Union Post March 2011

NEWS YOU CAN USENION POST

MARCH 2011

PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE IRISH CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONSTHE

U

TRADE UNION NEWS NORTH AND SOUTH

WISCONSINMICHAEL MOORE’S

PAGE 10

ROLLOCKINGGREAT SPEECH

AUSTERITYKILLS JOBS

CONGRESS: PROOF IS THERE AS UNEMPLOYMENT NEARS 15%

CONGRESS has claimedthe shock rise in unemploy-ment in the Republic to al-most 15% is concrete proofausterity measures are notworking and must be aban-doned by the new govern-ment.

ICTU economic advisorPaul Sweeney warned con-tinuing the discredited poli-cies of the FiannaFail/Green coalition would“likely plunge Ireland intoanother year of a down-ward deflationary spiral andthrow yet more people outof work”.

He claimed the last gov-ernment had taken too

much demand out of theeconomy by “cutting toodeeply and taxing low andmiddle incomes”.

“Together with wage andwelfare cuts, this hascrushed domestic demandand led directly to thou-sands of job losses.

“It makes no sense forthe new government tocontinue with policies thatare guaranteed to costmore jobs.”

Mr Sweeney also de-scribed the rise in the num-bers of long-termunemployed as “extremelyworrying”.

Figures released on

March 15 show the num-bers out of work for morethan a year almost doubled– increasing from 4.1% ofthe workforce to 7.3%.

He added: “People out ofwork for more than a yearnow make up more thanhalf of the total number un-employed.

“This has not happenedsince the late 1990s. It’stime to review the extentof the cuts in public spend-ing and in public investment,otherwise we face anotheryear of falling national in-come, falling confidence,rising unemployment andemigration.”

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2 THE UNION POST � March 2011

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Journos’ solidarity rallyfor Tribune colleagues

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Unite drive over blooddonation privatisation

Celtic punks sing outfor Wisconsin workers

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How IMPACT landedAer Lingus agreement 14

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UNION POST

UNITE general secretary Len Mc-Cluskey has expressed “shock andsadness” on behalf of his union’smembers at the devastation and lossof life caused by the Japanese earth-quake and tsunami.

Directing his message in particularto Japanese workers and their fami-lies “at this difficult hour”, he said:“We want you to know our solidarityis strongly with you.

“We know that with the support ofpeople around the world, you willemerge stronger after this terribleevent.”

Messages of support came fromUnite members working at Honda,Nissan and Toyota factories in theUK.

Members of the union’s Civil Nu-clear section also sent their “supportand solidarity” to Japanese counter-parts battling a potential meltdownat the Fukushima nuclear powerplant.

“We under-stand and ap-plaud yourcommitmentto render thereactors safeand to ensurethe safety ofthe widercommunity.

“We realisethat this is aworrying timefor your fami-lies who arealready dev-astated by the earthquake andtsunami.

“Unite wishes to express its grati-tude to the workers in their efforts atthe plant and to send a message ofsupport and solidarity to the workersand their families for the very impor-tant and crucial work they are under-taking.”

http://www.unitetheunion.org/news__events/latest_news/general_secretary_len_mccluske.aspx?lang=en-gb

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Solidarity message for Japan

McCluskey: Message

3March 2011 � THE UNION POST

CONGRESS has described at-tempts to blame social partnershipfor the economic crisis in the Re-public as a "facile exercise in scape-goating” that was “designed toobscure the true cause of the col-lapse – banks, builders and toxicgovernment policy".

Congress general secretaryDavid Begg made his commentsfollowing the publication lastmonth of a new report on the De-partment of Finance.

He claimed the key issue was notthe record of individual depart-ments, but of overall governmentpolicy from 1997 onwards.

"This is about the policy of the

government that came to power in1997. They were hell bent on cut-ting taxes for the wealthy andderegulating whole swathes of theeconomy.”

Mr Begg pointed out that one ofthe first acts of that governmentwas to cut the 48% top rate of taxand that Congress had opposedthe move.

He said: "Their philosophy waslaid out clearly by then Tanaiste,Mary Harney, in her 'Boston versusBerlin' speech in 2000.

“She spoke of a country, 'that be-lieves in the incentive power of lowtaxation... that believes in economicliberalisation... that believes in es-

sential regulation, but not over-reg-ulation'. Anyone wanting to tracethe roots of this crisis only has toread Minister Harney's speech.”

Mr Begg claimed the cumulativeeffect of these policies was to “en-tirely erode the country’s tax baseand inflate the boom”.

He continued: “Within the socialpartnership process – which alsoincluded employers, farmers andthe community sector – Congresswas a lone voice in opposing thiseconomic philosophy, whether thatwas in the form of tax cuts for highearners, tax breaks for business orprivatisation.

“Again, that is a matter of record.

And we cannot recall ever receiv-ing support from the Departmentof Finance on any of those issues –quite the contrary.

"Where increased social spend-ing arose, it was almost entirelydue to substantial inward migra-tion, mainly from Eastern Europe.

“That meant more public trans-port, more demands on health, big-ger schools and language supportteachers."

Mr Begg added that a major ex-amination of social partnership car-ried out by the ESRI had found itsimpact had been positive, both injob creation and in encouragingForeign Direct Investment.

For a fuller examination of ICTU policy over the years go to http://www.ictu.ie/publications/fulllist/submission-to-the-investigation-into-the-banking-system/

‘Policy hell benton cutting taxesfor the wealthyat root of crisis’

CONGRESS: SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP NOTTO BLAME FOR RECESSION

AMNESTY International hasurged several US states toabandon planned legislationthat would drastically re-strict workers' rights.

States including Colorado,Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, NewMexico, Ohio, Oklahomaand Tennessee have pro-posed bills severely limitingthe collective bargainingrights of trade union mem-bers.

A similar bill was passedin Wisconsin on March 11.

Amnesty’s trade union ad-viser Shane Enright said:"State governors must with-draw support for thesemeasures which, if adopted,would violate internationallaw.

“The US has an obligationto uphold the rights ofAmerican workers – includ-ing the specific right to or-ganise and bargaincollectively."

The Wisconsin bill stripsaway nearly all collectivebargaining rights for mostpublic employees, limitingtheir negotiation rights onlyto wages.

MORE ON WISCONSIN p11

Rethink callas US lawstarget unions

CONGRESS in Northern Ireland is tostage a rally in Belfast on March 26sgainst the cuts and Tory-led coalitiongovernment’s austerity policies at thesame time as up to a million protest-ers take part in a massive TUC marchand rally through London.

The Belfast march will depart fromUU Art College, York Street, at12.30pm followed by a short rally atBelfast City Hall at 1pm.

After the event, participants will beencouraged to go on a mass leafletingof the city, raising the public’s aware-ness of the scale of the cuts and thealternatives promoted by the tradeunion movement, such as tax fairnessand investment in growth.

