Troika, the need to

‘trigger’ the development of child-care provision and so on.So we are left wondering aboutthe very worried lone parents whowill have this uncertainty hangingover them. We are left questioning why weare putting the cart before thehorse in this way? We are commit-ted to working with the ministerand her Cabinet colleagues butdoes anyone believe that the Gov-ernment will be able to deliver onthis commitment? So why proceed with SectionFour when it is clear that the minis-ter will have to acknowledge the in-evitable next December?So the biggest question we areleft with then is, why does this Gov-ernment want to make the sevenyear olds in our families the posterchildren for austerity?OPEN is the national network of one-parent families: www.oneparent.ie

OPEN Chief Executive Officer

Mandate has given its full backing to the campaign Picture:7 is Too Young


National co-ordinator Brian Forbes, back left, with organisers Tara Keane, Inga Sperlina, Aideen Carberry and Colm Maguire with lead organiser Kathy McQuillan

Heatons deal both ‘exceptional’ and ‘temporary’INDUSTRIAL NEWS

MANDATE members at Heatonsstores throughout the Republic havevoted by a narrow majority to accepta further transitional agreement thatincluded a wage cut.Shop stewards and officials en-gaged with management in a seriesof intense negotiations on the firm’scurrent financial position.The union’s negotiating team –after getting independent financialadvice – concluded it was better toreach a short-term agreement thatboth secured jobs and the future ofthe firm.The temporary 18-month stabilisa-

tion deal included a 3% cut in payrates.This loss was offset in part after itwas confirmed that staff would re-ceive an incremental increase thisyear. Management had initiallysought to slash wages by 10%.Under the deal, the Christmasbonus will be temporarily suspended, there will be a new Sunday pay rate and staff will receivea one-off extra day’s leave. In a bid to boost sales, staff dis-count has been increased for Decem-ber and a sales incentive schemeintroduced that will share 10% of

sales above budget with the staff. Divisional organiser Bill Kelly said:“Mandate has also secured a clausecommitting Heatons to maintainingstaff working hours at the level theywere during comparable trading periods in 2011.”According to union sources, therewere frank exchanges of views dur-ing the talks and shop stewardsforcibly pointed out that lower paidretail workers could not carry thecan for the mismanagement of theeconomy and the downturn in con-sumer spending and confidence. General secretary John Douglas

told Shopfloor: “Heaton’s manage-ment was left in no doubt that theseproposals were both exceptional andtemporary and that Mandate nego-tiators intended to monitor companyperformance with a view to restoringlost ground.”Members at Heatons departmentstores across the country were understandably unhappy with theproposals, but accepted that the difficult economic sitution had had amajor impact on the retailer’s tradingposition. The proposals were accepted in asecret ballot by a narrow majority bythe members who, according to the

union, showed “great maturity” inconsidering the proposals at localmeetings. Mr Douglas said: “The situationwhich Heatons and indeed manyother retail companies find them-selves in is a direct result of the impact of the austerity policies whichhave been imposed on Ireland in theTroika bailout agreement and whichhave shrunk the domestic economyby 28% since 2008. “That is why Mandate is calling foran end to austerity policies and for aPlan B that will invest in economicgrowth and jobs and put spendingpower back into workers’ pockets.”ORGANISING

TESCO employees Kevin Kelly and EamonMcAvoy have thanked Mandate for its support after successfully defending an appeal brought by their employer to theLabour Court.The Rights Commissioner had previouslyruled in favour of the pair – both long-longsection managers at Tesco’s Castlebarstore – but the company later launched anappeal.Following unilateral changes to manage-ment structures in 2010, Mr Kelly and MrMcAvoy were given three options – to applyand be interviewed for a new line managerrole for the same pay, to take on a new teamleader role with a pay cut or take on a gen-eral sales assistant position, also with a paycut.However, the last two options had nocompensation element to “soften” the im-pact of the move.After going through internal grievanceprocedures, Mandate referred the cases tothe Rights Commissioner.The cases, heard in July 2011, were suc-cessful and the Rights Commissioner issueda recommendation.The Commissioner stated: “An employeris entitled to change and adapt its manage-ment structure to meet the changing demands of customers and business and noemployee should expect that their job orrole will never change. “I am satisfied that there was good andvalid reason for the management restruc-ture... I note that the normal criteria is thatcompensation does not apply where themove or change is voluntary, but does applywhere it is involuntary.”Because the changes were not voluntary,the Commissioner recommended both em-ployees receive “one and half times their an-nual loss in salary” because of the pay cuts. Tesco’s appeal to the Labour Court washeard in March.After two lengthy hearings involving “ro-bust representations” by both sides, LabourCourt dismissed the employer’s appeals andupheld the Rights Commissioner originaldecisions for each of the cases.Mandate has asked Tesco to honour theterms of recommendations and is awaitinga response.

Lab Courtvictory forTesco pair

mandate’s organising department is nowfully staffed up and ready for action.

lead organiser Kathy mcQuillan alongwith organisers aideen carberry, taraKeane and colm maguire join inga sper-lina who was appointed earlier this year.

the new team is pictured above with national co-ordinator brian forbes at therecent biennial delegate conference in

Wexford. Kathy told Shopfloor: “at thisyear’s conference, outreach was made todelegates to press them to get involved inrecruiting new members.

“they were asked to send messages tonon-union retail workers by filling outquote sheets. they also had their picturestaken for use in future recruiting drives.

“more than 100 delegates stopped by

the organising booth during the confer-ence and volunteered to get involved in recruiting and organising.

“the organising department is set towork with members across the union, bothto recruit in new workplaces, and to getmembers involved as member-organiserswho can help to recruit non-union workersin their own workplaces.”

Meet our new team...


PLATFORM CONNOLLY YOUTH MOVEMENT

mandate officials have under-lined to management at brownthomas that they expect to see achange in their pay policy duringtalks with the union.

it follows three years of payfreezes in a row for staff. mandate’s national agreementwith the retailer ended in februaryand the union met with bosses onmarch 15th to discuss pay andother issues.

in advance of the discussions,the firm had agreed to pay the bal-ance of the monies owed to mem-bers since the freezing ofDave Moran: Hopeful about brokering deal

brown thomasbosses sentsignal on pay

increments in 2009. divisional organiser dave moran

said: “this has since been paid andis a welcome step for these mem-bers who had effectively lost outon two fronts – the pay freeze andthe failure to receive their incre-ments.”

He added: “We told manage-ment that after three years of payfreezes, the time had come for thisstance to be reversed and that we

expected to see movement on thisin the talks. We also expressed ourdisappointment at the failure tobroker a deal on a new proceduralagreement after a year of talks.

“While the pay discussions areonly at the preliminary stage, weremain hopeful of reaching anagreement on pay and other issueswith brown thomas and are currently awaiting a date for a further meeting.”

mandate shop stewards havebeen elected to the boots storeforums for the first time sincethe consultation framework wasset up in 2006.

the elections, which tookplace in march, followed a cam-paign by the union to encouragemembers to take part in theprocess. divisional organiserbrendan o’Hanlon congratu-lated the successful union candidates who were nominatedby their colleagues.

He added: “mandate looks forward to working with bootsthrough the forum process andwe encourage all members tocontribute through their repre-sentatives in the future.”

Shop stewardson boots forum

MANDATE have taken a courageousposition on the upcoming austeritytreaty in the face of all sorts ofscaremongering and media bias. It’san important position based onMandate’s passionate commitmentto lowpaid workers and the needto resist austerity.The TEEU and Unite have alsorecommended a No vote. And boththe ETUC and UNI Europa have alsotaken clear No positions on theforthcoming Fiscal Treaty that willimpose permanent austerity on thisisland. These unions see the link be-tween on-going austerity, job lossesand low pay. They are anti-austerity,and so, are against this treaty. Those supporting the treaty orthose who are remaining silent arewilling to accept and support aneconomic straitjacket.This will impose economic hard-ship upon their members throughon-going pay cuts and pay freezes,through pension entitlement reduc-tions, through new regressivestealth taxes and, importantly,through the continued transfer ofpublic wealth – sale of State assets,cuts to public services, privatisa-tions, payments to banks and bond-holders – to big business. Surely, this Treaty presents a di-viding line? Austerity is robbingunion members while enriching thewealthy. Recent research shows that aus-terity to date has resulted in therichest 10% increasing their dis-posable income while the poorest10% have faced up to a 25% reduc-tion in their disposable income. Figure 1 illustrates these findings.It is difficult to see how a unioncould claim to be anti-austerity butin favour of the economic strait-jacket that makes austerity the legaleconomic framework of the State.Of course, the proposed perma-nent austerity treaty is part of theEU’s on-going response to the crisis– make working people pay for thedebts greedy and irresponsible fi-nance houses built up. Transferdebt and risk to working peopleand transfer money and healthycompanies to big business. The austerity being imposed onworkers and their families is a re-sult of the EU’s clear policy of sup-port for bondholders and financialinstitutions. The EU has decided

Why No can beonly responseto austerity...

that those people that caused the cri-sis are far more important and worthsacrificing you and me for. They aretaking money out of our pockets andgiving it to banks and bondholders. Ireland’s sovereign debt was not incrisis before the bank guarantees andbailouts. The State’s sovereign debtwas €47 billion – or 25% GDP – in2007. This was well within recom-

mended levels. It was only followingthe bank guarantee, recapitalisationcosts, increased cost of State borrow-ing and the collapse in GNP imposedupon Ireland to protect the Europeanbanking system that Irish sovereigndebt became unsustainable.The establishment is right aboutone thing. Debt and austerity arelinked. But it is not our debt so nor

should it be our austerity. Working people and families havebeen laden with debt that is nottheirs. That’s not fair. But then theyare also being made pay with auster-ity to pay both the debt and interestback to some of the same banks inEurope. We are, in fact, being made to paytwice for a debt that isn’t ours tobegin with to some of the samebanks that created the debt! That re-ally isn’t fair!Last year the State paid €5.4 bil-lion in interest on the debt that isn’tours. And Minister Noonan recentlyacknowledged that little if nothing ofour principal sum was reduced. So itis not just the debt that was so-cialised that is crippling the State butalso the interest.Bearing in mind our sovereigndebt was just €47 billion and 25%GDP five years ago, the cost of savingprivate gamblers and speculators hasput the Government debt at €165 bil-lion – or 107% GDP – at the end of2011! It is estimated by the IMF to reach119% by the end of 2013 – thatwould put it about €185 billion,quadrupling the State’s debt to savethe same people that created thedebt and that actually benefit from

austerity! Can anyone now not ac-cept James Connolly’s statementthat government is just a commit-tee for managing the affairs of thecapitalist class. And what have weto look forward to if Fine Gael andLabour are allowed to continue toruin the country? The sale of productive publiccompanies. The sale of valuableState assets. More cuts to socialspending. Cuts to the dole. In-creases to retirement age. Increasesto the Household Charge. Watercharges. Carbon tax. Increases inVAT. Further reduction in minimumwage and all sectoral wage rates. All of this is clearly outlined inthe EU IMF conditionality.While no one is arguing banksare not necessary. Of course theyare. They are necessary to lend tobusinesses to expand and createjobs. They are necessary as a safeplace for savings. They are necessary to lend tofamilies to secure a home. But theyare not required to lend billions toaddicts to speculate and gambleour futures on. They are not required to lend bil-lions to unproductive enterpriseslike developers as they have done. The banking system should notbe a profit-creating industry of it-self. It should exist to support pro-duction that creates long-term,well-paying, decent jobs.Likewise, sovereign debt is notnecessarily a bad thing. Sovereigndebt has been used to build schools,hospitals, set up successful and pro-ductive public enterprises. But right now our sovereign debtis being quadrupled, imposing aus-terity upon working people to payback gamblers. This is being donenot to increase the wealth and well-being of the nation but actually todecrease it. This is only understandablewhen one considers the quote fromConnolly or, more recently, echoedby the parliamentary whip of theGerman Christian Democrats, PeterAltmaier, who said: “If Mr Hollandewere to say that he wants to in-crease government spending andsave less, he’ll lose the confidenceof the financial markets. “We will stick to our fundamentalprinciples because there’s really noalternative.”The EU are taking money out of our pocketsand giving it to the banks and bondholders


Divisional organiser John Carty: Warned employer over Tribunal settlement

tribunal awards €25kover redundancy case

Union Representatives Introductory Course

The Union Representative Introductory Training Course is for new shopstewards/union representatives. The course aims to provide information,

skills and knowledge to our shop stewards/union representatives to assist them in their role in the workplace.

Course content:• Background to Mandate.

• The role and responsibilities of a Shop Steward/Union Representative.• Examining disciplinary/grievance procedures.

• Developing negotiating skills.• Representing members at local level.

• Communication skills/solving members’ problems.• Organising, Recruitment and Campaigns.

• Induction presentations.

Certification and Progression:Members who successfully complete this course will obtain a

Mandate certificate. They may progress to a Union Representative Advanced Course and to other relevant training courses

offered by Mandate.

If you are interested in this course, please contact your Mandate official or Mandate's Training Centre at 01-8369699. Email: [email protected]

Topic covered on the course:• Health and Safety Legislation

• Role of Health and Safety Representative• Safety statements

• Role of Health and Safety Authority• Occupational health

• Identification of hazards and risk assessment• Accident investigation

• Fire safety• Effective communications

• Health and safety promotion

Certification and Progression: Members who successfully complete this course receive a Fetac Level 5

component award certificate and may progress to other courses offered by Mandate.


