sHopflooRMAndAte tRAde union MARCH 2012

439,600

76,000

JOBS PlaN‘DelUSIONal’

are without work

emigratedin last year

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

THE Government must act in thebest interests of its citizens andnot on behalf of the bankers andspeculators who have wreakedhavoc on this society.Mandate general secretary John

Douglas made the call as ministerslaunched an Action Plan for Jobslast month.He described the initiative –

which aims to create 100,000 jobsby 2016 – as “delusional”.“They plan to do this within 

existing, significantly reducedbudgets while lining up at leasttwo more austerity budgets.”This would, Mr Douglas warned,

further drive down domestic 

demand, increase unemploymentand perpetuate “an ever shrinkingeconomy”.“While Ireland burns on its bon-

fire of debt, the Governmentlaunches a jobs initiative that is significantly lacking in imaginationand with little or no new innovativeideas.  It’s the same old same old –to coin a phrase.”Mr Douglas reiterated Mandate’s

view that job creation and growthremained the “vital medicines” that

would nurse Ireland back to economic recovery. He said: “Wenow have close to half a million people on the dole with many families barely scrapping by tomaintain dignity and self-respect.“This is happening while our 

political masters continue to feedmore good money after bad into theblack hole of failed banks here inIreland and also to greedy bond-holders who gambled and lost yetstill get paid by Irish workers and

society.” Against this backdrop,76,000 people had emigrated in thelast year alone in search of a betterfuture. A total of 1,640 companies have

been declared bankrupt and thou-sands more businesses are in direstraits.  Mr Douglas said: “Long term unemployment has increased by14.5% to nearly 200,000 people –and that simply is a national dis-grace.” He called for funds that werebeing used to prop up “failed banks

and gambling bondholders” to bedirected instead to invest in people.This would create “a real and effective jobs stimulus package”.Mr Douglas added: “Emigration is

now sadly once more in vogue forour young people desperate to findwork but not desperate enough towork as free labour for profitablemultinationals for what amounts toslave labour wages on governmentinitiatives such as the JobBridgescheme.“What a legacy they are building.

Our legacy will be to fight back byorganising and campaigning. If wetolerate this, then our children willbe next!” 

We need real stimulus package

sHopflooR y March 20122

sHopflooRMAndAte tRAde union • vieW fRoM tHe

Mandate warning over B&Q cuts plan

THE Irish economic/social policy is now ef-fectively ruled by the Troika whose fiscalausterity measures have wreaked havocwith our economy and social infrastructureand face us into the potential of a lost decadewith mass unemployment, personal/na-tional debt mountains and mass emigration.  The crisis in capitalism which is reflected

in the international banking and debt crisisand the euro debacle will have profound im-pacts on the world economy and socialorder.  The so-called developed world is experi-

encing unprecedented levels of unemploy-ment, the banking systems have all but

collapsed and in political terms we are seeing a marked move to theright across Europe. On a human front, Irish citizens, Mandate members and their

families are struggling to get work and to earn a decent living wageand the welfare infrastructure which many of the most vulnerablesections of any society depend on is under attack.

The present government seems to be stuck on the same “tread-mill” of appeasement to our Troika masters as the previous gov-ernment did to the detriment of our economy and our society. While all this poses very serious and immediate questions for the

broader trade union movement both home and abroad, each indi-vidual union must get its own house in order.  

There is a pressing need for leadership at all levels of the tradeunion movement. While the movement in Ireland has been con-sistent in putting forward alternatives for a Better Fairer Way, wehave not been able to mobilise mass opposition and sustainedsupport. In fact, the Irish people – union members included – came within

a whisker of giving Fine Gael an overall majority.  If we are serious about a better and fairer way, then we need to

organise, educate and mobilise around a vision for a differenteconomy, for a new society. For if we do nothing, history willwrite off the trade union movement as the “dog that did notbark”. The task ahead is daunting, but again I say, doing nothingis not an option.

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

T: 01-8746321/2/3 F: 01-8729581 W: www.mandate.ieDesign & Editing: Brazier Media E: braziermedia@btinternet.com

Shopfloor is edited, produced and printed by trade union labour

industRiAl neWs

MANDATE has highlighted the con-sequences of new cost cutting plansat B&Q, involving “significantchanges” to members’ terms andconditions.In January, management at the

DIY chain – part of the very success-ful Kingfisher Group – proposed aseries of measures.These include: • Immediate scrapping of the win-

ter/summer bonus,• Removal of a zone allowance

(worth 41c) from April 1 this year,• Introduction of new starter

rates,

• Introduction of new premiums,• A ban on recruitment, and• A 5% reduction in the staff head-

count.Mandate wrote to management on

January 23 seeking an urgent meet-ing.B&Q responded by confirming

they would communicate directlywith staff over the measures.Industrial officer Jonathan Hogan

said: “Members at B&Q are seekingto be represented collectively overthe proposed changes. “Any proposals that have the im-

pact of reducing our members’

terms and conditions of employ-ment must be justified and broughtabout by agreement. “Over the years, our members at

B&Q have not benefitted from na-tional pay agreements and as a re-sult, the employer has enjoyed hugeprofitable growth.“The Kingfisher Group’s annual

accounts for 2010/11 flag up thisastronomical growth – contributedto by our members.”He added: “Further investment in

stores – as projected by the com-pany – must recognise the contribu-tion made by workers.”

Mandate calls on membersat Boots to back their reps

Pic

ture

s: J

oh

n C

ha

ne

y

MANDATE shop stewards at Bootsare seeking election to the com-pany’s consultation forum inMarch – and the union has called onmembers to make sure they casttheir votes for them.The poll follows the introduction

of the Consultation and InformationDirective in 2006.At the time, union and manage-

ment hammered out a frameworkfor the consultation forum. In a national agreement brokered

with the company in 2007, it wasagreed that the store’s forum repre-sentatives would initially servethree years on the body.However, this was extended by 18

months in 2010 – during whichtime, it was agreed that Mandateshop stewards were to be co-optedon to the forum in advance of elec-tions taking place.The company and union have

agreed timescales on nominationsand elections which will take placethroughout the company. Nominations for forum represen-

tatives were submitted earlier thismonth.Divisional organiser Brendan

O’Hanlon said: “Shop stewards areextremely enthusiastic about takingpart and see this as a natural exten-sion of their roles as representa-tives. “Our shop stewards are well

trained representatives and havevast experience which would be ofgreat benefit to the members andthe consultation framework in Bootsat store, regional and national level.”He added: “We are calling on all

Mandate members to support their

representatives by voting for themin the upcoming election.”Mandate has consultation agree-

ments with several employers in theretail sector and positively promotesthe practice.They serve as a valuable forum for

workers and employers to share in-formation over a firm’s performanceand future business plans as well asaddressing issues of concern to em-ployees. 

Topic covered on the course:

• Health and Safety Legislation

• Role of Health and Safety Representative

• Safety statements

• Role of Health and Safety Authority

• Occupational health

• Identification of hazards and risk assessment

• Accident investigation

• Fire safety

• Effective communications

• Health and safety promotion

Certification and Progression:

Members who successfully complete this course receive a Fetac Level 5

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

If you are interested in this course, please contact your Mandate official

or Mandate's Training Centre at 01-8369699. Email: mandateotc@mandate.ie

Health & Safety FETAC Level 5

This course is aimed at Health and Safety representatives

Brendan O’Hanlon speaks at a January 31 meeting of Boots shop stewards

‘Extremely enthusiastic’ was how divisional organiser Brendan O’Hanlon described Mandate’s first rate team of shop stewards at Boots

DOING NOTHING ISNOT aN OPTION...

John DouglasGeneral SecretaryMandate Trade Union

March 2012 y sHopflooR 3

neWs

£68m payoutfor formerWoolies staff

Bests storeset to close

UK retail workers union Usdaw haswon a massive compensation settle-ment totalling £67.8 million for for-mer Woolworths employees.The iconic high street retailer went

into administration in November2008 and by early January 2009 all ofits stores, offices and distributioncentres had closed.Now more than 24,000 workers

who were made redundant will beawarded 60 days' pay, capped at£330 a week – the maximum amountpayable. The union won the compensation

in a January 20 judgment followingan employment tribunal in London.It affects ex-Woolies’ staff in Eng-

land, Scotland and Wales.Usdaw has already made a sepa-

rate and successful claim for itsmembers formerly employed byWoolworths in Northern Ireland. The union had argued that the ad-

ministrators had failed in their legalduty to consult with the union beforemaking redundancies.It is understood the payout will not

apply to 3,000 former employeeswho worked in smaller brancheswhere fewer than 20 redundancieswere made.Usdaw national officer John Gorle

said: “While the award is never goingto fully compensate people for losingtheir jobs, I'm sure our members willwelcome the money and appreciatethe effort Usdaw has made to securethe compensation for them.“Cases like this once again demon-

strate the immense value of belong-ing to a trade union. However, I'monce again bitterly disappointed thata tribunal has limited the scope ofthe award.”