Congress assistant general secre-tary Peter Bunting told The Union Post:“The rally in Belfast will coincide withthe March For The Alternative the TUCis organising in London but we here inNorthern Ireland will have an addi-tional focus.

“We will be marching in spirit if notin step with our sisters and brothersin London in clear opposition to the

austerity policies of the Con-Demcoalition government.

“We fully agree with the voicesfrom all parts of the UK who viewthese cuts as unnecessary and whoare promoting realistic and humanealternatives based on jobs, growth andjustice.

“We are part of that commonstrategy of opposition along with theWales TUC and the Scottish TUC.

“This is a UK-wide issue and we areplaying our part in that bigger picture.

“However, in Northern Ireland, wehave just seen an unworkable and un-fair budget rammed through theNorthern Ireland Assembly with mini-mal consultation and without a shredof evidence that the objections raisedby health and education professionals,the community sector or the tradeunions have been considered.

“Democracy works both ways, andthe rally also coincides with the startof the Northern Ireland Assemblyelection campaign.

“This rally will mark the start ofour engagement with our membersand the general public on the issueswhich ought to concern them mostand which should determine theirvoting preferences.

“These are: jobs in the private andpublic sectors; fair pensions for all; ajust welfare system; reversing the cuts;tax justice as the basis for a society inwhich we really are all in it together,for each other and not for a luckyfew.

“We will be urging trade unioniststo attend the rally and to then engagewith their communities to ensure thatthe next Northern Ireland Executivecannot ignore working people.”

BELFAST AND LONDONTO PROTEST ON CUTS

Join with your communities and the trade union movement in ICTU’sprotest against the Westminster and Stormont austerity policies inBelfast on March 26. For more information go to www.ictuni.org

COME ALONG AND DO YOUR BIT...

THE UNION POST � March 20114

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WORKERS REINSTATEDAFTER COURT RULING

Davenport Five showed ‘real courage’ in minimum wage fight

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ngressCONGRESS has welcomed the Labour Court

ruling recommending the reinstatement of SIPTUmembers involved in the Davenport Hotel dis-pute as well as a return to their previous rates ofpay.

The dispute was sparked after hotel chiefs re-moved the five employees from the work rosterin early February after they refused to accept acut in their minimum wage.

The Court recommended the workers, whoare all from eastern Europe, be paid all themonies they would have earned had they notbeen removed from the roster.

It also said it could not support the claim byhotel operator, Persian Properties, that the hourlypay cut from €8.65 to €7.79 was needed to sus-tain jobs.

Congress assistant general secretary Sally AnneKinahan claimed the March 7 ruling was particu-

larly welcome as it came on the eve of Interna-tional Women’s Day.

She said: “The five Davenport staff are to bewarmly and heartily congratulated for their bravestand. It sends a clear message to workers allacross the economy, especially those in lowerpaid employment – your best protection lies injoining a union.

“This dispute and ruling also sends a clear sig-nal to the incoming government – move quicklyon your pledge to reverse the cut in the mini-mum wage and stop other employers acting inthis manner.”

Also welcoming the decision, SIPTU organiserPat Ward claimed it was a vindication of thecourageous stand taken by the hotel’s employees.

He said: “This is a great outcome for the work-ers concerned and for SIPTU.

“The five women displayed real courage in re-

sisting severe pressurefrom their employer totake a cut in their mini-mum wage level.

“Hopefully, their suc-cess will serve todemonstrate to otheremployers of similar dis-position the resolve ofour members and of thisunion to protect and de-fend the interests of lowpaid workers.”

Over the last fewmonths, Congress has been running a nationalFair Wage campaign informing workers whoserate of pay is under threat of their options.

A special telephone helpline at 0818 300 900has also been set up.

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Sally Ann Kinahan:Tribute to workers

March 2011 � THE UNION POST 5

5.2m ‘work unpaid overtime’

WOMEN are facing higher levels ofunemployment, underemploymentand cuts to working hours as a “sec-ond wave” of the global economic cri-sis strikes at female employmentacross the world.

The claim is made in a new ITUCreport published on March 8, Interna-tional Women’s Day.

The report, Living With Economic In-security: Women in Precarious Work,shows that while the initial crisis im-pacted equally on both men andwomen, increasing numbers ofwomen are now either losing theirjobs or being forced into more pre-carious, temporary, and informalforms of work.

The authors claim the official un-

employment rate of 7% for womenmasks a harsher reality, with a massiveincrease in the numbers of “working

WOMEN FACE SECONDWAVE OF JOB LOSSES

Warning: ITUC’s Sharan Burrow

A RECORD 5.26 million peo-ple worked unpaid overtimein the UK last year, a TUCanalysis of official figureshas found.

The research, published tocoincide with Work YourProper Hours Day on Febru-ary 25, showed that morethan one in five employees –

21% – regularly workedovertime over the last year.

Unpaid work totalled anaverage of seven hours 12minutes a week for thoseemployees who workedextra for nothing.

That extra labour wasworth £5,485 per person andadded a record £28.9bn to

the UK economy. Theanalysis also showed thatpublic sector workers werethe most likely to do unpaidovertime, with over one infour – 26.3% – regularly put-ting in more than sevenhours of unpaid overtime aweek, compared to one insix private sector workers.

A NEW survey has foundthat 42% of Americanmillionaires claim theyDON’T feel rich despitehaving at least a milliondollars in investable assetsin the bank.According to researchers

for Fidelity Investmentmany of the 1,000respondents felt theywould need at least $7.5mto make them feel reallywell-heeled.

poor”, defined as those employees –mainly women – whose jobs do notprovide enough to meet basic needs.

Overall, the ranks of working poorhave swelled by more than 100 mil-lion people due to the crisis, witharound 1.5bn people – half theworld’s workforce – now in vulnera-ble employment.

ITUC general secretary SharanBurrow insisted the report showedhow the crisis was “far from over –especially for women”.

She said: “Much of this impact ishidden, due to deficiencies in employ-ment statistics. Much of it is also a di-rect result of women still beingtreated as second-class citizens atwork.

“Too many women are denied theright to join unions and bargain col-lectively for better job security, wagesand conditions, such as domesticworkers or those working in exportprocessing zones.”

Ms Burrow added: “Cuts in publicexpenditure made with no considera-tion of their gender impact are havingthe biggest impact on women, boththrough higher unemployment andreduction in crucial services such aschild care.”

http://www.ituc-csi.org/living-with-economic-insecurity.html

THE TUC has warned the Tory-ledcoalition government that it faces apotential crisis in female unemploy-ment.

New figures show that while maleunemployment in the UK has fallen by31,000 over the past year, female un-employment has risen by 71,000 overthe same period.