Health & Safety FETAC Level 5

This course is aimed at Health and Safety representatives

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

A MEMBER of Mandate has been awarded€25,000 compensation at the Employment Appeals Tribunal.Patrick Richardson, who worked at McCann’s Supervalu store in Moycullen, Co Galway, brought the case after being maderedundant.It was claimed the employers had hidden behind a unilaterally-imposed ‘matrix’ in deciding who was to be laid off.Mr Richardson also had the right to appealthe decision to make him redundant to highermanagement. However, he did not attend the subsequentappeal as he was not allowed to bring along histrade union official. The Tribunal, in their

unanimous determination, said: ‘The mannerin which the matrix results were consideredand implemented and communicated to the respondent [Patrick Richardson] were also defective.”Divisional organiser John Carty toldShopfloor: “As the employer has yet to pay theaward and has failed to appeal the Employ-ment Appeals Tribunal determination to theCircuit Court, the matter is now with Mandatesolicitors who are following up on the paymentof the award to our member. “Should the employer fail to pay the com-pensation, Mandate will instruct its solicitorsto initiate legal proceedings against the employer for failure to pay the award.”

JUST A THOUGHT...

We need massive debtwrite-down strategyby Ciaran CampbellMANDATE’S laudable call for a ‘No’ vote on theMay 31st referendum on the Fiscal Treaty wasmet with the expected mixed bag of responsesfrom the Irish media and politicians. But it was a brave call and one that requiresthe due attention it deserves and not thescaremongering headlines it has so far at-tracted from those in the so-called ‘Yes’ camp.General secretary John Douglas clearly setout the union’s position on Primetime onTuesday after the Mandate conference. Thiscould not be taken in isolation. The call for a‘No’ vote in the referendum is not an end in it-self but should be a start of a process to deter-mine how this country can recover and growitself out of this economic quagmire. He is correct and it is up to Mandate andothers seeking a ‘No’ vote to demonstratewhat that process should be. Therein lies thedifficulty. It is important to note that those politiciansleading the ‘Yes’ camp campaign – Kenny andGilmore at al – have only recently coupled aneconomic and jobs growth dimension to thisFiscal Treaty, pointing out that it is currentlybeing worked on and should be ready in andaround the time of the referendum. This is the same sort of stuff that accompa-nied the ‘Yes’ campaigns in both the Lisbonreferenda. Posters proclaiming that saying ‘Yes to Lis-bon’ would put us ‘At the heart of Europe’ andwas a ‘Vote for jobs’ were clearly wrong. In fact, it seems we are nothing but an an-noying pimple on Europe’s backside. And, ofcourse, unemployment has soared in the Re-public since the Lisbon I and II. Furthermore the recent announcementsthat the Troika now wants to direct Ireland’seconomic recovery towards job creationshould be treated with cynicism – as it ap-pears incredibly coincidental that the sameannouncements were made practically on theeve of the referendum campaigns.It is correct that future governments in Eu-rope should behave with the economic disci-pline expected of them but regulation hashistorically proven to be useless in controllingcapitalism. Economic history has shown fiscal-type rules will either be rewritten or simplyignored in the pursuit of profits and control.

This Fiscal Treaty will be no different andserves as an indictment on previous govern-ments and how they ran their affairs.To begin with, there needs to be a write-down of all the debt and a subsequent realign-ment of related and associated economiesahead of capitalism cannibalising itself en-tirely. Yes, this will introduce austerity but nomore than what we are already experiencingand furthermore provides us with a means tocontrol our own economic destiny.The recent bank write-down of a €152,000mortgage debt for a nurse on an average in-come represents a microcosm of exactly whatneeds to happen on a larger and internationalscale.

Both parties demonstrated real logic indealing with a problem that was never goingto be solved by the relentless pursuit of debtthat not only couldn’t be paid back but hadnegative consequences for both the individualand the bank.Ireland is in a similar situation, and aheadof any attempt to recover and grow our econ-omy, creating sustainable and long-lastingjobs as well as stabilising our livelihoods andour current indebtedness – which was causedby others – is a necessity.Rather than asking the Irish populationshould we agree or not to this new FiscalTreaty, the Government should ask us shouldwe bail out the very bondholders that con-tinue to wreak economic havoc and hardshipon us?Voting ‘No’ on May 31st is the right andproper thing to do. It is morally right and willserve as a reminder to the Government thatenough is enough!Ciaran Campbell is a divisional organiser for Mandate in the North West

Stabilising ourlivelihoods andour indebtednessis a necessity...

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frombDC2012

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StartS page 13


INDUSTRIAL NEWS

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Workers’ ‘courage’ hailedafter 139-day sit-in ends

Workers of the worldhave been forgotten - uNI

MANDATE has hailed the “courage,resolve and solidarity” shown byworkers involved in the four-monthlong Vita Cortex sit-in.It comes after they voted on May2nd to accept proposals brokeredbetween SIPTU representatives andthe firm’s owners.Mandate general secretary JohnDouglas said: “Their courage, re-solve and solidarity in sticking thisout until they achieved a just settle-ment is an object lesson to all us. Allworkers are heartened by this de-velopment.”SIPTU manufacturing divisionalorganiser Gerry McCormack toldShopfloor the workers were “verypleased” to secure “equitable andfair” redundancy payments.He added: “They can now returnto their normal lives satisfied theyachieved their objective.”

Vita Cortex workers give the thumbs-up after backing resolution proposals

tHe us government’s department of labor has ordered Wal-mart topay $4.8m in back wages and damages to thousands of employees.

the decision affects 4,500 vision centre managers and asset protec-tion co-ordinators who worked for the retailer between 2004 and2007. Wal-mart was wrong in thinking the employees were exemptfrom federal regulations on overtime payments.

labor secretary Hilda l solis said: “let this be a signal to other companies that when violations are found, the labor department willtake appropriate action.”

Wal-Mart forced to pay out $4.8m

PLATFORM LABOUR PARTY

Mr Douglas also flagged up thecase of Connolly Shoes striker JohnMulpetre who has been on strike fortwo-and-a-half years.He said: “Now that Vita Cortex hasbeen resolved, the light of fairnessand justice should shine on theplight of John Mulpetre. “Connolly Shoes owes John and histhree colleagues tens of thousands ofeuro in awards by the institutions ofthis State yet Connolly Shoes – likemany other employers – stick twofingers up to their loyal workforceand the taxpayer who ultimatelyends up footing the bill. “It's time adequate legislative pro-visions were enacted to prevent thisscandalous types of behaviour per-petrated on workers by ConnollyShoes and their ilk.”Mr Douglas added: “Shame onthem! Buy union, buy Fair Shop.”

ON May 31st every Irish voter willhave a decision to make – to sayyes or no to the Stability Treaty. This is a Treaty to help protectour future – to help bring an endto the crisis which has hit the euroso hard. The euro is the money in ourpockets, what we’re paid in, whatwe spend with and, if we’re luckyenough, what we try to put asidein some savings. In hammering out the details ofit with other European countries,we had one key question in mind– is this Treaty good for the Irishpeople or isn’t it? I firmly believeit is and I’d never have agreed to itif it wasn’t. The Treaty is part of a packagethat will help Europe’s economiesto grow and to create new jobs.And new jobs are what the Irisheconomy needs right now. One big reason job-creators likePaypal and Google are happy toinvest in Ireland is because we’reat the heart of the euro. If we sup-port this Treaty, we stay there. This Treaty means also that wewill never, ever let anyone destroyour economy again. That’s be-

by eamon gilmore tDtanaiste & Leader of

the Labour party

cause it sets out rules which pro-tect us from future governmentssquandering our hard-earned cash.The Treaty also provides us witha crucial insurance policy as wework our way out of the EU/IMFprogramme. If we support theTreaty, we will have access to thenew bailout fund (called the ESM)if we ever needed it in the future.And even just having the ESM onstandby helps us get the money weneed as cheaply as possible. But ifwe vote No, those crucial benefitsare lost to us. The “No side” in this

debate, can only offer uncertaintyand risk. We could again fall victimto faceless market speculators andbe forced into another round ofvery serious cuts. The Treaty’s opponents say “No to Austerity” – in reality “No = Austerity”. We’ve never claimed this Treatywill solve everything. But it is avote about Ireland’s future and animportant step in our economiccomeback. I hope you see it thisway too and support the Treaty onMay 31st.

Voting ‘Yes’ isabout the euro in your pocket

UNI general secretary Philip Jen-nings has warned “the workers ofthe world have been forgotten”.Speaking on May 1, InternationalWorkers’ Day, his comments were inreaction to a new ILO report settingout how the global labour marketwas cracking under the hammer ofausterity.The World of Work Report 2012predicts 202 million people will beunemployed by the end of the year.And it revealed that 50 millionjobs have gone since the financialcrisis hit in 2008.Calling the report a “May Daywarning”, Mr Jennings said:“The ILOhas called it correctly. Misguided fiscal austerity and thinly disguisedattacks on unions dressed up aslabour market reforms have had‘devastating consequences’ on work-

ers’ lives. “The austerity measureshave fuelled rather than cut deficits.There’s a saying, ‘When you are in ahole stop digging’. We are in it deepenough and only a real plan to putus back to work, is going to get usout.“Workers of the world are entitledto feel that they have been forgottenthis Labour Day but we can see thisthrough together. The unions bothnationally and globally are preparedto fight for them and the disenfran-chised 99% have shown they areprepared to stand up for themselvesand demand change. “The calls will get louder and ifthe politicians and bankers do notlisten and take positive steps to cre-ate decent jobs now, the civil unrestpredicted in this report will cometrue.”


INTERNATIONAL WORKERS’ DAY

CLAIMING OUR FUTURE IDEAS –

JOIN THE NATIONAL DISCUSSION IN DUBLIN OR REGISTER NOW ON www.claimingourfuture.ieREGISTRATION ON THE DAY 1OAM

CROKE PARK, 26TH MAYREINVENTING OUR DEMOCRACY

thousands took to the streets of dublin to celebrate international Workers’ day on may 1st.unfortunately the heavens opened but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of those whotook part in the dublin council of trade unions-organised march and rally. one of the floatsfeatured a ghoulish outsize representation of a banker, right, along with the slogan “showerof bankers” – particularly appropriate give the weather! mandate general secretary Johndouglas was a keynote speaker at the event Pictures: Paula Geraghty

Mandate’s John Douglas and Rita Fagan,below, of Spectacle of Defiance, wereamong the speakers at the event

Solidarity rained supreme!

Check out Trade Union TV coverage of the day www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3goygf_e20


CONFERENCE REPORT

Vote No to theFiscal treaty,members urgedMANDATE has called on its 45,000members to vote No to the FiscalTreaty.General secretary John Douglastold delegates gathered for theunion’s Biennial Delegate Conferencein Wexford that Mandate wouldmake no apology for campaigning fora No vote on May 31st.He said: “The Fiscal Treaty, ifpassed, will not create one job; on thecontrary it will legally lock downIrish economic activity at its currentlevels, and may even shrink domesticdemand further – leading to mass un-employment, decades of emigrationand sow the seeds for future socialconflict. “We strongly urge all our membersnot only to vote no to the treaty, butto get involved in their local ‘No’cam-paign.”Mr Douglas claimed the austeritypolicies being pursued by the currentgovernment as part of the Troikabailout agreement were choking thelife out of the Irish economy – partic-ularly the domestic economy. He told conference: “There areover 400,000 Irish workers withoutjobs, 50,000 are leaving the countryeach year, tens of thousands of fami-lies are being crushed under the bur-den of unsustainable mortgages andliving in fear of eviction. “Living standards, welfare andservices are being slashed, the gov-ernment is introducing a raft of re-

gressive charges and taxes, a recentIrish League of Credit Unions reportshowed that 50% of those surveyedhad less than €100 left to spend atthe end of the month after paying allbills – what sort of an existence isthis?”Mr Douglas reminded delegatesthat the imposition of austeritymeasures had resulted in 25 millionworkers being thrown on the doleacross Europe – 5.5 million of whomwere aged under 25.ScandalHe said: “This is a scandal, ahuman waste of mega proportions –but still, our government at the be-hest of our European banking mas-ters continues with these failedpolicies and ideologies, condemningfuture generations of Irish citizens toa mere existence on the margins ofsociety. “This treaty has nothing to do with‘good housekeeping’ or ‘managingthe household budget’; it is aboutcopperfastening into an internation-ally legally binding agreement,decades of austerity, social exclusion,mass long term unemployment andemigration – and a continuation ofattacks on workers’ rights and thewelfare system. “It is not about what is good forIrish citizens, or the citizens of Eu-rope, it is a treaty of the Right for theRight!” Mr Douglas explained to dele-

gates that voting no in itself was not asolution – but was the start of one. He said: “We demand that this gov-ernment embarks on an investmentstrategy for growth and for jobs, thatthis government puts the needs of itsown citizens above the needs of thebanks’ balance sheets. “This government needs to movequickly on the issue of personal debtforgiveness and, in particular, the un-sustainable levels of mortgage repay-ments which are sucking the lifeblood out of consumer spending. “Unfortunately, at this point in timethis government seems intent onwashing clean bank balance sheetsby removing tracker mortgages whileat the same time keeping their footon the throats of hard-pressed mort-gage holders. “Since the start of this crisis, thetrade union movement has advo-cated that while we must manage ourbudgets, economic growth is key –economic growth to turn our domes-tic economy around. “The trade union think-tank, theNevin Economic Research Institutehas identified funding sources of upto €15 billion for investment in vitalinfrastructure and services.“This level of investment wouldclearly improve our national infra-structure, boost demand by creatingmuch needed economic activity andjobs.”