MANDATE has vowed to securethe “best possible outcome” formembers employed at a branch ofBests Menswear in NorthsideShopping Centre, Dublin.

It follows the announcementthat the company plans to closethe store in early March in a bid toreduce costs. Mandate officialsmet with management on Febru-ary 9 and asked for up to date fi-nancial information.

They also requested the com-pany open a voluntary redun-dancy scheme with options forrelocating those staff who wishedto remain in employment.

Industrial officer David Miskellsaid: “Mandate is committed toconstructive engagement with thecompany going forward to ensurethe best possible outcome for thestaff of Northside.”

A general meeting of all Man-date members is being scheduledin the coming weeks to review thesituation.

Showing support forVita Cortex workers

Solidarity forever: Some of the Mandate members involved in the successful La Senza sit-in turned out to support their fellow workers in the on-going Vita Cortex dispute

A large contingent of Mandate members turned out to show their solid backing for the actions of Vita Cortex workers at a support rally in Cork on February 11 Pictures: Mandate

MANDATE members in Cork havehad a whip around to show soli-darity with fellow workers in-volved in the Vita Cortex sit-in.The big-hearted gesture came

after more than 5,000 people tookpart in a February 11 rally in Corkto support the stand taken by theformer employees of the now-de-funct foam factory.A sizeable Mandate delegation

joined the crowds marchingthrough the city centre for theCork Council of Trade Unions-or-ganised rally.Divisional organiser Lorraine

O’Brien said: “From our perspec-tive in Mandate Cork, we were de-lighted to be able to play a part in

rallying our members to come outand march to support their col-leagues in Vita Cortex. “It was an honour to do so and

we will continue to give whateversupport is necessary to ensure thatthey receive their just entitle-ments.”Ms O’Brien, who is also a mem-

ber of CCTU, added: “We will workwith the Council to keep the cam-paign alive.”The 32 Vita Cortex workers have

occupied the Ballyphehane site inthe south of the city since the fac-tory closed on December 16.The workers – with a combined

total of 847 years service for thecompany – are owed €370,000 on

top of their statutory entitlements.Mandate members Fiona

O’Leary and Avril Sreenan, whoboth work at the Tesco store in theCork suburb of Douglas, were atthe rally.Earlier they had taken part in

raising funds for the sit-in at theirworkplace.They then visited the workers

involved in the sit-in to pass on theproceeds of the collection.Shop steward Fiona O’Leary told

Shopfloor she understood the diffi-culties facing the Vita Cortex work-ers having taken part in a strikeherself in 2009.She said: “I was moved to tears

and found the conditions in the

factory deeply upsetting. “I was shocked to think that in

this day and age people hadworked in such desperate condi-tions – let alone living in them asthey are at present.”She underlined that not once did

the workers complain about theconditions they were having todeal with at the plant.Despite the damp and the cold,

the two Mandate members weregiven a warm reception and takenon a tour of the factory.Avril Sreenan added: “I could not

believe just how upbeat the work-ers were and how appreciativethey were of the good will and do-nations being given to them.”

sHopflooR y March 20124

Budget cuts push us into povertyneWs

anger overryanair ad

Improveddeal at BSS

THE Advertising Standards Author-ity has banned a series of sexistnewspaper adverts for Ryanair – fol-lowing a number of complaints tothe UK watchdog and an online peti-tion signed by 11,000 people.The ads featured women posing in

bra and pants under the headline"Red Hot Fares & Crew! One wayfrom £9.99". Ryanair had claimed that as the

women – employees of the budgetairline – had volunteered to takepart in the campaign, the ad couldnot be construed as “objectifying”women.However, the ASA concluded that

the women's appearance, stance andgaze – along with the headline –would be seen as linking femalecabin crew with sexually suggestivebehaviour, so breaching the adver-tising practice code.A spokesperson for online peti-

tion site change.org claimed the vic-tory was “an extraordinary exampleof people power – and a testamentto the power of anyone, anywhere tostart, join and win campaigns aboutissues they care about”.Also welcoming the ruling, Man-

date national co-ordinator AileenMorrissey said: “The ads were sexistand provocative and played up tothe worst stereotyping of female air-crew. I’m glad Ryanair got its wingsclipped over this.” 

MANDATE has managed to secure sig-nificant improvements to redundancypackages following the closure of BSSLtd in Cork.The heating and plumbing supplies

merchants closed its doors in themiddle of December last.Eight of the employees out of a total

workforce of 12 were members ofMandate. Initially BSS offered onlystatutory redundancy but Mandateinsisted management tabled threeweeks for each year of service – asthey as had done in the past. This was agreed by BSS chiefs –

along with an additional five per centcompromise agreement – following anumber of discussions. The unionwas also instrumental in negotiating aseries of extra concessions including: • The redundancy payout was

based on a five-day week – even forthose members who worked only athree or four-day week.• Each member of staff received 12

weeks pay in lieu of notice as well assix weeks additional pay up to Janu-ary 13.• VHI Health Care payments is to be

honoured up to May 2012.Staff also received payment for any

untaken annual views and BSS agreedto fund two days training  – wortharound €500 per person – in job find-ing and interview skills.Mandate industrial organiser

Robert McNamara said: “It is ofcourse highly unfortunate that jobswere lost, but we did our utmost tosecure the very best deal we could forour members.”

SPARK – Single Parents Acting for the Rights ofour Kids – is a diverse group of single parentsthat have united together to protect their chil-dren from the radical policy changes introducedin Budget 2012.

The group – which staged a protest highlight-ing their concerns at the Garden of Remem-brance in Dublin, left, on February 18 – seeks toraise awareness of the many challenges one-par-ent families face and to identify essential sup-ports needed to give them equal participation insociety.

Single mum Andrea Galgey said: ‘’I joinedSPARK because of the CE Scheme changes, andwhat that means to me, which is basically not al-lowing lone parents to work.

“All the changes that have been aimed at loneparents in this budget have made me feel we’rean easy target to victimise.’’

SPARK member Leah Speight added: “I havebeen inspired that single parents across Irelandhave come together to organise a campaignagainst the cuts.

“Many parents will be forced out of their part-time or job-sharing positions because of thesecuts. Having worked in retail for many years on alow wage I cannot see it feasible for parents inlow paid sectors to now go out and work.”

ONE-parent households are FOURtimes more likely to live in consis-tent poverty, according to rightsgroup SPARK.And figures show that 65% of

Ireland’s poorest children live in asingle parent household. Leah Speight, a spokesperson for

the group which campaigns to raiseawareness of the challenges facingsingle parents and their children,said: “Despite the fact single par-ents were, as a group, living in con-sistent poverty during the boomyears, they are now being stereo-typed and stigmatised in parts ofthe media and by some politiciansfor being on a supposed gravytrain. “The stark reality for many lone

parents is very different.”One example is the income disre-

gard that has not been increasedfor 15 years.  This is now to be cutfrom €146.50 to €60, affecting asignificant number of low-paid

workers, especially in the retailsector where many part-time jobsare filled by single parents. For a large number of these par-

ents, organising their workinghours around childcare and domes-tic needs, the cut in the income dis-regard will force many out of theworkplace. Leah Speight added: “Minister

Joan Burton claims this is an incen-tive to get parents back to work,but fails to mention that 60% ofsingle parents work atypical hoursin an effort to keep childcare costsdown. “The introduction of the income

disregard in 1997 was to assistparents into the workplace.“It is now ironic that government

is claiming cutting it will help par-ents back into work.”Cuts impacting on single parents

and their children include:• Withdrawal of double payment

for OPFP recipients on CE schemes,

• Reduction in income disregard,• Reduction in child-care subven-

tion rates, • Contribution to CETS for those

availing of education and retrain-ing,• Reduction in qualifying age

from 14 to seven, with no supportsin place,• Cuts in rent allowance,• Cuts in back to school al-

lowance,• Reduction in back to education

allowance,• Cuts in Child Benefit for fami-

lies with more than three children,and• Cuts in fuel allowance.Leah Speight flagged up the real-

life consequences these cuts willhave.She said:  “A combination of

these cuts will inflict poverty andhomelessness, and more parentswill stay in abusive relationshipsbecause of these extra financial

barriers. Single parents burdenedwith childcare commitments andwith no affordable childcare willcontinue to struggle to compete ina jobless market, with 450,000 reg-istered unemployed. “Remember, a lone parent plays a

role of two parents – and one in-come has to do the work of two in-comes in other family set-ups.”According to SPARK, Minister