This rise comes at a time when thenumber of jobs in sectors wheremany women work is still far lowerthan at the start of the recession.

Since the downturn there has beena fall of 34,000 in retail vacancies, a14,000 drop in administrative andsecretarial jobs, the number of educa-tion vacancies has fallen by 20,000and the number of jobs in health andsocial work has fallen by 18,000.

With redundancies in the publicsector – where more than a third ofwomen in work are employed – setto increase because of spending cuts,and slow economic growth likely toimpact heavily on 'female' sectorssuch as retail and admin, the TUCwarn women are in for a tough fewyears ahead.

General secretary Brendan Barbersaid: "While the government focusesall its energy on cuts, our unemploy-ment crisis continues to grow.

"The UK desperately needs an eco-nomic strategy that prioritises growthand jobs to bring revenues in and thedeficit down.”

He added: “The current plan ofdeep, rapid cuts is causing job lossesto mount and sending our economyin the wrong direction.”

Jobless crisishits UK women

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UNEMPLOYMENT

LEADING trade union-ist John Freeman diedon March 15. He was aformer regional secre-tary of the Transportand General WorkersUnion in Ireland andalso a past president ofCongress. An apprecia-tion of John’s contribu-tion to the trade unionmovement will featurein the next issue of TheUnion Post. Picture: Unite

THAT’SRICH...


IMPACT’s school secretaries branchhas voted overwhelmingly – by amargin of 72% – in favour of indus-trial action to oppose the 5% paycut imposed on them since January1.

The move follows a Departmentof Education and Skills instructionto all schools and VECs to cut thewages of 17,000 low paid staff, in-cluding school secretaries.

IMPACT assistant general secre-tary Brendan McKay claimed theunion goal’s was to have these “un-just and unfair” pay cuts reversed.

Those workers affected – schoolsecretaries, caretakers, cleaners, ad-ministrative staff, and school com-pletion programme staff – areemployed by individual schools and

VECs. They are not on the depart-ment’s payroll but are indirectlyfunded through grants from the de-partment.

The department instructed em-ployers to impose a pay cut on thesame scales applied to public ser-vants in last year’s budget – a cut of5% of gross salary on those earningunder €30,000.

Mr McKay explained that a two-tier system currently exists wheresome school secretaries, employedbefore the implementation of theProgramme for Economic and SocialProgress in 1990, are paid directlyby the Department of Educationand Science.

Those employed after the PESPare paid out of a grant given to the

school boards, out of which otherschool expenses are paid. Therefore,those school secretaries employedafter1990 do not enjoy a standard-ised rate of pay, with some earningbarely above the minimum wage.

He said: “The employers had con-sistently blocked any attempts tolink these workers’ rates of pay tothe public service, but saw fit to es-tablish a link in order to make a sav-age cut to their pay.

“Under the last social partnershipagreement, we established a forumwhich sought to address the out-standing pay anomaly for theseworkers.

“The goal of the forum was toachieve an appropriately funded andcommon minimum rate of pay per

hour, but theimposition ofthis most re-cent pay cutundermines theobjective whichthe forum hadset itself, whilethe collapse ofsocial partner-ship meant the forum has not beenable to complete its task.

“Meanwhile, these workers re-main vulnerable. They are not em-ployed under any other publicservice conditions, have no accessto pension, and do not enjoy theprotections negotiated for publicsector workers in the Croke ParkAgreement.”

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THE CWU’s National ExecutiveCommittee has unanimously backeda package of measures that will saveEircom a total of €92m over thenext three years.

Members are currently being bal-loted on the deal which has beendescribed by officials as the “tough-est agreement” they ever brokered.

A series of meetings to discussthe details of the agreement havealso been held across the country.

Dubbed the Eircom Rescue Plan,it comes after the company warnedit was in danger of breaching itsdebt covenants.

The union fears that if the firm’sfinancial difficulties are not dealtwith, there is the danger of atakeover by banks and bondholders.

The ERP proposals come in two

stages. Initially, staff face a 10% cut inbasic pay in return for a reduction intime worked.

This will involve the introductionof a nine-day fortnight over a periodof 18 months.

Stage two involves negotiationsover a series of issues tabled byboth sides. It has been agreed thatwhen agreement cannot be reachedon any single issue, a referral can bemade to an agreed third party.

The CWU has claimed the stagetwo talks are designed to “trans-form” Eircom into a “modern tele-comunications company”.

In a circular issued to members,general secretary Steve Fitzpatricksaid: “Hopefully in the future Eir-com will sustain the highest possiblenumber of jobs, while creating a

longer term future for our membersand for those members who comeafter us.”

Describing the proposed deal as“no doubt the toughest agreementthe union has ever had to deal within its long history”, he added thatthat it was “well named” a rescueplan.

He told members: “Your Executiveis now satisfied that if the present fi-nancial position of the company isnot addressed as soon as humanlypossible then ultimately the com-pany is likely to be taken over bythe banks and the bondholders.

“Therefore, there is an urgentneed to address the situation. It hasbeen made quite clear to us by bothshareholders that any investment ei-ther in the debt area or in infra-

structure can only happen in circum-stances where there is a realprospect of making a return on thatinvestment.

“So in a nutshell, the choice forour members is to let the situationcontinue to deteriorate and takeour chances with the bankers andthe bondholders or accept a difficultagreement that gives us hope forthe future.

“The real difficulties outside theimmediate impact on members’ paywill be the transformation of thecompany through Stage 2 measures.

“However, in transforming thecompany and hopefully creating abetter future, it will also create theconditions for the return of thetime and therefore the associatedpay.”

School secretaries in vote forindustrial action over 5% cut

CWU’s NEC backs Eircom package

McKay: ‘Unfair’

http://www.worldwaterday2011.org/

Children collect water from a standpipe outside Alem Kitamama, Ethiopia. This year’sWorld Water Day on March 22 focused on the impact rapid population growth and indus-trialisation has on urban water systems. According to World Health Organisation, roughlyone in eight people in the world do not have access to safe water. A total of 1.4 millionchildren die every year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation.


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

Managerial, General Communications Industry

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TENS of thousands of people have al-ready signed an online petition oppos-ing any moves to sell off the UK’sNHS Blood and Transplant Service.

The petition is part of a Unite cam-paign launched on March 4 in responseto fears the government is proposing a“reckless” plan to privatise parts ofthe service.

In one day alone – March 9 – 10,000people signed on at Twitter page#bloodmoney.

On taking office last year, HealthSecretary Andrew Lansley sought to“commission an in-depth review ofopportunities to make [it] more com-mercially effective”.

It has been reported that since thenhis department has held talks with bigname private providers about running

parts of the service. A Unitespokesperson said: “At the momentthis is an idea being considered by theDepartment of Health – but unlesspeople show they don’t want this, thegovernment will press ahead withtheir reckless plans.