General secretary John Douglas, slamming ‘failed policies and ideologies’, called on Mandate members to vote No on March 31st

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

THE LABOUR Court has recom-mended that a written warninggiven to a checkout operator atDunnes Stores be rescinded. The March 4th recommendationalso called on management to en-sure their disciplinary proceduresare reviewed to ensure members ofstaff are treated fairly and with pro-portionality.Mandate member Mary Povey,who had worked for Dunnes forabout nine years, was called to a se-ries of meetings in June and Decem-ber 2010 and March 2011 to discussa number of till discrepancies.She was subsequently issued witha written warning. However, MsPovey appealed the matter to theRights Commissioner because shewas unhappy with how the companyhad reached its decision.Dunnes Stores declined to takepart in this process and in December2011, Ms Povey, as was her rightunder Section 20(1) of the IndustrialRelations Act, 1969, referred theissue to the Labour Court.At the Labour Court, Mandate ar-gued that managers had never in-formed Ms Povey these meetingswere disciplinary in nature and hadnot offered her any representation,and, in doing so, had contravenedtheir own disciplinary policy.Mandate also claimed Ms Poveyhad been left “exposed and vulnera-ble” to a “management team cul-ture” that had “deviated from thefundamentals of natural justice”.The Labour Court issued its rec-ommendations on April 3rd notingthat Dunnes Stores managementhad decided not to attend the hear-ing. It agreed with Mandate’s con-tention that Ms Povey had not been

given sufficient advance notice thatthe meetings were disciplinary innature nor given the opportunity tobe accompanied by a friend or col-league.The Court said management hadfailed to set out the charges againstMs Povey in sufficent detail to allowher “to prepare a defence, offer anexplanation for, or make representa-tions in mitigation of any shortcom-ings on her part”.It claimed this had “amounted to adenial of fair procedure in the exer-cise of its rights and obligationsunder the staff manual”.‘Avenues of appeal’Because the decision to issue awritten warning was taken by theStore Manager, the Court found thismeant that any “avenue of appeal”through the appeals officer – whowas himself subordinate to the StoreManager – was “inadequate”. Thisalso amounted to a denial of fairprocedure.Evidence presented to the appealsofficer was not given to Ms Povey for“comment or observation”. In the event, the appeals officerupheld the original sanction whichbecause there was no time limit at-tached to it meant that it would re-main on the employee’s recordindefinitely. This, the Court found,was “disproportinate and unfair”.It concluded: “Taking these mat-ters into account the Court recom-mends that the written warning berescinded, that the procedures bereviewed and that systems be put inplace to ensure that all staff aretreated fairly and proportionately inthe management of disciplinarymatters.”

mandate has given its full backing to the Protection of Employees Bill2012. the bill, launched by sinn féin at leinster House on may 1st, hopesto address the increasing difficulty workers face in securing their entitle-ments after being made redundant.

throwing the union’s full weight behind the bill, general secretaryJohn douglas said: “this is very much welcomed by mandate, as recentlyunemployed workers are finding it harder and harder to get the benefitsthat they are entitled too.”

He claimed the intent of the bill was to enhance workers’ rights as wellas to speed up claims – and was especially important in the light of re-cent events. mr douglas added: “lately we have seen former workersbeing denied their rights after being made redundant, worrying casessuch as Vita cortex, Game and la senza are becoming all too common.

“the Government needs to protect workers and this bill is a step in theright direction.”

Mandate backing forSF’s employment bill

Labour Courtrecommendsthat warningbe rescinded


CONFERENCE REPORT

Policy expert camille loftus gave dele-gates a preview of the key findings of a sig-nificant new research paper commissionedby mandate.

the report, Decent Work? The Impact ofthe Recession on Low Paid Workers, is beinglaunched later this month.

ms loftus outlined how fewer and feweremployees can rely on decent pay and so-cial protection in the ireland of today.

this is particularly true of the retail sec-tor where two-thirds of mandate membersdescribed themselves to researchers aspart-time workers.

she spoke of how an increasing percent-age of the working population had becomepart of what she dubbed “the Precariat” –i.e. workers who rely on risky, uncertainand precarious employment.

they were the “outsiders”, she added,

who were low-paid, had temporary con-tracts and had little or no security.

these workers were also highly flexibleand were expected by employers to benearly constantly available for work – de-spite working fewer hours.

ms loftus noted that, in contrast, the “in-siders” were those employees who workedfull-time, had pensions, proper leave andsteady hours.

all this was taking place against a back-drop where social protection was being“chipped away”.

low paid workers had to deal with falls inpay, loss of working hours and tax rises.the research findings, she said, painted apicture of a “workforce under an extraordi-nary level of stress”.

How the recession has boosted ranks of the Precariat‘Workforce under extraordinary levels of stress’:Welfare expert Camille Loftus outlining the findings of a major new report, commissioned by Mandate, on the impact the recession has had on low paid workers Picture:John Chaney

SOME delegates recalled a numberof Ireland’s inspirational nationalheroes in their contributions to theconference.Dublin South delegate AnthonyRyan lashed the government for “oppressing working class people”.Speaking on Motion 18 [Austerityis Not Working], he said workingpeople had been left to “foot the billfor property developers and greedybankers”.He told delegates: “Unfair taxes,cutting health services and educa-tion... it’s a joke and the bigger jokeis… we’re allowing them to do it! “We have 45,000 members, whycan’t we all stand up and uniteagainst austerity?”Mr Ryan said the union needed amore “proactive approach”, to cam-paign more and recruit more.

He added: It’s a cheek to call ourselves a Free State because it’snot really a democracy any more. “Larkin and Connolly would beturning in their graves at how thissociety has turned out.”Delegate David Beattie, of BallinaLocal Council, speaking on Motion32 about the crisis in rural Ireland,invoked the spirit of Land Leaguefounder Michael Davitt.He told delegates that the LandLeague had been founded in 1879 inCo Mayo with the slogan, ‘The landof Ireland for the people of Ireland’.Mr Beattie said: “Davitt believedthat if people stood together therewas nothing they could not achieve. “That lesson is as vital and as im-portant today as it was 130 yearsago.”

Larkin and Connolly ‘areturning in their graves...’


CONFERENCE REPORT

PERSEVERANCE in difficult times isthe key to success, national co-ordi-nator Brian Forbes told delegates ashe spoke on the principal theme ofthe conference, Decent Work = BetterFuture.Pointing out Wake Up & Take Ac-tion had been the theme of the lastconference in Galway, he outlinedhow the union had since then beenat the forefront in taking “direct ac-tion” against “employer attacks onworkers” and the “pick-pocketing”of the least well-off in a range ofausterity measures implemented byboth this and previous governments. Since the last BDC, Mandate hadhelped set up a number of cam-paigning groups – The Poor Can’tPay, The Coalition to Protect the LowPaid – and had also launched a “dayof shame” on the day legislation wasenacted in the Dail attacking thelowest paid. He said that Mandate had “arguedvociferously and with determina-tion” that these right-wing policieswere bad for everyone, especially, hequipped, “from the perspective of anelected TD, bad for their future inpolitics”.In the end, “worker power, workerpressure and worker determination”had forced a complete reversal.Mandate’s campaigns, he noted,were not based on “political al-liances or allegiances”. However, hespoke of the necessity for unions toforge links with “social solidaritygroups and campaigners for a fairersociety”.Pointing out that it was the 100thanniversary of Gothic horror writerBram Stoker’s death, he likened theTroika to “three Draculas arrivingfrom their castles in Europe” to de-cide that the patient – in this caseIreland – could only be cured by “theremoval of a sufficient quantity ofblood”. He told delegates: “Whenthis treatment doesn’t work, they re-peat it over and over again. Medicalscience has moved on. Economics, it

would appear, has not…”Ireland’s national sovereignty andidentity was, Mr Forbes warned,being sacrificed “on the altar of aus-terity” at the behest of the Troika,who he dubbed “our new politicalmasters”.He told conference how the unionhad now boosted its organising abil-ity through the setting up of aStrategic Organising Department.“Organising in retail is a tough job.Finding dedicated and passionateorganisers to do that tough job is initself a tough job. “We know there are thousandsmore talented and dedicated retailworkers out there. Some alreadyconnected to Mandate and somewho may not yet have had the op-portunity to engage with us.”Describing this as an “untappedresource”, he spoke about the “newand exciting” Step Up developmentprogramme to be launched shortly.“This programme will afford indi-viduals displaying an aptitude fororganising the opportunity to leavethe shop floor for a specified periodof time and sample life as a memberorganiser. “They will work alongside ourcurrent organisers and learn first-hand the skills of organising.” Mr Forbes said Mandate was aunion dedicated to “giving power toworkers and to building effectiveand sustainable workplace struc-tures”. “Each of you here today plays avital and important role in helpingus to re-shape our approach tounion organising and union density.”He added: “Building workerpower and creating space for a newand exciting type of trade unionismnot based on what the union can dofor the workers but based on whatworkers can do for workers as theworkplace face of the union.”Mr Forbes assured delegates thattheir work as union activists was vi-tally important in making a “real dif-

Solidarity is what we’re about

unions have to deal with theglobalisation of capital by aimingto grow worker and union poweracross the world,alke boessiger, Headof uni commerce,told delegates.

she said as part ofthat effort uni wasworking with affili-ated unions, includ-ing mandate, to“create a new modelof global labour rela-tions” that “appliesglobal values lo-cally”.

ms boessiger saiduni commerce wasfocussing on leadingmultinational retailers that were“setting the standards” for therest of industry.

‘We have Global agreementswith carrefour, H&m and Zara inwhich the companies commit to

working with uni andour affiliated unionseverywhere to developconstructive labour rela-tions and which guaran-tee workers the right tobe a union member andbargain collectively.”

she also took the opportunity of announc-ing the first ever collective agreement inthe retail sector incolombia with carrefour,adding: “i hope thatother companies will follow this example

which opens a new chapter in theworld of labour relations in thecountry.”

Forging new model ofglobal labour relations MICHAEL Moroney, speaking on Motion 28, calling on the incomingNEC to lobby the government to re-verse the cuts in fuel allowances andcharges on medical cards for OAPs,said pensioners had already paidtheir dues through their workinglife. He told delegates: “Introducingstealth taxes on someone on a pension is unfair and unjust.”

MOTION 23, put forward by ArtaneLocal Council, calling on NEC to condemn the tax status of religiousorganisations following the CloyneReport conference, was defeatedafter a card vote. Speaking for themotion, delegate Martin Lynch toldconference: “Every organisation,whether religious or not, should paythe same as we do.” Another dele-gate speaking against, said it couldtarget religiously-based charitiessuch as St Vincent de Paul.

dublin south West lc membermarie Garland speaking on mo-tion 29, attacking the cut in childallowance for third and subse-quent children made in budget2011, said the move “summed upall that is wrong with the irelandof today”.

she hit out at the government,including its labour Party compo-nent, for cutting the benefit tolarger families which paying outmassive sums to the banks.

ms Garland said: “this has tostop. We are bleeding the countryand its people dry. this cut to themost vulnerable in our societymust be reversed.

“the government should instead increase taxes on thosewho can afford it.”

Motion voted down

‘unfair and unjust’ Allowancecut sums up all that iswrong today

ference to people’s lives”.He said: “These are terrible times,beyond the life experience of anyonein this room. But still we must per-severe as we are all that stands be-tween the workers of this countryand the continuing race to the bot-tom. You are leaders in your work-places – you might have chosen abetter time to be in that position –but in it we are and we must nevergive up.“Decent Work must become one ofa number of future core values ofthis great country. And these corevalues can be summed up in one

word – solidarity! Solidarity is a firmand persevering determination tocommit oneself to the commongood; to the good of all and of eachindividual, because we are all reallyresponsible for all. “Solidarity is what you do as tradeunionists every day. “Every time you try to protect aperson from unfair treatment, everytime you try to save a job, every timeyou insist on a member’s entitle-ment to proper pay and conditions,every time you expose exploitationof a vulnerable person – that’s soli-darity in action.”Delegates were visibly moved by speeches delivered in support of Motion 15, calling on theincoming NEC to lobby the government toincrease fundingto organisationsdealing with suicide preven-tion. Conferenceheard how Ireland has oneof the highestsuicide rates inthe world

Pictures: Paula Geraghty

Brian Forbes: ‘That’s solidarity in action...’

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SHOPFLOORMANDATE TRADE UNION MARCH 2012

439,600

76,000JOBS PLAN‘DELUSIONAL’

are without work

emigratedin last year

Same old, same old: TheCoalition Government’s muchpublicised jobs plan fallswell short of what is needed

THE Government must act in thebest interests of its citizens andnot on behalf of the bankers andspeculators who have wreakedhavoc on this society.Mandate general secretary JohnDouglas made the call as ministerslaunched an Action Plan for Jobslast month.He described the initiative –which aims to create 100,000 jobsby 2016 – as “delusional”.“They plan to do this within existing, significantly reducedbudgets while lining up at leasttwo more austerity budgets.”This would, Mr Douglas warned,further drive down domestic

demand, increase unemploymentand perpetuate “an ever shrinkingeconomy”.“While Ireland burns on its bon-fire of debt, the Governmentlaunches a jobs initiative that is significantly lacking in imaginationand with little or no new innovativeideas. It’s the same old same old –to coin a phrase.”Mr Douglas reiterated Mandate’sview that job creation and growthremained the “vital medicines” that

would nurse Ireland back to economic recovery. He said: “Wenow have close to half a million people on the dole with many families barely scrapping by tomaintain dignity and self-respect.“This is happening while our political masters continue to feedmore good money after bad into theblack hole of failed banks here inIreland and also to greedy bond-holders who gambled and lost yetstill get paid by Irish workers and

society.” Against this backdrop,76,000 people had emigrated in thelast year alone in search of a betterfuture. A total of 1,640 companies havebeen declared bankrupt and thou-sands more businesses are in direstraits. Mr Douglas said: “Long term unemployment has increased by14.5% to nearly 200,000 people –and that simply is a national dis-grace.” He called for funds that werebeing used to prop up “failed banks

and gambling bondholders” to bedirected instead to invest in people.This would create “a real and effective jobs stimulus package”.Mr Douglas added: “Emigration isnow sadly once more in vogue forour young people desperate to findwork but not desperate enough towork as free labour for profitablemultinationals for what amounts toslave labour wages on governmentinitiatives such as the JobBridgescheme.“What a legacy they are building.Our legacy will be to fight back byorganising and campaigning. If wetolerate this, then our children willbe next!”

