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AUTUMN 2015 VOL: 17 NO. 3

PAY & MATERNITY

MEMBERPOWER

Wins the Dayin Vodafone

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Dear Colleague,The Irish media has been full of stories over the past

number of months highlighting two significant

events, namely the ever escalating refugee crisis

and the national homeless crisis. Both crises are

events of a different magnitude of human misery and

suffering which has arisen as a result of international

and national political choices. Those political

choices, are choices that are now generally taken

nationally and internationally by the people and

corporations who are generally immune from the

consequences.

The scale of the refugee crisis is unprecedented.

The toll in human life is rapidly increasing as the

images of beleaguered men, women and children

appear before us on a daily basis. The response

from the international community has been

appallingly slow as countries turn on each other,

rather than deal with this massive human tragedy.

One thing which is absolutely clear is that that the

refugee crisis is a direct result of the foreign policy

decisions taken by the United States and its allies.

Military interventions in the Middle East have left

what was a bad situation infinitely worse, with

millions of people displaced and hundreds of

thousands killed through wars instigated mainly on

the basis of ownership of oil. It is ironic that the two

biggest so-called Islamic armies on the planet can

be traced back to military interventions by Western

powers. Indeed, both the Taliban and ISIS received

most of its early training and weaponry from so-

called Western democracies. It is stomach churning

to hear those countries pontificating about these

humanitarian crises, while at the same time making

billions from arms dealing on both sides of the wars

that caused the crises in the first place. Given the

present scale of the problem, it is difficult to

understand how ultimately the issue will be dealt

with, but based on the number of calls to the CWU

Head Office, there seems to be an overwhelming

view within the membership, that we as a country,

should do our part and that the government falls way

behind the people in this respect.

Of course, the refugee crisis also brings to the

fore the worst elements in society. The rise of racism

in countries throughout Europe is particularly

worrying. Every excuse that can be used or

invented to blacken the name of people in such dire

circumstances is taken and gleefully used by far right

groups and some red-top newspapers to create

division. It is particularly galling to see those types

of attitudes being expressed in this country in

circumstances where the present government has

Editorial

Editor: Steve FitzpatrickSub-Editor: Imelda WallIssued by: Communications Workers’ Union,575 North Circular Road, Dublin 1.Telephone: 8663000 and Fax: 8663099E-mail: info@cwu.ieIncorporatingthe PTWU Journal, THE RELAY andTHE COMMUNICATIONS WORKERThe opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those ofthe CWU.Photographs: John ChaneyPrinted by Mahons Printing Works, Dublin.

ContentsEditorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3

Education Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6

IO, IO, it’s off to Dispute we go!! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Postal Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-15

An Post Employees’ Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Livint Wage Rises to €11.50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Amendments to the Annual Leave Provisions

of the Organisation of Working Time Act . . . . . . . . . . 17

Irish Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19

Donation to the Camino Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Health & Safety Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

UNI’s Work-Life Management Fortnight, 2015 . . . . . . . 22-23

CSTWF Annual Report 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-27

Vodafone Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-29

Congress: Repeal of 8th Amendment: Abortion . . . . . . 30

ESCCU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Standing up for Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-33

I.R. Changes: your questions answered . . . . . . . . . . . . 34-35

When dealing with corruption in Ireland, there’s

little to report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-37

How Unequal is Ireland? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38-41

FM Downes & Co Insurance & Mortgage Brokers . . . . . 42

CWU People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43-50

Halligan Home Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

CWU Humanitarian Aid Convoy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52-53

Book Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

CWU Membership Application Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55-56

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helped export 300,000 of our youngest and brightest to

countries on every part of the globe over the last four

years. Ireland’s history is littered with stories of

migration, sometimes economic, other times political,

with the result that there are more people of Irish descent

living around the planet than on our small island. It is

important though to draw the distinction between a

migrant and a refugee. We have hundreds of people who

are presently deemed as migrants, almost imprisoned in

direct provision centres throughout the country. Their

treatment is, I believe, a stain on the nation of Ireland and

bringing in thousands of refugees to add to that problem,

is not a solution. Of course, normally refugees do not

have to go through direct provision, as refugee status

would allow those people to live and work here, if it were

granted on their arrival. Whatever about the international

response to this horrific problem, we as a people and a

nation, should be responsible for our efforts and if the

views expressed to this Union are anything to go by, we

need to see our government step up to the plate and take

its fair share of refugees, but in doing so, ensuring them

an opportunity to integrate and work in this country. It is

also way beyond time that we dismantled the present

direct provision programme.

On the homefront, we are facing a growing problem

with homelessness, which has seen the new

phenomenon of young families sleeping on the street, in

cars, hotels and B&Bs. This of course adds a new

dimension to a problem where the political establishment

now view the deaths of homeless people as one of the

acceptable prices of their austerity agenda. All of the

charities working in this area continue to report a rise in

the level of homelessness, which they have never

experienced before and in particular, the growth in the

number of people who become homeless following

evictions.

The homeless situation has been caused by a number

of factors namely, the response to the economic collapse

by our government i.e. “Austerity”, which has led to house

repossession and evictions at a scale not seen since the

famine. It seems it is always an easier option for

government to sacrifice people than the financial

institutions. In addition to the foregoing, there is

insufficient house building. Since the economic collapse,

there has been almost a halt to house building. Most

civilised societies build a certain amount of housing each

year in order just to keep up with population growth, but

given the haste of this government to bail out the banks,

there was nothing left in the coffers for provision of

housing and in particular, social housing.

A further example is the absence of rent control or rent

certainty. Many families and individuals find themselves

with no accommodation, due to the continuing increases

in rental costs, as landlords waste no opportunity to profit

from the housing shortage. One would be forgiven for

drawing the conclusion that the continuing refusal by the

government to introduce rent controls probably reflects

the number of landlords that sit in the Dáil. The outright

refusal to increase rent allowance however has forced

people from their rented

accommodation, as

those allowances are

no longer sufficient to

cover the increased

rents.

Another factor is a

lack of student accom-

modation. This is often

seen as a less impor-

tant part of the housing

crisis, but the reality is

that thousands of stu-

dents have been priced

out of the rental market

and as a result, will not

be able to take part in

third level education. Of course, this is not usually an

issue for the wealthier in society and the outcome is like-

ly to be less and less children from working class areas

being able to attend college.

As we approach the upcoming Budget, the

newspapers and media are full of stories about promises

that will be delivered through tax cuts etc., by various

parties during the upcoming election campaign. It seems

such promises will be put way ahead of dealing with this

homeless crisis. This approach is a great example of

short-sightedness because lack of accommodation

reasonably priced will drive people out of this country and

will make it less attractive for inward investment. In

addition, the sights of hundreds of people sleeping,

begging and injecting on the streets will damage our

reputation as an caring people and will put potential

visitors off seeing Ireland as a tourist destination. Of

course, this problem could be relatively easily tackled

with the right political choices, but it is difficult to see any

of the mainstream parties choosing a solution to this

problem over distribution of further tax cuts to its own

constituencies. This is an issue that can be relatively

easily fixed with the right political will. The refusal to deal

directly with the crisis has also unfortunately led to the

arguments made, in particular, by far right and racist

groups that we cannot deal with the refugee crisis

because of our manufactured homeless crisis. This is

utter nonsense and once again we see the establishment

helped by its compliant media sow the seeds of division

among the victims of their crimes.

So as we get bombarded with stories of the great

recovery in this country, we will be asked to deny the fact

that the last four Budgets, according to all financial

experts, have taken money from the poorer in society to

give to the rich, or have taken less from the rich when

they were taking from the poor.

The outcome of increased homelessness, drug

addiction, suicide and migration added to the proliferation

of zero hour contracts etc., will be ignored in the hope

that we will all be foolish enough to vote for more of the

same and if you believe the polls that comrades is now a

distinct possibility!

Steve Fitzpatrick,General Secretary, CWU

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Education Update

Chairperson Training - June 2015

The Union held the Chairperson training course between June 3rd and June 5th and it was very well attended byvarious Branches from the Postal and Telecoms Sector.

In attendance were:Michael Brophy Castlebar Postal, Martin Conlon eircom Carrick on Shannon, Rita Clifford Tralee Tels, Brian DeeganDublin Postal Clerks, Martin Doyle Enniscorthy Postal, Tom Kavanagh Thurles Postal, John Kilcullen eircomLetterkenny, Frank Lyons Dublin No 3, Liam Masterson Westport Postal, Michael McKenzie eircom Ballina, MalachyMills eircom Drogheda, Mary Reilly Cavan Postal and Philip Stewart Dublin C&A.

The Union delivered training to the Longford Postal Branch on May 22nd. The course was well attended and variousunion topics were covered such as ASMP, Grievance and Disciplinary Issues and the Role of the Branch Officers andCommittee. Our thanks to all those who attended on behalf of the Branch.

Longford Committee Training

Pictured l to r: Joe Feeney, Louis Mullooly, Anthony Heavey, Pauline Sheerin, Tony Sheils, Brendan King, Sean Donnelly Jnr, Brendan Fitzgerald, John Tansey and Pat Kenny.

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Education Update

Castlerea and District Committee TrainingJune 2015

Committee Training Union HQJune 2015

The union received a very warm welcomefrom the Castlerea and District PostalCommittee when we delivered our training onthe weekend of June 12th. The Union wentthrough various representative issues withactive participation from the Branch. Ourthanks again to the local committee for makingall the necessary arrangements for such asuccessful course.

In attendance were:John Bligh, Joseph Byrne, Mary Cahill,Martina Comer, Mike Connolly, GeraldineFlynn, Muriel Moran, Paul Rowntree, JohnSharkey and Gerard Plunkett.

The Union delivered a committee training courses to a various branches in union HQ on June 18th. Our thanks to allthose who participated.

In attendance were:Stephen Browne Dublin Postal Drivers, Anthony Cuddihy PhoneWatch, Alan Cowzer Dublin C&A, Liam DowlingPortlaoise Mails Centre, Fiona Duff Dublin Postal Clerks, Deirdre Harte Carrick on Shannon Postal, Brendan HughesAthlone Mails Centre, David Kelly Athlone Mails Centre, Donald Kiernan Athlone Mails Centre, Paul Maguire DublinPostal Clerks, Claire O’Connor CWU HQ, Deirdre O’Hara Dublin No 2, Ciaran O’Neill Bray Postal and ConorPower Carlow Postal.

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Education Update

The training course was well attended. We had committeereps from both Cork & Dublin in attendance.

It was the first training course attended by the reps, wecovered their roles as branch reps, the structure of theUnion, the benefits of the Union, and other modules

which would assist them in their roles as Committeemembers. The interaction and the feedback from the repswas excellent.

We wish the group well in their new roles and lookforward to working with them.

Back row l to r: Ciara O’Connor, Lori-Ann O’Connor, Sorcha Griffin and Louise Quinn.Front Row l to r: Jason Lewington, Anthony McCarthy, Derek Harrington and Declan Moore.

H.C.L. COMMITTEE TRAINING COURSE 22ND JULY.

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At the time of print, the CWU has issued, in accordancewith the Company/Union Agreement, 14 days’ notice ofintention to commence industrial action, up to andincluding strike action, as and from Friday 2nd October2015, resulting from a dispute engineered by IOSystems’ management, which wasunderway in An Post’s Automation MailSorting Centres. Abandoning theircontractual obligations to maintenanceof the machinery IO Systemscommenced unofficial industrialaction, thereby giving whollyunnecessary threat to mail services atAn Post. Members at the Dublin andPortlaoise mail sorting centres weremade aware by way of a poorlyconstructed misleading public newsletter,they are considered to be removed from payroll.Management’s justification is a requirement to honourcontractual obligations with An Post. In doing so theyabandoned contractual arrangements with staff andbreach a binding Labour Court Determination.

This serious development was given urgentconsideration by the National Executive Council,following which they unanimously endorsedsolidarity and full support to our membersat the centre of this dispute. Theycommitted to mobilising the fullresources of the Union necessary toprotect our members’ interests, bothat IO Systems and An Post.Notwithstanding hostile provocation,including removal from payroll, IOSystem members continue to worknormally in order to maintain services tocustomers and not impact on An Posts staff.

While the Union is accustomed to suchunruly and reckless behaviour by IO Systems, it ismost bizarre that An Post, their employer, has adopted apassive approach, and seems satisfied to tolerate theirongoing efforts to engineer widespread wilful delay of

mail. Can we now take it the Travel & Subs dailypilgrimage by GPO managers in pursuit of live mail on arural bench will no longer apply?

Evident is the assistance and encouragement beingafforded to IO Systems, from some quarters

from within An Post. Documentationcirculated smacks of failed policies of the

infamous Irwig ( industrial relationsworking group). Although dispensedwith in the 2005 ceasefire , fulldecommissioning obviously hasn'toccurred. Such actions give credenceto claims of improper business

practices together with the requirementto have the circumstances surrounding

the tendering process and subsequentawarding of the contract, independently

examined. The Union expects the Board of An Post will want to

ensure highest standards are adhered to and will assist inany independent review.

The Union, in the face of extreme provocation by IOSystems, will continue its efforts not to impact An Posts

staff or services. In doing so it recognises theyhave temporarily surrendered the

maintenance of the sorting machinery toCWU. Given An Post and CWU share acommon objective a more reliable andsustainable arrangement is requiredthat dispenses with the now obviousunnecessary duplication of resourcesand outsourced interference.

Whatever about the rights andwrongs of how An Post – IO Systems

arrived at their done deal, it won't beimplemented without the consequential

staff impact issues being fully and fairlyaddressed by the contract holders with the CWU.

Neither party to the dodgy deal could realistically expectthe CWU roll over and accept a 22% pay cut linked to aworsening attendance profile.

IO, IO, it’s off to Dispute we go!!