“For generations, people have will-ingly given their blood to help savethe lives of others.

“People give freely because they be-lieve in helping their other people. Itis service for the common good andthat proud ethos has never been di-luted – until now...”

The blood donation service is actu-ally older than the NHS and startedout as a way of helping injured troopsin World War Two.

The service is a success story. Ac-

cording to its last annual report theNHSBT “met more than 99.9% of allproduct requests”.

On top of that it has also “imple-mented efficiencies which helped toreduce the cost of a unit of red cellsfrom £140 to £130”.

One donor, who attends sessionsevery month, told The Union Post hewould be reluctantly forced to rethinkdonating platelets if private compa-nies became involved.

He said: “It’s a ridiculous move ifany part of the service is privatised.This is a public service and it shouldremain so.

“I give platelets because I believe inthe NHS as an institution. Yes, it’s anact of giving but it’s not done to linethe pockets of shareholders.”

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http://action.unitetheunion.com/page/s/BloodMoney

PRIVATISATION IDEA ISBLEEDING ‘RIDICULOUS’


NIPSA has challenged the UlsterFarmers Union over its call forhundreds of civil service jobswithin the North’s Departmentof Agriculture and Rural Devel-opment to be privatised.

In its statement, the UFUclaimed millions of pounds couldbe saved by the measure.

Hitting back, NIPSA officialNoel Griffin said: “Our membersare extremely angry that any or-ganisation would publicly call fortheir jobs to be culled!

“It is, in fact, also doing a dis-service to UFU members whowould face price increases if theservice was provided by the pri-vate sector.”

Mr Griffin described the claimthat millions could be saved as“pure speculation” and “a goodsoundbite”.

He added: “The departmenthas made numerous efficienciesover the past five years whichreduced the overall staff num-bers by 400.

“Our members certainly don’tneed a lecture from the UFU re-garding efficiencies.”

Mr Griffin also expressed dis-appointment that the UFUwould attack NIPSA memberswho were “at the fore” in “pro-tecting and defending servicesprovided to their members –the farmers”.

SEAFARERS' union Nautilus hasbacked an international shippingindustry campaign to harness“people power” in the fightagainst piracy.

The campaign wants govern-ments to take effective action totackle the growing menace fromSomali pirates “before it stran-gles world trade and beforemore innocent seafarers aretortured and murdered”.

The SOS Save Our Seafarerscampaign is a joint initiative ofshipping industry organisationsand the International TransportWorkers' Federation.

Worryingly, the pirates' areaof operations now stretchesright across the Indian Ocean,meaning there are no alternativeroutes to avoid the danger, es-pecially for tankers coming outof the Gulf.

In a statement, Nautiluswarned: “More than 800 seafar-ers are currently held hostageon hijacked ships. Subjected tophysical and psychological abusefor months at a time, they areheld ransom for millions of dol-lars.”

However, a global boycott ofpiracy areas “is now possible”,according to the ITF. Seafarers'section chair Dave Heindel said:“The world has lost control ofpiracy. All the Arabian Gulf andmost of the Indian Ocean arenow effectively lawless. Yet thereis a way that control can be re-gained – by actively going afterpirates, stopping them and pros-ecuting them.

“Not this ludicrous situationof taking away their guns andsetting them free to strikeagain.”http://www.saveourseafarers.com/

Nautilus inbroadsideat menaceof piracy

NIPSA hitsout at UFUover callto privatise

MEDIA

BSkyB bid green lightis slammed by unions

THE National Union of Journalistshas slammed the refusal of Independ-ent News and Media to make pay-ments to Sunday Tribune workersfollowing the closure of the title.

It follows a recent meeting be-tween Tribune chapel reps accompa-nied by NUJ Irish Secretary SéamusDooley and INM’s Group Chief Op-erating Officer Vincent Crowley.

Mr Dooley said Crowley was “sym-pathetic and courteous but resolutein his refusal to make ex gratia pay-ments”.

He added: “The Sunday Tribune waseffectively controlled and run by INM,despite the existence of a separateboard.

“INM called the tune but is nowrefusing to accept responsibility forpaying the fiddler.

“This is simply unacceptable andthe NUJ chapel believes that INM hasa moral responsibility towards them.”

Meanwhile, Mr Dooley has calledon Congress to campaign for addi-tional resources so that the massivebacklog in payments under the state’sInsolvency Fund can be cleared.

Workers can wait up to six to eightmonths for payments. On February24, more than 100 people staged ashow of solidarity outside the Tri-

bune’s Dublin offices as staff gatheredto collect their final pay cheques.

Many former employees – includingex-editor Vincent Browne – and rep-resentatives from print and media or-ganisations across the city joinedother trade unionists at the event. Mr Dooley told the gatheringthat the closure of the title meant "alight had been extinguished” and thatIrish journalism was now “significantlydiminished”.

Speaking outside to Trade UnionTV, Sunday Tribune deputy editor Di-armuid Doyle said it was a “very sadday” for him personally.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute andworked for five editors and countlessmanaging directors.

“It was always a struggle of somesort because of financial difficulty butjournalistically we had a great in-nings.”

Mr Doyle, who worked at the titlefor 20 years, added: “It was a sad dayin the office this morning.

“We picked up our final pay chequebut to come down here in the openair and see so many people fromother papers and other unions.

“It’s fantastic, it’s a bit of an upliftactually. I feel a lot better than I didan hour ago.”

MEDIA unions haveslammed the decisionby UK Culture Secre-tary Jeremy Hunt toaccept a proposal byRupert Murdoch’sNews Corp to moveSky News into a sepa-rate company to clearthe way for a full-scaletakeover of BSkyB.

BECTU general sec-retary Gerry Morrisseyclaimed his union had“no confidence” theproposal would pro-vide the safeguardsneeded to preserve adiversity of media inthe UK.

Describing it as “apolitical decision”, headded: "This paves the

way for Rupert Mur-doch to extend his al-ready considerablemedia interests in theUK. What do we seeahead? Less choice,fewer voices and moreundue influence for theMurdoch empire."

NUJ general secre-tary Jeremy Dear also

slammed Mr Hunt’s de-cision not to refer thebid to the CompetitionCommission.

He added: "This deci-sion is bad news fordemocracy and mediaplurality. The reverber-ations will be feltacross the entire mediaand political landscape.”

Dear: ‘Bad news’

ICTU warningon price risesCONGRESS has warned risingprices are putting “impossiblepressure” on working people andclaimed the upward trend islikely to continue as interestrates and commodity prices in-crease.

Economic advisor PaulSweeney pointed out the latestinflation figures confirmed theupward trend, with prices risingfor the seventh straight month ina row.