We need REAL stimulus package

your newspaperSHOPFLOOR

SHOPFLOORMANDATE TRADE UNION • WEXFORD 2012 PHOTOGRAPHERS

CoNFereNCe

pICture SpeCIaLbIeNNIaL DeLegate

John Chaney &Paula Geraghty

8 page SouVeNIr SuppLeMeNt


Speakers June Byrne, Boots, Dublin North Division, and, below,Yvonne Kavanagh, Tesco Ballybrack, Dublin South and Wicklow Division

CONFERENCE PICTURE SPECIALCONFERENCEVOICES

All smiles at the Skillnet stand

Noel Dunphy, NEC and Licensed Trade Division

Mandate president Joan Gaffney

John Mulpetre has spent two years on strike at Connolly Shoes

THE Irish people have had enoughand the Household Charge is oneunjustified and unjustifiable levytoo far, Jackie Madden toldShopfloor.Jackie, a shop steward with M&Sin Athlone, joined the local branchof the campaign against householdand water charges earlier this year.She became involved after hear-ing Claire Daly and Ming Flanaganspeak on the issue at a meeting inMoate, Co Westmeath, in February.Jackie said: “It’s not the €100 it-self, it’s the principle behind thelevy. I have no problem paying€100 if I am given something inreturn. But there is no bill. I don’tpay anything if I don’t get a bill andthe people who have paid have notreceived a receipt. “Personally, I think that this pay-ment is a means of creating a data-base for the government. Idownloaded the form and at theend you have to declare that yourhome is eligible for the HouseholdCharge.”She is particularly angry at thegovernment’s “bullying” approachand the way the charge has beenpresented in the media.“My mother who is a pensionerhas to pay it. The majority of oldpeople have already paid it be-cause of media coverage andthreatening tactics by the govern-ment that the amount could betaken from their pensions. Theyare bullying the most vulnerable insociety. “That angered me and I remem-ber someone calling Enda Kenny a‘submissive poodle’ to Europe. Ifeel this government is bowingand scraping to our Europeanmasters and that the working peo-ple of Ireland have no say.“The Fiscal Treaty is next on thelist and taken together it all cre-ates a democratic deficit andthreatens the sovereignty of ournation. But I firmly believe thatthere is a momentum gatheringand that people have had enough.”Jackie also senses a moodchange in the country.“I think there is something up-lifting going on, the Irish are fight-ing back and the tide is turning.And this time we all have to sticktogether. We voted on the LisbonTreaty and we voted no – andwhat happened? We had to voteagain because it didn’t suit those inpower.“Will the same happen with theFiscal Treaty? Just a thought…”

Jackie Madden

I sense the Irish are fighting back

May 2012 y SHOPFLOOR15

Voting rights... Mandate’s commitment to democracy in action, left,while while Joe Guinan, a national official with the CWU, and Mandate divisional organiser Dave Moran, above, sit it out at the back of the hall...

Delegate Sharon Tighe from Carlow Owen Roberts, Killarney Local Council


CONFERENCE PICTURE SPECIAL

Cyril Malone and Michael Manley, above, and delegateMandy La Combre, right

Conference stalwart Gerry Battles – AKA Stone Cold Steve Austin – checks which motion is up next

JOE Quinn, who has been a Man-date member for 14 years, de-scribes organising and recruitingas something of a “pet issue” forhim.“It really is a new concept inIreland,” he told Shopfloor, “but itis vital for us. There are hundredsof thousands of workers outthere who are not unionised. It isso important that we try and or-ganise these people.”Though acknowledging thatmembership is the “life blood” ofany union he describes theprocess of recruiting new mem-bers as “painstaking” and “ex-tremely difficult”.However, Joe is heartened thatMandate – now with a NationalCo-ordinator, team leader andfour full-time organisers dedi-cated to the issue – understandsits importance.“The building up of a dedicatedteam will, I hope, mark a seachange in the way we do busi-ness. There are roughly 200,000workers in the sector and wehave 45,000, there’s a huge scopeto grow. If we don’t recruit newmembers, we are – to use unpar-liamentary language – completelyf***ed.”Joe, who works at Tesco’s inBray, is particularly enthusiasticabout the union’s Step Up pro-gramme, which will give activiststhe chance to leave the shop floorand work the organising team fora period of time.He said: “We will be launchingit in three months time – it is inthe embryonic stages at the mo-ment. Step Up reps will betrained by the organisers to ‘or-ganise, recruit and campaign’. “They will be monitored with aview to get them more trainingwith the hope that eventuallythey may take up a full-time role.”Joe hopes the initiative willhelp to “build activism” withinthe union.“The simple idea is to recruitmore members and by recruitingmore members, it will meanthere will be more full-time or-ganisers.”He adds: “Trying to grow theunion is not just about subs – it’sabout making people more awareand more active. “At the end of the day, theunion does not belong to any oneperson, it belongs to every mem-ber.”

CONFERENCEVOICESJoe Quinn

Hoping to build activism in union


Liam O’Meara and Sean Bowe above give thumbs up to another successful conference while Emer Woods, left, brought along a mascot for luck

Liam Berney, above, of Irish Congress of Trade Unions, addresses conference. General secretary JohnDouglas speaks to Dublin delegate Anthony Ryan, below, during a break in proceedings

Mandate general secretary John Douglas with MRCI director Siobhan O’Donoghue

SANDRA Stapleton, who was ashop steward at Boots’ Liffey Val-ley store for 11 years before tak-ing voluntary severance last year,is particularly proud of her role asa Union Learning Representative.She told Shopfloor: “A ULR encourages members to take upeducation and training courses.Mandate has a wonderful trainingcentre and in partnership withTrade Union Skillnet, they offerFETAC certified courses.”Sandra adds: “There is nothingemployers like less than an educated union member whoknows their rights."Reflecting on her years as ashop steward, she feels the role offered her a means of "fightingback" against management andspurred her on to become involved in other campaigns. "I was also involved in the fightto reverse the minimum wage cutwhich was a hugely successfulcampaign where we went to theSinn Fein election manifestolaunch and got SF members tosign pledges to reverse the cut –between different groups cam-paigning we were victorious!“What I like about Mandate isthat the union throws a spotlighton social injustice. We need people to be more engaged, moreactive and socially aware."Sandra also fully backs theunion’s stance on the Fiscal Treaty. She said: "The consequences ofsigning up to this treaty won’t justbe felt by the people during thisgovernment’s time but the nextgovernment and the one followingthat and so on.“People need to be strong andmake the right decision for Irelandfor generations to come. Austerityis not working, with income tax,household tax – which I will notbe paying! – water charges...where will it end?“The real criminals – thebankers – will never be brought tojustice, and we are expected tocover their gambling debts for theforeseeable future. “The government are trying tofrighten people into voting Yes,but I certainly won’t be frightenedby them. “I need to make a stand for mychildren and grandchildren or wewill not have any say in the wayOUR country is run for a very longtime, I am very proud to be amember of a union with a back-bone, who are encouraging mem-bers to VOTE NO!”

CONFERENCEVOICESSandra Stapleton

govt fright tactics won’t work on me



Speakers Anthony Ryan, above, and Anne Keating, below, Tesco Sandymount, both of Dublin South and Wicklow Division, at the podium

Margie O’Rourke with Aileen Morrissey, Mandate’s national co-ordinator for training are all smiles at conferencewhile, below, Mandate treasurer Liam O’Meara and general secretary John Douglas are in more pensive form

Gerry Battles, from Limerick, with Anthony ‘Jacksie’ Meaney, Lord Mayor of Castlebar

JOHN O’Donnell – who works atthe M&S store in Douglas, CoCork, freely admits that being aMandate shop steward haschanged his life. “It’s brilliant – I love it!” he toldShopfloor, “It’s a fact that you nowhave a voice and you can make areal feeling of empowerment.“My involvement with theunion has meant that I havegrown in confidence personally.The training I have received fromthe union has been instrumentalin this.”“I was bullied at school and itknocked my sense of self and itwas a revelation to involve myselfin the union and to meet gen-uinely supportive people.“The support is unbelievable.You get support wherever youturn. I feel like the union is like anextended family with all the bless-ings that this brings. “I love to tell people the benefitsof being in a union. Yes, at timesthe job can be thankless but thepros outweigh the cons by 100%.” John, who has also chaired theCork Local Council for the pasttwo years, values the way thisforum allows him to share infor-mation and with workers fromother retailers.He said: “The best part is thatno matter what retailer a memberworks for, nine out of 10 times, weare dealing with the same sort ofissues. To have that chain of sup-port is great and we might allhave issues that are similar, eventhough the specific grievances arenot the same. We can share adviceand offer solidarity.”Because of the training he hasreceived from Mandate, he de-scribes his dealings with manage-ment as on the whole “fine”. “I try and deal with issues thatoccur here and now. If an issue isescalated, it can cause as muchgrief for them [management] asfor us. It usually really is better tosettle problems locally ratherthan they escalate matters.John, who spoke at the Wexfordconference on the issue, has calledfor a sub committee to be formedto look into how the NEC electionprocess is held.He said: “At the moment, as itstands, people like me who don’thave a national profile are findingit difficult to get elected. I wouldprefer to see it return to the way itwas before. I feel it was fairer andmore equitable before.”

CONFERENCEVOICESJohn O’Donnell

this union haschanged my life

MandateorganiserInga Sperlina


Bob Ramsey gives national co-ordinator Brian Forbes a few tips on how to speak with a Geordie accentTom Coughlin, Mary Finnerty and Michael O’Connor from Limerick. Mary works in Argos and Tom and Michael in Brown Thomas. Gerry Thornhill, right, deep in thought

Delegates from Southern Division at conference, above, Sandra Browne, right

Dublin North West delegates, above, with Fiona Dunne, right, at the Youth Connect desk

All together now... Mandate’s newly elected National Executive Committee

KEVIN Kelly has a long memoryand knows all about unfairtaxes. He grew up in Scotlandduring the Thatcher years andremembers well the Tories at-tempt to test the infamous polltax on the Scottish people be-fore they rolled it out across therest of the UK.He told Shopfloor: “When itfirst came in, you paid for everyworking person living in thehouse. I had four brothers andfive were working so we askedto pay five times more than awell-off woman who lived in a400-year-old stone-built housedown the road.”Kevin points out that in theUK “you get something in re-turn for paying the rates” suchthe funding of local services.He added: “I live out in thecountry, in a place called Drumi-nawonagh that is two miles out-side of Westport. What will I getfor paying the HouseholdCharge? No local amenities, nobin collection, no roads grittedin the winter…”Kevin, who moved to Co Mayo12 years ago, added: “The waythey are raising the money isjust a simple fix for the banks.They should scrap this chargeand come up with somethingthat is easier to implement andis fairer.“

CONFERENCEVOICESKevin Kelly

Charge is simple fix for the banks



Kathy McQuillan –spreading the good word!

Brendan Gibbons, of Ballina Local Council, addresses conference

Overview... Standing Orders Committee from left, Ciaran Campbell, Peter Rooke, Mary Larkin and Owen Roberts

Lorraine McLoughlin, of Carlow Local Council, left, and Paula Earley, of Dungarvan Local Council, above


VIEWPOINT

IN POLITICS the ideas and policiesyou campaign for should be evi-dence-based; but they should alsodraw on your own experiences inlife. I joined Mandate 10 years agowhile working in the warehouse atArgos in Blanchardstown. There weren’t many union mem-bers working in my shop but I recog-nised the importance of workersbeing organised to protect ourrights. While the Denis O’Briens andTony O’Reillys of our society mayhave greater wealth, they do nothave greater power because whencitizens organise and act collectivelyto demand their rights in the work-place or at the ballot box, we canchange our society.Despite the economic crisis thereare clear choices to be made abouthow Ireland meets its internationaltargets. The mantra of Fianna Fail,Fine Gael and IBEC is that the bur-den of austerity must fall dispropor-

tionately on PAYE workers, carersand those of us in our communitywho are unemployed. This is both socially and economi-cally flawed. Ireland could raisemore than €1bn this year by intro-ducing the following measures:• A wealth tax based on theFrench model – €500m,

• Extend the Universal SocialCharge to Capital Gains and inheri-tance – €200m, and• Abolish tax reliefs on non-resi-dential property – €450mThese measures were not imple-mented in Budget 2012. Insteadhealth and education spending wasslashed. Sadly, unfair taxation such

as the Household Charge was intro-duced instead. This is the wrong ap-proach and it is time the rich paidtheir fair share.I opposed the Labour Party enter-ing coalition with Fine Gael. How-ever, there are some potential gainsfor workers within the Programmefor Government if we can putenough pressure on the Cabinet toimplement them. In particular there is a commit-ment to legislate for a right to collec-tive bargaining for workers. Ifintroduced, this would represent asignificant step forward for workersin Ireland and would make it easierto organise unions in workplaces.This, in turn, would strengthen ourability to protect pay and conditions. We now need to launch a massivecampaign of pressure on Labourministers to deliver this commit-ment. I have already raised this mat-ter directly with the Taoiseach andwe must make clear that nothing

short of full collective bargainingrights will be good enough.If our economy is to recover, wecannot continue to strangle domes-tic spending in the economy. Mandate members working in re-tail know this more than most. Aneconomic stimulus plan using the€4.5bn left in the National PensionReserve Fund to create jobs in child-care, to roll out a world-class broad-band network and to fix our waternetwork would create jobs and stim-ulate growth in our economy.I voted against last year’s budgetbecause I know a better, fairer way ispossible. The notion that there is noalternative is the Margaret Thatcherapproach. We know different. Com-munities and families across Irelandare faced with rising costs for fuel,unfair flat taxes and reduced healthservices.The campaign for a fair Budget2013 starts now…Patrick Nulty is TD for Dublin West

Pic

ture

: Lab

our P

arty

an economy based on jobs andgrowth not blanket austerity

by patrickNulty tD


Mandate action plan for Dunnes THE Dunnes sub-group, involving a number ofMandate officials, has agreed an action pro-gramme to be rolled out over the next year.It is hoped the initative will ensure “unifor-mity and consistency of approach”, increase ac-tivism and strengthen the union’sorganisational base across the chain.Divisional organiser Ciaran Campbell told

Shopfloor: “The initial phase will be to deliver acentrally planned training strategy on a morestreamlined and localised basis.“We hope to identify key personnel and ac-tivists who can then be trained up to ensure amore consistent and uniform approach whendealing with local management.”Mr Campbell, right, also said the sub-group

had met with Dunnes activists at the recentBDC in Wexford. He added: “It was clear thatmany of them were frustrated at the current in-dustrial relation environment between Man-date and their employer and were forthrightabout how they thought this should be ad-dressed.” The sub-group is to meet againshortly to “drive the programme forward”.