Burton’s budget contains no provi-sions to assist childcare costs, andwill force single parents into a lifeof  dependency. Leah Speight added: “Like the

previous government, there is noappetite or genuine commitmentby Fine Gael or Labour to save sin-gle parents from a poverty trap. “It is not so long ago in Ireland

when single mothers were sent offto work in laundry homes andSPARK will make a stand againstthe discrimination that still in ex-ists in Ireland today.”

issues sinGle pARents

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

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

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

Name

Address

Workplace

Location

Phone

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

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

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

Phone 01-8369699, email mandateotc@mandate.ie Closing date Friday 30th March 2012

You will be contacted to confirm places after the 30th March 2012 Skills for Work is funded by the Department of Education & Skills

March 2012 y sHopflooR 5

By Joan Gaffney

THE government seems to have lit-tle else to say except to repeat overand over again that we, as a nation,are broke.This dreary mantra from on high

rightly sends a shiver of anxietythrough all low paid workers, be-cause they know what is comingnext – less in their pay packets topay the bills. Now with bin charges being in-

troduced, rising heating, electricityand fuel costs, an income levy aswell as a two to three-year payfreeze put in place by many em-ployers, the lower paid are beingmade to bear the brunt of the melt-

down in our economy .The list of rising taxes and

charges can go on and on, but stillthey will come after the lower paidwanting more and more. When will this government un-

derstand there is NO MORE left inthe pot to give – for many it is al-ready empty.All the government is doing is

inflicting damage on the lowestpaid in society,  taking away theirability to took after their families’interests.These people are working hard –

sometimes doing long or unsocia-ble hours – but they are doing thatso they can to eke out a decentstandard of life for their familiesand to pay their bills.

Why doesn’t the government seethis? Are they so blinded by theirown lavish lifestyles, that theydon’t care about the rest of us?Well, I think it’s time to remind

them who they are working for...and that the low paid have hadenough.The next time they come to your

door with smiles and promiseslooking for our vote, the answershould be NO! This government has done noth-

ing for us except take, take, take.I advise you to phone or call in

to your local TD and let them knowwhat’s it like working  for an ever-shrinking pay packet.It’s time for them to listen for a

change...

When enough is enough

Conference theme revealed ascountdown to Wexford begins

tHinKinG out loud...

Mandate President

industRiAl neWs

BienniAl deleGAte ConfeRenCe 2012

MANDATE is to call a generalmeeting of members working atthe Finglas branch of Dunnesstores.

It follows serious reductions inhours worked by some staff – withsome members having their hourscut by half.

Management have sought tojustify the move by claiming therehas been a decline in trade.

Industrial officer David Miskellclaimed the move would have aserious impact on members’ takehome pay.

He said: “This comes at a timewhen members are faced with aplethora of additional govern-ment charges.

“In addition the company re-fuses to assist staff by allowingthem to integrate social welfarebenefits with wages by condens-ing their hours into three days.”

Mr Miskell added that despitebeing contacted by the union,management had “refused to re-spond constructively or meet toaddress the situation”.

Hours cut at FinglasDunnes ‘will have aserious impact on pay’

ALL roads lead to Whites “Fair”Hotel, Wexford, on Sunday, April 22and Monday, April 23 for Mandate’sBiennial Delegate Conference 2012. Following on from 2010 BDC’s

Waking up taking action, this com-ing conference’s theme will resonatestrongly with hard-pressed retailworkers across Ireland as it focuseson the slogan Decent Work = BetterFuture.General secretary John Douglas

said: “The theme is certainly some-thing we can all unite around. “So much of our time is spent

away from home and our families atour place of work. “Having a decent and secure job is

a fundamental human right as workdefines so much of who and whatwe are. “It adds to the quality of our life

and gives us a future worth living. “Unfortunately, in this economy

and in this society, decent work issomething we have to fight and or-ganise for – but, as the conferencewill show, that is what we are deter-mined to do.”What is sure is that tens of thou-

sands of retail workers and unionmembers across Ireland face chal-lenging and uncertain times as thecoalition government’s failing aus-terity strategy draws us ever closerto the economic abyss. Huge economic and social up-

heavals have been forced upon us byour political masters in Europe.The so-called Troika continues to

denude workers’ spending powerand presents us with a challengeabout what type of society we wantfor our children. National co-ordinator Brian

Forbes said: “Not since the founda-tion of the state has trade union

membership and the idea of collec-tive social solidarity meant so muchto its current and future generationsof retail workers.”He pointed out that hard working

employees in the sector were facedwith low wages, perilous job secu-rity, little or no control over theirhours of work and workplace condi-

tions as well as poor opportunitiesfor training and career development. Added to that many employers in-

creasingly expected their loyalworkforce to be ever more transientand ultra flexible to “suit the needsof the business”. But assistant general secretary

Gerry Light believes workers can

once again take the initiative by fo-cusing on their traditionalstrengths – solidarity and organisa-tion.He told Shopfloor: “There is no

doubt that workers need to standunited with their brothers and sis-ters across the shopping mall or onthe high street to halt the ever in-

creasing spectre of casualisation.“The union recognises the need

for a change in emphasis not only inretail but across all employment sec-tors and a fundamental shift in atti-tudes by employers as to howworkers and their families should betreated – treated with dignity, re-spect, certainty of hours and cer-tainty of earnings.”He insisted that the Decent Work

campaign was not simply a slogan toconcentrate minds at the BDC, butwould continue to focus the union’sresponse on to the plight of workersfacing increasingly greedy and, insome cases, exploitative and aggres-sive employers.Mr Light added: “The increasing

push for flexibility in all aspects ofretail operations means a significantdecrease in decent work and thisflexibility works insidiously, pushingworkers into ever more less secureforms of work. It also supports ‘therace to the bottom’ mentality ofsome employers. “Our 2012 BDC will be the launch

pad for Decent Work and a Better Fu-ture for all. Union members demandand deserve the opportunity to ac-cess more hours if so desired, a reg-ular income and working week, legaland enforceable protections at workand to be treated with dignity andrespect by their bosses.” 

l Join us in our campaign and helpspread the word that Decent Work =Better Future. Watch out for our up-coming special 2012 conference edi-tion of Shopfloor which will outlinein more detail the conference themeand our Decent Work campaign. Wehope to see you at conference or atevents following our conference.Stay union!

Whites Hotel, Wexford, will host the coming Biennial DelegateConference. Whites is part of the Fair Hotels initiative

sHopflooR y March 20126

CONGRESS is setting up a number ofsectoral committees to help advancethe implementation of the A Call toAction report, adopted at its BiennialDelegate Conference last year.The decision was taken by Con-

gress’ Executive Council on February15.Mandate general secretary John

Douglas is to head up the Services &Communications Committee and istasked with driving co-operation be-tween Mandate and other unions,including SIPTU, CWU, IBOA andUnite.He is joined by other prominent

trade unionists who also take lead-ing roles in various sectoral commit-tees – Sheila Nunan (Education);Shay Cody (Public Service);  Jack O’-Connor/Patricia King (both Trans-port and Community); Eamon Devoy(Construction); Jimmy Kelly (Manu-facturing) and Liam Doran/Joe Cun-ningham (Health).The report formed a central part

of last July’s BDC in Tralee.Philip Bowyer, of UNI Global

Union, who presented the report tothe conference, underlined to dele-gates that “standing still” was not anoption for unions in Ireland.

‘More focussed’He called instead for a “much

stronger, more focussed” approachfrom unions through the setting upof joint services and by pooling re-sources in areas such as communi-cations and legal services.In his response to the presenta-

tion, John Douglas flagged up the ne-cessity of forging closer links andsharing resources with otherunions.He said: “Unions can’t work in

splendid isolation – to do this wouldbe to manage our own demise.”Rather, he told delegates, unions

had to be “fit for purpose” and “ar-ticulate a real alternative”.“It’s not all about structures and

rules of trade unions. It’s not aboutwords – it’s about actions. “It’s about trade unions working

together and sharing resources. It’sabout putting personal agendas andegos to one side. “It’s about using scarce resources

to best effect. It’s about workers,public and private, North and South,East and West, uniting to fight back.”