“Requirementto honour

contractualobligations

with An Post”

“Neither An Postor IO Systems

could expect CWUto roll over andaccept 22% pay

cut”

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Postal Update

The localpost office offers asafe haven from thebanking scandals

by Mary Feely

Another banking scandal, Permanent TSB said sorry tothe customers it had cheated. The bank had led peopleinto paying higher rates than they had to on 1,372mortgages. All the people who held those mortgageswere cheated of money; some were also cheated of theircredit histories, peace of mind, investments and homes.

The bank wasted money defending its indefensibleconduct in court. Now it owes customers more than €35million compensation, as well as Central Bank fines ofup to €20 million. As the bank is mostly State-owned,the bill is on us, the eejit taxpayers. Again.

Banks. Is there anyone who doesn’t despise them?I have bank accounts only because modern life forces

me to do so. I need to receive electronic payments andpay direct debits, and only a bank can provide theseservices. Otherwise, I’d have nothing to do with a bank,ever.

Thanks to my bank failing to invest in its IT system,I’ve had accounts frozen. My bank somehow lost acheque that was lodged in Dublin; more than a year later,it has yet to show up in our branch in Drogheda. The bankbugs me with phone calls from a computer, generallywhen I’m making dinner, to ask what I think of itscustomer service. (What I think is that if the bank reallygave a toss it would pay for a proper customer survey.)

For this, my bank charges me a monthly fee on eachaccount. Pay interest on the money swishing in and out?Go away, child. Dream on.

Images of atrocities My bank doesn’t want me cluttering up its premises. Itmakes this clear by closing most of its teller windows,keeping the queue long and slow. If I still refuse to goaway, a loud British news channel bombards me withimages of the world’s latest atrocities.

Living through our latest recession, caused by thebanks blowing up the economy, has had the same effecton me that the Great Depression had on a generation ofAmericans: I don’t trust banks. I want nothing to do withthem.

Thankfully, there’s one place where I can manage mymoney without feeling grumpy: my local post office.

I’m always popping in and out, organising my funds.One day I’m depositing money towards large bills suchas the life-insurance policy. The next day I’m taking out€20 to put in an envelope for a child’s birthday. Thismakes me a bank’s worst nightmare but the post officedoesn’t mind.

Because I live in the countryside, it can be hard to getmy hands on cash. We used to have an ATM at the shopjust down the road but the machine is long gone. Mycredit union is a wonderful organisation staffed by lovelyneighbours, but has limited hours.

So, about a year ago, I opened a post office depositaccount. The bliss! The convenience! I have a choice oftwo post offices a short drive from my home, both ofthem in shops. There is usually no queue. In return forthis convenience, the post office actually pays a smallamount of interest on my money. No fees, by the way.

Treated as a human beingThis is exactly what I want as a consumer: easy accessto my money, interest paid on it, being treated as a humanbeing. A decent level of service that’s beyond bankseverywhere, it seems. Given that I’m so happy with mypost office, I’m not a bit pleased that the Governmentseems determined to cut it off at the knees.

The Department of Social Welfare aims to makepayalmost all social welfare payments electronically by 2018– ie it wants to pay people through banks, not postoffices.

Postmasters are furious because handling cash socialwelfare payments is now 30 per cent of their business.Two are even standing in the next general election. AlanKelly, postmaster in Cabra, will run in Dublin Central.Seona O’Fegan, postmistress in Barna and Father GriffinRoad post offices in Galway, will run in Galway West.They want the Coalition to follow its policy, which is tostrengthen the postal system, not strangle it.

Postmasters say they operate as unofficial socialcentres in rural Ireland, a view echoed in a 2012 reportcommissioned from Grant Thornton by the IrishPostmasters’ Union. The consensus from communitybodies spoken to was that “the post office network playsan important role as a focal point for many communitiesand offers many intangible benefits to localcommunities”.

This is nothing new. In Angela’s Ashes, FrankMcCourt’s terrifying memoir of 1930s poverty, a disabledneighbour can get her money only with the help of youngFrank and an obliging post- office worker.

As for myself, I just want my post office to keep going– is that so scandalous?

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Postal Update

AttendanceManagementUpdateThe Company made a presentation to the JointWorking Group on the weekly Absence rate acrossAn Post. It is currently standing at just over 5.6%which is slightly up on last year.

It is worth noting from the Company’s ownstatistics the highest absence was during the mid-term break in February and its lowest was at the endof July.

The Union has suggested that term time shouldbe extended to cover all school holidays.

Since the ASMP was introduced the following arethe figures of “entrants”:

Employees in ASMP since Commenced: 4,252

Employees Exited Process: 2,329

Employee’s who Exited and who re-entered: 882

Employees Currently in process: 2,384

The Union has raised the following issues asmatters of concern:

• Unavailability of some Official Doctors.

• Failure to roll out ‘local leave’ nationwide.

• No appeal process for being included in theprocess, regardless of previous record or thenature of illness.

• Difficulty with the Company facilitating areturn-to-work rehabilitation programme.

• Access to the Company’s Occupational HealthServices.

Further statistics members may find interesting:

An Post Average age in 2010 45

An Post average age in 2015 48

International postal worker in 2014 45

An Post current age profile:

Up to age 49 51.7%

50-59 38%

60+ 10.3%

AccommodationUpdate

The most serious building issue at the moment is

Castleblaney DSU. The Company is currently seeking a

new premises, however our members are expected to

work in totally unacceptable conditions. It was agreed at

the September Executive meeting to ballot members for

industrial action, should the Company fail to reveal the

Union contrete proposals by the end of September.

The Union have also asked the Company as a matter

of urgency to provide the Union with its programme of

works for Retail Offices.

C&D: BUILDING STATUS

Ballyhaunis: Complete.

Ballymote; Agreement to acquire site for newbuilding-Architects appointed.

Cavan: Heating upgrade complete and newcanopy installed.

Clifden: Premises identified and terms agreed.Fit out to be specked and tendered.

Clonakilty: Design being amended to meetaccommodation requirements.

Enniscorthy Extn:

Planning for extension received.Tender document being prepared.

Fermoy: Complete-seeking to acquireadjoining unit and enlarge DSU.

Kinsale: Potential premises have beenidentified.

Portlaoise DSU:

Premises identified and terms agreed.Drawing for fit out signed off. Specbeing prepared.

Roscommon; Completion mid September.

Roscrea: Out to tender as part of framework.Currently being evaluated.

Wexford Car Park Extn: Complete.

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CREDIT UNIONMEMBERSHIP EXTENDED!

Includes:

An Post employees

Former employees

Pensioners

Postmasters andtheir post office

assistants

Companies where AnPost has a

shareholdingwww.anpostcu.ie

an post employees’credit union ltd.

Spouses, children,grandchildren,

parents, brothers& sisters

10

11

Great newsfrom An Post

Employees’ CreditUnion! Until now,

membership of the credit unionwas open to current An Post

employees/ pensioners and any familymembers living in the same house.

Following negotiations with the CentralBank and a Special General Meeting of the

members on 19 July, membership is now open toa much wider group.From now on, membership is open to those who

have made their livelihood from the postal service andtheir wider families. This means current employees of An

Post, former employees, An Post pensioners, and in relation toall three groups their spouses, sons, daughters, grandchildren,

brothers, sisters and parents once they live on the island of Ireland.Interestingly, it has also been clarified that membership is also

available to Postmasters and their post office assistants and toemployees of companies where An Post has a shareholding, includingOne Direct, PCI, Premier National Lotteries, Data Ireland andPrintPost.

The idea that the membership might be expanded was first raised atthe Annual General Meeting in December 2014, where the membershad a good discussion about its implications and were very positiveabout it. The Central Bank took a good look at the plan and were verysupportive. The final say remained with the members who votedoverwhelmingly to expand the membership (or the credit union“common bond” as it is known) at the Special General Meeting in July.

Expanding the membership is seen by the Board of the credit unionas a good way to help ensure the long-term health and viability of thecredit union. The credit union has been in existence since 1968 and hasa very loyal membership but it is in the interests of everybody that itsfuture is protected.

The credit union looks forward to welcoming many family members(and those linked with companies where An Post has a shareholding)over the coming months and years.

If you have any queries about joining the creditunion, please do not hesitate to contact the creditunion office on 01-6602000 or to check out our website (anpostcu.ie).

Spouses, sons, daughters, grandchildren, brothers, sisters and parents.Postmasters and their post office assistants, One Direct, PCI, Premier

National Lotteries, Data Ireland and PrintPost

At SGM of An Post Employees Credit Union,Paddy Clarke and Ken Hughes

At SGM of An Post Employees Credit Union,Willie Spence and Noel Adamson

Postal Update

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Regulatory Update –PostalThere were two significant regulatory submissionsmade by the CWU to ComReg in recent months. Thefirst was in relation to a review of the Quality ofService standards and the second was in response toComReg’s review of the Terms and Conditions of theUniversal Postal Service.

Quality of Service (QOS)StandardsThe CWU argued that the target of 94% should eitherremain unchanged or be reduced.

In doing so the union argued that the comparatorcountries as chosen by ComReg: Austria and Denmarkare not appropriate and Ireland is achieving a very highstandard at 94% already. The service levels beingdelivered by An Post are well above the acceptedstandards in other countries with similar populationdensities.

As has been done in the UK, the regulator should makean exception for December in the measurement system.To include it is to skew the results and thereforeundermine the integrity of the quality of service systemas a whole. Including December in the measurementprocess when mail volumes increase by approximately60% drives the result for the rest of the year down andthis is not representative of the standard that is otherwiseachieved.

The quality of service issue is one that is taken veryseriously by both the CWU and An Post and significantprogress to meet and exceed the already high standard of94% has been made.

We have seen in the past, with the threat from ComRegof exorbitant fines against An Post, that not achieving theQoS standard can have very real implications for thefinancial stability of the company and its ability toprovide the Universal Service Obligation (USO). It is inthe best interest of the Irish postal market and all postalusers that the QoS standards are fair and reasonable andaccurately reflect the realities and challenges of the Irishpostal network.

Terms and Conditions of theUniversal Postal Service

In this instance ComReg issued a consultationdocument which sought to examine the terms andconditions of the universal postal service for the firsttime. Previously the terms and conditions had been onlybeen the responsibility of An Post but arising from

changes in the legislation ComReg can now review theterms and conditions to make sure they are fit forpurpose.

The regulator proposed a number of changes and theCWU chose to a selection of those which gave rise tosome concerns.

Underpaid postage to be paid byaddressee CWU expressed concern that the ComReg consultationdocument proposes that An Post's terms and conditionsshould be amended to remove the company's ability torefuse, detain, defer, withhold, return or dispose PostalPackets that have been underpaid. Alternatively, ComRegis stating that the company should 'levy charges forunderpaid postal packets on the recipient of that postalpacket.'

This is a significant and substantial change to thecurrent arrangements and the CWU is opposed to thischange for a number of reasons including:

• It would impose a substantial cost burden on thecompany given the practical implications of postpersons collecting and processing underpayments atthe point of delivery

• Among the practical implications that have to beconsidered is the requirement for the post person tocarry cash and/or have credit card facilities availableas well as the ability to issue receipts

• The requirement for post persons to carry cash doeshighlight a health and safety question andpotentially poses a security risk which the CWUwould take very seriously

• In addition to this, the proposal fundamentally shiftsthe burden of payment away from the sender whichis a cornerstone of the current postal market and thiscould be open to abuse

Accessing Postal ServicesIn its review ComReg proposed that rural post personsact as access points of the postal service. The CWU isconcerned as to the practical implications arising frominsisting that post persons be included as 'access pointsfor postal service users' in the terms and conditions.

Is it the case that post persons will be required tocarry and sell stamps to customers on the deliveryroute? There are a number of issues arising from this:

• Post persons being required to carry cash andprocess transactions has obvious health and safetyimplications as well as the questions that arise interms of the how the transactions might beprocessed

Postal Update

13

• It was the case in the past that post persons did sellstamps on route but this function ceased due to lackof demand and the introduction of alternativemethods for customers to buy stamps

• Is it the case that the post person will be required tocarry weighing scales and a measuring tape giventhat the postal cost is based on these factors?

• Currently, as well as buying stamps in the traditionalways, postal users can purchase stamps online andgiven the extensive and growing availability ofbroadband throughout the country this is alegitimate and much more efficient alternative toselling stamps via the post person

In general terms the CWU is very concerned at some ofthe ComReg proposals in circumstances where theproposals appear either to add a significant cost burdento the company or deny them potential revenues. Giventhe very finely balanced nature of the finances of An Postand the continued loss making burden of the USO, itmakes no commercial sense to further inflate the lossesthe company has to endure in the USO area. To do sowould run contrary to the best interests of postal usersand indeed the obligations and statutory functions ofComReg to promote the development of the postal sectorand the availability of the universal postal service.

Safety Representative TrainingProgramme

The Union must question An Post’s commitment toHealth and Safety Training, in particular the training ofSafety Representatives. Over the past couple of years wehave requested the Company to provide the Union inadvance with details of the Safety RepresentativeTraining Programme. This is to ensure that the electedSafety Representatives receive the training they areentitled to. Notwithstanding such repeated requests andhaving raised this directly with the Health and SafetyManager, Principle Management Representative Healthand Safety Committee, the Head of Training and theHead of Employee Relations the Company has to datefailed to provide the Union with this information.

We should remind ourselves that the 2005 Health,Safety and Welfare at Work Act provides for the selectionof Safety Representatives. Section 25 of the 2005 Actentitles employees to decide on, select and appoint SafetyReps, or by agreement with their employer, more thanone Safety Representative. Once elected SafetyRepresentatives are entitled to time off to train as a SafetyRepresentative.

In addition to the above the CWU has sought accessto the Training Programme in order to advise the Safety

Representatives of the agreed procedure for dealing withissues in the workplace and how to escalate problems notaddressed. Again the Company has failed to allow thisrequest.The question has to be asked why is this happening?

• Is the Company afraid of trained Safety reps?• Is it a cost issue?• Are they afraid that inadequate conditions around the

country will be highlighted?