INDUSTRIAL NEWStescosickpaydealdone

page 27

PLATFORM SINN FEIN

by eoin Ó broinDirector of Sinn Féin’s referendum campaign

ON MAY 31st we have a choice tomake. Do we support austerity ordo we support investment in jobsand growth.Supporters of the Treaty say thatit will help stabilise the euro andassist a return to growth. This isnot true. The Treaty seeks to impose dra-conian limits on government’s fis-cal and budgetary policy. Theconsequence of this will be to forceeven greater levels of fiscal consoli-dation on the Irish and eurozoneeconomies.This will be bad for jobs, bad forsmall and medium-sized busi-nesses and bad for public services.Mandate along with the CPSU,Unite and the TEEU have taken theright stand in opposing this Treaty.Unemployment in the eurozoneis at an all-time high. Theeconomies of the eurozone areback in recession. Domestic de-mand is in decline.Ireland and the eurozone des-perately need investment in jobsand growth.The Austerity Treaty will do thevery opposite. It will limit the abil-ity of governments to take thekinds of measures that are re-quired to get people back to work.Of course this shouldn’t surpriseus. The Austerity Treaty was writ-ten by the same people who havebeen imposing austerity on Irelandand the European Union for thelast four years. It is a right wing, anti-jobs andanti-growth Treaty. Knowing that they would have adifficulty selling this Treaty on itsown merits the Yes campaign hasbeen dominated by negative mes-sages. Fine Gael and Labour aretrying to bully and scare peopleinto supporting a bad Treaty.They are arguing that a No votewill result in the State being denied

access to emergency funding in thefuture. This argument is false. No-body should be in any doubt; if Ire-land needs further emergencyfunding the European Union willprovide that finance. The Government has even goneso far as to say that a No vote willmake this year’s budget “dramati-cally more difficult”. This is untrue.

The Government and the Troikahave already agreed the targets forthe next three budgets. The Govern-ment is committed to €8.6 billion inadjustments between 2012 and2015. The outcome of the referen-dum will not affect any of this.The Government needs to stopthe scaremongering. The electoratedeserves a sensible debate on the

deficit reduction. We have repeat-edly set out proposals that wouldreduce the deficit in a fair waywithout further damaging the do-mestic economy. The Govern-ment’s policies of austerity are notworking. The Austerity Treaty willfurther hamper economic and fi-nancial recovery. The reckless economic policiesof Fianna Fail and their counter-parts across the EU caused theeconomic crisis. Despite promis-ing change Fine Gael and Labourhave continued with the samefailed policies of their predeces-sors.For four years they have beenheaping the cost of this crisis onordinary people in the form of taxhikes and public spending cuts.The Austerity Treaty is just the lat-est instalment of a policy thatseeks to make low and middle-in-come earners pay the cost of themistakes of bankers, developersand politicians.Unemployment remains unac-ceptably high. Emigration contin-ues to rise. Vital front-line health,education and community serv-ices are being decimated. TheHousehold Charge, septic tankcharges and water charges areforcing hard-pressed families intoevery further financial hardshipOn May 31st you have a choiceto make. If you are opposed to theGovernment’s austerity policy,then you must oppose the Auster-ity Treaty. Rejecting the Treatywill give future governmentsgreater ability to invest in jobs andgrowth. It will also send a powerful sig-nal to this Government that thepeople reject their failed policiesand demand a change of direction.On May 31st, vote for jobs andgrowth – reject the AusterityTreaty.

economics and the politics of thisTreaty.The most important question thatthe Government must answer is howthey will pay for the cost of a Yesvote.At the centre of this Treaty is theso-called “balanced budget rule”. Ifpassed, the State will have to reach astructural deficit of 0.5% after weexit the current Troika austerityprogramme in 2015.According to the Department ofFinance’s own Spring Forecast pub-lished in April, the structural deficitin 2015 will be 3.5%. The gap be-tween this figure and the new 0.5%rule is equivalent to approximately€6 billion.The Government has a responsi-bility to explain to the voters wherethey will get this money. Is it theirintention to further increase the taxburden on low and middle-incomefamilies? Is it their intention to cuteven more funding from front-lineeducation, health and communityservices? Sinn Féin agrees with

austerity or jobs andgrowth, you choose...

23

INTERNATIONAL COLOMBIA

DECENT WORK?THE IMPACT OF THE RECESSION ON LOW PAID WORKERSA REPORT FOR MANDATE TRADE UNIONRESEARCH: CAMILLE LOFTUSSURVEY: BEHAVIOUR & ATTITUDES

launcH of maJor neW rePort frommandate trade union...

may 24th

ireland's labourmarket crisis willnot be solved with a ‘more jobs at any cost’strategy – such an approach canonly create moreproblems than itsolves and will onlyserve to increasethe number ofworking poor...

12 noon – 2pmbuswells

Kildare streetdublin

COLOMBIAN researcher LilianyObando has been released followingan international campaign to gain herfreedom.Liliany was arrested in August2008 and was put in a jail in Bógotaawaiting trial – her only “crime” wasto uncover evidence of murder andintimidation against Colombian tradeunionists and human rights defend-ers. Evidence she collated had pointedto collusion by the Colombian gov-ernment of the time and she laterplanned to publish her findings in anacademic study. Justice for Colombia (Ireland) an-nounced at a special public meetingto mark Colombian activist RosalbaToro’s visit to Ireland last December,that it would take on the case of Lil-iany Obando.Requests were made for support-ers to send Christmas cards to Lil-iany. Later, JFC Ireland member MarieBarry made contact directly with Lil-iany’s supporters in Colombia.We heard that she really appreci-ated the number of cards and goodwishes that got through, despite theefforts of the prison authorities towithhold post from her. Little did we think then that a fewshort months later Liliany would befree from prison. On March 1st, 2012, after morethan three-and-a-half years in deten-tion, Justice for Colombia Ireland wasdelighted to get word of her release. Unfortunately, the charges againstLiliany Obando have not beendropped and while she not in prison,she is now herself a potential targetof the very paramilitary groups shethreatened to expose in 2008. While early March brought wel-come news, Colombia is still a verydangerous place if you choose tostand up for the rights of the op-pressed. MOVICE – the national movementfor the victims of displacement inColombia – denounced the assassina-tion on March 23rd of Manuel Ruiz, aland rights leader and claimant.Mr Ruiz was detained by paramili-taries as he took a bus home alongwith his 15-year-old son, Samir, inCurvarado in the Choco region. Their bodies were recovered laterand displayed signs of torture. Mr Ruiz had been a victim of con-stant threats from landholders whonow own land claimed by victims ofdisplacement. Much of this land has since beengiven over to the production of palmoil. Since 2005 more than 66 landrights activists have been killed inColombia – nearly half of them in2010 and 2011. According to MOVICE, so far thisyear the number of threats againstland rights organisers has risen“alarmingly.” MOVICE reports thatdespite various social organisationsreporting the threat Mr Ruiz wasunder, no protection was given by thestate.The group points out that paramili-tary groups are active in more than400 municipalities across the countryand despite the vaunted Land andVictims Law, the state has yet to con-

front or dismantle them. MOVICEclaims the killing of Manuel Ruiz andhis son was “part of a systematic andgeneralised policy against landclaimants and victims”.It was also revealed on 18th Aprilthat Herman Henry Diaz, a leading ac-tivist with the trade union FENSUA-GRO, is believed to have been forciblydisappeared.Mr Diaz had led efforts to organisea delegation of 200 activists fromVilla Guamez municipality in Putu-mayo department, who were travel-ling to take part in the Patriotic Marchevents on 20th, 21st and 22nd April

in the capital Bogota. According tohuman rights organisations, Mr Diazwas last seen in Puerto Vega area at3.30pm on 18th April. He last madecontact with his partner, telling her hewas in the region. The area is heavilymilitarised sparking concern that hemay have been held by the military. The Patriotic March – a coalition oftrade unions, student, indigenous andother social organisations – has beenwrongly accused of being linked tothe FARC, an accusation which oftenends in activists being imprisoned ormurdered. Mr Diaz had also helpedto organise a human rights hearing in

Joy as jailed researcher Liliany is releasedby John o’brien February, attended by a JFC delega-tion. Colombia is still the most dan-gerous country in the world to be atrade unionist – seven union activistshave been assassinated so far thisyear – it is an international tradeunion issue and we need your help.JFC (Ireland) is a campaign net-work for ICTU Global Solidarity Com-mittee. Please send your emailaddress to [email protected] to get in-volved. You can also see us on Twitterand Facebook or check out our site at

www.ictu.ie/globalsolidarity/justiceforcolombia/John O’Brien is Secretary of JFC (Ireland)and full-time union official with INTO.Liliany Obando following her release

May 2012 y SHOPFLOOR


bLoW tHe WHIStLeoN tHe baD boSSeS

10MaNDate1. an organising and campaigning union: Mandate is focused on building an activist base to protect and improve employment conditions. Through better organised workplaces and the power of the collective strength, we will deliverjustice for working people.

2. Modern and effective training:Mandate provides free courses to help you learn new skills, improve existing skills and develop you and your prospective career. We negotiate agreements with employers to pay for attendance at courses and also to provide reasonable time off foremployees to attend them.

3. Campaigning for success:Mandate is a progressive campaigning union fighting on issuesthat really matter to our members, their families and society in general. Mandate campaigns challenge social injustice at all levelsof Irish society.

4. protection at work:Highly trained and skilled Mandate officials provide professionaladvice and assistance, where appropriate, on a variety of employment issues.

5. Safety at work: Mandate health & safety representatives are trained to minimisethe risk of workplace injuries and ensure that employers meet theirlegal obligations at all times.

6. better pay:Year on year, Mandate campaigns for and wins pay rises for itsmembers. Mandate also campaigns to close the widening genderpay gap in Irish society.

7. Legal protection:Mandate has won significant legal compensation for members whoare injured as a result of an accident at work.

8. Mandatory pensions:Mandate has secured pension schemes with a variety of retail employers and will campaign to secure mandatory pensionschemes for all members working in the private sector, partcularlythose on low wages.

9.You’re less likely to be discriminated against:Mandate has won agreements with employers on respect and dignity at work policies and procedures. Mandate will continue tocampaign for tougher laws to make it illegal to discriminate on thebasis of sex, race, age, disability or sexual orientation.

10. You’re less likely to be sacked:Membership of Mandate protects you and strengthens your voicein your workplace.

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JoIN MaNDate traDe uNIoN oNLINe at http://www.mandate.ie/Contact/Join.aspx

MUSIC Q&A POL McADAIM

you have your fourth album coming out shortly, is it as overtlypolitical as previous albums?Absolutely, I believe that too manyartists avoid politics in their bid toappeal to a wider audience in thehope that they will gain popularity by'playing it safe' with mundane lovesongs etc. The people need to knowexactly what is going on aroundthem. There are way too many mean-ingless songs being aired in today'sworld and not enough songs of his-torical, cultural or social significance.What inspires you to writeoriginal songs?I suppose there are various thingsthat inspire me to write originalsongs, but the behaviour of peoplewould be right up there at the top.When I say this, I mean the behav-iour of people towards other people,the injustices that go on in the worldon a day to day basis for example,people exploiting people, people whobrutalise others, greedy people,power-hungry people etc. Thesewould be some of the main thingsthat inspire me to write originalsongs. Becoming bored with coveringsongs would be another reason!some of your songs are extremelymoving and tragic, like Rachel Corrie, is it difficult to write songswith that kind of content?I wrote Rachel Corrie in a matter ofminutes and, yes, writing such songscan be difficult, but I find singingthem to be much more difficult than

writing them. At the end of the day, Ifeel people need to know about theinjustices that occur in the world.There's no point in burying ourheads in the sand and thinking every-thing is OK in the world, when in re-ality, it's everything but...do you think music has a role to play in struggle?Yes, music has played a role in manystruggles around the world and con-tinues to do so. We only have to lookat places like Ireland, Palestine orSouth Africa for example to see howmusic was used to expose the injus-tices inflicted upon them by their ag-gressors. Music has proved to be avery powerful medium that hasunited the people in struggle andsome songs have given people hopeduring the darkest days of struggle.Who are your musical influences?I have many musical influences – butWoody Guthrie, Ewan MacColl, DickGaughan, Christy Moore, and ShaneMacGowan would be the main play-ers.

do you see yourself in the genre ofpolitical folk singers like Peteseeger and Woody Guthrie?I suppose I would be in a similargenre to Woody Guthrie and PeteSeeger, but I would see their genre asmore aligned to folk blues, as op-posed to the contemporary style Iuse.What age did you start recordingor gigging at?My first gig was when I was 15, at atalent show in a small village inCounty Antrim. I began recordingwhen I was 18 years old, when I wentto live in London.What made you take up music?I've always loved music – I've doneother things, like construction, fac-tory work etc, but music has broughtme to many different places and Ihave met so many people as a resultof playing music and singing songs.you play around europe a lot? is this part of the travelling folksinger vibe?Interest varies from country to coun-try, but in general there is a greatvibe for folk singers across Europe.Where is the best reaction you’vehad from an audience?It's hard to say where the best audi-ence reaction has been, I've had greatreactions in various places, each onegreat in their own right.Interview by Gareth Murphy. Gareth is anorganiser with IBOA The Finance Union

Music is sucha powerfulmedium... itunites peoplein struggle

What strikes achord with me...