Sectoralcommitteesestablishedfor unions

John Douglas: Heading up the new Services & Communications Committee

European parliamentarians cast their votes... but where is Europe heading? TUC chief Brendan Barber, right, fears the worst

suMMinG up tHe fisCAl CoMpACt

a death knell for theidea of a social europe

UNIONS have agreed a new cost sav-ing and restructuring deal withmanagement at Eason’s.The agreement – brokered be-

tween Mandate, SIPTU and Eason’sat the Labour Relations Commissionin December – followed a lengthytalks process.Members of both unions who

work at Eason’s 23 retail outlets anddistribution depots voted to acceptthe deal in separate ballots earlierthis month.Mandate industrial officer Robert

McNamara said the parties hadagreed to finalise an “informationand consultation” agreement by theend of March, which he added would“prove greatly beneficial to staff”.Redundancy terms agreed are five

weeks gross pay per year of service,inclusive of statutory entitlements.Management confirmed the vol-

untary redundancy scheme hadbeen launched and that the firm wasseeking 150 redundancies.For its part, Eason’s underlined

the need for a “flexible businessmodel” and stressed it would be set-ting in train a “root and branchanalysis” of its operations.However,  the deal also sees the

setting up of a new dispute resolu-tion procedure that commits man-agement to consult with unions  “ina timely manner” if the restructur-ing process “negatively impacts” onworkers’ terms and conditions.Eason have also agreed to con-

sider a reward mechanism with

SIPTU and Mandate, if and when thecompany's trading performance im-proves.During negotiations, anomolies

also came to light over differences inpay between employees at Eason’sDublin and Cork airport stores andthe rest of the retail chain.It is understood these anomalies

arose when these stores – formerlyowned by Hughes & Hughes – weretaken over by Eason’s.Mr McNamara: said: “Mandate

raised the issue during cost -savingdiscussions and it resulted in someworkers getting an increase inhourly pay as well as an increase inunsocial hours premium.“There was also a major improve-

ment in the sick pay scheme.”Robert McNamara: ‘Beneficial to staff’

Unions agree Eason’s deal

TUC chief Brendan Barber has described thegrowth-killing policies crippling Europe’seconomies and plunging living standards intothe abyss as a “collective suicide pact”.If that’s the case then the Fiscal Compact

signed in January is its last will and testamentand sounds the death knell for social provisionsthat have for long been a defining part of the Eu-ropean experiment.The Fiscal Compact enshrines the concept of a

balanced budget as a new standard.Up to now, the acceptable EU general govern-

ment budget deficit target – as defined in the1997 Stability and Growth Pact – was 3% or lessas a share of GDP.In attemping to define what a “balanced

budget” means, the actual figure turns out to bean eye-watering 0.5% over the medium term.This means enshrining in treaty form a

regime of tight fiscal rectitude, labour marketderegulation and the constant chipping away ofwelfare provision.It forces governments to aggressively pay

down their over-all debt, particularly if that debtexceeds 60% of GDP.Any attempt by individual member states to

deviate from this medium adjustment pro-gramme will automatically trigger a correction

to the budget plan. Though exceptional circum-stances are allowed for in the provisions, defin-ing what these circumstances are is difficult tooutline – and probably deliberately so.In effect, it seems governments’ scope to de-

termine changes to taxing and spending plans atnational level is being sacrificed on the altar ofausterity.The frequent visitations by men in grey suits

from the Troika to those states on the EuropeanCommission’s ‘naughty step’ – Greece, Portugal,Italy and ourselves included – seems to herald agrowing infringement of national rights fromthe European centre.

No social solidarityBut this is not internationalism as we would

like to define it. There is no social solidarityhere. There is no glowing display of Europeanfellowship.As Barber points out this is turning into a Eu-

rope run in the interests of “bankers and bondvigilantes”.And get ready for more men in grey suits. For

next July, the EU is to set up the European Stabil-ity Mechanism – basically a permanent bail-outfacility for member countries.Assistance from the fund is conditional on

signing up to the Fiscal Compact. 

And in contrast to other treaties that requireunanimous support of all EU member states, thenew Fiscal Compact only requires 12 memberstates to rubberstamp it for it to apply to theother 13 participating states.A total of 25 EU states have signed on the dot-

ted line so far – at least to the draft proposals –with the UK and the Czech Republic opting outfor the present.And the treaty has sharp legal teeth too – any

failure to set down in full treaty provisions in in-dividual state constitutions or national legislationcould mean goverments being frog-marched be-fore the EU Court of Justice. A penalty of 1% of GDP may well apply. That

translates into losing a small army of care work-ers, nurses, doctors and teachers.Lashing the proposals, Brendan Barber said:

“Not only does it effectively outlaw any kind ofKeynesian economic stimulus, not only does itundermine long-term prospects for jobs andgrowth, but it is also profoundly undemocratic. “It is an attempt to impose European-wide

austerity measures to which no national elec-torates have given their consent.“What has happened in Greece and Italy could

now happen across the continent.”We could add Ireland to that shortlist...

Pic

ture

s: E

uro

pe

an

Pa

rlia

me

nt; T

UC

March 2012 y sHopflooR 7

War against the low paid

Union Representatives

Introductory Course

The Union Representative Introductory Training Course is for new shop

stewards/union representatives. The course aims to provide information,

skills and knowledge to our shop stewards/union representatives to

assist them in their role in the workplace.

Course content:

• Background to Mandate.

• The role and responsibilities of a Shop Steward/Union Representative.

• Examining disciplinary/grievance procedures.

• Developing negotiating skills.

• Representing members at local level.

• Communication skills/solving members’ problems.

• Organising, Recruitment and Campaigns.

• Induction presentations.

Certification and Progression:

Members who successfully complete this course will obtain a

Mandate certificate. They may progress to a Union Representative

Advanced Course and to other relevant training courses

offered by Mandate.

If you are interested in this course, please contact your Mandate official or

Mandate's Training Centre at 01-8369699. Email: mandateotc@mandate.ie

MARKS & Spencer has agreed toenter into talks with Mandate’sM&S National Negotiating Com-mittee.

It is understood the discus-sions will have a wide-rangingagenda and include a pay review.

The outcome of these talks willbe brought to a M&S nationalshop stewards’ meeting beforeApril.

The shop stewards will thendecide if the proposals should beput to members at M&S with arecommendation.

MANDATE members working atthe Homestead Bar, Cabra, are tobe balloted over roster changes.

It follows a number of discus-sions between Mandate officials,Licensed Vintners Associationrepresentatives and local man-agement.

A number of cost-saving meas-ures had been sought by man-agement intially involving paycuts and a redundancy agree-ment.

However, an agreement wasbrokered on roster changes, al-lowing the company increasedflexibility but maintaining theearning levels and working hoursof members.

M&S to talkto Mandate

Bar staff tobe balloted

If you or a member of your family need aclick-start in computer basics, then this 6-hour training

course is ideal – and what’s more, it’s free!

During the sessions, you will spend 4 hours learning howto use a computer as well as simple online transactions.

You will also receive 2 hours of training on a choice of options – such as an introduction to digital photography;

using the internet for voice or video; and the use of Government and other public services online. There will

be a maximum of 8 students per class.

To apply, contact Fiona Elward 01- 889 7711 at IrishCongress of Trade Unions or Mandate Training Centre

at 01-8369699 or email benefit3@ictu.ie

Still don’t know your mousefrom your windows?Then this course is

for you... and it’s free!

IT-4-2-DayAlive and Clicking!

Pic

ture

s: A

SUBy Brian Forbes

TENS of thousands of low paidworkers will still be afforded protec-tions under the new system of JointLabour Committees despite the bestefforts of the business lobby and theunwelcome intervention of theEU/ECB/IMF Troika to restrict theoperation and application of univer-sal collective agreements.The new JLCs proposed by Minis-

ter for Jobs Enterprise and Innova-tion Richard Bruton and publishedon the department’s website on De-cember 22 last year has yet to be in-troduced into the Dail. The Bill was drafted in direct re-

sponse to the ruling last July in theHigh Court in the John Grace FriedChicken Ltd case in which JLCs weredeemed unconstitutional.The previous JLC system – which

worked perfectly well for both em-ployers and workers – was sacri-ficed on the altar of the Troika bythe last government in late 2010.Mandate has successfully cam-

paigned and intensively lobbiedwith other unions and the Coalitionto Protect the Low Paid to ensurethat workers previously covered bythe wage-setting mechanisms willcontinue to be protected under thenew provisions. 