In our view it is a mixture of all of the above. Webelieve that Operational Management within An Post donot wish to have trained Safety Reps in place androutinely block them from attending training courses.The failure of the company to provide us with the detailsof the Training Programme is evidence of this.

Given the above we can only assume that theCompany is paying lip service to Health and Safety. ThePostal / Courier Executive considered the above at itsmost recent meeting and has decided to advise theCompany that unless a Collective Agreement is reachedwith the Company on Safety Reps by the 31st December2015 then we will withdraw all cooperation from theCompany with regard to its Health and SafetyManagement System. Hopefully common sense willprevail.

HEALTH & SAFETY POSTAL UPDATE

Postal Update

14

Safety AuditsFollowing complaints from Safety Representatives theUnion raised concerns with the Company regarding thelack of consultation with safety reps during safety audits.In response the Company has acknowledged that thesharing of safety audit reports with Safety Reps has beenpatchy across locations where audits have previouslybeen conducted. They also advised that it is the practiceof safety auditors to engage with Safety Reps but theremay have been occasions when this did not happen.

The Company plan to do a series of Safety Auditsduring September and the Auditors will be reminded ofthe importance of engaging with the Safety Reps and allSafety Reps will be provided with a copy of the auditreport. It will be interesting to see if this actually happensand the Union would welcome any comments fromSafety Reps in offices which are audited.

Low level letterboxesThe CWU has long campaigned against low levelletterboxes and the unacceptable risks they pose topostpersons. In 2001 the building regulations werechanged and all new houses must have a letterbox at least42 inches from the ground. However these changes onlyrelated to new houses and Postpersons have been obligedto continue to deliver to houses with low level letterboxesalthough the number has reduced.

A debate on this issue took pace at our 2014Conference following a motion from the North KerryPostal Branch and as a result we raised our concerns withthe Company at the JCC Health and Safety SubCommittee. The company has confirmed the followingwith us:

• The Company during the redesign process endeavourto keep the number of low level letterboxes to aminimum

• Of the approximately 3,500 routes nationally thereare currently about 250 routes (7% of all routes)which contain more than 100 low level letterboxes.

Members ar§e reminded that if they have any concernsabout they level of low level letter boxes on their theyshould request a risk assessment be carried out on theirpost.

Sub Office ConditionsFollowing the completion of the Sub Office Survey in2012 the union continues to raise concerns aboutconditions in sub offices. As a result a number of officeshave been consolidated. The Company has confirmedthat the Retail Audit teams are now required to undertakesome basic safety checks at DSOs in conjunction withtheir standard audits of Post Offices. We have highlighteda number of offices and the Company has confirmed thatin addition to this they will carry out full safety audits bythe end of the year in the offices the Union hashighlighted.

CMV Wheel ChangesThe Union has been contacted in recent times bymembers complaining about the placement of the sparewheel in CMVs where in many cases it is cradled underthe vehicle. The Union has been concerned about this andthe absence of any guidance to staff on how o deal witha puncture. The Company position is that you should onlychange a tyre when it was safe to do so and provided thatthe Postal Operative is competent to do so. We took issuewith this as we felt that their response provided noguidance to staff and was designed to cover the Companyin the event of an accident.

We subsequently met with the Company and we haveagreed the following:

• The company has purchased 803 new CMVs andthey will all have a cradle for the spare wheel in theload area of the van. The same will apply to 110 vansleased from Lease Plan.

• The Union and the Company will agree a guidancedocument for all staff before the end of the year onthe process to be followed when changing a wheel.

An PostPunctureRepairManual

Postal Update

15

The CWU is fighting for two pay rises for ourmembers in An Post – but management continuesto resist.

The Union has lodged claims for a 6% cost ofliving increase and the consolidation of the 12.5%change allowance. The pay claims are scheduledfor final adjudication in the Labour Court on 22ndSeptember. An Post has strongly opposed theseclaims, citing inability to pay and that the variousChange Agreements stipulate the allowance is to benon consolidated.

In respect of the 6%, theUnion has for its partoutlined we have nothad a pay increasesince August2008 and staffhave in thatperiod giveneverycooperationpossible. Inrespect of theChangeAllowance, thecompany haseffectivelyconsolidated thechange, leaving over 25%of its employees without theAllowance. They are required tocooperate with the introduction of change whileworking for less pay, which is simply unfair.

The company says they don't have the money tofund an increase as they are in a loss makingsituation, mainly because of falling mail volumes.Furthermore, the price increases are only helpingto reduce the deficit and the cost of carrying theUniversal Service Obligation (5 days nationwidedelivery). The unions’ position is that itsmanagement’s responsibility, together with theobligation of the shareholder to ensure the businessis viable and has sufficient resources to pay staff.

Nonetheless, the Labour Relations Commissionhas on a number of occasions confirmed An Post’s

beal bocht claims in respect of its financialprojections are correct. There is a further andinfluential complication in that DepartmentalOfficials have been directing management not toconcede any pay movement citing reductions in thesame period for public servants with phasedrestoration only commencing now. However, thisis a case of they wanting their cake and to eat itinsofar as they expect An Post to operate as acommercial entity but ignore the reality of pay

movement in the private sector. The reality isCWU has achieved pay movement in

all other areas including in thePostal Industry at DPD and

UPS.In respect of

consolidating thechange allowancethe company'sposition is moretrenchant. It isevident that evenif they had the

money they have apoint of principal

not to do this, to apoint of a preference to

concede a general increaseif the worst came to the worst

from, their perspective.However, the CWU advances the

continuing and increasing unfairness of this. It is afestering sore which we simply cannot afford toignore. It has been possible to address as the RetailClerk so why not for Postmen who along withCleaners are the lowest paid. The spring seminaradopted a strategy with a clear objective ofachieving progress in the short term with bothclaims.

This has culminated in the Labour Court havingexamined both claims and we should know theoutcome well in advance of Xmas pressure periodso we can then decide if what ever they recommendis acceptable or alternatively embark on industrialaction at that stage.

PAY (OR THE LACK OF IT) AN POST

Postal Update

16

Liberty Living Wage Article July 2015

Living Wage Rises to€11.50

By Micheál CollinsNevin Economic Research Institute

This summer the Living Wage received its annual update– revising the figure to €11.50 per hour. The new 2015figure represents an increase of 5c per hour over the 2014rate (€11.45). The increase has been driven by changesin the cost of living and changes in the taxation system.

Since its emergence last year, the Republic of IrelandLiving Wage has gained more and more attention. Duringthe year Trade Unions, the ICTU, NGOs, political partiesand some employers have embraced the concept,recognising a belief that individuals working full-timeshould be able to earn enough income to enjoy a decentstandard of living. Indeed Ireland is now part of aninternational Living Wage movement, stretching fromNew Zealand to Canada reflecting a growing appreciationthat societies consider low wage rates not just in thecontext of competitiveness and competition but also in thecontext of income adequacy and living standards.

The drivers of the higher 2015 figure are summarisedin the table. During the year there were changes to bothexpenditure costs and the tax system which impact on thehourly amount.

Changes in the cost of health insurance had the largestimpact on the expenditure costs, decreasing these by€2.30 per week. A restructuring of public transportmaximum weekly fares and decreases in fuel costs leadto a decrease in transport costs of €2.21 per week.Changes in energy and food costs decreased the cost ofthe weekly minimum expenditure by €2.13 and €1.49respectively.

The Budget 2015 reduction in the Universal SocialCharge (USC) paid by an employee on the Living Wagealso impacted on the calculations as the amount of USCcollected from these employees decreased by €3.21 perweek.

However, the effects of these decreases in living costsand increases in post-tax income were outweighed byincreases in some areas of expenditure. Most notablewere increases in housing (rent) costs with higher rentalcosts in Dublin being the significant driver of the overallincreased expenditure costs. Outside Dublin, housingcosts moved by between €2.18 and €5.78 per week, butthe increase in Dublin was €14.94 per week. There werealso increases in the expenditure costs associated withhousehold goods and services and car insurance – thelatter only impacting on living wage workers outside thecities (those in cities are assumed to use public transport).

Overall, an employee on the Living Wage was foundto need an extra 5 cent per hour to meet these higherliving costs.

In an NERI research paper published last year Idetailed some of the impacts and challenges that theintroduction of a Living Wage would have for Ireland(the paper is available on the NERI website).

• There are impacts on the individual or the employeeboth in terms of income gains and improvements inliving standards for them and their family. Thisshould not be underestimated, for example a €1 perhour increase in the pay of a full-time low wagedworker is equivalent to a gross income gain of€2,033 per year – a multiple of any possible Budgetchange to tax and welfare.

• There are impacts for employers whose wage billswill increase, something that the research literatureshows is of limited consequence in sectors such asfinance, banking and construction where there arefew earners already below the living wage thresholdand so any increase in costs is small. In sectors witha greater proportion of low paid employees (such asretail, food production, bars and restaurants) thewage bill impact is likely to be more pronouncedand it would seem sensible that any move to aLiving Wage in these sectors would be phased in.

• The research literature also points towards impactsfor employers in terms of cost savings and gainsfrom increases in staff retention, reducedabsenteeism and improvements in productivity andefficiency. While these may not fully offset theincreased wage costs in the high labour sectors, theresearch literature points towards them making asignificant contribution towards reducing thesecosts.

• There are also impacts on the state which gainsthrough increased taxation, particularly indirecttaxation, reductions in social protection expenditure,and increases in both employers and employeessocial insurance contributions.

The implementation of a Living Wage is likely to be agradual process. The experience elsewhere is that the ideaof a Living Wage evolves from ‘impossible’ to ‘societallybeneficial’; although that transition and its acceptance byemployers, workers and society in general can take time.The next Living Wage update will be in Summer 2016.

Dr Micheál Collins is Senior Research Officer at theNERI and a member of the Living Wage TechnicalGroup. See www.livingwage.ie

1717

BackgroundThe European Court of Justice on the 20thJanuary 2009 delivered its decision in respectof two references on the correct interpretationof the Working Time Directive. The casesreferred to a British case (Stringer v HMRC)and a German case (Schultz – Hoff v DeutscheRentenvericherung Bund). Both referencesdealt with the proper interpretation of theannual leave provisions in Article 7 of theDirective.

Article 7(1) requires the member states toensure that every worker is entitled to be paidannual leave of at least four weeks “inaccordance with the conditions of entitlement toand the granting of such leave laid down bynational legislation and practice”.

As the Irish Government failed to implementthe changes, the ICTU complained to the EUCommission about the this failure as contrary toEU law the Organisation of Working Time Actfailed to secure an employee’s right to annualleave on foot of sick leave. Under Section 19 ofthe 1997 Act, employees only accrued annualleave in respect of hours actually worked.

As a result of the Trade Union campaign theMinister for Business and Employment, Mr. GedNash, announced amendments to the Organisationof Working Time Act 2015. These provisionscontained within the Workplace Relations Act2015 became effective on the 1st August 2015.

These amendments will bring the annual leaveprovision of the Organisation of Working TimeAct 1997 into line with the annual leaveprovisions of the EU Working Time Directive asinterpreted by the European Court of Justice inthe cases referenced above.

The amendment to the legislation will have thefollowing effects:

• Statutory annual leave entitle to accruesduring a period of certified sick leave

• An annual leave carryover period of 15months after a leave year will apply to thoseemployees who could not, due to illness,take annual leave during the relevant leaveyear or during the normal carryover periodof 6 months

• On termination of employment, payment inlieu of intakes accrued annual leave willapply to leave which was untalented as aresult of illness in circumstances where theemployee leaves the employment within aperiod of 15 months following the end ofleave year during which the statutory leaveentitlement period

As a result the Union has contacted the variousCompanies seeking proposals to change policiesand amend collective agreements to ensure earlyapplication of the new legislation.

Amendments to the Annual LeaveProvisions of the Organisation of

Working Time Act

18

Since before Irish Water was an apple in PhilHogan’s eye, it has struggled to keep itself out ofhot water and barely a week has passed since the

beginning of last year without it making headlines for thewrong reasons. Here’s just a few of our favourite IrishWater disasters and mistakes and U-turns.

In November 2010, the Fianna Fáil-led governmentpublished a memorandum of understanding on theconditions of the €85 billion EU-IMF bailout.

It said water charges would be introduced in 2012 or2013 by which time metering would be installed acrossthe State.

It said the responsibility for water would be transferredfrom local authorities to a new water utility. Only a bitof what it promised came to pass.

Irish Water was indeed set up but the meteringprogramme was not quite as speedy as we had been ledto believe. Without metering from the get-go the wholenotion of water conservation was quietly shelved –despite what the ridiculously named “water conservationgrant” might have you believe.

In May 2012, a spokeswoman for the minister for theenvironment Phil Hogan rubbished claims by theOpposition that the Government would introduce flat-ratewater charges.

Flat-rate charges are now the norm – although it ispossible to “beat the cap” and pay less than the flat rate– if you don’t shower and only flush the toilet everysecond day.

In April 2012, the contract to run Irish Water was wonby Bord Gáis Éireann, a company which is probably still

mourning its win. Phil Hogan promised that 95 per centof all homes will have meters by the end of 2014. Thatdidn’t work out either.

O’Rourke interviewThe chief executive of Irish Water John Tierney decidedto do an interview on Today with Seán O’Rourke on RTÉradio. This was not the best idea he ever had.

The interview was as robust as you might expect andO’Rourke was as masterful as he always is. Tierney wasnot quite so masterful.

In fact he tied himself up in knots and admitted that€50 million of Irish Water’s setup costs was spent on“consultants”. The C word has followed him ever since.

The hapless Tierney wasn’t done. He then appearedbefore an Oireachtas environment committee andestimated that Irish Water would spend €85 million onconsultants by the end of the year. At the same hearing itemerged that Irish Water staff could receive bonuses ofup to 10 per cent of their salary. The B word joined the Cword in stalking Tierney.

The same year a planned standing-order charge of €50had to be eliminated as it was seen to erode the benefitof allowances for households with children.