He said: “This is putting impos-sible pressure on working peoplein the Republic where overallprice levels are already some26% above average price levels inthe EU, according to Eurostatdata.

“And we can now expect fur-ther increases in interest ratesand in commodity prices alongwith the proposed rise in VAT.”

Mr Sweeney added: “The in-coming government needs tobear this increased cost of livingin mind when framing policy.”

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BIGPICTUREBy Paula Geraghty

Heads up on women’s rights

Egypt govtopens doorto unionlaw reformTHE ITUC has welcomedindications the new Egypt-ian government is thinkingof amending existinglabour laws.

General secretary Sha-ran Burrow said a recentstatement by the coun-try’s Labour Minister “fi-nally opens the door tothe demand of the inter-national trade unionmovement for the full re-spect of freedom of asso-ciation in Egypt, in law andin practice”.

Earlier this month, MsBurrow took part in atwo-day seminar in Cairoorganised with the newly-created independent Fed-eration of Egyptian TradeUnions.

Under the Mubarakregime, the official Egypt-ian Trade Union Federa-tion, founded in 1957, hada virtual monopoly, whichMs Burrow pointed outcontradicted internationallaw “as set out in ILOconventions on freedomof association”.

At a March 14 pressconference in Cairo, shesaid: “There is no realdemocracy without free,representative and inde-pendent trade unions.

“The Egyptian people,who have suffered for fartoo long the denial oftheir fundamental rights,poverty, injustice and cor-ruption, have carried outa remarkable revolution,courageously mobilising –including through massivestrikes – which broughtthe regime to its knees.

“Respect for the rightsof Egypt's working menand women and respond-ing to their fundamentalneeds is essential for theconstruction of a democ-racy which respects fun-damental rights,development and socialjustice.”

THE impact the recession has hadon women’s rights was the centraltheme of this year’s ICTU JointWomen’s Committee Seminar inCork.

A total of 150 trade unionists,above, gathered at the SilverSprings Hotel on March 4 and 5 –just a few days before Interna-tional Women’s Day. Speaking at

the event, Congress president JackO’Connor urged women workersto be inspired by the example ofthe Bryant & May match factoryworkers and their famous 1888struggle for workplace rights.

He called for a “can do” attitudeto challenge current stakeholdervalues and to forge a “share-holder/citizens’ society”.

http://www.ictu.ie/equality/news/2011/03/03/congress-national-womens-seminar-cork-45th-march-2/

��THE ITUC hascondemned the

brutal crackdownon protestors inthe Bahraini capitalof Manama.General SecretarySharan Burrowdubbed the actionsof the authorities“appalling” andcalled for interna-tional pressure tobe brought to bearto stop what shecalled “the killingand maiming of in-nocent civilians”.


MASSACHUSETTS celtic folk/punk band DropkickMurphys have given their full – and very loud – backingto Wisconsin’s public sector unions fighting state gover-nor Scott Walker’s legislative attack on collective bar-gaining.

The band has pledged its “support and solidarity”with “the working people of Wisconsin” by releasing anadvance stream of the song Take ‘Em Down off theirnew album Going Out In Style.

The song – at http://www.dropkickmurphys.com/news/ –has the refrain:

When the boss comes callin' will you stand and fight?When the boss comes callin' we must uniteWhen the boss comes callin' we can't let them win...

Lead singer Ken Casey told US monthly Labor Notes:“Hopefully we can do our small part to help things gothe right way up there [in Wisconsin].”

He added that because the Dropkick Murphys had a“uniquely young fan base”, the band was able to “spreadthe word” about “good working conditions, strength innumbers and having good representation”.

They band have also created a limited edition Take‘Em Down t-shirt available at www.dropkickmurphys.com/merch.

Proceeds from sales of the t-shirt will benefit Work-ers’ Rights Emergency Response Fund in Wisconsin(https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4002/wi-response).

WANT TO FIND OUT THE LATEST LABOUR NEWS STATESIDE? CHECK OUT http://www.labornotes.org/

Left: Public sector workerstake over the Capitolbuilding in Madison, Wisconsin, last month.Above: Gov Walker, thetarget of their fury

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ick M

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Massachusetts’ finest:Dropkick Murphys havesounded off against Wisconsin governorScott Walker’s attack onpublic service workers

A REEL SHOWOF SOLIDARITY

VIEW THE FULL SPEECH AT http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mike-friends-blog/america-is-not-broke

TOP American film-maker Michael Moorehas delivered a tub-thumping speech insupport of Wisconsin’spublic service employ-ees.

The Bowling ForColumbine directortold thousands of pro-testors gathered in thestate capital Madisonon March 5 he had satdown the night beforein New York to write ablog on the issue – buthad then decided to flyup and deliver its con-tents in person.

Pointing out that asmall number of Amer-icans had accumulatedas much wealth as halfof the US populationcombined, he said: “400obscenely rich peoplenow have as much loot,stock and property asthe assets of 155 mil-lion Americans com-bined.

“If you can't bringyourself to call that afinancial coup d'état,then you are simply notbeing honest aboutwhat you know in yourheart to be true.”

He insisted that theUS was not broke andcalled it “the big lie”peddled to serve theinterests of the rich.

The wealthy elite hadcreated “very smartthings” to prevent peo-ple “demanding theircountry back”.

Firstly, they con-trolled the message –the media – and had“expertly convinced”Americans they faced“mass economic annihi-lation” in September2008 when what hecalled the “worldwidePonzi scheme” crashed.

He added: “WallStreet issued thisthreat: either handover trillions of dollarsfrom the US taxpayersor we will crash thiseconomy straight intothe ground.

“Fork it over or it'sgoodbye savings ac-counts. Goodbye pen-sions. Goodbye USTreasury. Goodbye jobsand homes and future.”

Moorebacksprotests


A WORKER from theRestaurant and Cater-ing Workers Forum of-fers Fine Gael leaderEnda Kelly a bite to eatearly on March 8 as hearrives at LeinsterHouse for his first dayas Taoiseach.

The Forum – combin-ing MRCI's RestaurantWorkers Action Groupand SIPTU's HotelCatering Arts Leisure

and EntertainmentBranch – also gaveearly-bird TDs somefood for thought asthey enjoyed the offerof an al-fresco “powerbreakfast”.

They wanted to high-light to legislators theimportance of protect-ing the minimum wagesand conditions ofrestaurant and cateringworkers as set out in

http://www.mrci.ie/Restaurant-Workers

Employment Regula-tion Orders.

Earlier this year, theformer governmentcommissioned an in-dependent review intoERO and REA wagesetting mechanisms.

The Forum hascalled for the JointLabour CommitteeMechanism for deter-mining wages and con-ditions of EROs to bemaintained.

A spokesperson said:“Workers are deeplyconcerned about thisreview as the outcomeof it will have a directimpact on them andtheir families.