Also, it is imperative that any newJLCs would be able to provide forovertime rates, pensions and sickpay which were not contained in theprevious system. Mandate is not satisfied that the

provision for Sunday premiums has

not been included in the proposedchanges to the new JLC mechanism.Working Sundays is not optional forthousands of workers in retail andin many other sectors. The vast majority of workers both

in Ireland and internationally who

work on Sundays receive an addi-tional premium for doing so. Despite the provision for low paid

workers covered by the Bill toachieve a Sunday premium througha yet to be agreed code of practice tobe developed by the JLCs it is a back-ward step for workers and theirfamilies and could see many work-ers working Sunday’s for signifi-cantly less than at present.In the Irish retail sector we have

seen basic hourly rates in some em-ployments fall to the National Mini-mum Wage of €8.65 and unsocialhours payments fall from time plus33% per hour to time plus 50 centper hour. These reductions are having a

devastating impact on low paidworkers and their families. Mandate believes a code of prac-

tice will not reverse this trend as itis more likely to, rather than set arate; suggest what employers mayfind as “fair and reasonable”. Chal-lenging what is meant by “fair andreasonable” is like pushing against ahaystack.It is also disappointing that provi-

sions for employers’ pleading an “in-ability to pay” the agreed JLC rateswould have an extended exemptionof up to two years for the employer. Mandate working with other

trade unions and organisations rep-

resenting low paid workers man-aged through direct campaigning toachieve significant concessions inthe drafting of the original Bill andwe continue to exert influence overthe final Bill to be brought beforethe Dail soon.We achieved a basic adult rate and

two higher rates based on experi-ence and service in the industrywhen it was originally proposed bythe Minister that there would onlybe one adult rate and that any in-creases would be based on servicewith the employer. We also achieved a climb down on

the original intention to include areference that the JLC must take intoaccount pay in equivalent employ-ments in Northern Ireland and theUK when setting rates here. This intention was replaced by a

reference to wages in “other rele-vant jurisdictions”.Mandate is anxious for legislation

to be enacted as quickly as possibleso unions can get down to the busi-ness of putting back in place themechanisms required to protect lowpaid workers against the determina-tion of the business lobby to drivecosts down while maintaining and,in some cases, increasing profitsthrough reducing workers’ wagesand term and conditions in a con-stant race to the bottom. 

AnAlYsis Joint lABouR CoMMittees

Mandate National Coordinator

International issue: Australian worker shows her feelings about attempt to cut wages

sHopflooR y March 20128

plAtfoRM RepudiAte tHe deBt CAMpAiGn

GUITAR LEGEND Ry Cooder wrote asong a few years back called noBanker Left Behind. It’s a great, catchy song, and the

words go around in your head, leaving you with a numbing feeling,“Why the bloody hell are thebankers always first in the queuewhen the money is being handedout?”While the song is about the US,

one has to ask the same questionabout our little sod.It looks like 2012 will be a tough

one for workers in this country, asthis government insists on pursu-ing a policy of “No bond-holder leftbehind”.By the end of March, the govern-

ment or the banks that we controlwill hand over more than €3.7 bil-lion to bond-holders. Most, if not all, will come out of

your pocket.What could we do with that sort

of money?We could employ more nurses

and more home helps, undo thecuts in the fuel allowance to yourgranny or grandfather, open upclosed hospital wards. But no – we will be handing over

the money to bond-holders, to keepGerman and French banks afloat,while we drown in a sea of cuts, in-

creased taxes, household charges,water charges – and with no end insight.Between now and the end of the

year it is estimated that we will payout more than €19 billion to bond-holders. This will all come out of our

pockets directly, in the form of thegovernment paying the cheque, orindirectly, in the high bank chargesfrom the financial institutions thatthe government has pumped ourmoney into – such as AIB etc. One way or the other, we will pay.So all the talk about getting the

public purse in order and balancingthe books, that the state must col-lect enough revenue or cut spend-ing to ensure that income andexpenditure match, is a load of hotair. Not only will we be paying these

bond-holders but we will also bepaying interest on the huge debt. This is all about fleecing the peo-

ple – nothing more, nothing less.That is why we have massive cuts

in public spending, increased de-ductions from workers’ wages,where there is no longer room onyour payslip for all the levies andadditional deductions taken fromyour wages before you get out thedoor to go home.All these cuts and levies are

being imposed on working people,forcing them to make impossiblechoices each time a bill comes in.They debts imposed by the EU in

the form of the bank bail-out arenot to keep Irish banks solvent butto keep German, French, British andDutch banks – and the euro – afloat.In addition the EU/ECB/IMF, the

previous and the current govern-ment have eagerily agreed to selloff public companies and services.The rouge for the sell -off will bethat some of the money will be re-invested in jobs, while most of themoney will be handed over to Ger-man and French banks. They will sell enough of Ireland

to make us all strangers in our owncountry just to save their cronies.By mid-February, each one of us

will owe an additional €40,000, ontop of our rent or mortgage andcredit-card bill. This burden is simply too great

for four-and-a-half million peopleto carry. There is only one solution to this

odious debt burden – that is in theinterests of working people, andthat is repudiation.The message is simple – it is not

the people’s debt, and we shouldnot pay it.All other solutions would mean

that we sacrifice all that we havenow and into the future so that theEU and its big-money backers canhave a free lunch, while we pick upthe tab.

l You can see a video of the RyCooder’s no Banker Left Behind onYouTube, but I would recommendyou buy the album and so help tokeep your local record shop open.And while you’re there, ask if

they are in a union; if not, give theman application form. The more people in a union, the

stronger we all are. Give the bossesless room to undermine our wagesand conditions.

Visit www.nodebt.ie or emailrepudiatethedebt@gmail.com.

a ry take on the banking crisisBy eugene McCartanRepudiate The Debt Campaign

Union Representatives

Advanced Course

Ry Cooder’s song No Banker Left Behind contained a shrewd analysis of finance crisis

Garment workers on the early shift enter a factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh

The Union Representative Advanced Training Course is for shop

stewards/union representatives who have completed the introductory

course or who have relevant experience.

Course content:

• Understanding Mandate’s structures.

• Overview of Mandate’s rules.

• Industrial Relations institutions and mechanisms.

• Mandate’s Organising Model.

• Negotiations and Collective Bargaining.

• Understanding Equality and Diversity.

• Developing induction presentation skills.

• Introduction to Employment Law.

• Identifying issues and using procedures.

Certification and Progression:

Members who successfully complete this training course will obtain a Man-

date certificate. They may progress to the FETAC level 5 Certificate in Trade

Union studies or other relevant training courses offered by Mandate.

If you are interested in this course, please contact your Mandate official or

Mandate's Training Centre at 01-8369699. Email: mandateotc@mandate.ie

MANDATE vice president Margaret O’Dwyer has called on union members tosupport and sign up to the Clean ClothesCampaign.

The CCC is dedicated to improvingworking conditions in the global gar-ment and sportswear industries.

An alliance of organisations in 15 Euro-pean countries, the CCC supports the em-powerment of workers in developingcountries.

It works with a partner network ofmore than 200 groups and trade unionsin garment producing countries.

Margaret O’Dwyer said: “We all needto be aware of where we buy our clothesand where they come from.

“The Clean Clothes Campaign is work-ing hard to raise awareness by educatingand mobilising consumers.

“It also pressurises companies to takeresponsibility for workers throughouttheir supply chain.”

She underlined the importance for allworkers – regardless of their sex, age,country of origin, legal status, employ-ment status or location – to have goodand safe working conditions.

“They should also be able to exercisetheir fundamental rights to associatefreely and bargain collectively and earna living wage which allows them to live indignity. “www.cleanclothescampaignireland.org

Pic

ture

: Ta

slim

a A

kh

ter/

Cle

an

Clo

the

s C

am

pa

ign

Pic

ture

: N

on

Su

ch

Re

co

rds

You can help to cleanup garment industry...

March 2012 y sHopflooR 9

Workers ‘rewarded’ by more austerity

Daa outsourcing plan is‘sickening blow’ to staff

Calculatinghuman costof poverty

industRiAl neWs

MANDATE has called “a sickeningblow” Dublin Airport Authority pro-posals to outsource its distributioncentre to a third party provider.The move – announced at a recent

meeting with union representa-tives – could have significant conse-quences for the 20 Mandate workersinvolved.It is understood DAA has already

referred the matter to the LabourRelations Commission for a concilia-tion conference. For its part, Mandate has told LRC

it intends to consult members be-fore giving any indication of its will-ingness to attend. Divisional organiser Brendan

O’Hanlon said: “The company’splans are a sickening blow to theworkers who are now potential vic-tims of this continued race to thebottom and of DAA’s pursuit oflower costs with no regard to howthis will impact on its loyal work-force.”

At a general meeting of memberson February 8, it was decided to en-gage with management locally to ex-plore alternative options.Talks with management are

scheduled to take place over thecoming months.But Mr O’Hanlon warned that any

attempt by them “to unilaterally im-pose any situation on the workers”would leave the union with nochoice but “to take whatever steps itdeems necessary to protect its mem-bers’ interests”.The management proposals come

just two years after staff in the Dis-tribution Centre agreed to a cost re-covery plan.This saw numbers of staff reduced

through a voluntary redundancyprogramme as well as cuts in pay.It also involved increased produc-

tivity following the opening of Ter-minal 2 and the shouldering ofresponsibility for distribution toboth Cork and Shannon airports. 

The new proposals have been de-scribed as “an extremely worryingdevelopment” by the union, repre-senting a part-privatisation of theDublin Airport Authority.Mandate also points out it is in

marked contrast to sentiments ex-pressed by outgoing DAA chief De-clan Collier in the company’s 2010annual report. Then, he appeared toacknowledge the sacrifices that hadbeen made by staff.He wrote: “As the economic envi-

ronment deteriorated dramaticallythrough late 2008 and early 2009,the company and its staff respondedrapidly to the changed circum-stances.“The combination of the success-

ful implementation of Cost RecoveryProgramme, a continued focus onnon-manpower costs and the intro-duction of new terms and conditionsin Terminal 2, has brought the com-pany’s cost base to 2005 levels, inline with passenger volumes.” 