Almost exactly a year ago the Commission for EnergyRegulation revealed details of water charges indicatingthe average cost for a household of two adults and twochildren would be €278. The news had already beenwidely leaked. Metered rates were to be set at €4.88 for1,000 litres of water. That charge lasted fewer than threemonths before being dropped.

IRISH WATER:Our favourite disasters and U-turns

From consultants and bonuses to protestsand Eurostat, it’s been a torrent of crisis

Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly speaking to the mediawith John Tierney and Elizabeth Arnett of Irish Water.

Fil

e ph

otog

raph

: C

yril

Byr

ne/T

he I

rish

Tim

es

by Conor Pope, Irish times online

19

BonusesThings reached boiling point in October when it

emerged that Irish Water staff would get bonuses even iftheir performance was classified as needingimprovement.

Irish Water got tangled up trying to tell people itsbonuses were not actually bonuses before announcingthat its (not really bonus) payments for 2013 and 2014would be suspended. The unions were less than delightedand the matter is currently before the Labour RelationsCommission.

At the end of October the deadline for signing up toIrish Water came and went without there being a madrush among the general population to register. TheCommission for Energy Regulation had no choice but togrant a one-month extension to the sign-up period forIrish Water customers. A flood of new sign-ups did notmaterialise.

Tens of thousands took to the streets in protest at thecharges and on a quiet Saturday in November inJobstown, Tánaiste Joan Burton was trapped in her carfor more than two hours by anti-water charge protestersafter attending a graduation ceremony.

An unedifying row broke out between the Governmentand Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul “Gandhi” Murphywho claimed trapping a person in their car for two hourswhile banging on the roof screaming “peaceful protest”was a peaceful protest.

Another deadline passed at the end of November andanother U-turn was announced when Minister forEnvironment Alan Kelly – who had replaced Hogan afterhe fled to Europe – said a revised water-charges packagewith capped costs would now be imposed.

PPS numbersPlans Irish Water had hatched to harvest PPS numbers

was also dropped. The utility said it wanted to match freeallowances with children and it promised to comply withall data-protection legislation and treat the informationwell. No-one bought it.

Independent Catherine Murphy raised the issue in theDáil and said people had “huge concerns about handingover PPS numbers to what is in effect a privatecompany”. The PPS plan was dropped.

Irish Water’s contractors – including the almost ascontroversial Denis O’Brien-owned Siteserv –encountered difficulties installing meters with protestersblocking access. Burton marvelled at all the “expensive”phones and cameras the demonstrators had ignoring thefact that a phone with a camera can be had for less than10 litres of water.

It emerged that fewer than half the 1.5 million people

who were supposed to pay in the first round of billingactually did. Then it emerged that the company hadmessed up direct debits for 3,000 people who wanted topay and failed to collect the payment. It also billed peoplewho were dead for many years and that was just the startof an error-strewn billing cycle.

And now Eurostat has ruled that State funds spent onIrish Water must remain on the exchequer balance sheetuntil 2020. The ruling is a severe blow to theGovernment’s strategy on water investment, and meansa hoped-for boost to the 2016 budget figures will not nowemerge.

©Article first published by Irish Times Online

20

Donation of €2,500.00 was made to theCamino Network

from the CWU Charitable Fund

21

Safety RepresentativeResource BookA new resource for Safety Representatives was formallylaunched on Workers’ Memorial Day. This book which waspublished by the Health and Safety Authority was acollaboration between the HSA, ICTU and IBEC. Thispublication arose from the suggestion of Congress that theHSA publish such a resource and the author HerbertMulligan, from Health & Safety Review, worked with aneditorial team from Congress to prepare it.

This publication is part of a Trade Union strategy to tryto re-energise the role of the safety rep and increase thenumber of active trade union safety representatives. Incontrast with the situation of shop stewards andrepresentatives/activists, the role of the safety rep isprovided for in legislation with workers having a right toselect someone to undertake this role. However, there hasbeen a decline in nearly every sector in recent years.

As worrying is the trend, for which there is muchanecdotal evidence, of safety reps effectively beingappointed by management rather than being an independentvoice for workers.

Safety and health is a trade union issue and it is importantthat we are resourced to make sure we can deliver in thisarea for our members. We need to integrate it into ourbranch activity and understand how this presence in theworkplace can enhance our organising strategies.

The Safety Representative Resource Book is welldesigned and is a must have for all Safety Representatives.The book is divided into eight different Sections with 278pages. Topics covered include:

• The Law• Enforcement• Consolation – Safety Representatives and Safety

Committees• OSH Roles• The Hazards of the Workplace• Vulnerable Workers• The Workplace

ICTU has organised a number of regional workshopsdesigned to encourage greater participation and to identifyways in which existing safety reps can be better supported.

The first of these workshops took place in Limerick onMonday June 29th at IMPACT’s offices. This workshop waswell attended by CWU Representatives with eight membersrepresenting the CWU in attendance.

Health & Safety Update

The Programme includes:

• Irelands legislative framework and the role of the HSA• The role of the Safety Rep and the Safety Committee• Introduction to the Safety Representatives Resource

Manual• EU OSH Strategy and Refit• Reclaiming the role of the Safety Rep• Working Groups

If any CWU Safety Reps wish to attend any of the TrainingCourses they should contact Pat Kenny in Head Office.

Donie Curran in full flight! CWU Reps who attended the Safety Seminar in Limerickl to r: Tom Stack Listowel, Jer Daly Tralee, Pat DelanyNenagh, Donie Curran Limerick, Pat Byrne Nenagh,

Trevor White Ennis, Patrick Lynch Kilmallock and Michael Murphy Limerick

THE SCHEDULE FOR FUTURE EVENTS IS:

IBOA, IBOA HOUSE, STEPHEN STREET, DUBLIN 8MONDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER

SIPTU, UNITY HALL, CHRUCH ST., TULLAMOREMONDAY 12TH OCTOBER

CONGRESS CENTRE, 30 CLANBRASSIL ST., DUNDALKTHURSDAY 15TH OCTOBER

SIPTU, HANSON’S RETAIL PK CLEVERAGH, SLIGOMONDAY 19TH OCTOBER

SIPTU, CONNOLLY HALL, SUMMERHILL, WATERFORDTHURSDAY 22ND OCTOBER

IMPACT, U 23 SEAN MULVOY ROAD, GALWAYTHURSDAY 5TH NOVEMBER

SIPTU, CONNOLLY HALL, LAPPS QUAY, CORKTUESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER

22

23

A G/S Circular

will issue in the

coming weeks

with the

CWU plans

for UNI’s

Work Life

Management

Fortnight.

24

urgent - New members are always needed to help finance the work of the Fund

27.2

41.4

80.0

53.1

172.9

AgricultureHealthWaterCommunity DevelopmentEducation

annual report 2014

“Scenes that are Brightest” is an aria from the Opera by William Wallace and summons up happy past memories. For many of us, though, the past few years of austerity do not have many bright scenes, particularly at home, where many people are still facing real poverty and hardship. The Fund is fully cognisant of these changed financial times and is very grateful to all contributors for their continued financial support.

However, in the developing world, the situation can be much worse. We see, through the media, the continuous streams of migrants fleeing war situations in desperate efforts to reach a safe haven. Many children continue to be the targets of exploitation and are still denied the basic human right of primary education. The obligation on all of us to help those in extreme poverty has never been greater.

While 2014 was a successful year for the Fund, revenues, as will be seen from the financial accounts overleaf, unfortunately continued to fall. We therefore need all the support possible in order to continue to play our part in helping some of the world’s most vulnerable in their struggle to obtain the basic necessities of life. Here are a few of the past year’s post funding comments:

“The children have moved into their new classrooms – it was also possible to admit 14 extra children!” - St Josephs School for Hearing Impaired, Sierra Leone.

“A dream has come true, the children have sanitation facilities in proper condition. New toilets are built and a new way of healthier life begins now for the destitute children.” - Toilets for a school in India.

“In October, the contractors disappeared leaving the school building with the roof only half covered with sheets and it was the rainy season. Providence arrived from Dublin, and after Christmas the roofing of the threeclassrooms was completed. Thank you very much for rescuing us. It was a great joy to see so many children in the new classes. Millions of thanks.” - Completion of a school roof, Bangui, Central African Republic.

A full list of 2014 contributions and grants is on our website

www.cstwf.ieCombined Services Third World Fund

76/78 Harcourt StreetDublin 2 Ireland

☎ ++353 (0)1408 2473/75 @ thecstwf@hotmail.com

If you are not already a member of the fund or if you know someone who might

be interested in joining, please contact us immediately or go to our website

www.cstwf.ie for more information and application forms.

The Fund awarded 68 grants for Projects in 16 developing countries during the year under review. As can be seen from the pie chart, 172,900 of the total amount granted, went to educational projects. The Fund places a high value on education as it is central to development, enabling people to overcome poverty. It is the “helping hand” rather than the handout. Health projects were also high on the list of grant aid projects receiving 41,400 of awards made. Better health makes an important contribution as health facilities in many developing countries are, at best, very basic. Other sectors to benefit from grants made were Agriculture, Community Development, and the provision of water and sanitation. All of the grants made were aimed at meeting the basic needs of people. It is a firm belief of the Fund that if people can meet these needs they will develop themselves and their countries.

There are two optional rates of contribution to the Fund of only 1 cent or 2 cents from every 10 of pay or pension.

Every Cent Counts!The Fund operates on a completely

voluntary basis through the Council and Trustees. The Management and Advisory

Committees assess applications for funding. Honorary Officers and other volunteers carry out the necessary office administration. Great care is always taken with contributors’ money

and grants are only made directly to beneficiaries.

Photo: “Dry Season” Project Pissa Nigeria

CSTWF grants made in 2014 ( 000’s)

COMBINED SERVICES THIRD WORLD FUND (Civil ,Service, An Post and Other State Agencies)

25

Combined Services Third World Fund

Receipts and Payments Account Year Ended 31st December 2014

Receipts 2014 2013

Members Subscriptions 326,073 (Note 1) 365,262Deposit Interest 112 17

TOTAL RECEIPTS 326,185 365,279

Payments

Projects 374,708 (Note 2) 287,675Office Expenses 11,281 13,934

TOTAL PAYMENTS 385,989 301,609

Excess Receipts over Payments (59.804) 63,670Opening Bank Balance 122,685 59,015

Closing Bank Balance 62,881 122,685

The above Receipts and Payments Account was prepared from the books and records of The Combined Services Third World Fund and I hereby report that it is in accordance therewith.

(Signed) Maurice D. Counihan FCPA 3rd April 2015

CDK & Associates,Accountants & Registered Auditors,

Mounttown House, Mounttown Road Lower,Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.

(*)A full list of the contributions received and grants made is available on the fund’s website:

www.cstwf.ie

A Typical CSTWF Project

Women’s groups expressed the need to uplift their poor economic situation by contributing to the family income. They applied for 4,555 which was granted by CSTWF to purchase furniture for ten sewing centres in Faisalabad Pakistan. These women’s groups have been fully involved in the implementation of the project from the start. Sana Umar Hiat, aged 21, who lives in Uchan Muraba-Faisalabad, got 6 months training from a sewing centre on stitching clothes and selling them in a market. Now she has been trained further and works as a teacher in one of these centres to earn more money for her family.

CSTWF ANNUAL REPORT 2014

26

Note 1: Summary of Donations Lodged in 2014

Departments Amount Amount 1 Agriculture Food Marine 21,634.13 38 Coillte 5,881.582 Arts Heritage Gaeltacht 2,962.42 39 Courts Service 5,766.043 Children & Youth‘s affairs 1,248.93 40 Eircom 22,460.244 Communications Energy Natural Resources 1,249.84 41 Eircom Pensioners 5,541.185 Defence 2,106.58 42 Garda Civilian 4,401.256 Education & Skills 8,807.36 43 Health & Safety Authority 542.367 Environment, Community & Local Government 6,797.94 44 Irish Aviation Authority 2,306.588 Foreign Affairs Trade 7,882.64 45 National Museum 125.349 Health 3,345.31 46 National Library 101.7310 Jobs Enterprise Innovation 4,087.73 47 National Roads Authority 255.3211 Justice & Equality 7,221.43 48 Ombudsman for Children 135.3912 Social Protection 26,760.50 49 Office of Public Works 5,281.0413 Transport Tourism Sport 2,929.97 50 Ordinance Survey 1,009.2714 Taoiseach 1,536.01 51 PMG Pensions 62,291.4315 Public Expenditure & Reform 2,652.46 52 Prison Service 540.2116 Finance 1,782.57 53 Probation/Welfare Service 711.1117 Attorney General 1,041.14 54 Property Regulatory Authority 2,951.7818 Comptroller & Auditor General 355.18 55 Revenue Commissioners 51,617.9519 Chief State Solicitor 911.55 56 Road Safety Authority 719.0920 Director of Public Prosecutions 364.33 57 Solas 144.3021 Ombudsman 452.20 58 SFPA 146.4922 President 246.04 59 Teagasc 218.1023 Public Appointments Service 658.38 60 Waterways 173.0924 State Lab 345.92 61 Valuation Office 1,170.3625/32 8 other misc sections of Dept of Finance 1,004.29 62 Bequest 634.8733 An Bord Pleanala 527.05 63 PSEU 1,250.0034 An Oireachtas/Leinster House 1208.26 64 Unidentified (1) 116.4135 An Post 34,916.08 65 Vodafone 667.5636 Central Statistics Office 3,574.20 66 M Bird 120.0037 Child & Family Agency 182.97 TOTAL 326,073.48