May 2012 y SHOPFLOOR 25May 2012 y SHOPFLOOR 25

by Michael taftAT THE end of May voters will beasked to decide on the FiscalTreaty. Before discussing the mainissues, however, it is helpful to givethe referendum a wider context.For throughout Europe there is agrowing chorus of opposition toausterity policies in general – policies which the Fiscal Treatywill copperfasten into law. Unfortunately, the Irish mediadoesn’t give much attention towhat happens throughout Europe,even though the Fiscal Treaty andausterity policies impact on all EUcountries.For instance, in Prague thebiggest demonstrations since thefall of communism have been held,protesting against the Czech gov-ernment’s planned spending cuts. In Romania, the centre-right government actually fell followingdemonstrations over austeritymeasures there. In Slovenia, trade unionistsstaged a nation-wide, one-daystoppage against planned spendingcuts while in Italy trade unions arepreparing for demonstrations andstrikes throughout the country. In Portugal, workers and soldiersjoined together in protest againstausterity policies which was highlysignificant as it was the Portuguesearmy that led the overthrow of thefascist government in the 1970s. In Spain and Greece, demonstra-tions and strikes take place dailywhile in France the people arepreparing to elect a Socialist Presi-dential candidate who has declaredhe will renegotiate the FiscalTreaty.So the debates we are havinghere are part of a wider Europeandebate – a debate where tradeunions are taking the lead againstausterity. The European Trade Union Con-federation is opposing the Treatyon the grounds that it will lead tolower growth, more unemploy-ment and lower living standardsfor workers throughout the EU.They are absolutely correct. TheFiscal Treaty will mean more aus-terity – over and above what theGovernment has already planned.Spending cuts and tax increases onlow and average income earnerswill be spread out beyond 2015. Don’t forget, next year the Gov-ernment intends to cut public serv-ices and social welfare by an evengreater amount than they did thisyear – more cuts in health services,education and family income supports – while adding on watercharges and a householdcharge/property tax. The FiscalTreaty will only make this situationworse.There are few economists – bothhere and throughout Europe – whobelieve that the actual contents of

ANALYSIS THE FISCAL TREATY

the Fiscal Treaty will solve the crisiswe’re in. That’s because the crisisstarted and continues from the financial sector. Simply put, markets don’t believeEuropean banks are solvent. It’s notjust Irish banks that are reliant uponstate payments and the ECB – this is

Questions for voters

the case throughout Europe. And be-cause of the financial crisis, banks arenot lending, companies are not in-vesting, states are cutting back, confi-dence is plummeting and growthrates in the eurozone are alreadysome of the lowest in the world. Again, the Fiscal Treaty will only

make this situation worse.The Government refuses to engageopenly and honestly in this debate –to the point that they are in denial. They claim the Irish economy is re-covering, that it is back in growth.Yet, according to the CSO, Ireland returned to recession late last year,

More than 50,000 trade unionists took to the streets of Prague last year over government austerity measures

with domestic demand – the maindriver in the retail and hospitalitysectors – falling at the fastest ratesince 2009. The Government refuses to tell people how much theFiscal Treaty will cost, instead hid-ing behind promises and rhetoric.The Government claims we don’tneed a second bail-out (they evencalled it “ludicrous”). Yet, theyclaim we need to pass the FiscalTreaty in case we need a secondbail-out. This is despite the factthat all EU leaders have guaranteedthat Ireland would get such fundingregardless of the Fiscal Treaty.Workers should be assured – Ire-land will continue to get loans fromthe EU even if we vote No. This willcome from the same source as weget our current funding – the EFSF.

We can apply for additional fund-ing up to the middle of next year, regardless of the Fiscal Treaty. TheGovernment doesn’t want people toknow this. Ultimately, in determin-ing how we should vote we shouldask ourselves this – Have auster-ity policies, which started back in 2009, brought economic recov-ery and stabilised our public finances? Have they helped create jobs and maintain livingstandards? If the answer is yes,then we can vote for the Treatywithout any qualms.However, if people believe – astrade unions like Mandate, Unite,the TEEU, the CPSU and the Euro-pean Trade Union Confederationbelieve – that austerity has madethings worse, has led to job losses,lower living standards, while failingto repair our public finances – thenwe have to ask – Will more of thesame only make things worse? If so,it is desirable and even necessaryto vote against the Fiscal Treaty.Michael Taft is a Unite research officer

The debateswe’re havinghere are partof a widerEuropeandebate –a debatewhere tradeunions aretaking thelead againstausterity

What strikes achord with me...

Picture: C

MKOS


VIEWPOINT INCOME INEQUALITY

HISTORY points out that there is alimit to the degree of income in-equality that is sustainable in soci-ety. For example, gross levels of in-come inequality is believed to havebeen one of the causes of America’sGreat Depression in the 1920s andthere are many reasons to believethat inequality is a contributory fac-tor to the situation we now find our-selves in nationally and globally.The HEAP (Hierarchy of Earnings,Attributes and Privilege Analysis)published in 2009 drew the conclu-sions that Ireland did not use thebenefits of our economic boom toreduce levels of inequality. On thecontrary, the distance betweenthose at the top and those at the bot-tom actually widened.At a global level the combinedwealth of the world’s richest 1,000people is almost twice as much asthe world’s poorest 2.5 billon peo-ple. Banks, companies and evensome individuals are now worthmore than entire countries.The growth of an unaccountableglobal financial oligarchy that oper-ates freely outside the remit andcontrol of national governments hasmost definitely contributed to thecreation of an unstable economicsystem, nationally and globally.

The concentration of financialcapital, the rise in speculative trad-ing and risk passing have all servedto weaken and undermine economicdevelopment. In reality we knowthat non-productive growth was adominant feature of the economyover the past 10 years and produc-tive investment such as education,childcare, health, green energy, ITinfrastructure neglected.According to New Market Theory,as long as wages and prices are ‘flex-ible’ enough, growth and full em-ployment follow. In fact, accordingto this theory, the recession shouldnever have happened. Capitalismhas well and truly failed.Rather than strengthening oureconomic base and supporting thecreation of sustainable jobs themodel of development pursued iscapitalism enabled the wholesaletransfer of wealth from the public toprivate sphere and the distributionof wealth upwards at a rate neverbefore seen.Along with the obscene rise in in-comes of those at the top, a ‘casino-type’ consumer culture grew, wherethe price of something was second-ary to the desire to own and accu-mulate. Owning a second house oran apartment or two was consid-ered the social norm. A norm that isnow causing untold devestation.For the majority of people the

massive expansion in consumptionwas funded largely by borrowingsand access to easy credit. As Man-date members know only too well,wage levels for many did not keepup with living standards of the pastdecade. We now have the highestlevels of personal debt in any West-ern country.The ‘you get what you deserveand deserve what you get’ mentalityaccelerated over the past decade re-sulting in a highly segregated and di-vided Ireland. Private education,private health care, designer cars,gated homes became the bench-marks of social progress

The World Wealth Report showswe’re not all in the financial dol-drums. Ireland had 19,000 ‘High NetWorth Individuals’ in 2010, up 5%on 2009. Budget 2012 actually increasedthe incomes of some people at thehigh end of the income spectrum. Itdoesn’t take a genius to see howdestabilising the effect of such ex-tremes is likely to have on a societywhere many are struggling to sur-vive. It is also interesting to note thatlast year’s budget widened incomeinequality, a reversal of the trend inthe previous four budgets. The redistribution of wealth up-wards has been enabled by a politi-cal and legislative process thatallowed many dubious and unethi-cal economic and political actors tooperate (just about) within the ruleof the law over decades. The systematic non-enforcementof legislation, the under regulationand deregulation of the financialsystem, the labour market, planningand development rules became thenorm. Controversies in relation topoliticians’ expenses and bankers’bonuses highlighted very effectivelythe tensions between unethicalpractices and legality.A central feature of inequalitywithin society is the way power isacquired and used.

Research conducted by Trans-parency International shows thatmore than eight out of 10 people be-lieved the Government was ineffec-tive in tackling abuse of power. Thesurvey also highlighted the beliefthat there is a strong link betweencorruption, the failure to hold any-one to account for wrong-doing anda refusal to accept responsibility forwhat has gone on.Franklin D Roosevelt in his inau-gural speech of 1933 spoke aboutthe New Deal and the importance ofsocial values combined with deci-sive action. He said: “We now realize as wehave never realized before our inter-dependence on each other; that wecannot merely take but we must giveas well; that if we are to go forward,we must move as a trained and loyalarmy willing to sacrifice for the goodof a common discipline, becausewithout such discipline no progresscan be made, no leadership becomeseffective.”It’s a good time to remind our-selves that the advancement ofhuman society has largely beenachieved through citizen-based ac-tions and it is this starting point thatwill be at the heart of rebuilding ourdemocracy. Siobhan O’Donoghue is Director of the Mi-grant Rights Centre Ireland

great Depression lessons lostby Siobhan o’Donoghue

Union Representatives Advanced Course

The Union Representative Advanced Training Course is for shop stewards/union representatives who have completed the introductory

course or who have relevant experience.

Course content:• Understanding Mandate’s structures.

• Overview of Mandate’s rules.• Industrial Relations institutions and mechanisms.

• Mandate’s Organising Model.• Negotiations and Collective Bargaining.• Understanding Equality and Diversity.

• Developing induction presentation skills.• Introduction to Employment Law.

• Identifying issues and using procedures.

Certification and Progression:Members who successfully complete this training course will obtain a Man-date certificate. They may progress to the FETAC level 5 Certificate in Trade

Union studies or other relevant training courses offered by Mandate.


Compo for sales reps in rulingINDUSTRIAL NEWS

mandate has successfully represented fiverobert roberts workers at the rights commi-sioners service over the withholding of incre-ments due to them since 2009.

the sales reps had up to then always re-ceived an incremental pay rise each apriluntil the maximum point of the pay scale wasreached.

the withdrawal of the increments had notbeen negotiated with the workers’ thenunion, the sales marketing & administrativeunion of ireland – which has since mergedwith mandate. a number of meetings tookplace between management and mandatebut the issue was not resolved locally. in feb-

ruary, mandate referred the matter to therights commissioners service. the union ar-gued that the withholding of the incrementswas an illegal deduction under the Paymentof Wages Act 1991.

on 24th april, rights commissioner Gayecunningham found in favour of the reps,awarding them varying amounts of compen-sation up to €1,289.

divisional organiser dave moran toldShopfloor: “this case reaffirms our stancethat employers cannot unilaterally withholdincrements contractually due to workerswithout agreement.”

Franklin DRoosevelt:‘...cannotmerely takebut give aswell...’

THE Domestic Workers Action Group markedInternational Labour Day on May 1st with aweek of activities.These included a multi-media exhibition –highlighting the reality of life for Ireland’s10,000 domestic workers – and a barn-storm-ing ‘Soul Workers Session’ concert at theSugar Club in Dublin.The isolation and invisibility of domesticworkers – many of whom live in their employ-ers’ homes – creates a fertile ground for ex-ploitation. It is a sector that has high levels of exploita-tion and forced labour.

Migrant domestic worker Mariaam Bhattitold Shopfloor: “We are people, not machines;we need breaks and proper pay. “Many women in our group have sufferedphysical, emotional and psychological abuseon a daily basis at the hands of their employ-ers. “If the Government is serious about protect-ing domestic workers, they need to ratify theILO Convention on Decent Work for DomesticWorkers. “This sends out a strong message to un-scrupulous employers that exploitation of do-mestic workers will not be tolerated.”