DAA has signalled it is to float another voluntary re-dundancy programme involving retail staff at Termi-nal 1. The programme, designed to reduce its costbase, follows a DAA announcement last year that ithad returned to profit.

DAA revealed in June 2011 that group profits hadrisen to €33.1 million compared with a loss of €13.3million the previous year. The voluntary redundancyprogramme comes only two years after staff in theretail area voted to accept a cost-saving plan whichsaw the loss of a significant number of jobs.

At a recent meeting, divisional organiser BrendanO’Hanlon warned management that the launch ofany programme must only take place after agree-ment had been reached with the union.

He noted that current staff had not availed of thelast redundancy severance scheme and – given the

current economic climate – would be unlikely to optto leave the company now. And in what the unionhas described as a “bizarre twist”, it is understoodmanagement are seeking to make a number of em-ployees, who are on fixed-term contracts with differ-ent terms and conditions, permanent.

Mr O’Hanlon claimed this was a clear indication ofDAA’s intentions towards long-serving employeeswho had made such a contribution to the company’sreturn to profits last year.

They were, he said, “being rewarded by furtherausterity measures”.

Mr O’Hanlon added: “We will not be participantsin this race to the bottom and furthermore we willnot tolerate our members being constantly sub-jected to this threat and uncertainty, when clearlythere is no justification.”

A SIGNIFICANT number of Irishhouseholds that rely on socialwelfare or the national minimumwage have insufficient income tolead a decent life as defined bythe UN, a new study has found.The report, a Minimum income

Standard for ireland, presents theresults of a year-long researchproject that sets out the cost of aminimum standard of living forindividuals and householdsacross the entire life cycle – fromchildhood to old age.The UN-defined minimum es-

sential standard is one that meetsa person’s physical, psychological,spiritual and social needs.In fact, the 1948 UN Universal

Declaration on Human Rightsstates that “everyone has the rightto a standard of living adequatefor health and the well being ofhim/herself and his/her familyincluding food, clothing, housingand medical care…”Researchers from Trinity Col-

lege’s Policy Institute producedthe study in association with TheVincentian Partnership for SocialJustice and the Department of So-cial Protection.  Speaking at the launch in

Dublin earlier this month, DrMicheál Collins, one of the re-port’s authors, underlined the im-portance of establishing thisminimum income stand.He said: “It provides a new

benchmark grounded in the livedexperience of people, one whichcomplements other povertymeasures and assists in the for-mation of income support policiesto tackle poverty and enhance so-cial inclusion at each stage of thelife-cycle.”Dr Collins, a former assistant

professor of economics at Trinity,claimed the research was usefulin assessing how adequate cur-rent welfare payments were aswell as outlining the challengesfaced by low-income workingfamilies.It was also relevant to debt-

burdened households in theirdealings with the courts, banks,or with the counselling serviceMABS.He said: “The minimum essen-

tial standard of living is the samefor all households irrespective oftheir income level.“The minimum is the minimum

for all and above this people canconsume more given their in-comes. However, below this levela household is unable to experi-ence a basic standard of living.”VPSJ director Sr Bernadette

MacMahon flagging up the impor-tance of the research, warned:“Failure to ground the nationalminimum wage and social welfaretransfers in a tangible measure of

adequacy, such as defined in thisresearch, means that poverty andsocial exclusion will continue tobe a reality in Ireland.”To come up with a figure for a

minimum income standard re-quired for a minimum essentialstandard of living, researchersbrought together representativefocus groups to work out budgetson the basis of a household’s min-imum needs rather than wants.The budgets looked at 16 areas

of expenditure – food, clothing,personal care, health relatedcosts, household goods, house-hold services, communication, so-cial inclusion and participation,education, transport, householdfuel, personal costs, childcare, in-surance, housing, savings andcontingencies. They were then checked for

their nutritional and energy con-tent to ensure appropriate suste-nance and heat for families,before being priced. Researchers worked out the

weekly cost of a minimum essen-tial standard of living for fivehousehold types – a single personof working age living alone, a twoparent household with two chil-dren, a single parent householdwith two children, a pensionercouple and a female pensioner liv-ing alone.

Raising children

Interesting variables high-lighted in the research includedthe differing costs of raising chil-dren at different ages. For example, an analysis of

spending on food showed a childof pre-school age had the lowestfood costs (€18.69 a week inurban areas and €22.58 a week inrural areas) while a 19-year-oldhad the highest food costs (rang-ing from €50.16 per week inurban areas to €55.71 per weekin rural areas).Mandate national co-ordinator

Brian Forbes predicted the re-search would prove to be an “in-valuable toolkit” and a “superbready reckoner” for those chal-lenging the prevailing austerityagenda.He said: “When the suits from

the Troika come to town and askfor benefit cuts and more belt-tightening, they can be confrontedwith solid facts showing howtheir policies are forcing peopleto live below civilised and inter-nationally-recognised living stan-dards.” Mr Forbes, who attended the

February 6 launch, added: “Thisinformation is extracted from thelived experience of people. Manyof our members subsist on low in-comes and know only too well thepain and hardship of making endsmeet.”

Pic

ture

© D

AA

plc

sHopflooR y March 201210

plAtfoRM tRAde union left foRuM

THE Trade Union Left Forum wasset up in September 2011 by tradeunionists concerned with reinvigo-rating debate on the movement’sstrategic direction.The group held its second meet-

ing at the TEEU’s Dublin offices inlate January. The meeting focused on the

threat posed by the neo-liberal pri-vatisation agenda and how thetrade union movement could suc-cessfully combat it. In his presentation to the forum,

Colm Whitston, a senior lecturer inindustrial relations at the NationalCollege of Ireland, outlined the ar-guments behind the current waveof privatisation which he describedas “only one important part of theneo-liberal agenda.”Whitston said the current eco-

nomic turmoil in Europe and the USwas, in reality, a classic capitalistcrisis brought about by the overproduction of capital rather thandue to "un-competiveness" or anyof the other explanations proposedby the right-wing media. The push to privatise public en-

terprises was an attempt by capital-ist forces to find new areas to park

the vast amounts of unproductivecapital currently in circulation glob-ally. In order to advance this agenda,

there was drive to commodify allsocial relationships from waste col-lection and water supply to healthservices.This process was being champi-

oned by the media as one aimed atproviding better quality serviceswith the interests of public serviceworkers presented as being at oddswith those of the population atlarge.Whitston argued that the trade

union movement must take a holis-tic approach when campaigningagainst privatisation – the battlecould not be won by only makingcalls to sectional interests based onprotecting workers’ pay and condi-tions. “A coalition of interests opposed

to privatisation must be built at thehigher political level, based on theneed to expand democratic con-trol,” Whitston said. This argument should be linked

with a clear explanation of thewider neo-liberal agenda of “dri-ving down the share of national in-

come going to labour so as to in-crease the share going to capital”.He added that across Western

Europe, trade unions and labourparties were, to a large degree,hamstrung in presenting this widerpolitical case against the privatisa-tion agenda due to their acceptanceof the neo-liberal economic modelin recent decades. Whitston pointed out that this

had “left them with nothing muchto say when things went wrong”.The forum’s second presentation,

on the ESB and the threat posed tothe state enterprise from privatisa-tion, was delivered by TEEU na-tional organiser Jimmy Nolan. He outlined the initial creation of

the ESB as a state enterprise aimedat furthering the Irish state’s eco-nomic development by bringingelectrification to all parts of thecountry. The setting up of the state com-

pany had been undertaken by right-wing governments who acceptedthat private capital was unwilling toinvest in such socially beneficialprojects. But recent years have seen an

erosion of government support for

this crucial state enterprise withmoves to undermine the ESB andplace it on the road to privatisation. These included the introduction

of price controls on electricitywhich ensured the ESB chargedmore than private companies whichwere being encouraged into anewly-established “electricity sup-ply market”.Nolan said he was extremely

worried for the future of the ESB asa state enterprise despite the over-riding economic arguments for itsstaying within democratic control.The presentations were followed

by a lively debate during which theforum decided to support the publi-cation of a pamphlet on combatingthe privatisation agenda for distri-bution within the trade unionmovement Forum member Tom Redmond

said: “The forum aims to examineissues not from the point of view ofa sectional interest but from thewider viewpoint of what the tradeunion movement can do to assist inbeneficial social change. “It is understood that the work-

ing class has a central role in shap-ing Irish society, apart from

defending the immediate livingstandards of its members. “As a catalyst for change, it ac-

cepts that an analysis of the factorsinstrumental in governing societyhas to be done from a class view-point.”He added: “The March meeting of