Note 2: Projects Funded in 2014Project No. Country Type of Project Amount

2754 Tanzania Printers and ancillary equipment 1,5002822 Uganda Water harvesting 6,5002826 Tanzania Water supply and rain water harvesting 5,5002848 Uganda Latrines for school 6,0002849 Pakistan Set up of training sewing centres 4,5002850 Tanzania Installation of water storage tanks 5,0002851 Uganda Installation of water storage tanks 7,5002852 Uganda Construction of cement water storage tanks 5,2802853 Uganda Completion of school rooms 6,8002854 Tanzania Renovation of Vocational Training centre 3,2002857 CAR Provision of toilets 4,5002858 Ghana Upgrade of Classrooms 6,4002859 South Sudan Provision of Solar System 6,0002860 Haiti Rain water recycling plant 8,0002861 Malawi Construction of Community Centre 3,0002862 Uganda Grain Storage Facilities 4,0002863 Kenya Carpentry workshop 7,5002864 Tanzania Construction of Girls Hostel 5,2002865 Kenya Rain water harvesting 4,3002866 Kenya Prevention of child mortality 8,0002867 India Safe drinking water 4,0002869 Uganda Computers for a school 7,500

CSTWF ANNUAL REPORT 2014

27

2870 Pakistan Income generation Goat scheme 6,5002871 Peru Assistance for people with disabilities 8,0002872 Kenya Water well and pump 4,5002873 India Toilet Block for Orphanage 6,0002874 Kenya Home craft training centre for girls 7,0002875 Tanzania Drinking Water supply 3,5002876 Rwanda Solar Energy 6,5002877 Myanmar Tree Planting 4,9002878 India Provision of Diesel generator 6,0002879 Tanzania Water for orphanage 1,9002880 Uganda Renovation of maternity ward 4,0002881 Uganda Lab equipment for health centre 5,3002883 Kenya Pit Latrine for school 6,0002885 Uganda Water tank at school 2,0002886 TN India Completion of School Building 8,0002887 Kenya Water reservoir 6,5002889 Kenya School desks 3,5002891 Nepal Construction of school 8,0002892 Uganda Water supply for school 6,5002893 Kenya Supply of Lab Equipment for girls’ sec school 7,5002894 Uganda Completion of classroom 7,9002896 Tanzania Resupply of Mwanza Sewing and training centre 5,0002898 Uganda School Rain water collection Tank 5,9002899 Kenya Support services 5,0002900 Nepal Skills development for post leprosy sufferers 4,600

2901 El Salvador Walls of Hope/The School of Art 5,7002902 Zambia Conversion of Parish hall to classrooms 5,0002903 South Sudan Construction of a pit latrine 7,0002904 Uganda Fish Farming 4,2002905 Uganda Purchase of farm Equipment 6,0002906 Pakistan Poultry Farming Scheme 3,5002907 Ethiopia Provision of computers for 2 schools 6,000

2908 Zambia Provision of pit latrines 7,2002909 CAR Roof for school building 4,0002910 Malawi Latrines for school 7,8002911 Ghana Bee keeping training 5,6002913 Kenya Beds Tables and lockers for Nursing School 7,0002915 Tanzania Updating communications in hospital 2,5002916 Kenya Generator for High School 8,0002918 Ghana Kindergarten School 6,8002919 Uganda Construction of a Dining Hall 5,0002921 India Provision of Montessori equipment 2,0002922 India Provision of School 7,0002925 Uganda Mill for manufacture of Smokeless Briquettes 4,0002926 Sierra Leone Ebola 2,128

2847A Tanzania Showers and Toilet Block 7,600

TOTAL 374,708

CSTWF ANNUAL REPORT 2014

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Vodafone Update

CWU Secures Pay Increases for Retail Staff members in Meteor & Brompton

Following discussions between CWU, Meteor and Brompton agreement has been reached on the application ofpay increases for our members. 1.5% increase in basic pay backdated to 1st July 2015. Increases in commissionpayments which will come into effect on 1st October 2015. The net effect of the above will result in a 2.5%increase in pay for the majority of CWU members. The Union thanks the members for their support during thecourse of our discussions.

Vodafone Retail:

Union CampaignPays Off

CWU UNIONMEMBERS

Union secures Pay Increases for members in RigneyDolphin

The Union has reached agreement with RigneyDolphin which provides for a 1.5% pay increase for membersretrospective to 2013. It took a considerable amount of time to reach agreement with RigneyDolphin, as theCompany refused to adhere to long-standing arrangements whereby increases in pay negotiated between theUnion and Vodafone automatically applied to RigneyDolphin. It was only following the Union’s referral of thecase to the Labour Relations Commission that agreement was reached and the Union has placed on record itsappreciation of the Commission’s efforts.

Following lengthy negotiations on the Union’s claimfor an increase in basic pay and improvements inmaternity leave arrangements, the Union has reachedagreement with Vodafone.

The agreement provides for a 1.5% increase in payretrospective to January 2013. The agreement alsoprovides for the establishment of a new pay model for2015/16 in which a performance based pay progressionmodel that links salary increases to the individualsposition in the salary range and performance. A budgetof 1.5% has been agreed for 2015/16 and this will bedistributed in June 2016 based on this criteria. This newpay model will be reviewed by the Union and the

Company in June 2016. The new pay model alsoprovides for a restructuring of the current managementstructures.

Alongside the pay increases, new improved maternitybenefits will be introduced for Retail employees whichprovide for 16 weeks paid maternity leave and followinga return to work, 6 months full pay for 80% attendance.

A great deal of credit for the success in achieving payincreases and improved maternity benefits is attributableto our members in Vodafone Retail, who stuck by theUnion during the lengthy negotiations and signed apetition demanding that Vodafone management treatthem fairly.

✓

✓

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By standing together and taking action, members inVodafone Retail have won their campaign for a pay riseand paid maternity leave.

As previously reported in Connect, the VodafoneBranch won a further 1.5% pay increase for Vodafonestaff in 2014. However, the company refused point blankto apply that pay rise to retail staff.

CWU members in the retail stores wereunderstandably unhappy with this decision. As a result,we visited every store in the country to give members theopportunity to sign a petition to Vodafone management.The response was overwhelming, with the vast majoritysigning the petition calling on Vodafone management toreverse their decision.

Members in the Waterford store aftersigning the petition

The completed petition was handed in to Vodafone HeadOffice, leaving management in no doubt as to how theirstaff felt about their decision.

Outside Vodafone Head Office

Armed with those signatures, the Branch successfullywon the pay rise! Not only that, but the pay rise will alsobe backdated two years (pro rata).

Vodafone Branch Secretary Mick Farrell with membersAoife Ryan-Martinez and Darran Jackson

handing in the petition

The wins don’t stop there. During the store visitsmembers made it clear that they were also unhappy withthe Maternity Leave situation. That message wasreceived loud and clear, and we are very happy toannounce that Vodafone will now provide for 16 weeksfully paid Maternity Leave for retail staff and, followinga return to work, six months full pay for 80% attendance.This is a great step forward for retail members and theBranch will continue to seek the full six monthsMaternity benefit enjoyed by Leopardstown staff.

Aoife Ryan-Martinez and herson Adrian celebrate the win!

We only won these improvements with member support,so a big CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who gotinvolved and who signed the petition. It was a greatdemonstration of unionised workers standing together forwhat is fair and right.

If there are non-members in your workplace who thinkthat being in a union makes no difference, you can letthem know that we won and that together we do make adifference!

Vodafone Update

Member Power Wins The Day!

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For many people, the remit of trade unions lies solely inthe workplace. We are there only to negotiate terms andconditions of work and represent people when things gowrong. Everything else, it’s often claimed, should be leftup to political parties and single issue groups. However,this idea of trade unionism ignores the proud history ourmovement has of fighting for social progress outside theworkplace, whether it’s opposing racism, helping to endconflict in the Six Counties or, most recently, opposingthe privatisation of water.

If we are serious about growing our movement in thefuture, particularly among younger people, we have toembrace this proud history. In doing so, we need to havethe courage to take positions on wider social and politicalissues and articulate a vision of the fairer society we wantto live in. This has begun to grow out of the Right2Watercampaign, which is encouraging to see. This type of tradeunionism will occasionally lead to confrontation withmore conservative elements of the working class, but thatneedn’t be a cause for alarm. Part of the job of a tradeunion is to lead workers and educate them politically.

One of the most important issues that unions in Irelandneed to address is one that has traditionally beenoverlooked for fear of offending the religious right:reproductive rights. Ireland’s abortion law is so restrictivethat both the UN Human Rights Committee and AmnestyInternational condemned it for violating internationalhuman rights law. For a situation like this to continue inour country should be unacceptable for trade unionists.

The root cause of this appalling state of affairs is the8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution, which equatesthe life of a foetus with the life of a woman – an articlethat is dehumanising and sexist on so many levels. Evenlife-saving abortions are prohibited because of thisamendment. This led to “pro-life” Ireland allowing SavitaHalappanavar to die of septicaemia rather than abort amiscarrying foetus. “Pro-life” Ireland denied Miss Y, arape victim, access to abortion. Instead, she was forcedto undergo a caesarian section against her will. Last year,we also witnessed the horrifying case where a clinicallydead woman was artificially kept alive in order toincubate her foetus. Although the woman’s family told

doctors that they wanted her taken off life support, the8th amendment over ruled their wishes and they had towatch as her body slowly decomposed on a hospital bed.The family’s solicitor described it as “akin to a horrormovie”. Restricting women’s access to abortion is not“pro-life”; It’s about controlling what women do withtheir own bodies.

The first thing we can do to address this is to supportthe Trade Union Campaign for the Repeal of the 8THAmendment, as the CWU Youth Committee has alreadydone. By our very nature, we campaign for justice,equality and human rights, and safe access to abortion isabout all three. Unions shouldn’t shy away fromcampaigning for human rights, even if the issue at handis deemed to be “sensitive”. Human rights are inalienableand guaranteed to every person.

Abortion is not necessarily a workplace issue, but thatshouldn’t mean unions should avoid discussing it. Mostother European unions are staunchly pro-choice. Irelandlags behind, reluctant to confront our conservativemembers. For instance, the British TUC states that it“believes that access to safe, legal abortions isfundamental to women’s rights and to their employmentand education prospects, incomes and opportunities.”

We have the opportunity to help improve the lives ofhalf of Ireland’s population, and we need to step up to themark. We can’t tolerate a medieval law that strips womenof their bodily autonomy once they become pregnant,forcing them to become little more than biologicalincubators. Why should we tolerate a system that forceswomen to travel abroad to gain access to safe medicallysupervised abortions, with all the secrecy, loneliness anddesperation involved, just to appease the sensitivities ofreligious people that refuse to accept the need for theseparation of Church and State? Are we as trade unionistsreally ok to stay silent on an issue that has led to Irelandbeing condemned by Amnesty International and theUnited Nations?

Let’s take a stand against something that is shamingour country on the international stage. Support a woman’sright to choose. Support the Trade Union Campaign toRepeal the 8th Amendment.

Repeal of 8thAmendment: Abortion

by Ruairi Creaney

ICTU NEC have agreed to support the Trade Union Campaign torepeal the 8th amendment at its September meeting.

If any member would lke to submit an article on this topic, please email info@cwu.ie

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Standing up for Palestine

THE IRISH CONGRESS OF TRADEUNIONS launched its all-Ireland BDS(Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) campaign at

the recent Biennial Delegate Conference in Ennis. It isCongress policy to work at a national and internationallevel to force Israel to comply with international law.ICTU will maintain pressure on the Irish governmentto seek action at EU and international level, and willcontinue to support the campaign for boycott,divestment and sanctions. The Congress BDS campaigncalls on trade union members to do the following:

1. Don’t purchase goods produced in the illegalIsraeli settlements; educate yourself andcolleagues, family and friends on what you arebuying!

2. Learn more about the BDS Movement; a callby Palestinian civil society for a campaign ofboycotts, divestment and sanctions againstIsrael until it complies with international law(www.bdsmovement.net).

3. Ask your local shops if they stock goods fromillegal Israeli settlements and, if so, requestthem to remove them from the shelves; follow-up with a letter to the HQ of the retailer.

4. Promote the Congress campaign within yourunion/ workplace!

Following motions at a number of Congress Biennial DelegateConferences, it is Congress policy to work at national and international

level to defend human rights.We call on Israel to end the occupation of Palestine, its construction of

illegal settlements and annexation of Palestinian land.We also call all trade union members to support our campaign and

boycott Israeli goods produced in the Occupied Territories.

Supermarket Products from Occupied Palestinian Territories –check country of origin label:

Oranges Fresh Rosemary DatesAvocados Fresh Chives FigsGrapefruits Fresh Parsley Sharon FruitsPotatoes Fresh Sage Golan Heights WineFresh Basil Bell Peppers Meat-Free Mince

More information on the ICTU campaign can be found at www.ictu.ie/palestine

For a full list of products to boycottplease visit www.ipsc.ie/big

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34

THE Industrial Relations (Amendment)Act was passed by both houses of theOireachtas on 16th July.

It provides for the re-introduction of amechanism for the registration ofemployment agreements between andemployer or employers and trade unionsgoverning remuneration and conditions ofemployment in individual enterprises.

It also provides for a new statutoryframework for establishing minimum ratesof remuneration and conditions ofemployment to replace the former sectorialRegistered Employment Agreements.

The collective bargaining element of theAct at Part 3 allows for amendments to theIndustrial Relations (Amendment) Acts2001 -2004 to reform the current law onemployees’ right to engage in collectivebargaining. The following FAQ guide seeksto give an outline of the main provisions ofthe Act.

COLLECTIVE BARGAININGWhat’s the format for collective bargaining under theAct?The Act amends and extends the previous original Act(2001-2004) which was effectively decommissioned bythe Supreme Court ruling in the “Ryanair” case in 2005. Itincludes a definition of collective bargaining, stricterguidelines on what constitutes independent “exceptedbodies” (in-house staff associations), stronger protectionsagainst victimisation and injunctive relief to preventdismissals for workers who use the Act.

It ultimately allows the Court to set improved andlegally-binding terms and conditions of employment for aspecific groups of workers.