“Many are con-cerned about theirwages being reduced ifthe EROs are abol-ished.

“Presently workersare struggling to makeends meet and havealready experiencedcuts in the form of theuniversal socialcharge, increasedtaxes, pay reductionsand reduced hours.”

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RCI

Don’t Enda EROs

U PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH CONGRESS

THE

NION POSTFOR CAMPAIGN LATEST

GO TO www.getupstandup.ie

Picture: © Paula Geraghty

STANDINGTOGETHER

PAGE 3

WERE YOU THERE?

PICTURESPECIALSPAGES 4,5,8,9

Picture: © Paula Geraghty

NOV24 NOV 6 RALLIES

Public service workers

unite in 24hr stoppage

ETUC DAY OF ACTION

NION POSTSEPTEMBER 2010

PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE IRISH CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS

THE

►PROTESTS NORTH, SOUTH AND ACROSS EUROPEDUBLIN

BELFAST

L’DERRY

Meet 12.30pm outside Anglo Irish Bank, Stephen’s Green.March to rally outside Dail @ 1pm

Assemble outside City Hall @ 12.30pm

Assemble outside Guildhall @ 12.30pm GENERAL STRIKE IN SPAIN. DEMOS IN POLAND, PORTUGAL, ITALY, LATVIA, UK,LITHUANIA, BELGIUM, CZECH REPUBLIC, CYPRUS, SERBIA, ROMANIA & FRANCE

►

WEDNESDAYSEPTEMBER

29

U►FIGHT CUTS►SAVE JOBS► PROTECT SERVICES

RALLY1pm - 2pm

RALLY1pm - 2pm

PEOPLEPOWERNEWS YOU CAN USENION POST

OCTOBER 2010


THE

U►NORTH SHOCK CUTS IN SPENDING REVIEW

►SOUTH FOURTH ‘HAIR SHIRT’ BUDGET LOOMS

UNDERATTACKBUT WE’RE FIGHTING BACK ...

SEPT 29 DAY OF ACTION PICTURES & REPORTS PAGES 14-17

More cuts: Lenihan

Axe man: Osborne

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© K

evin

Coo

per

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REPORT & PICTURES: P2/3

RISE LIKE LIONS! Eamonn McCann concludes October 23 rally against the cuts in Belfast with a rousing quote from radical poet Shelley

NEWS YOU CAN USE

NION POSTDECEMBER 2010


THE

U

SHAMEFULNOV 27 NATIONAL DEMO PICTURES & REPORT PAGES 6-11

Axe man: Lenihan

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MAN

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CONGRESS general secretary DavidBegg has called the December 10 Dailvote to cut the minimum wage “a day ofshame”.It follows a week of shame as the FiannaFail-led government effectively ceded financial sovereignty to the IMF and the

European Central Bank, agreeing to a humiliating €85bn bailout.Describing it as a “contemptible” move,Mr Begg said the wage cut took €40 aweek from the working poor “in the fullknowledge that there is no economic, po-litical, social or moral justification for it”.

And what’s worse, IMF delegation chiefAjaj Chopra confirmed the cut was NOTtied in with the loan agreement. Rather, Mr Begg claimed it was an “earlyChristmas present” for the “worstgombeen elements” in Irish business andbrought only “misery” to the low paid.FULL BUDGET REACTION: Pages 2&3

NEWS YOU CAN USENION POSTJANUARY 2011

PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE IRISH CONGRES

S OF TRADE UNIONS

THE

UPicture: Paula Geraghty

FULL STORY PAGE 3

HANDSOFFOUR PAY

European Commission warned over alleged

‘interference’ in Ireland’s labour market

people’scongressFEB 5Octagon Room, King

’s Hall, Belfast

FOR A BETTER, FAIRER WAY

CONFERENCE

DETAILS P2

TRADE UNION NEWS NORTH AND SOUTH

INMO VOWSACTION ONNURSING STUDENTSPAY CUTS P4

THE European Trade Union

Confederation will met

European Commission chief

Olli Rehn over reports the

EU is "intervening" in

national collective bargaining

rights.Under existing a

greements,

the Commission has no

powers to determine wage

levels in individual states.

In a letter to Mr Rehn,

ETUC general secretary John

Monks, pictured, slammed

the use of "diktat pressure"

to cut minimum wages and

pensions in countries strug-

gling to escape the economic

crisis, claiming this amounted

to "an attack on Social

Europe".Mr Monks told a

meeting in

Dublin on January 19 that

what Europe needed most

was a “a spirit of generosity”

to help hard-hit countries,

“not the kind of penalty

regimes and punishment

squads imposed at present”.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

NION POSTFEBRUARY 2011


THE

UEELLEECCTTIIOONN 22001111

►►► ►

HERE’S FIVE POINT PLAN►RENEGOTIATE IMF/EU DEAL►CREATE JOBS, PROTECT JOBS►PROTECT PUBLIC SERVICES

►

11

22

3355 RIGHTS

AT WORK

►►44 PROTECTINCOMES

OUR

VOTE FORJOBS ANDGROWTH

KEY POLL ISSUES PAGE 3

BACK ISSUEShttp://www.ictu.ie/publications/fulllist/category/unionpost/

We’vekept youPosted...


A NEW survey has revealed that workplacestress levels have soared in the UK over the pastyear.

The research carried out by the Trade UnionCo-ordinating Group found that one in fourworkers – 26% of those questioned – were morestressed than a year ago because of worseningconditions at work.

PCS chief Mark Serwotka said: “This survey re-veals the rising levels of stress and insecurity inthe workplace.

“With government plans for further cuts tojobs, pensions and pay on the horizon, this situa-tion is only going to deteriorate in the next 12months.”

RMT general secretary Bob Crow added: “Thisimportant research shows that a culture of fear issweeping through Britain’s workplaces as employ-ers use the threat of the sack to demand longerhours for less money as the spectre of two andhalf million on the dole hangs over workers’heads.”

The poll of 754 full and part-time workers wascarried out by Electoral Reform Research at theend of last month.

UK stress levelssoar as jobs lost

Congress backsBarry for Seanad

Stress warning: ‘Culture of fear sweeping UK’

NIPSA General Secretary Brian Campfield haswarned public service pensions will be “seri-ously devalued” if recommendations containedin the Hutton Report are implemented.

Among the key recommendations revealedby Lord Hutton in his 215-page report onMarch 9 were:

� Shifting from final salary to career aver-age-based schemes and moving the normalpension age (NPA) in most public serviceschemes to the state pension ages, and

� Introducing a normal pension age of 60for those members of the uniformed services– armed forces, police and firefighters – whocurrently have a NPA of less than that.