DWag stages week of action


INDUSTRIAL NEWS

A DOCUMENT clarifying the opera-tion of the Tesco Ireland sick payscheme has been agreed between thecompany and Mandate. It came from a series of local meet-ings and followed a conciliation con-ference held at the Labour RelationsCommission in November last year.Members are to receive details ofthe process along with sample payslips that set out how sick pay andsocial welfare deductions will be

recorded under the new arrange-ments.Divisional organiser BrendanO’Hanlon said: “The clarifiedarrangements should bring to an endalmost four years of dispute betweenthe company and the union over thematter and will ensure no further il-legal deductions will be made frommembers’ wages at a time when theycan ill afford it. “This has been a very difficult issue

to address given both the various dif-ferent schemes in existence andmembers’ various social welfare enti-tlements. “As part of the arrangement, TescoIreland has agreed to pay all out-standing successful third-party casestaken under the Payment of WagesAct 1991 which, in almost all in-stances, had been appealed by thecompany to the Employment AppealsTribunal.”

agreement reached ontesco sick pay scheme

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PLATFORM TRADE UNION LEFT FORUM

SOME argue that it is a bold callfrom the unions to call for a ‘No’vote in the referendum on the Eu-ropean Fiscal Treaty. But even those who pay scant at-tention to the economy know thatthe Government’s austerity meas-ures are having a brutal effect onIrish citizens. In fact, the only logical solutionis for all unions to adopt the sameposition and recommend a ‘No’vote to their members. Ministers are misleading in ar-guing for a ‘Yes’ vote. They spin favorites such as“we’re turning the corner”, “we’rebeginning to emerge”, and “there isno other way”. There is a grave failure by Gov-ernment to outline honestly theimpact the Fiscal Treaty will haveon Ireland. They won’t do this be-cause the truth is that the Treatywill involve further austerity cutsand further taxes in the guise of“charges”. The extraordinary sequence ofevents that is the global crisis –and in particular its European as-pect – is becoming ever more com-plex.The insistence on an expandingausterity programme is tangled upin a web of popular discontent andpolitical manoeuvring, without inany way showing people there isan exit. In the immediate future all eyesare on the ability of eurozone lead-ers to get approval for their Aus-terity Treaty.They have their work cut out.The recent presidential election inFrance means the end of the‘Merkozy’ alliance (involving bothSarkozy and German ChancellorAngela Merkel) in its current format least. French workers and tradesunionists have responded to theSocialists’ call for a renegotiationof the Austerity Treaty. And, any-way, the thieves are falling outamong themselves, as the IMF crit-icises the global impact of the EUprogramme.But there is also a fragmentedresponse to austerity that is canni-balised by the ultra-nationalistsand the far right. The shock vote the NationalFront received in France is basedon that party’s populist call foreconomic protectionism and with-drawal from the euro as well as itsvile racism. This new right is agrowing force across Europe – and

it aims to capture working classdiscontent. In this circumstance,the decision, first by Mandate, fol-lowed by Unite and the TEEU, toadvocate rejection of the AusterityTreaty is of major importance. It is vital that the leadership ofthe ‘No’ vote is in the hands ofthose with a clear view of workers’interests. We will gain little in beating theGovernment on this issue if, in theprocess, we find our voice swal-lowed up in an incoherent populistcampaign that lets our own right-wing off the leash.These unions stand out in cleardistinction from the Irish Congressof Trade Unions. The ICTU iscaught between fear of offending agovernment it wants to influence –especially the Labour componentwhich got such an endorsementfrom Begg at its conference – and

fear of the consequences for theCroke Park deal of any furthershocks to the country’s finances. This is why the ICTU seems toargue that it is all right for othermovements to oppose the Auster-ity Treaty (the European Confeder-ation of Trade Unions argues for itsrejection), but that we in Irelandhave “a gun to our heads” – pre-cisely because we have already ac-cepted the chains of the bankers’bailout.The public sector unions’ leader-ship need to heed the broader pic-ture. Sectionalism will not win theday. The only way forward is tounite public and private sectormembers in a fight for a more justsociety.The left in the unions has a realjob to do – and it goes well beyondcriticising the feeble position of theICTU. It can help to build unity aroundrejection of the Austerity Treaty byarguing for – and developing – analternative that shows a long termsolution through taking control ofthe economy for the good of thepeople and not of the capitalists. Yes – that’s socialism all right!

Facing up tothe addictsof austerityby anne Casey

It is vital theleadership of‘No’ vote isin hands ofthose withclear view of workers’ interests

TULF Secretary


EDUCATION

by Fiona Dunne

FOR some it starts as early as 15, forothers they may wait until 17, or ifthey are lucky after their second-level education finishes, but what-ever age young people start work, itis important that it is a positive expe-rience and they are equipped withthe skills and knowledge to partici-pate effectively in the workplace.Currently the economy is not ingood shape, and unfortunately maynot be for many years to come, butdespite this very many of our youngstudents are finding work in part-time, casual and seasonal employ-ment, during and after term. And while this should be a positivetime for them, providing those firstgolden opportunities of experience inthe workplace, we need to ensurethat the jobs they are finding are notexploitative, harmful and detrimentalto their health and education. This is one of the reasons that theYouthConnect programme exists, toraise awareness among young peopleof their working rights, but most im-portantly we are also there to listento them about what they experiencein the workplace. It’s not enough to assume we knowwhat goes on, we need to speak withstudents and young people and reallytake note of what the workplace islike for them.The classes we deliver are as inter-active as possible to encourage stu-dents to share with us their accountsof working and, indeed, we havelearned that there is a diverse rangeof experiences within the student co-hort – some positive and, sadly, somenot so positive. It is in the context of those less-than-satisfactory situations that wetalk through the options students cantake to resolve these negative experi-ences, highlighting the importance ofjoining a union for its strength andsupport. There is much work to be done interms of students’ understandingand the fears they carry into theworkplace. During the discussions in many ofthe classes we have delivered, stu-dents simply believe that looking forany of their entitlements from em-ployers will lead to “being fired onthe spot”. There is an attitude of “taking whatyou can get” and many feel lucky thatthey can get the opportunity to earnsome money while gaining experi-ence, especially in the current cli-mate. A lot of students have told usthat they don’t feel they could ap-proach an employer if they weren’tpaid correctly or weren’t gettingother entitlements. These are fears and attitudes thatmust be dealt with now before theseyoung people enter the workplace ona more permanent basis because weall know that these attitudes are not

Connecting with future activists

just the preserve of the young – but,hopefully, by educating them to therealities of the workplace, we canhelp change those attitudes posi-tively.Worryingly, there is also anotherissue which comes up time and againand it is in relation to working hours. It is hard to believe that althoughprotective legislation has been inplace since 1996 for young people,many today are working above andbeyond the maximum hours allowedaccording to their age. Is this just anoversight, lack of education or pureexploitation?We all know why employment leg-

islation is in place, and surely we alsoknow the benefits of young studentsbeing given the time and opportunityto remain in education and concen-trate on their studies. However, time and again we arespeaking with students who areworking beyond 1am and 2am, evenon school nights! It is important that these practicesare not allowed to continue andwhile it may be difficult to convince a15 or 16 year old to forego theirearnings, it will be impossible withthe support of the rest of society.It is, therefore, very important thatYouthConnect continues to visit

schools and that this programme be-comes a more permanent fixturewithin the school environment. Sofar we have had great success and agreat welcome, starting with theteaching unions right through toschool principals, teachers, studentsand teaching associations.We have visited more than 170 dif-ferent schools during the 2011/2012academic year, with many schoolsasking us back to deliver lessons toother classes and other years. Our programme has also been extremely lucky with the calibre ofchampions we have managed to attract to work with us during the

year. Although, sadly, we lost some ofour early recruits to the school sys-tem but – hopefully – they will be in a position to invite us out to their newschools shortly.All our champions are dedicated toeducating students about their rights,are hugely committed to the pro-gramme and are continuously devel-oping new activities, presentationsand lessons for students. They have managed to harness students’ enthusiasm and encouragethem to talk to us about their experi-ences and aspirations for their futureworking lives. They also share our enthusiasm toensure students are empowered inthe workplace.As Kenneth, one of our champions,said: “YouthConnect is a little piece ofsomething big, helping studentsunite together to build a better edu-cation system, helping young work-ers to unite together to create fairand decent working conditions bothhere in Ireland and around theworld.”DaraAnn O’Malley, a student officerwith INMO, believes that this programme is not only educationalfor students but also for young work-ers within the trade union move-ment.She said: “The YouthConnect pro-gramme facilitates young trade unionactivists, like myself, to talk to secondary school students and empower them with the knowledgeof their basic worker rights, howtrade unions operate in the work-place and the importance of collec-tive campaigning on social andhuman rights issues.”David O’Driscoll, who is schools liaison officer with YouthConnect ,believes that we need to connectwith students to understand theirworld better.He said: “The YouthConnect pro-gramme has allowed me to gaingreater insight into the challengesfacing young workers today. It hashelped to educate and empower stu-dents with the knowledge that theytoo have basic worker rights, whichare vital in ensuring decent workingconditions.”We can’t overstate the importanceof educating and empowering stu-dents in preparing them for theworkplace. They are the workers,trade union leaders, employers, academics, members and politiciansof tomorrow, as well as parents of future generations. It is important that they get thewhole picture of the world, under-stand that there are many ways toview the world and that there are always alternatives if they wish tofind them. It is about ensuring that they getthe best possible information withwhich they will be better informed tomake better decisions.

Project Manager YouthConnect

ICTU assistant general secretary Sally Anne Kinahan, Anglea Sheehan, IMPACT, YouthConnect programme manager Fiona Dunnes with,front from left, YouthConnect champions David O’Driscoll, Rachel Kiernan, DaraAnn O’Malley and Laura Dooley. Below: Students fromHoly Rosary College, Mountbellew, Galway, who attended a class on trade unions and workplace rights


THROUGHOUT May the People’sMovement will be campaigning for aNo vote in the forthcoming referen-dum. You will be asked to vote on31st May on the Treaty on Stability,Coordination and Governance in theEconomic and Monetary Union –what we are calling the PermanentAusterity Treaty. The Governmentwill also be quietly pushing throughthe Dail its sister piece of legislationTreaty on the European StabilityMechanism (ESM). The ESM Treaty will set up a boardof governors to oversee the “bailoutfund”. Our Government will have tosubmit to it, meaning that all futureIrish budgets will be subject to theirsupervision and determination. It is designed to give greater pow-ers to un-elected bankers over demo-cratic governments over your life andwill be above and beyond the law. Itsmembers can’t be brought to courtand papers or any documents can’tbe made public or intercepted. The Irish government will have toborrow €11 billion and give it toESM. The board of governors can de-mand more money if required andgovernments have seven days tocomply – no ifs or buts. So no matterwhom you vote for, this small groupof unelected bankers will decideeverything. You will not get to voteon this treaty.The Permanent Austerity Treaty, ifpassed, will copperfasten austerityand make it the main obligation ofgovernment above all else – that is,to pay what they call the “nationaldebt” for generations to come. It will put the Irish people in astraitjacket that means we must payback every cent of the debt imposedupon us and our families by the pre-

vious FF government. This policy hasbeen continued by the current gov-ernment in co-operation with the EUand the European Central Bank. Irish workers are and will be sacri-ficed to keep German and Frenchbanks afloat. These two treaties can'tbe separated from the mis-named"sovereign debt crisis" now being im-posed on the people of the peripheralcountries of the EU. We will pay withgrowing poverty, mass unemploy-ment and mass emigration. The People's Movement has formore than a decade been campaign-ing against all measures that priori-tise and strengthen the powers of theEU over democracy at national level –i.e. the Dail. It is hard enough to getthe politicians in the Dail to do whatwe ask, it will be a million timesharder getting the EU to respectworkers’ rights.Popular sovereigntyWe campaign to defend and en-hance popular sovereignty, democ-racy and social justice in Ireland.Members of the People’s Movementwork within the trade union move-ment to highlight the growing impo-sition of rules and laws from the EUthat give greater rights to employersand undermine workers’ rights,terms and conditions.We have produced material aboutthe Laval Judgement, a ruling deliv-ered by the European Court of Justice(ECJ) that undermined Swedishworkers’ wages allowing contractorsto employ contractor workers fromabroad paying country-of-originwages. Later ECJ judgements havefurther undermined workers’ rights.Remember back to the LisbonTreaty? Voted Yes for Jobs? Voted Yes

to keep our influence at the heart ofEurope? Those were lies then andstill are. Now we have 450,000 peo-ple unemployed, and a thousandleaving the country each week. TheEU telling us that we must do as weare told. German politicians havegreater say and influence on ourbudget than we do. That German andFrench banks are more importantthan our people, our families and andour communities. Cancellation of thedebt is the central question – not justausterity.The same politicians made falseclaims and promises during the Lis-bon Treaty, they will again spin moreyarns and attempt to pull the woolover people’s eyes, frightening peo-ple that the end of the world is nigh ifthey vote No. These are the samepoliticians who are cutting services,wages, pensions and social welfare. Before you vote, take a moment tothink about the €41,000 debt thatthe EU and our Government are forc-ing upon you and every woman, man,child and pensioner in order to payforeign EU bankers.The People’s Movement/Glu-aiseacht an Phobail is saying to work-ers, it’s in your interests to vote No.The People’s Movement exposed theYes campaign lies on Lisbon Treaty,we are right on this Permanent Aus-terity Treaty as well.Get involved in our campaign. Weare non party-affiliated organisation.Our campaign office is at 5 CavendishRow, Dublin 1 – just a few doordown from Mandate offices. You canpick up leaflets and posters fromthere. Visit our website for furtherinformation about why you shouldvote no at www.people.ie or phone087 2308330.

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arty

a victory for Novote in Ireland willbe a victory for us in Sweden too THE IRISH Republic has the onlyelectorate in the EU that has aright to vote on the Fiscal Treaty, aleading Swedish politician has re-minded voters here.Left Party president Jonas Sjöst-edt met with Mandate officials atthe Dail on 26th April.He made the comments in a subsequent letter addressed togeneral secretary John Douglasand national co-ordinator BrianForbes.Mr Sjöstedt wrote: “In thisstruggle the Irish referendumplays an important role. Thanks toyour constitution you are the onlypeople in Europe that have theright to vote on the austeritytreaty.“A victory in Ireland for the Noside will also be our victory inSweden. Our country – which isnot even a member of the eurozone – has joined the austeritypact after a decision [taken] by theSwedish right-wing government.”Expressing “total solidarity”with Mandate’s decision to cam-

paign for a No vote, he pointed outthat it was the move to deregulatemarkets by neoliberal politiciansthat had “paved the way” for “ruth-less bankers and speculators” inthe first place.“They caused the financial crisisin Europe. But while their profitsremained private during the goodyears, their enormous losses anddebts in the crisis are made pub-lic.”Mr Sjöstedt claimed that the European Union had made achoice “to support the banks andthe rich”.He wrote: “The austerity treatyis only one example, among others,that the main EU institutions arenot on the side of workers and themajority of people. “Therefore it is of utmost impor-tance that the trade union move-ment, progressive parties andorganisations all around Europeunite in a common struggle to }oppose the neoliberal strategy andthe austerity treaty of the Euro-pean Union.”