How is collective bargaining defined under the Act?It states: “Collective Bargaining comprises voluntaryengagements or negotiations between any employer oremployers’ organisation on the one hand and a trade unionof workers or excepted body to which this Act applieson the other, with the object of reaching agreementregarding working conditions or terms of employment, ornon-employment, of workers.”

Where does the Labour Court feature in this scenario?As with the other parts of this Act, the Labour Court ispivotal to the process. The Labour Court will investigate atrade dispute in the absence of established collectivebargaining upon an application of a trade union providedthe membership is significant in relation to the grade, sectoror category of workers or where the grade, sector orcategory is part of a larger group.

Will union members have to identify themselves bydeclaring their membership?No. A statutory declaration by the General Secretary willsuffice.

Suppose the employer claims that there is collectivebargaining with an “in-house” staff association?Importantly, the Court must establish that there is in factgenuine collective bargaining taking place with the in-house association (excepted body) and the employer willthen have to be able to demonstrate to the Court byreference to strict guidelines that the body is fullyindependent of the employer.

How will the Labour Court be guided in setting theterms and conditions of employment?Essentially, they will look at similar employments in a widecomparative net, both unionised and non-unionised, todetermine the totality of remuneration. In addition, theCourt shall have due regard to collective agreements whichare commonplace in similar employments, and where not,to all evidence produced by the parties.

How was the anti-victimisation provision strengthened?A member of a trade union involved in the dispute can nowhave access to the Circuit Court to apply for injunctive reliefto prevent dismissal in circumstances where an employerseeks to dismiss the union member for being involved inthe investigation by the Labour Court.

Likewise the Unfair Dismissals Acts have beenstrengthened to protect those who have provided evidence,information or assistance to the union in the dispute.

I.R. changes: your questions

35

REGISTERED EMPLOYMENTAGREEMENTS (REAs)How can an REA be constructed?An REA, as allowed for under the Act, is basically wherethe trade union and an employer conclude an employmentagreement and where both further agree to have it registeredin the Labour Court where it will be binding on both partiesto the Agreement. The terms and conditions of the REAbecome incorporated into every individual employee’scontract covered by the agreement.

What criteria will the Court adopt before it can registerthe agreement?Four fundamental conditions must be satisfied before theCourt will register the agreement:

1. That it is desirable or expedient to have a separateagreement for the class, type or group of workerscovered by the agreement.

2. That the trade union is substantially representative ofthe workers.

3. That there is a robust disputes procedure that must beutilised before industrial action or a lockout takes place.

4. The registration is likely to lead to more harmoniousindustrial relations at the enterprise or organisation.

Can an REA be varied by the Court?Yes, with the agreement of all the parties.

What if one party agrees to a variation but the otherparty doesn’t?The disputes procedure then kicks in which should typicallyinvolve the route of local discussions, the LabourRelations and the Labour Court, who eventually may refuseor grant the variation, as the Court deems appropriate. Ifthere is a clause allowing withdrawal from the agreementin the REA, then the relevant party may do so in suchcircumstances.

In what circumstances can the Court order cancellationof the REA?The Court can cancel the REA under the followingcircumstances:

• Where all the parties request it.• Where there is a finishing date in the REA and upon

application of one of the parties after expiry of the date.• Where the trade union are no longer substantially

representative of the workers.

SECTORAL EMPLOYMENTORDERSWhat is a sectoral employment order and how does itdiffer from an REA?The REA starts off as an agreement and is registered assuch. A Sectoral Employment Order (SEO), on the otherhand, stems from an application by a trade union (oremployer, but unlikely) to examine the remuneration, sickpay or pensions of workers in their economic sector e.g. thewaste industry.

How would a union go about applying for a SectoralOrder?The trade union asks the Labour Court to examine the pay,sick pay and pension entitlements of workers or employersof a particular class, type or group of workers in a particulareconomic sector. The Court in turn can then make arecommendation to the Minister to make an employmentorder for that sector.

How is the Labour Court guided by the Act?Firstly the Labour Court has to be satisfied that the tradeunion is substantively representative of workers in thesector. The Court must also be happy that it is normal anddesirable to have separate remuneration rates in the sectorand that the imposition of such rates would lead toharmonious industrial relations.

Other factors to be taken into account includesustainability of the rates as well as ensuring high standardsof training and qualifications.

The Act also allows the Labour Court to set a rate abovethe minimum wage and to introduce two extra rates of paybased on service or skills. It can also recommend specialrates for apprentices and/or younger workers.

Are all workers then covered in that particular sector?Yes, and the terms of the employer order becomeincorporated in the worker’s contract if he/she enjoys lesserterms at the time the order is in place.

Workers are also protected by anti-victimisation clausesshould they bring a case under this section of the Act.

An employer can apply for a temporary derogation frompaying the rates if he/she can show the Court that he/she isexperiencing genuine financial difficulties.

The above FAQ format is not a definitive guide to the Act butinstead has sought to address the broad issues that arise.Union members should seek advice and clarification from theirdesignated official for further, more detailed, advice.

answered ....

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When dealing with corruption in Ireland,there’s little to report

THE final report of the Moriarty tribunal waspublished on March 22, 2011, after 15 years anda state bill exceeding €50m. It said it was

“beyond doubt” that Michael Lowry, a TD for TipperaryNorth, “imparted substantive information” to DenisO’Brien which was “of significant value and assistanceto him in securing the [second state mobile-phone]licence”. It said Lowry’s behaviour as Fine Gael Ministerfor Communications was a “cynical and venal abuse ofoffice”. It said he had an “insidious and pervasiveinfluence on the [licence] process”.

The report said O’Brien enriched Lowry by“clandestine” money transfers and loan support totallingmore than €1m. It said O’Brien made the payments“during a period when Mr Lowry held public office, incircumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference thatthe motive for making the payment was connected withthe public office of minister”.

When it was published, Enda Kenny, the Taoiseach,told the Dail: “This report will not be allowed to gatherdust.” Copies of Moriarty’s 2,000 page report were sentto Revenue, the Garda Commissioner and the Director ofPublic Prosecutions (DPP). The Criminal Assets Bureaucommenced an investigation to establish if there wasevidence of criminal wrongdoing. It focused on suchissues as potential unjust enrichment and corruption. Atthe same time, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigationconducted a review of the documented financialtransactions.

The Garda review was completed in October 2011,seven months after the report was published. That samemonth, O’Brien sat prominently, behind a row of cabinetministers at the Global Irish Economic Forum in DublinCastle for an address by the former US President BillClinton. The purpose of the invitation-only conferencewas to devise ways of raising Ireland out of the economiccatastrophe it had been plunged into by, among otherfactors, inadequate state regulation.

Another five months later, O’Brien stood on the VIPplatform in the New York Stock Exchange as Kenny rangthe ceremonial bell for business to mark St Patrick’s Day.

O’Brien was not a public figure in 1995 when hisESAT Digifone consortium won the phone licence, but

the personal fortune and influence it generated for himmean that nowadays he is ubiquitous in Ireland’s affairs,despite being tax resident in Malta. In 2000, he soldESAT to BT for €2.4bn, netting himself €317m. Sincethen he has gone from strength to strength, striding theDavos superpower stage and hobnobbing with Clintonwhile becoming Ireland’s most powerful owner of newsmedia.

Despite Moriarty’s findings, his reputation isuntarnished in the eyes of the law. Two years ago, a HighCourt jury awarded him €150,000 in libel damagesagainst the Daily Mail. Testifying at that trial, O’Briensaid Moriarty made “60 findings” against him whichwere “all wrong”. He said it was untrue that the reportwas “devastating” for him. Apparently, the state thinksso too. In March last year, O’Brien hosted a two daymeeting in Dublin of the UN Broadband Commission.On Day 1, he hosted his fellow commissioners at a dinnerin the state-owned Dublin Castle. On Day 2, Kenny metthem in closed session in the Shelbourne Hotel andrepeatedly thanked “Denis” for his work.

The state has never pursued Lowry or O’Brien overthe substantive findings made by Moriarty, a High CourtJudge and servant of the state whom O’Brien subjectedto public attack. Contrary to Kenny’s assurance that thereport would not languish on a shelf, the state hasstrengthened its ties with O’Brien. At times, the twoseem as inseparable as Siamese twins. Even as Revenueis locked in a 15-year legal case with him over a €57mtax assessment arising from ESAT’s sale, the state isentwined with him as co-defendant in a multimillion-euroHigh Court compensation case being brought by losingbidders for the 1995 licence.

Last week, the state joined with O’Brien in a HighCourt injunction application to stop RTE reporting on hisdealings with IBRC, the former Anglo Irish Bank.

Meanwhile, Lowry is still a TD and regards himself assufficiently respected to lobby for a pal’s appointment toa state board. Hence, he passed a troglodyte note toKenny in the Dail recommending his PR woman with theresounding endorsement that she was “not bad lookingeither”.

No action was taken against Charlie Haughey for the

The Sunday Times, Article, 17th May 2015by Justine McCarthy

37

payments he took – amounting to 171 times his grosssalary – in return for favours throughout his politicalcareer. No action was taken either against Ben Dunne,the supermarket chain heir who gave Haughey over €1mand who, Moriarty said, stood to benefit when Lowryincreased a semi-state company’s rent for a buildingowned by Dunne.

The same fate befell the reports of the planningtribunal which cost a projected €159m and took 14 yearsto complete. It found that the former Justice MinisterRay Burke was given a house as a benefit to ensure heacted in the interests of a commercial company, OakparkDevelopments. It said Burke operated secret bankaccounts in the Isle of Man for the purpose of receivingand concealing corrupt payments.

The report also concluded that the former TaoiseachBertie Ahern failed to explain “truthfully” the source ofthe money he had, and that the former EU CommissionerPádraig Flynn “wrongly and corruptly” sought moneyfrom the developer Tom Gilmartin. The planningtribunal made findings of corruption against 11councillors. Findings of corruption based on theevidence of James Gogarty against a number ofindividuals were subsequently withdrawn following aSupreme Court ruling.

The Planning Tribunal’s Report, too, was sent to theGarda Commissioner, the DPP, Revenue and theStandards in Public Office Commission. Burke went to

jail for tax evasion and Liam Lawlor was imprisonedthree times for not co-operating with the tribunal but asfar as the pursuit of corruption, the results were scant.Even where there was a conviction, it didn’t stand up.George Redmond, the former Dublin city manager, wasjailed on two counts of corruption but the conviction wasquashed by the Court of Criminal Appeal because, it saidnew evidence relating to bank accounts could have raisedfresh doubts, thus rendering his conviction unsafe.

A year after the tribunal’s report was published, theannual profits of a company controlled by MichaelBailey, one of the developers about whom allegationswere made, shot up by 300% from €14.8m to €69.2m.When Ireland’s economy imploded, BovaleDevelopments’ loans were transferred to the State’sNational Asset Management Agency. Bailey, his brotherTom and their company made the biggest tax settlementin the history of the State.

There is a reason why some of Ireland’s most powerfulindividuals behave as if they are entitled to automaticimpunity. It’s because that has been their experience.Consistent political responses to tribunals haveeffectively rendered the inquiries’ findings toothless.

In the final report of the planning tribunal, the judgeAlan Mahon said corruption continued in public life“because nobody was prepared to do enough to stop it”.In a properly run country, the buck would stop with thestate, not end up in its pocket.

Brother, sister and sister-in-law. All members of the CWU.Cormac Ó Dálaigh celebrates hisappointment to National Officer ofthe Communications Workers’Union in the Mansion House,Kildare Street, where his sister,Críona Ní Dhálaigh is currentLord Mayor of Dublin.

38

How Unequal is Ireland?

A cornerstone of the 1916 Proclamation is a quality oftreatment of all citizens, and as we prepare to celebratethe centenary of the 1916 Rising, we have a veryunequal society where money and power determinehow people are treated when they commit crimes.

A good example of inequality in Irish societyconcerns the treatment of people who steal fromthe State through tax evasion and those whosteal from the State by defrauding the socialwelfare system. Published below are articlesfrom the Irish Times concerning tax evadersand it is important to note the 108 casesreferred to are from the RevenueCommissioner’s Report for the first quarter of2015 and do not take into account hundreds of othercases dealt with by Revenue, which results in settlementstotalling millions of euro.

One thing all of the people referred to in the reporthave in common is they were never broughtbefore the Courts and will never spend a day inprison for their crimes. Tax evasion is not avictimless crime, it deprives the State ofmuch needed revenue required to providesocial services. If the people referred to inthe report had been paying their taxes, asrequired by law, the money would have gone along way towards providing badly needed servicessuch as Home Help, Special Needs Teachers etc.

For those tax evaders who are brought before theCourts they can rest easy where prison sentences areconcerned. A recent examination highlights that outof a total of 185 cases dealt with by the Courts,only 6 cases resulted in prison sentences, theremainder had fines imposed on them. Thetreatment of tax evaders is in stark contrastto the manner in which people involved indefrauding the social welfare system aretreated. An examination of four separate casesdealt with by the Courts in the last two yearswhich involved defrauding the social welfaresystem of €605,000 resulted in the people concerned

receiving various prison sentences totalling 11.5 years.Justice Martin Nolan dealt with the four cases andproduced below are comments made by Judge Nolan intwo of the cases.

“Mr Clarke told Judge Martin Nolan that his clientsrelationship with her husband was physically

violent and she has spent some time throughouttheir marriage in a women’s refuge.

He said her four children are doing quitewell and asked the Court to accept she “isholding her hands up to the offence”.Counsel said the money his client stole went

towards her husband’s drug debt and she iscurrently reimbursing the State at €20 per week.

Judge Nolan stated; “welfare fraud is a difficultsituation and at times it can be pretty easilyaccomplished”. He said the Department’s only option insuch case is to send people to Court to deter others from

carrying out the same crime.He described the defendant as “a good lady”

and said documents handed into the Courtproved that her children are doing well andthat she also has a responsibility for herparents.