Trade Union Left Forum will dis-cuss the structural causes of thecrisis of capitalism and the result-ant debt and austerity. The TradeUnion Left Forum is an open spacewhere active trade unionists arewelcome to put forward ideas, top-ics for discussion, and suggestionsfor activities related to the discuss.”For more information contact the

Trade Union Left Forum attuleft@gmail.com

Debating the way forward

Pic

ture

: T

WU

March 2012 y sHopflooR 11

By Grainne O’TooleMODERN day slavery or forced labour is se-vere exploitation involving threats, abuse,deception and coercion of workers. It is agrowing problem in Ireland and globally. Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) has

dealt with 167 cases of this kind over thelast six years and we know this is only thetip of the iceberg. Modern day slavery is prevalent in the

restaurant, agriculture, entertainment, do-mestic work and construction industries. In Ireland, there is no legal punishment

for modern day slavery. As such there is nojustice for workers who have been subjectedto this severe exploitation and unscrupulousemployers continue to profit from thisheinous act.The only remedy open to workers is to

pursue breaches of employment law. In line with international and European

law, the State has a legal obligation to ensurethere are laws protecting people from slav-ery, servitude and forced labour.  Ireland is

Modern day slavery still not a crime in Ireland

Muhammad Younis: Awarded €90k Picture: MRCI

issues foRCed lABouR

in breach of these laws by not having legisla-tion to tackle modern day slavery in force. Modern day slavery is an issue for all

workers and for our society. Workplaces thatgo unchecked can deteriorate in to modernday slavery situations. In a recent UK case of modern day slavery,

a large percentage of the victims were UKcitizens.  We do know from experience that migrant

workers are particularly vulnerable to mod-ern day slavery largely because of the easeat which an exploitative employer can con-trol someone who has fewer rights and isless secure. The case of Muhammad Younis, a restau-

rant worker, shows the urgent need for thelaw. Muhammad Younis was awarded morethan €90,000 by a Rights Commissioner, fol-lowing an official complaint about allegedbreaches of employment rights. However, Mr Younis’ ex-employer, Mr

Amjad Hussein trading as Poppadom, hasnot yet paid the award.  For many years he

was paid well below minimum wage, 55 centan hour. He worked extremely long hours(77 hours per week) with no day off. He was subjected to threats and severe ex-

ploitation. The employer also failed to renewMuhammad’s work permit which renderedhim undocumented in the State. He was forced to share a house with nine

other workers in very poor conditions. Hehad to endure these degrading conditionsfor many years. Muhammad now lives in a hostel, is unem-

ployed and has not seen his family in nineyears. He is still suffering yet his employerhas been subjected to no penalty and refusesto pay Muhammad what he owes him.MRCI is campaigning for the government

to introduce a law to criminalise modernday slavery and protect victims as a matterof urgency. For more information visit

www.mrci.ie/Forced-Labour-and-Trafficking

Grainne O’Toole, MRCI, is Community Worker with responsibility for forced labour and exploitation

By Michael TaftPEOPLE in work are made to feelguilty about their wages.  Employ-ers, ‘experts’ and government min-isters tell workers that if they resistpay cuts – never mind, look for payincreases – they are putting jobs atrisk.  That is the state of the debatetoday.  This could not be further from

the truth.  People’s pay packets didnot cause the crisis and forcingwages downwards will only worsenthe crisis.  Wages are not the prob-lem.  Rather, they are part of the so-lution – the solution to rising livingstandards, to job creation and to re-pairing public finances.  Let’s seehow that can work.

Spending power

But, first, let’s look at what hap-pens when wages or weekly in-come is cut.  A business on mainstreet (a restaurant, for example)cut wages in response to fallingsales.   Now those workers haveless to spend in the other shopsand business on main street: thedepartment store, hairdresser,sports shop, off-license, supermar-ket, etc.When this happens the sales in

these other businesses fall.  They, inturn, cut their employees’ wages,working week or even lay-peopleoff.  Now you have more employ-ees’ with less money in their pocketto spend – including the restaurantthat cut their own employees’wages.Not only that, this whole process

costs the government.  Wage cutsreduce tax revenue – income tax,PRSI, Universal Social Charge andVAT (because workers are consum-

ing less) – and may increase unem-ployment costs where workers arelaid-off or part-timed due to every-one having less to spend.  This is the vicious spiral down-

wards that has collapsed the econ-omy over the last three years.  Andthe government admits it will con-tinue.  On their own estimates, con-sumer spending will fall again thisyear and flat-line next year.  Theydon’t expect spending to start ris-ing until 2014 – and even then, byonly a minimal amount.  In addition, there will be fewer

people this year at work than lastyear.  We’re still spiralling down-wards.

So what can we do – both thegovernment and workers?  Congress has called for a sub-

stantial investment drive whichwill create thousands of jobs.These newly-employed people willthan have more money to spend inthe economy.  Businesses will start to recover

and workers in those firms will bemore secure – both in their jobsand in their pay packets.There is, though, something that

workers in their own workplacecan start considering.  Obviously, there are businesses

that are suffering.  After all, the fallin consumer spending in Ireland

has been unprecedented in the his-tory of the EU.  No wonder busi-nesses are suffering.  They canbarely pay their employees, theirbills, their rates and rent.  These businesses badly need an

increase in customers and sales.However, there are businesses

that can afford pay increases.  Don’tforget – in a recession not all busi-nesses suffer.    If those businesses paid out wage

increases this would have a three-fold beneficial effect:First, it would benefit workers’

living standards.  That goes withoutsaying.Second, it would benefit the gov-

ernment’s finances.  Pay rises in-crease tax revenue.Third, those businesses, and

their employees, that are in difficul-ties also benefit – because theworkers who receive a pay increasego out and spend it.  This increasessales in other businesses.   We start to run vicious cycle

downwards into a virtuous cycleupwards.We should be clear:  there are

businesses that continue to pay in-creases; they are contributing toeconomic growth.  There are busi-nesses that are just hanging on; wehave to help them. 

Hurting employees

But there are businesses thatcan afford wage increases or longerworking hours but are holding onto it – to maintain profits or pro-vide bonuses for their manage-ments.  These businesses are hurting

their employees, undermining pub-lic finances and are starving otherbusinesses that need more peopleat work with more money in theirpockets to spend.So despite what ‘experts’ and

governments claim, when workersresist pay cuts and try to achievewage increases in profitable busi-nesses, they are helping the econ-omy.  And the best way to do this is by

being a member of a trade unionwhere people can work together.Because it is only by working to-gether can we hope to escape thiscrisis and bring about economic re-covery.

Michael Taft is a research officer with Unite

AnAlYsis tHe WAGes Question

Wage cuts reduce tax revenue and may increase unemployment costs whereworkers are laid-off or part-timed because everyone is spending less... this isa vicious spiral that has collapsed the Irish economy over the last three years

Why it pays to

pay well

Pic

ture

: U

nite

sHopflooR y March 201212

So who does rule the world?neWs

THE Labour Court has found thatTesco failed to comply fully withstrict provisions set out in the re-tailer’s career break agreement inrelation to one of its workers.The employee – who has been at

Tesco since 2002 – worked nightshifts while attending college. He took a year-long career break

in November, 2007, but resumedemployment at Tesco before his duereturn date.This was under a new contract

and on a lower pay rate.The worker claimed he should

have been re-employed on the samerate of pay he received before hetook his career break.He said he had signed the new

contract on his return under protest. The claimant told the Labour

Court he had raised this issue re-peatedly with several managers –but to no avail and had been told hewould be put on the correct rate ofpay “in due course”.Tesco maintained the employee

resigned in 2007 and was re-em-ployed in July 2008 under a newcontract.A Rights Commissioner recom-

mended that the claimant’s periodof leave from 2007 to 2008 be ac-cepted as a career break and that hisstarting pay upon his return shouldhave “reflected his actual service”with the retailer.

Recommendation

The Rights Commissioner recom-mended all back money owed to himshould be paid within six weeks.The recommendation stated there

was no evidence to back up Tesco’sclaim the employee had tenderedhis resignation in 2007, and that theunion produced evidence that for-mal procedures exist for the “appli-cation of a career break” and that“confirmation of same are not al-ways applied”.The Court affirmed that the em-

ployee’s service should be regardedas continuous for all relevant pur-poses and the worker be restored tothe consolidated night rate with ef-fect from one year after his sched-uled return from his career breakwith a requirement for the companyto make up any financial loss arising. Welcoming the recommendation,

industrial officer David Miskell said:“This represents a positive outcomefor the member in circumstanceswhere a significant loss was in-curred by a failure to provide himwith a rate of pay that correspondsto his service.“It is also, however, a lesson to

anyone intending to take a careerbreak that in advance of doing so tolook up the policy and seek assis-tance from your shop steward dur-ing the process.”