Lord Hutton also called for a clear “costceiling” for public service pension – workedout as the proportion of pensionable pay tax-payers will contribute to employees’ pensions– and the introducing of more independentoversight and stronger governance ofschemes.

Mr Campfield said: “These recommenda-tions along with what Hutton proposed in hisfirst report, including significant increases inemployee contributions, seriously devalue thepension rights of public servants.

“The recommenda-tions in this report to-gether with what thegovernment did inchanging indexationfrom RPI to CPI couldcost as much as 25%in pension values.”

NIPSA assistantgeneral secretaryBumper Grahampointed out that pub-lic service pensions had already been updatedand changed following talks in 2007.

He said: “As a result, the total value of pub-lic servants’ contributions went up by as muchas 17.5% and the cost to the taxpayer reducedby 15%.

“Those changes provided for stability – whatwe now face is that agreement being shredded.

“At a time of pay cuts, increased taxationand rampant inflation, public servants cannotafford to be paying more for less in their pen-sions.” Mr Graham said it was clear that the“scapegoating” of public servants was continu-ing and that their pensions were “now thenext target”.

UNISON chief Dave Prentishas warned the Tory-ledcoalition government willuse the Hutton Report as a“Trojan horse” to raid thepensions of millions of publicsector workers across theUK.

He added that he wassending out a “clear mes-sage” that industrial actionwas now “one big step for-ward”.

Mr Prentis said: “There is alot of nonsense talked aboutpublic sector pensions –they are not gold-plated. Theaverage is very low – in localgovernment, the average isjust over £4,000, falling to£2,800 for women.

"Whatever the Hutton Re-port may say about fairness,the government will use it asa Trojan horse to raid thepensions of hard workingpublic sector workers.

"Asking workers to worklonger for less is simply not

an option. We want to talkto the government as a mat-ter of urgency. But I amsending out a clear messageto our 1.4 million memberswarning them that industrialaction is now one big stepcloser.”

TUC general secretaryBrendan Barber warned im-posing the harsh changescould lead to lives of povertyfor many pensioners in thefuture.

He said: "Public sectorworkers are already suffering

a wage freeze, job losses andhigh inflation. They are nowdesperately worried thatthey will no longer be ableto afford their pension con-tributions, and will have toopt-out.”

Mr Barber pointed outeven before Lord Hutton’srecommendations are made,changes to public sectorpensions – including the gov-ernment’s arbitrary switchto the CPI measure of infla-tion – have already reducedvalues by 25%.

"And if changes forcemembers to leave schemes,this could make the shortterm cost of pensions forthe government greater andstore up real problems forthe future.

"Imposing changes withoutagreement could lead to realindustrial tensions and get-ting the decisions wrongcould leave future pension-ers in poverty."

Lord Hutton plans will ‘seriouslydevalue’ public sector pensions

Graham: Nexttarget is pensions

Pictur

e: UNISON

Prentis: Clear message

Govt will use report aspensions ‘Trojan horse’

Local gov-ernment

and NHS pensionschemes wererenegotiated in2006 to makethem sustainableand affordable.

Bothschemes are

cash rich – more isgoing in than com-ing out. Last year,the NHS schemereceived £2bn

more in contribu-tions than it paidout and thismoney wentstraight to the UKTreasury.

The averagepension in

public sectorschemes is verylow. In local gov-ernment, the av-erage is just over£4,000, falling to£2,800 for women.

If thesepeople did-

n't save for theirretirement, theywould have to relyon means-testedbenefits paid forby the taxpayer.

OAPs are al-ready being

hit with the movefrom RPI to CPI -cutting their valueby 15%.

Cuts to localgovernment

employers grantsmean the shortfallin pension contri-butions has to bemade up by em-ployees, meaningthey may have topay between 50%and 100% more fora reduced pension.This is effectivelya tax on low paidworkers.

►

►►

►

►

►SOME FACTS ON PUBLIC SERVICE PENSIONS

CONGRESS has nominated Wicklow countycouncillor Barry Nevin to contest the SeanadEireann elections for 2011.

Cllr Nevin, who is hoping to win a seat on theSeanad’s Labour panel, has been a member ofWicklow County Council since June 2009 and isa member of its Strategic Committee on Plan-ning.

He said: “It is a great honour to receive thisnomination from Congress. The general electionhas shown there is a very definite mood forchange and I believe I can reflect this in the newSeanad.”

Cllr Nevin works for the airport police/fireservice in the Dublin Airport Authority, where heis also a worker director on the board.

A vice-president of Bray Credit Union and amember of Bray and District Trades Councils,Wicklow Tourism and Bray Partnership, he hasbeen a member of SIPTU for 22 years and servedfor six years on union’s National ExecutiveCouncil until 2010.

NEW research has revealed significantlevels of inequality still exist betweenmen and women.

Among the findings were that 60%of young women in the UK had expe-rienced sexist behaviour – being sub-jected to sexist comments, beingtouched inappropriately or throughgender discrimination – in their dailylives.

On a more positive note, much ofthe research, commissioned by theEQUALS coalition for the 100th an-niversary of International Women’sDay, revealed most UK adults of bothsexes aspire to greater equality.

Equality attitudes


SSIIMMPPLLEE.. EEmmaaiill bbrraazziieerrmmeeddiiaa

@@bbttiinntteerrnneett..ccoomm

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UNION POST?

AT the height of last year’s summer travelling sea-son, a dispute between cabin crew and Aer Lin-gus arose when management unilaterally imposedsubstantial changes to rosters, supposedly toachieve the objective of increasing annual flying(or ‘block’) hours.

The ballot to accept the ‘Greenfield’ cost sav-ing plan in March 2010 saw cabin crew agree toincrease flying hours to from 700 to 850 per year,as part of overall working time.

However, the roster changes were not part ofthe ‘Greenfield’ plan, and the imposition of thenew rosters meant that most cabin crew wereworking long and exhausting hours, with veryshort rest periods between their duties.

IMPACT had spent the last several years get-ting through a very difficult series of cost savingprogrammes at the airline, each more demandingthan the last.

Two successive programmes sawcabin crew contribute savings ofaround €30m, demonstrating ahuge commitment and loyalty tothe airline.

Ironically, June 2010 was the air-line’s most successful month ever interms of passenger loads and yields,and that was achieved on the basisof the existing contracts and rules.

So it was clearly unnecessary toabolish all existing agreements onflying time for the company to be a success.

The new rosters allowed cabin crew to work60 hours over a seven-day period. Crews on Eu-ropean routes ended up working very long shiftswithout breaks. Cabin crew balloted to take ac-tion.

Industrial action commenced in the form of awork to rule in October 2010. Cabin crew weredetermined that any industrial action we tookwould not cause any disruption or delay to flightservices.

The very point these IMPACT members weretrying to make was that the 850 flying hourscould be delivered under the existing flight rules,so it made sense to pursue a work to rule.