Judge Nolan said he had taken into accountthe defendant’s relationship with her husband

had affected her mental health. He said asubstantial prison sentence was justified but took into

account the defendant’s personal circumstances and thefact she has no previous convictions”.

He sentenced the defendant to two years in prisonwith the final fifteen months suspended. The

amount of money involved in this case was€15,000.

A second case dealt with by Judge Nolanconcerned a 63 year old man who committed€25,000 worth of social welfare fraud.

In this case Judge Nolan said “there isalways a risk of fraud in the social welfare

system because the State has to serve those whoneed support”.

by Terry Delany

“Father offour jailed forfive years forsocial welfare

fraud.”

“Three years’ jail for

social welfare fraud over six

years.”

“Mother jailed for socialwelfare fraud as

she tried to pay offhusband’s debt.

39

He described it as a serious offence but accepted thedefendant was “highly unlikely to do it again”.

“The Court must give a message to the generalpopulation that you will pay a price if you arecaught committing social welfare fraud”,Judge Nolan adding that he must impose aprison sentence.

He acknowledged the defendant lives in“pretty poor conditions and lives a prettymiserable life” that he only has minorprevious convictions and had co-operated withthe Garda investigation”.

Judge Nolan sentenced the defendant to eighteenmonths in prison.

The message from the foregoing is clear, if you are rich

and powerful and you are caught stealing from the Statethrough tax evasion, the worst that can happen to you is

you will be required to pay the money you owe tothe State along with monetary penalties and have

your name published as a tax evader. If on theother hand you steal from the State bydefrauding the social welfare system, youwill most likely go to prison because in thewords of the learned Judge “The Court must

give a message to the general population thatyou will pay a price if you are caught committing

social welfare fraud”.The leaders of the 1916 Rising must be turning in their

graves.

“Social welfare fraudstercaught by facial

recognitionsoftware is

jailed.”

Former lobbyist and jockeynamed as tax defaultersFrank Dunlop and retiredjockey and trainer CharlieSwan on latest taxdefaulters list

FORMER lobbyist Frank Dunlop and retiredjockey and trainer Charlie Swan are among108 defaulters to be fined for failing to meet

their tax obligations during the second quarter. Thelatest defaulters list shows Mr Dunlop, a formergovernment press secretary with an address atRathbeggan, Dunboyne, Co Meath, made asettlement totalling €429,198 for under declarationof income tax and VAT.

Mr Swan, an ex-top National Hunt jockey of TheCobs, Modreeeny, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, madea settlement of €122,442, for under declaration ofincome tax and VAT, and for a case linked toReveunue’s ongoing investigation into offshoreassets and funds.

The latest lists shows settlements totalling €18.52million were made during the second quarter. Of the108 published cases, 51 were for amounts exceeding€100,000; of which eight exceeded €500,000, andthree of which exceeded €1 million. The listincludes five medical consultants who madesettlements as part of Revenue’s ongoing inquiry intothe profession.

In the biggest settlement in the current list,Humphrey Onome Ugbawa, a medical doctor and

company director with an address at 1 The Green,Ocean Links, Strandhill, Co Sligo paid €1.54 millionto Revenue.

Other defaulters to have made settlements totallingover €1 million are Michael Raymond, a pictureframing service provider from 47 Newpark Road,Hollypark, Blackrock, Co Dublin, who paid back€1.16 million, and Raymond Samuel Martin ofBellinter, Navan, a confectionary and ice creamvendor, who paid back €1.02 million.

Among the other big payers to settle with Revenuewere auctioner Maurice Ahern, from Main Street,Middleton, Co Cork, who made a settlement of€952,606 for underdeclaration of income tax andVAT.

Others to appear on the latest defaulters list includecompany directors, publicans, farmers, propertydevelopers and restaurateurs.

Approximately four of the 108 settlementspublished, yielding €600,000 relate to Revenue’songoing investigation into offshore assets and funds.In addition to the settlement from Mr Swan, Revenuealso received payments from Thomas PatrickCoughlan, a retired panel beater from Ballycarney,Ferns, Co Wexford; Brendan Harty, a retiredcompany director from Ballyheigue, Co Kerry; andfrom Michael Horgan, a company director with anaddress at Knocknamuck, Mitchelstown, Co Cork.

The published settlements reflect a portion only ofall Revenue audits and investigations concludedduring the quarter. A total of 1,718 audit andinvestigations together with 22,305 risk managementinterventions were settled during the three-monthsunder review, resulting in yield of €186 million.

© 2015 irishtimes.com

40

Five doctors settle large taxbills after Revenue inquiry Paul Cullen

Last Updated: Wednesday, September 9, 2015, 16:29 The latest tax defaulters list includes five medicalconsultants who made settlements as part of Revenue’songoing inquiry into the profession.

Twelve medical consultants have previously madesettlements as a result of Revenue’s investigation, andmore are expected to feature in future lists.

So far, the investigation into more than 500 medicalconsultants has netted more than €30 million inunpaid tax and penalties.

Officials found many had set up “controlled

companies” to maximise their incomes but which werefound to be involved in aggressive tax planning andavoidance.

The bulk of cases investigated to date are focusedin Dublin but the inquiry has since been expandednationwide.

In the biggest settlement in the current list,Humphrey Onome Ugbawa, a medical doctor andcompany director with an address at 1 The Green,Ocean Links, Strandhill, Co Sligo paid €1.54 millionto Revenue.

Cardiothoracic surgeon Michael Tolan, of Suite 38,Hermitage Medical Clinic in Lucan, settled for€411,180, while three other doctors made settlementsranging from €109,000-125,000.

© 2015 irishtimes.com

Cuts imposed during the financial crisisdisproportionately hurt the “disadvantaged andmarginalised” and must be phased out, a United Nationscommittee has said.

The UN Committee on Economic, Social and CulturalRights (ESCR), which examined Ireland in Geneva,published its concluding observations.

The Government was represented at the hearings inGeneva by a team of 21 senior civil servants led byMinister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs,Seán Sherlock. The Irish Human Rights and EqualityCommission led a group of 12 NGOs and members ofcivil society. It was the first time Ireland had appearedbefore the committee since 2002.

The committee said that notwithstanding theunprecedented economic crisis that faced Ireland, theresponse had been “disproportionately focused oninstituting cuts to public expenditure in the areas ofhousing, social security, health care and education,without altering its tax regime”.

“The austerity measures, which continue to be applied,have had significant adverse impact on the entirepopulation, particularly on disadvantaged andmarginalised individuals and groups, in enjoying theireconomic, social and cultural rights.”

DiscriminationThe committee said policies applied during the crisis“must be temporary, covering only the period of thecrisis, and they must be necessary and proportionate.They must not result in discrimination and increasedinequalities”.

It said austerity measures must be “gradually phasedout”, while consideration should be given to reviewingthe tax regime “with a view to increasing revenues torestore the pre-crisis levels of public services and socialbenefits”.

The committee said it was “concerned at the increasein the number of people living in consistent poverty orat-risk-of-poverty”, particularly children, single-parentfamilies, older people, people with disabilities, Travellersand migrants.

It called on the State to integrate a human rights-basedapproach into all poverty reduction strategies.

Zero-hour contractsIt noted “disproportionately high rates of unemploymentamong Travellers, Roma, young people and persons withdisabilities”, and called for legislation to strengthencollective bargaining and end low- and zero-hourcontracts.

The committee made six recommendations on thehousing crisis, including increasing rent supplement,strengthened rights for households in mortgage arrearsand taking “all necessary measures to meet the criticalneeds” of the homeless.

On the situation of asylum seekers, the committeecalled for improved living conditions in direct provisioncentres “including through . . . making the private actorsaccountable for the actions and omissions and addressthe mental health issues of asylum seekers”.

It also called for an end to the right of schools todiscriminate on the basis of religion in their admissionspolicies.

Cuts unfairly hurt marginalised, says UN Committee

Here’s a hard choice for politicians with backboneHow about free primary education instead of a cut in inheritance tax?

Fintan O'Toole – © irishtimes.com

I’M SURE I’m not the only one who is sick of hearingabout “hard choices” from people with great salaries,ample expenses and luxurious pensions. So let’s pose a

genuinely hard choice. The Government, along with theOpposition parties, in the run-up to an election, has clearoptions. It can buy off vocal, active, well-connectedmiddle-class voters.

Or it can use public money to make a huge long-termdifference to the welfare of Irish families. The hard thingwould be to say “no” to the lobbying and “yes” to seriousinvestment in our society. On current form, the politicalestablishment will be hard as jelly.

Consider the issue that is stirring the leaves of our moreverdant suburbs – capital acquisition tax on inheritances.Inheritance tax has become more onerous. In 2009, an adultcould inherit up to €542,544 from a deceased parent tax-free and anything more than that was taxed at just 22 percent. This was severely reduced in the austerityprogramme: now, a person can inherit only €225,000 tax-free and the balance is taxed at 33 per cent.

LobbyingAs house prices (and thus the value of the estates thatpeople are leaving to their grown-up children) have risen,urban middle-class constituents have been rending theirhair over this. Lobbying of Michael Noonan, especiallyfrom Fine Gael TDs, has been fierce. But Fianna Fáil isalso pushing hard for relief – Senator Mary Whitedescribed inheritance tax as “extreme communism” – as isRenua.

The lobbying has, apparently, worked. Governmentsources have been briefing heavily to the effect thatNoonan will drastically raise the threshold for tax-freeinheritance, perhaps to as much as €400,000. He has formin this regard: in May 1999, when he was oppositionspokesman on finance, he called on Charlie McCreevy toexempt family homes worth up to €1 million from capitalacquisition tax.

But what’s wrong with taxing inherited wealth? It’s aboutthe most progressive and least economically damaging kindof taxation there is. Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes last monthdescribed €225,000 as a “relatively small” estate – but“relatively” is surely the operative word. It’s a very big lumpof money to get tax-free – especially in a country wherevery modestly paid workers can pay income tax at 40 percent.

Why should tax on unearned income be so much lowerthan the tax on ordinary people’s wages? We’re not, afterall, talking about people being thrown out of their homes

because they can’t pay the inheritance tax – if the familyhome is the principal residence of the adult child, it can beinherited tax-free. We’re also not talking about vastnumbers of people – last year, 5,133 estates were subjectto the tax.

Besides, right-wingers are forever telling us that peoplerise to positions of wealth entirely through their own talentsand efforts – the “self-made man” is their imagined hero.So to be consistent they must surely be in favour of limitingthe amount that people can inherit – money that is, afterall, unearned and emphatically not self-made. And taxinginheritance is also effective: last year, it raised €328million.

Without doing anything, the State could easily increasethis – because of rising property prices, the take wouldincrease automatically. All that’s needed is something thepolitical system is often so good at – masterly inactivity.

Let’s take an extremely conservative view and assumethat the successful lobbying will reduce the State’s incomefrom the tax by €100 million a year. What could the Statedo with €100 million? A lot, of course, but let’s just takeone outlandish suggestion. It could do what it’sconstitutionally obliged to do and what almost everycivilised country manages to do. It could provide for freeprimary education for all children.

One of the greatest disgraces in Ireland is that “freeeducation” is very expensive – painfully so for middle- andlower-income families. We know that almost a third ofparents have to borrow money just to get their kids back toschool every year: books, uniforms, travel, “voluntarycontributions”. In a recent study, Barnardo’s figured outexactly how much it would cost to make primary educationgenuinely free.

Doing this would have a hugely positive impact on thepoorest families and children but it would also be a boostto families at every income level and in every part ofIreland. What’s the bill? €103 million a year.

So here’s a suggestion for Michael Noonan and FiannaFáil and Renua and everyone else who aspires to governus. Put your hands behind you and feel around for somevertebrae. When you’ve found your backbone, stand upstraight and talk to the Irish public as if they are intelligentgrown-ups. And offer them a real choice.

Tell them that you’re going to let the take frominheritance tax rise from €328 million to €431 million.And you’re going to use that extra money to fund genuinelyfree primary education for every child in the country. Itwould do wonders for Irish families, and it might even dowonders for your own self- respect. You might even find,to your great surprise, that the public would respect youtoo.

THE IRISH TIMES

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CWU People

On the 21st August last, Paddy Doherty or Paddy Mór ashe was better known retired from An Post after 38 yearsof service to the Company and the CWU. He deliveredthe post on the most northerly route in Ireland. Paddybegan working for An Post or P&T as it was then in 1973and for the first 4 years delivered the mail by bicycle, notan easy feat, bearing in mind the costal terrain andweather he had to contend with over 27 miles coveredeach day. He then took up delivery in a van which madelife somewhat easier but nevertheless he continuouslymade Trojan efforts to deliver the mail despite the winterstorms and snow. Truth be told on a number of occasionsboth Paddy and the van didn’t fare too well, but bothsurvived to tell the tale…. well at least Paddy did!!

As a result of his long service Paddy built up a vastlocal knowledge and the expression “ask the postman”was often heard. Despite the fact that Paddy wasresponsible for delivering written forms ofcommunications, it was not unusual to see him leaningover a hedge shouting to a farmer in a field that his helpwas needed at the next farm. I don’t think An Post couldbeat that record for a fast and efficient delivery service.

There are many stories which Paddy can recount fromthe locality, some hilarious but equally some sad andtragic. In earlier times it was often the case that Paddywould be the first to bring this sad news to familieswhose loved ones had passed away. The letter he detesteddelivering were the ones edged in black. He always knewit meant a death and was prepared for the sadness that thenews would bring.

Paddy stayed an extra year with An Post because heloved the job and the routine so much. Although peoplenow have the assistance of technology through email etc.,we hope that there will be that personal touch of having

a letter delivered with the friendly words “what’s thenews today” That human contact can never be replaced.

Paddy would like to thank his wife Margaret forkeeping the home fires burning when he was out andabout. Both he and Margaret have reared 9 children andin turn have 15 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildrennow to keep them busy. He would also like to pay tributeto his work colleagues in Carndonagh DSO past andpresent. He also pays tribute to Paul Harkin (ClusterManager) who tried to keep him on the straight andnarrow over the years. Paddy would like to thank all thelocal people in the MalinHead area for their help over theyears.

