May 2013
Monthly Archive
May 29, 2013
Demonstration against Anti-Trade Union Legislation outside Dail Eireann at 5pm Wednesday 29th May
Bill appended at bottom
Colleagues,
We are holding a demonstration tomorrow, Wednesday 29th May, at 5pm outside Dail Eireann to protest against the draconian Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013.
There is a Press Conference beforehand in Buswell’s Hotel at 4pm.
I know it’s short notice, but if you can please circulate this notice, and of course, turn up tomorrow, it would be very helpful.
The following text gives some background. See also a copy of the legislation attached. There is a link at the very top of the PDF document to the Explanatory Memorandum on page 16 of the document.
This proposed legislation poses a serious threat to trade union and democratic rights in this country. The bill, if passed, will cut wages and pensions. It also contains a coercive clause which threatens to freeze the increments due to workers in the public sector unless, as outlined in the explanation to the bill, they are covered by a collective agreement that modifies the terms of the incremental suspension and which has been registered with the Labour Relations Commission.
The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013 is a serious threat to trade union and democratic rights in this country. The bill, if passed, will cut wages and pensions. It also contains a coercive clause which threatens to freeze the increments due to workers in the public sector unless, as outlined in the explanation to the bill, they are covered by a collective agreement that modifies the terms of the incremental suspension and which has been registered with the Labour Relations Commission.
The fundamental right of workers to vote on any proposal on the basis of its merits is being undermined completely. The right of a trade union to defend its members is being obliterated. At present, the government is attempting to intimidate workers into accepting the Haddington Road proposals. The proposed legislation changes the landscape in Ireland. It is an anti-worker, anti-trade union and anti-democratic legislation.
We believe it must be opposed by all trade unions and by everyone that cares for democratic principles. We are, therefore, issuing an open call to all trade union leaders and to all TDs to immediately condemn the proposed legislation. To not do so is to stand against democracy and workers.
Regards,
Kevin Farrell
on behalf of
Martin Marjoram (TUI Branch Chair IT Tallaght)
Michael Carr (TUI Branch Chair Dublin Colleges)
Gregor Kerr (INTO District 14)
Maria Parsons (TUI Branch Chair IADT Dun Laoghaire)
Claus Derenda (TUI Branch Chair IT Carlow)
Gerald Mills (IFUT UCD)
Richard Crowley (TUI Branch Chair Dundalk IT)
Thomas Dooley (TUI Acting Branch Secretary Dundalk IT)
Andrew Phelan (ASTI)
Paddy Healy (TUI Dublin Retired Members Association)
Kevin Farrell (TUI Executive Committee Member, Area 15)
Eddie Conlon (TUI Dublin Colleges)
Niall Smyth (INTO)
Paul Farrell (TUI IT Tallaght)
Ronan Callanan (TUI Dublin City PP)
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Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013 as initiated and |
May 24, 2013
May 23, 2013
No2CrokePark2
TRADE UNION RALLY
Saturday May 25th Liberty Hall 2:00pm
Two thirds of trade union members and a clear majority of unions in the public service have voted to reject the ‘Croke Park 2’ Proposals.
Pay Cuts and Worsening of Conditions have been overwhelmingly rejected. There must be no weakening of trade union resolve.
All workers, whether employed in the public or private sector must unite in a common cause to reject the Government’s programme of austerity. Cuts that are achieved in the public sector will be applied by private sector employers and vice versa.
As predicted, the ‘talks’ on a revised ‘Croke Park 2’ have led to a pathetic minor tweaking of the original proposals – cuts in pay and conditions for all remain. Unions had no mandate to agree cuts that were already rejected.
The revenue that the Government says it needs to raise must be raised by progressive taxation; those who have most, paying most. This should include higher taxes on high earners, a wealth tax and a financial transaction tax.
The threat by the Government to introduce legislation to drive down living standards must be vigorously resisted and must be met by coordinated industrial action involving all trade unions.
The rally on May 25th will make clear our continuing opposition to the Croke Park 2 proposals and will consider how we can ensure a further NO vote and a real fight against austerity. It will also consider how we change our unions to make them more democratic. We must reclaim our unions.