At the same time, cabin crew members weresteadily increasing the number of flight hours, andby the end of the year these had already hit anaverage of 830 flight hours each.

Crucially, even during the appalling weatherconditions in November and December, thework to rule did not cause any disruptions.

As the post-Christmas period arrived, and withpassenger volumes at their lowest point in theyear, the company’s heavy-handed response wasanticipated.

A new set of rostering arrangements com-menced on Monday, January 17.

In a letter to each member of cabin crew, AerLingus informed them about the new roster,which it said “includes all of the necessarychanges to deliver the productivity commitmentof 850 hours”, and warned staff that failure tocomply fully with the new rosters would put staffin breach of their contracts of employment.

The letter also contained the threat that a con-tinued refusal to work the new rosters would re-sult in individual staff members “being put offduty and removed from the payroll”.

In the course of the dispute, 300 workers wereremoved from payroll, flights were cancelled andthe company spent significant sums of cash leas-ing aircraft and crews from other airlines.

The company ruled out any possibility of nego-tiation, arbitration or engagement with a third

party. However, all parties wereconvened at the LRC following in-terventions from Congress andIbec, and an intensive period of ne-gotiations got underway.

As a result, most of cabin crew’sproblems with the new rosterswere completely resolved, whilesatisfactory compromises had beenreached on the rest.

Management would not be ableto impose unacceptable changes in

future because an “industrial peace” commitmentobliges both sides to agree future changes or re-solve them through arbitration.

The overall outcome means that:� Duties cannot now be changed by more

than two hours on the day of duty, which was thesituation before imposition of the new rosters.

� Duties cannot now be changed by morethan three hours on the day before the rosteredshift.

� Duties cannot be changed from short-haulto long-haul on the day of duty

� Controversial “double” shifts will not be im-posed. Instead they will be rostered mainly on avoluntary basis, with guarantees that no individualstaff member will work a disproportionate num-ber of “doubles” if there are insufficient volun-teers.

� Cabin crew can once again request oneweekend off every two months. They will also beprioritised for weekends off at the start of theirannual leave, which is a new benefit.

� The arbitrator has required the company toplan rosters with the objective of ensuring eightdays off per month.

� Cabin crew will not be forced to work 26days away from base. If this duty is introduced itwill be on a strictly voluntary basis.

� Management will work to ensure that mealbreaks are facilitated on short-haul flights and willgive a monetary compensation in cases wherethis is not possible.

� An agreed system to allow crew to “bid” fortheir preferred shifts will be introduced.

In IMPACT’s view, the company underestimatedthe unity and strength of cabin crew and, indeed,the public support for cabin crew’s case.

We are satisfied that this outcome rids therosters of the unacceptable aspects that wouldhave made impossible a reasonable balance of ca-reer and family commitments, while also meetingthe agreed objective of increasing flying hours.

While it was an extremely difficult time forcabin crew, they showed great determination as agroup. There was universal acknowledgement thatthis determination, along with the support oftheir union, families, colleagues and others helpedto achieve a satisfactory outcome.

The value of union membership has rarelybeen better expressed.

‘The value of union

membership has rarely

been better expressed’

SPOTLIGHT

HOW WE LANDED A SUCCESSFUL DEALIMPACT’s NNiiaallll SShhaannaahhaann looks at the Aer Lingus settlement and outlines what lessons can be drawn from the dispute

Keeping step with mum: Three-year-old Leah Hearney marched with her mum to the AerLingus HQ to protest against the removal of cabin crew from the payroll during the dispute


HOW WE LANDED A SUCCESSFUL DEALIMPACT’s Niall Shanahan looks at the Aer Lingus settlement and outlines what lessons can be drawn from the dispute

Aer Lingus cabin crew– including some whohad been taken off duties and payroll –report for duty enmasse during the dispute. Joined bymembers of pilots’branch IALPA, theylater presented a letter outlining theirconcerns to airlineboss Christoph Mueller

Pictures: Conor Healy

CREWS CONTROL

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TAKING A BATTERING IN THE PRESS?FIGHT BACK with TRADE UNION TVCreate media content that showcases members’ issues for your union website.

Let trade union members know what their union is doing for them Check out previous Trade Union TV shows

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BURMESE labour activist Su Su Nway isserving an eight-and-a-half-year jail termin a remote prison far from her family.

A member of the opposition NationalLeague for Democracy, the 38-year-oldwas arrested in 2007 and convicted underlegislation routinely used to punish peace-ful political dissent.

She has a heart condition and high bloodpressure made worse by conditions in theprison as well as lack of access to propermedical care.

Su Su, pictured above centre, also re-portedly contracted malaria last year.

She has been punished with occasionalspells in solitary confinement, as well asbeing denied family visits, sufficient foodand clean clothes.

Su Su went into hiding for nearly threemonths in 2007 after taking part in a rallyagainst sharp fuel price increases.

She was arrested in the aftermath of theuprising in mid-November of that year, for

putting up an anti-government bannernear the hotel in Yangon where the UNSpecial Rapporteur on Human Rights inBurma was staying.

In August 2009, she was transferred toHkamti prison, more than 1,600 km fromher family home.

Prisoners in Burma rely on their familiesto bring them food and medicine, and thedistance means that it is very difficult forSu Su to receive essential supplies fromher relatives.

Amnesty is asking people to go towww.amnesty.org.uk/tradeunions and signthe petition to Burma’s Minister of For-eign Affairs, asking him to release Su SuNway immediately and unconditionally.

While she remains in custody, Amnestyhas called on the authorities not to mis-treat her, to provide her with prompt andadequate medical care, and ensure thatshe is moved closer to her family.

For more information visit www.amnesty.org.uk/tradeunions

Jailed Su Su needs your helpREPORT Su Su Nway


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ationa

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ETUC plan bigApril 9 demoat meeting ofEU ministersTHE EUROPEAN Trade UnionConfederation is joining with itssix Hungarian affiliates to stage amassive Euro-demo to coincidewith the meeting of European fi-nance ministers in Budapest onApril 9.

The ETUC has slammed thewave of austerity policies and fiscalconsolidation plans being pushedthrough by European institutionsas well as by national govern-ments.

A spokesperson said: “ Theseplans focus only on cutting publicspending, public services, andwages.

“There is also a very dangerousinterference with collective bar-gaining processes and social dia-logue at national level.

“This is happening while bankersand CEOs are continuing to re-ceive huge and scandalous bonusesand pay.

“The European trade unionmovement stands clearly againstthese policies – this is not only un-fair because the burden is carriedonly by those who are not respon-sible for the crisis, but also wrongfrom a economic and strategicpoint of view.”http://www.etuc.org/a/8396

Su Su Nway


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Union Post March 2011