Paddy also wishes to thank Monica Goodison, retiredpostmistress, Malinhead PO with whom he worked withthrough good times and bad. The bad times included twoarmed robberies but they got through it with the supportof An Post, their families and the local community.

To end, a new chapter has begun for Paddy. His familyand colleagues wish him many years of happiness andgood health. They envisage that he will be forever knownas Paddy Mór the Postman and his sons and daughterswill simply be known as the “Postmans son or thePostmans daughter”. His family are all proud of that.

It was clear by the large turnout at his retirementfunction of the respect in which he was held by thepeople of the Malinhead area.

On behalf of the Lifford/Inishowen Branch of theCommunications Workers’ Union I would like to take thisopportunity to wish Paddy a long and happy retirement.

Pictured left:Paddy Dohertyreceiving hisValedictory letterfrom OwenMcGuinnessPostmasterCarndonagh DSO

Paddy Doherty RetiresSubmitted by the Doherty family and the Lifford/Inishowen Branch

Paddy Doherty receiving his Union Scrollfrom Seamus McLaughlin (Branch Chairman) and

Michael Gallagher (Branch Secretary)

Pictured right:Paddy Dohertyreceives the Cu

Chualainn Statuettefrom John Lafferty

(Cluster Manager).

44

CWU People

Brian O’MalleyRetires James O’Reilly Retires

Brian O’Malley (pictured on the right), whohad 49 years’ service under his belt when he

retired on Friday 4th July, is presented with theCWU Union Scroll by Willie Mooney.

James retired from Castlepollard Post Office on the 5th May2015 after 37 years’ service. James took over the Finea postfrom his father all those years ago and carried on the familytradition. Best wishes James on your retirement from all yourcolleagues in Finea, Castlepollard and Mullingar!

Pictured from l to r: Barry Carr, Branch Secretary Mullingar.presents James O’Reilly with his Union Scroll.

Mick Lynch (pictured on the left) is presented withthe Union Scroll by Vincent Kilroy, following his

recent retirement from DSM in Waterford.

Helping Mick to celebrate his retirement were (pictured from l to r):Derry Gaul, John Hanlon, Mick Lynch, Margaret Stanley,

Vincent Kilroy and Francie Power.

Mick Lynch Retires

45

Postal Worker, Eamonn Walsh, is appealing to former Post &Telegraphs Staff throughout the country who may have an oldP&T Postman’s uniform. particularly a tunic. and P&T Bicycleto contact him on 087-2775317.

Eamonn was involved in RTÉ’s “Road to the Rising” lastEaster Monday and will be heavily involved in the centenaryof the Rising in 2016 as the Piping Postman.

CWU People

An appeal to formerPost & Telegraphs Staff

Members of the Dundalk Postal Branch recently held their anuall charity football match in memory of the lateLiam Cunningham. This year the Branch raised Funds for local youth club “Megahearts”, who support childrenwith Autism. Presenting the cheque to Megahearts Youth Club are Branch members, Benny McDonald and Paul

Smartt. The Branch wouldd also like to thank the CWU Head Office for their Support with this Charity.

Megahearts Fundraiser

46

A fantastic night was had at the Martello Hotel inBray, April 2015, on the occasion of the retirementof Nicholas (Nick) Eogan following 22 years’ ofservice with An Post, Bray.

Nick may have retired from An Post but you canstill catch up with him on Garden County Radio,where he broadcasts daily, from 11am to Noon andevery Sunday Morning from 10am to Noon.

Why not download the tune-in app fromwww.gardencountryradio.ie - IT’S FREE!

Nicholas (Nick) Eogan Retires

Richard Barry Retires

Presenting Nick with the Union Scroll is EugeneDoyle, Branch Secretary, Bray, (pictured left)

and Geared Whelan, Chairman (pictured right).

A great night was had in The Helm Bar And Restaurant,Westport, Co. Mayo, on the occasion of the retirement ofRichard Barry, following 43 years’ service at WestportD.S.U.

Richard was given a great send-off by family, friendsand work colleagues from the D.S.U. and Westport retail

office.George Reilly, Branch Secretary Westport Postal

Branch, presented Richard with the Union Scroll andGold Badge, while Maria Clarke presented a bouquet offlowers to Mary Barry, Richard’s wife.

We wish him a long and happy retirement.

Pictured l to r: George Reilly, Branch Secretary,Westport Postal Branch, presenting Richard Barry with

his Union Scroll and Gold Badge.

Pictured l to r: Mary Barry, wife of recent retiree,Richard, is presented with a bouquet of flowers by

Maria Clarke.

CWU People

47

Dublin Delivery BranchRetirements

The Dublin Postal Delivery Branch would like towish all the recent retirees the very best of luck for thefuture.

It was a very busy period with seven membersretiring in the last couple of months. Between them all,they have given over 270 years’ service. The Branchwould also like to thank Donal Cassidy for the manyyears he served as Branch Rep. in Swords DSU.

Donal Cassidy,Swords DSU

Paddy Corri,Ballsbridge DSU

Jimmy Bell,Harmonstown DSU

Christy Mallin,Rutland PlaceDSU

John Thompson,Whiteheather DSU

Danny Byrne,Rathmines DSU

Frank Fagan,Harmonstown DSU

CWU People

48

Photo on the left: Margo Duffy and Barry Gallagher making a presentation to Michael Gallagherand his wife Margaret on behalf of his colleagues in Ballybofey DSO.

Centre photo: Michael Gallagher receiving his Retirement Scroll fromMichael Gallagher (Branch Secretary Lifford/Inishowen Branch).

Photo on the right: Michael Gallagher (centre) receiving his Cu Chulainn Statuette and Valedictory Letterfrom colleagues Margo Duffy and Gerry Marley.

Michael Gallagher or Mickey the Post as he is known hascalled it a day after 48 years’ service with An Post andthe CWU. He delivered his last letter on the 14th Augustlast. He is also well known as an amateur weathermanand has featured in various newspapers, has writtenbooks on the subject, appeared on television and has doneseveral interviews on radio throughout Ireland.

Michael who hails from the parish of Glenfin outsideBallybofey in Donegal started with the P & T as it wasknown then on the 13th September 1967 at Marley’s PostOffice in Cloghan. Michael started delivering the post ona second-hand bike his late father and mother bought himat a cost of three pounds and seven shillings. He laterprogressed to a Honda 50 which cost £119.00. He waslater supplied with a van which made life a lot easier.

Michael had his retirement function in Harkin’s Bar inthe village of Brockagh on the 29th August andcoincidentally this was where he delivered his first letterback in 1967. You could say that it is an end of an era inthe Glenfin area of Donegal by the large turnout on thenight. Michael also received numerous letters fromprominent figures including An Taoiseach Enda Kenny,Gerry Adams TD, The President of FIFA, The Presidentof the GAA and on the night a Phone call from Daniel

O’Donnell.Pat the Cope Gallagher also paid tribute to Michael

saying that the turnout on the night is a clear indicationof the respect in which Michael is held by the people inhis own native area. He gave a tremendous social serviceto many people in the area, not alone delivering the mail,but also carrying messages, newspapers and the like. Ontwelve occasions he came across people who wereseriously ill.

Fr. Eddie Gallagher, whose father also delivered thepost for forty years in the area said that the postpersonhas a very important role in the community. He also saidthat “rural Ireland is being drained of services. Theseservices are the veins of the community.” Fr. LorcanO’Searcaigh said that it was “in many ways a sadoccasion because we are losing one of the most dedicatedmembers of the community of Glenfin.”

On behalf of the Lifford/Inishowen Branch of theCommunications Workers’ Union I would like to take thisopportunity to wish Michael a long and happy retirement.To his wife Margaret, their children Martin, Marion andMichelle best wishes for the future.

Submitted by the Lifford/Inishowen Branch.

The End of an Era - Michael Gallagher (Mickey the Post) Retires

CWU People

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Joe Traynor CWU member and postman D.O 2 helps torun an Irish language course with a group of membersin An Post every April in Carraroe, Co. Galway. Thepurpose of the course is to allow attendees the chanceto practice and improve their Irish skills in a relaxedsetting. The course focuses on spoken Irish and issuitable for all, no matter what standard of Irish. Socialactivities are organised each evening.

If you have any interest in Irish or want a chance topractice your cúpla focal without pressure then why notgive this course a try and help keep our language alive.

“A country without a language is a country withouta soul”.

Improve your Irish skills!

For further information contact Joe Traynor on 085 2098815 or email joetraynor1981@gmail.com

The CWU is deeply saddened by the newsof the passing of John Lennon (RIP), formerDeputy General Secretary of the CUI andExecutive Assistant in CWU Headquarters.

John began his career in the Post Officein 1966 as a Postal Clerk; however, hiscareer in the trade union movement beganin earnest when he was promoted to the

grade of Overseer. During his time in CWUHeadquarters, John played an integral partof the group that negotiated the‘Transformation through PartnershipAgreement’ with An Post.

The Union would like to extend itsdeepest condolences to John’s family,friends and former colleagues at this time.

KNIS National Committee- Inaugural MeetingThe CWU/KNIS Committeemet for the first time onSeptember 17th to discuss arange of issues including;pay structures, health andsafety and training. Thecommittee agreed to launch asurvey to all KN members toget their feedback on theseimportant issues. Theexisting committee membersalso welcomed John Furlong(Wexford) and Damien

Byrne (Cork) onto thecommittee as they hadcompleted their training overthe previous two days. Witha good national structure inplace the KN Committee willcontinue to build on the solidmembership that is alreadythere and looks forwardengaging with managementto protect and improve theterms and conditions of theircolleagues.

Pictured l to r: Thomas Williams, Kevin Barry,John Furlong, Damien Byrne, Robbie Mangan

and Gary Dorrian

RIP John Lennon

CWU People

50

Josh Earley is a fourteen-year-old teenagerfrom Monksland in Athlone, studying in theMarist College. It was his love for books andart that made him decide to write his firstbook. Josh is a funny, chatty and wittycharacter. His first book was read by childrenand adults of all ages! He is contracted on athree-book deal with Book Hub Publishing,based in Galway. His first book was titled,‘Shrunk!’ and sold out its first edition in threemonths. His second book is titled, ‘Shrunk!The Wasp Kingdom’ and is scheduled forpublication in early November.

Claire Earley’s (Athlone Postal Branch)

Author Son, Josh,aged 14.

For more information go to his facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJoshEarley

CWU People

51

52

Students from CBS, St James’s StreetSecondary School

CWU Humanitarian Aid Convoyheads off with the help of some

very good friends!

53

Pupils give up confirmation money to sendaid for orphans in MoldovaBig­hearted pupils from St Clare’s primary school in Harold’s Cross have donatedtheir confirmation money to orphans in Moldova.

Pupils at St Claire’s Primary School, Harold’s Cross, Dublin,give the CWUHA convoy the thumbs up.

Pictured below:Alex Grogan hands a parcelto her granddad, An Post

worker, Paul O’Neill.

The class from St. Clare’s teamed up with students fromthe CBS on James’ Street and used their funds topurchase boxes of baby products and other gifts for theorphanage.

Alex Grogan, one of the sixth class pupils who

recently made their confirmation, came up with the ideaafter taking inspiration from her granddad.

An Post worker, Paul O’Neill volunteers as a driverwith the Communications Workers’ Union HumanitarianAid Convoy.

5454

Book Reviews by Adrienne Power

Jean Louise Finch, “Scout”, arriveshome to Maycomb, Alabama, tosee her ailing father Atticus. Nowin her twenties, she has lived inNew York for a number of years.After only a short time at homeshe finds she no longer fits in withfamily and acquaintances.

Unrest is beginning to come tothe surface in their smallSouthern town - a place where

most people are like extended family and where they have livedwith a certain degree of amiability. However, times arechanging and it is evident that things are not equal within theirpopulation with the dawn of the civil rights movement.

Scout battles without and within to see beyond the black andwhite world to the shades in between.

It is wonderful once again to revisit the time, place andcharacters from the eternal classic “To Kill a Mockingbird”.

Isaiah 21:6 For thus hath the LORD said unto me, Go, seta watchman, let him declare what he seeth.

GO SET A WATCHMAN by Harper Lee

Catherine Ravenscroft picks up a book she finds on hernightstand to read and realises it is the story of an event inher own life that no one should know. So begins the mysteryof the mystery book.

Buried secrets unfold. Vengeance lures its ugly head. Youare so sure this story is heading one way when it is, in fact,

moving in a completely differentdirection.

With a terrific opening and and ideathat tantalizes the reader about the truthright to the end, this book is a “mustread”.

DISCLAIMER by Renee Knight

A wonderful revisit of familiar characters!

Finalist in this year’s InternationalImpac Dublin Literary Award.

As a teenager AustralianHannah Kent visits Iceland. Shebecomes fascinated by the storyof Agnes Magnusdottir, the lastperson to be executed there in1829 after murdering her

employer/lover.One of the best books I have ever read!The storyline was not something that appealed to me but I

had heard so much talk in book clubs about the book and onceI started reading it I was surprised I could not put it down.

The characters just came to life on the page. You could seethem immediately and the landscape. You wonder how anyonesurvives life under such harsh conditions.

BURIAL RIGHTS by Hannah Kent

I could not pass this title by. The story by one of the survivorsof the 1996 Everest Disaster due to come out shortly in thecinema.Why do people climb Everest? No one knows completelyhow altitude will affect the human body. No one knows ifthey will be susceptible to brain swelling. It will get to a point

in the climb when their body cannotaccept food. They are going to betotally dehydrated. They will end up inthat situation where their brain won’t beable to make the proper decisions.How could anyone continue?

LEFT FOR DEAD by Dr Beth Weathers

A thoroughly fascinating story of survival!

One of the best books I have ever read!

Twist in the Tale!

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