Speakers opposed to further talks on the cuts agenda from unions across the public sector have been invited. We are structuring the rally so that there will be plenty of time for rank and file members to contribute to the discussion.
Contact: no2crokepark2@gmail.com or 087 6775468/ 086 3862532
May 23, 2013
May 23, 2013
From No2CrokePark2
[There will also be a speaker from SIPTU Grassroots]
Colleagues,
Just a quick reminder of our Trade Union Grassroots Rally this Saturday May 25th in Liberty Hall, Dublin, commencing at 2.00pm. All workers from all sectors are invited to attend.
Please share these as widely as you can.
Looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday.
Regards,
Kevin Farrellon behalf of
Martin Marjoram (TUI Branch Chair IT Tallaght)
Michael Carr (TUI Branch Chair Dublin Colleges)
Gregor Kerr (INTO District 14)
Maria Parsons (TUI Branch Chair IADT Dun Laoghaire)
Claus Derenda (TUI Branch Chair IT Carlow)
Gerald Mills (IFUT UCD)
Richard Crowley (TUI Branch Chair Dundalk IT)
Thomas Dooley (TUI Acting Branch Secretary Dundalk IT)
Andrew Phelan (ASTI)
Paddy Healy (TUI Dublin Retired Members Association)
Kevin Farrell (TUI Executive, Area 15)
Eddie Conlon (TUI Dublin Colleges)
Niall Smyth (INTO)
Paul Farrell (TUI IT Tallaght)
Ronan Callanan (TUI Dublin City PP)
Rally poster 25th may
May 23, 2013
Posted by siptuactivist under
Strikes
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Company fly in workers from Spain as Shanganagh Waste Water Treatment strike enters its third day
From the website of Richard Boyd Barrett TD
May 23, 2013
In a statement today, the strikers at Shanganagh Waste Water Treatment Plant, announced that 2 workers have passed their picket line to carry out work at the plant.
The workers who passed the picket line this morning are believed to have been flown in from Spain by the Spanish section of the Management.
The workers have also raised serious health and safety concerns that, as the laboratory workers are not passing the picket line, the water quality may not be being tested at the site for three days now.
People Before Profit TD, Richard Boyd Barrett, will be visiting the workers at the site at 12.30 today to show his support for the workers.
SDD Shanganagh Water Treatment runs the Waste Water Treatment Centre in Shanganagh under a standard Public Private Partnership contract with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. SDD are responsible for all operations on site. The new plant was opened by Phil Hogan TD last January.
SDD is a partnership between SISK and a Spanish company called Drago Drace. It is believed that the workers who passed the picket line this morning are employees of Drago Drace in Spain.
The dispute at the plant is over pay and shift premium payments. Earlier this month the SIPTU workers had threatened strike action because management were refusing to recognise the union. The strike was called off when they agreed to start discussions. It was subsequently agreed to send the issues of dispute to the LRC but management did not proceed with this. Strike action started on Tues morning at 6.30am.
Shop Steward, Darragh Kennedy said: “We are seriously worried about the level of contaminants in the water at this point. It is clear to us that no sludge has been taken off the plant for the last 3 days, this means all the tanks are either close to full or full. So over the next few days the level of contaminants in the water will rise. The lab workers, who would normally test for contaminants, are not passing the picket so it seems that the necessary tests are not being carried out. This could lead to water with an unacceptable level of contaminants being churned into the sea.”
“Strike breakers passed the picket at 7 am this morning and they have been seen operating machinery around plant. One of them is known to us as being an employee of Drago Drace in Spain who worked here during the construction of the plant.”
Richard Boyd Barrett, TD said: “I have come down to the picket line this morning to show my support to these workers. It is a complete disgrace that a council owned plant is treating its workers like this. Not only are they refusing to enter into meaningful negotiations with the workers, they are now flying in strike breakers from Spain!
There are clearly some very serious health and safety questions being raised with regards to the water quality that need to be answered as a matter of urgency. We have asked Owen Keegan, the county manager, to investigate this immediately and we await his response.”
SIPTU Activist 