Left Party president Jonas Sjöstedt fully backs Mandate’s No vote stance

online every month

traDe uNIoNNeWS NortH

aND SoutHproduced in associationwith the Irish Congress

of trade unionswww.ictu.ie/publications/fulllist/category/unionpost/

NEWS YOU CAN USENION POSTAPRIL 2012

PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE IRISH CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS

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APR 28 REMEMBER THE DEAD, FIGHT FOR THE LIVINGWORKERS

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Hands up if you hatewelfare reform...NIC-ICTU BDC REPORT P2

SPEECH TO LABOURPARTY CONFERENCE P3

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ECB’S BOOT ISON OUR NECK

BEGG: IRELAND A LABORATORY FOR FAILED POLICIES

PLATFORM PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT/GLUAISEACHT AN PHOBAIL

remember thelies of Lisbon...

MEPs vote to approve the European Stability Mechanism at the European Parliament in Brussels last year Picture: European Parliament


THE opening sentence to the Pro-gramme for Government (2011) de-clares that, “on 25th February ademocratic revolution took place inIreland”. This dramatic preamblegoes on to commit that, “Our aim,when our legislative and constitu-tional changes are implemented, isthat Ireland will be a transformedcountry”. A high-octane administration de-termined to achieve real changeseemed to be on offer.The Government recently pub-lished their proposals for the Con-vention on the Constitution. TheConvention will first be asked to re-port on reducing the presidentialterm of office to five years and reduc-ing the voting age to 17. This is hardly reflective of a demo-cratic revolution and offers little evi-dence of any capacity or commitmentto transform our society or its demo-cratic institutions. Currently we arebeing asked to vote on the EU FiscalCompact Treaty. This is a Treaty that

was not subject to normal demo-cratic scrutiny. The European Parliament wassidelined and even expressed doubtsabout its necessity. National Parlia-ments played no role. Its provisionsprioritise centralisation and techno-cratic controls over any focus on gov-ernance and democratic oversight. Democracy is a hidden and appar-ently unlamented casualty in this

process. Local government has for-ever been the poor relation in Irishdemocracy. One key reason for itsweakness has been its inability toraise local financing. There are many reasons for thewidespread refusal to pay the House-hold Charge. However, this tax wasnot presented as the basis for localgovernment reform and its rejectionsuggests little trust in local govern-ment as an institution that should beempowered.We don’t have a democracy ordemocratic institutions that are capa-ble of imagining and developing newmodels of economy or governance orthat are in any way open to real par-ticipation by citizens in creating theirown future. This should be one of thebig current issues and yet it meritslittle attention.Political failure and the inadequacyof our democratic institutions were acausal factor in the economic crisis. Itwas a number of political decisionsthat unleashed the banks from ade-

quate regulatory control, gave the taxbreaks and incentives that enrichedthe developers, and allowed a pre-dominance to the “market”. The same institutions and thesame decision-making processescannot now get us out of the crisis.They cannot escape the limits of theirlack of competence, their relation-ship with the economic elite, andtheir disinterest in equality and envi-ronmental sustainability. So we get austerity and futile at-tempts to bring us back to where wewere. Nothing changes except therhetoric and the promises.Change in our democracy andchange in our democratic institutionsis a pre-requisite to getting out ofeconomic crisis and moving awayfrom austerity. A democratic revolution is indeedrequired and should be focused ontransforming our democratic institu-tions at EU, national and local level.The inaugural meeting of Claiming

Our Future identified the need to pri-oritise a focus on democracy. This focus was seen as requiring acombination of representative andparticipative forms of democracy,and democratic institutions that re-flected accountability, equality andcapacity.A national discussion on the themeReinventing our Democracy is nowbeing organised by Claiming Our Fu-ture in Croke Park on May 26th. Participants will debate the issuesthat undermine our democratic insti-tutions and their capacity to advancechange. International ideas will be of-fered as a starting point from whichto explore alternatives. Participantswill discuss the demands for trans-formation in our democracy that weshould now bring forward.Register now at www.claimingourfuture.ie and participate indefining a future where citizens havea real say and where democracy canachieve real change.

this is a democratic crisis too

by Niall Crowley

TRAINING

Free online learning just a click awayP

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by Joan butlerDELEGATES attending the recentMandate conference in Wexfordshowed great interest in the NationalAdult Literacy Agency’s websitewww.writeon.ie. The site fits in with Mandate’straining strategy to provide high-quality, learner-focused training andlearning that is accessible to learnersin a manner that meets their needs.(There is also a link on Mandate web-site to writeon.ie)Writeon.iewas initially set up as alearning tool for adults who wantedto develop their literacy, numeracyand ITC skills working independ-ently. However, the site has changedsubstantially over the past four yearsto reflect the demands of its usersand it now offers a greater range ofawards. One of the most attractive featuresof the site is that it offers free certifi-cation at Levels 2 and 3 on the Na-tional Framework of Qualifications. Since the site was set up, almost

22,000 people have used it. A total of1,062 learners have received 4,779minor awards and 443 major awardsat Level 2. Level 3 was made avail-able in late 2010 and, since then, 255learners have received 754 minorawards and 58 major awards. Thesite is very popular as a learning toolwhere users can develop and practisetheir skills on the site:• At Level 2, you can get a majoraward in General Learning;• At Level 3, you can get a major

award in Employability, ICT and Gen-eral Learning. The work is completed mostly on-line. However, if required, free tutorsupport is available by telephone oronline. To achieve accreditation , aswell as the online learning, you mayalso need to complete some portfoliowork with a tutor.The programme can be completedat your own pace and in the privacyof your own home, local library orworkplace and can be completed inaddition to other learning pro-grammes you may be doing. Recognising prior learningAt the conference, it was clear thatthere was great interest in the site asa way of achieving accreditationbased on prior learning. Users, who already have the skillsand knowledge to get an award, canhave their skills recognised throughthe website. This means you won’thave to do the whole programme –you just do an initial assessment andonce you pass this, you can do thefinal assessment to get your award.

What can you learn?Based on the new FETAC Level 3awards, you can learn and or achieveaccreditation in: Maths, Application of Number,Functional Maths, Communications,Personal & Interpersonal Skills, Per-sonal Effectiveness, Computer Liter-acy, Digital Media, Internet Skills,Career Preparation, Health & SafetyAwareness, and Managing PersonalFinancesHow to get started?Log on to www.writeon.ie or alternatively ring our Freephoneteam at 1800 20 20 65.

NALA is an independent charity committedto making sure people with literacy andnumeracy difficulties can fully take part insociety and have access to learning oppor-tunities that meet their needs. According tothe last international survey (OECD), onein four – that is, about half a million – Irishadults have problems reading and writing.OECD International Adult Literacy Reportcan be found at http://www.nala.ie/catalog/international-adult-literacy-survey-results-ireland

NALA Tutor Co-ordinator

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Joan Butler found great interest among Mandate delegates about the writeon.ie online courses

A NEW online living standards ready reckonerwhich number-crunches the minimum incomerequired to live a dignified life for a range offamily and household situations has beenlaunched.The Minimum Living Standard calculatorworks by the user inputting basic informationabout their circumstances – whether they re-side in the city or country, live in rented ac-commodation or own their own property, thenumber of working adults per household, chil-

dren’s ages etc – and is based on needs notwants.It is a joint initiative between the Money Ad-vice and Budgeting Service (MABS) and theVincentian Partnership for Social Justice(VPSJ) and follows on from a year-long projectcarried out by researchers from Trinity Col-lege’s Policy Institute last year.Emphasising that the calculator is “for wethe people, not they the poor”, VPSJ director Dr

Bernadette MacMahon said its calculationstake into account the need for a social life, en-tertainment, reading materials and transport,as well a nutritious diet, heat and clothes.Policy Institute researchers were able to setout the cost of a minimum standard of livingfor individuals and households across the en-tire life cycle – from childhood to old age.Speaking at the launch of the research inFebruary, Dr MacMahon said: “Failure to

ground the national minimum wage and so-cial welfare transfers in a tangible measure ofadequacy, such as defined in this research,means that poverty and social exclusion willcontinue to be a reality in Ireland.”The UN has defined a minimum essentialstandard of living as one that meets a person’sphysical, psychological, spiritual and socialneeds.Check out www.mabs.ie or www.vpsj.ie

Minimum living standards calculator launched


AND FINALLY...

SOMETIMES living in this countrycan feel like being in some Alice inWonderland world where wordsspoken by politicians mean some-thing completely different fromwhat the rest of us mere mortalsbelieve them to mean. Take our beleaguered Ministerfor Finance Michael Noonan, whodescribed emigration as a “freechoice of lifestyle” and playeddown the impact the country’s un-employment rate had on peoplemoving abroad. He pointed out: “It’s a small is-land. A lot of people want to get offthe island.”So what the rest of us put downto lack of decent jobs, poor wagesand no opportunities, our MinisterNoonan puts down a thousandpeople leaving our shores everyweek to be a problem of too manypeople, not enough space.In all the debates about the needfor “balanced budgets”, “livingwithin our means” etc, the politi-cal elites, the national newspapersand broadcasters are trying des-perately not mention the impact ofthe socialised corporate debtdumped on our backs.We are lauded for taking themedicine without flinching, and, infact, all other workers across theEU should follow our example.Any possible hint of people gettingstroppy and we have spokespeoplerolling in to chastise us and beat usback into line.Thankfully, the workers ofGreece, Spain, Portugal and Italyhave paid little, if any, attention tothe ramblings of their govern-ments or the EU and have been en-gaged in widespread industrialaction including a growing numberof general strikes and widespreadcivil disobedience. This government has alreadythis year handed over billions indebt repayments for a debt that isnot ours. Every euro sent out of the coun-try to pay this debt is a euro out ofyour pocket. A euro less to spendin a shop, a euro less spent onhealth, education or pensions.Our government and unfortu-nately some trade union leaders –Mandate not included – appear tobelieve that democracy and sover-eignty can be traded as some sortof bargaining chips for relief on thedebt burden.Democracy and sovereignty are

not negotiation chips to be givenaway for some crumbs of relief. We can stand up for ourselvesand reject this imposed debt, anddemand a better health services,better schools and jobs for the un-employed. We can demand that our chil-dren do not have to leave theseshores and insist that we wantthem to live near us as we get on inyears.Democracy and sovereignty arethe very tools we need to solve thedeep economic, social and moralcrises that our country is mired in. All the talk around the forthcom-ing treaties is all just waffle andspin to get you accept the tighten-ing the chains of debt around ournecks. They tell us we might need an-

other bailout so the treaties are aninsurance policy. The problem iswe can't afford the price of the firstbailout as it is, never mind a sec-ond or a third... All that means we borrow moremoney of the people whom we al-ready owe a mountain of debt toalready and give it back to them athigh interest. It all makes your bog standardstreet money-lender look reason-able. As Woodie Guthrie put it in hissong, Pretty Boy Floyd, ‘I've seenlots of funny men, Some will rob youwith a six-gun, And some with afountain pen.’ Repudiate the debt and allowour people and our country tobreathe again. Iceland did it, whycan’t we?Visit www.nodebt.ie or [email protected].

they rob you with a fountain penby eugene McCartanRepudiate The Debt Campaign

TRAINING

Mandate members from Galway, with Mandate official John Carty, back row far right, after their recent successful completion of an IT course

Pretty Boy Floyd: Nickel and dime stuffcompared to robber barons of today...

MANDATE is working with two othertrade unions – CWU and IBOA – todeliver a project on mainstreamingequality in our unions and in the var-ious sectors we represent. We are confident that this will bevery beneficial for shop stewards andmembers and will enhance their abil-ity to deal with workplace issues andachieve a more equal workplace.There are a number of strands tothe project including the design anddelivery of equality training and theproduction of an equality toolkit fortrade union officials and representa-tives.The project is supported by theEquality Mainstreaming Unit whichis jointly funded by the European So-cial Fund 2007-2013 and the Equal-ity Authority.It aims to develop a strategic ap-proach to mainstreaming equalitywithin union structures. The promo-

tion of equality is a key objective ofMandate. The toolkit includes the develop-ment of a training manual in modularformat, which will allow flexibility inboth the training delivery and in rela-tion to the particular equality subjectmatter. The toolkit will also consist of anequality policy that can be adaptedby other unions and an Equality Rep-resentative handbook.The handbook will be based onraising equality awareness for tradeunions and will take the format of arepresentative guide on equality is-sues. The full toolkit will be made avail-able to the relevant representativeswithin each union and can also bedownloaded from each union’s web-site. Equality mainstreaming focusesprimarily on how to integrate workon equality into union structures.

The project team has identified anumber of ways in which this can bedone primarily through training,through use of its websites andthrough other forms of publicity. A three-day training programmefor union equality representativesand officials from Mandate, CWU andIBOA has taken place. It focussed onattitudes to equality, legislation, casestudies and a strategy for main-streaming. At the end of the project, we willhave an information section onequality issues on the union websitesand will have delivered a number ofbriefing sessions to each partnerunion. We will also include a module ontraining in Mandate’s Union Repre-sentative training courses. All materials will be made avail-able to Mandate officials and shopstewards.

project to developan equality toolkit

tHe newly-formed trade union skillnet came aboutfrom the merger of union learning skillnet andWomen at Work skillnet.

both of these existing networks had operated sepa-rately and successfully over a number of years.

but it was agreed that the way forward was to com-bine resources and forge both into one network. thetrade union skillnet has secured funding for 2012.

it is being resourced by member companies and thetraining networks Programme. an initiative of skill-nets ltd, the training networks Programme is funded

by national training fund through the department ofeducation and skills.

the steering Group of the trade union skillnet willconsist of one representative each from mandate,ictu, cWu, iboa, inmo, siPtu and teeu

the trade union skillnet has identified severaltraining modules of benefit to union members.

these include trade union studies, employmentlaw, communication skills, Health and safety, Publicspeaking, industrial relations and information tech-nology skills.

trade union Skillnet offers range of courses

Mandate Trade Union Shop Floor May 2012

Documents

Transcript of Mandate Trade Union Shop Floor May 2012