Tescocareerbreakruling

IT IS becoming increasingly clearthat fewer and fewer people benefitfrom the current economic systemof production and distribution. Fewer and fewer people, also,

make the decisions that determinethe living conditions, life experienceand expectancy for the billions ofpeople who share this planet. And, fewer and fewer people are

responsible for the environmentalcatastrophe that is threatening thevery existence of the human race.It is not a Dr Evil or a cabal of

‘bad guys’ pulling the strings some-where. Rather the responsibility lies with

a class of human beings who havethe wealth and capital to buy andsell labour – and other commodi-ties – in order to increase their ownwealth and power in this world. They did not achieve this as a re-

ward for their own hard work andefforts – if this was the case, mostretail workers would be million-aires!No, most of those belonging to

this class were born into wealth andprivilege. And, if allowed, they willpass their position of dominance onto their kids.The old saying, “You have to spec-

ulate to accumulate” isn’t too far offthe mark. It takes money – significant

amounts of money – to increaseyour wealth and avail of the oppor-tunities the economic system cre-ates. This means that opportunityunder capitalism is reserved for atiny few. Lots of money wouldn’t, neces-

sarily, be such a bad thing if the con-dition of wealth didn’t also inflictpoverty as well as control and sub-mission.  This is grim reality of thesystem and pointing to the numberof philanthropists or “rags toriches” stories can deny this truth. 

Global inequalityAlmost half the world — more

than three billion people — live onless than $2.50 a day. The GDP(Gross Domestic Product) of the 41Heavily Indebted Poor Countries(accounting for a total 567 millionpeople) is less than the wealth ofthe world’s seven richest peoplecombined. Nearly a billion people entered

the 21st century unable to read abook or to sign their names. Less than one per cent of what

the world spent every year onweapons was needed to put everychild into school by the year 2000and yet it didn’t happen. At total of one billion children live

in poverty (one in every two chil-dren in the world). Another 640million live without adequate shel-ter, 400 million have no access tosafe water, 270 million have no ac-cess to health services. A shameful 10.6 million died in

2003 before they reached the age offive (that translates as roughly29,000 children a day).

Global wealthdistributionContrast this to the recent Global

Wealth report produced by CreditSuisse, This study outlined how therich continue to get richer. Itdemonstrated that there was asuper-abundance of capital concen-trated in a class of monopoly capi-talists.These people are using this crisis

as an opportunity to attack decadesof hard-won rights and services andto make us pay for their crisis. According to the report, global

wealth increased to $231 trillion in2011, from $195 trillion in 2010,and they expect it to reach $345trillion by the end of 2016. Wealth has more than doubled,

from $113 trillion in 2000. The topone per cent – those with more than$712,000 – account for 44% of that$231 trillion, with the top 10%owning 84% of the world’s wealthwhile the bottom 50% have barelyone per cent of this wealth. This is how uneven, unequal and

monopolised capital is. North America and Europe, the

centre of monopoly capitalism, withonly 20% of the world’s population,holds 62% of global wealth. The share of the world’s million-

aires has risen sharply in the US to34%.

Power distributionResearchers at the Swiss Federal

Institute of Technology in Zürich re-cently published research into theextent of monopolisation of control.     The article, entitled the network

of Global Gorporate Control, is im-portant because of its specific lookat the feature of control, as distinctfrom wealth and income. It reveals the degree of monopoli-

sation that is the dominant featureof contemporary capitalism. The authors of the report found

that of the 43,060 transnationalcorporations analysed – taken frommore than 30 million economic en-tities identified – that a little over730 entities control 80% of thesecorporations, and a mere 147 con-trol more than 40%. Of these 147 controlling entities,

75% are financial institutions. Andthe 10 with the largest controlwere:  Barclays PLC, Capital GroupCompanies, FMR Corporation, Axa,State Street, JP Morgan, Legal andGeneral Group, Vanguard Group,UBS and Merrill Lynch. The result of this

“network ofcontrol”,as the

researchers describe it, is that theaccumulation process of capital iscontrolled to meet the designs andneeds of a very small number oflargely financial organisations. The control of production is even

further divorced from demand, andconsequently speculative bubblesand crises have become a constantfeature of the system.

Accumulation of catastropheIn a recent article in the journal

Monthly Review, scientist John Bel-lamy Foster coined the phrase “theaccumulation of catastrophe” mean-ing the profit-creating process ofthe economic system that placesshort-term profit ahead of every-thing else is driving the destructionof the planet to the point of globalcatastrophe that threatens humanlife as we know it. Life on Earth is already being de-

stroyed at a phenomenal rate withunknown and in some cases unpre-dictable consequences. And in responding to problems

the system has created such as de-forestation, species extinction,drought and desertification as wellas the depletion of soil nutrients, itexacerbates these by its inability tostop or slow down the ruthlessdrive for profit by these monopo-lies. So, rather than stop the action

that is having catastrophic conse-quences, it merely tries to introducesomething else into the environ-ment to counter the negative. This is failing, and failing miser-

ably,

March 2012 y sHopflooR 13

plAtfoRM sinn fein

FINE Gael and Labour have beenin government for one year. Dur-ing the election campaign bothparties promised change. They of-fered a vision of the future verydifferent from the failed politics ofFianna Fail. They promised to invest in job

creation. Fine Gael had a plan toinvest €7 billion in the lifetime ofthe government.  Labour prom-ised €2 billion to be invested in astrategic investment fund.They promised to dispense with

the failed banking policy of theirpredecessors and to stop blowingtaxpayers’ money on bailing outtoxic private banking debt. Wewere told that not “one red cent”would be paid to senior bond-holders until the banks got theirhouses in order.They promised to renegotiate

the EU/ECB/IMF austerity dealthat it would be Labour’s notFrankfurt’s way.Twelve months on and people

are starting to ask, what haschanged? Are things getting betterunder Fine Gael and Labour? Unfortunately when you look at

the evidence, the answer is no.Unemployment remains stag-

nant at 14.1%. A staggering435,589 people were on the LiveRegister at the end of January. TheCSO estimates that 6,000 peopleare emigrating every month –mostly young people in search ofwork. Rent arrears and mortgage dis-

tress are also on the increase.Central Bank figures for Decem-ber show the number of familiesin serious mortgage distress isnow more than 100,000. FromSeptember to December 2011, 92families fell into serious mortgagedistress every day.Families are struggling to make

ends meet, reducing spending onfood, clothing and other essentialsand spending more of theirshrinking disposable income serv-icing their debts.While Fine Gael and Labour

didn’t cause the economic crisis,the policies they have been imple-menting since taking office aremaking things worse. The billions promised for job

creation before the election havenot materialised. In the much-hyped jobs initiative last Aprilonly an extra €29 million was in-vested into jobs. The new banking policy has

also failed to materialise. In thelast 12 months, Fine Gael andLabour have poured €21.3 billioninto the banks – including €3.1billion into Anglo Irish Bank.And rather than helping strug-

gling low and middle income fam-ilies make the most from their

household budgets, the govern-ment has introduced a long list ofextra charges and stealth taxespushing people further into finan-cial hardship and poverty.The core problem is that Fine

Gael and Labour are making thesame mistakes as Fianna Fail andthe Green Party before them. Theyare blindly acquiescing to thefailed policies of crippling auster-ity and bank bailouts.They say that they have no

choice, that they have to imple-ment the EU/IMF/ECB pro-gramme or there will be nomoney to pay for public servicesand no money in our ATMs. These arguments are simply un-

true. There are always choices, al-ways alternatives.The government must as a mat-

ter of urgency use the remaining€5.3 billion in the National Pen-sion Reserve Fund to invest injobs. Getting people off the doleand back to work is the best wayto reduce the deficit.

They must stop giving taxpay-ers’ money to Anglo Irish Bank.Refusing to pay Anglo Irish Bankthe €3.1 billion due on March 31and every March till 2031 wouldreduce our national debt by 20%and our annual deficit by 2%.They must also force the banks

to assist struggling mortgageholders by insisting on negotiateddebt write downs to assist thosein mortgage distress remain intheir family homes.Crucially they must scrap the

household charge and reverse theVAT hike. Extra tax revenue can beraised by the progressive reformof our tax system making thosemost able to pay give their fairshare.We urgently need a change of

direction if we are to shed the so-cial and economic legacy of Fi-anna Fail. Unfortunately, if the last 12

months are anything to go by,dashed hopes and broken prom-ises is all we can expect from theFine Gael Labour government.

Eoin Ó Broin is Sinn Féin’s representa-tive in Dublin Mid-West, a member ofthe party’s Ard Comhairle and works asa political and policy advisor to SinnFéin TD Pearse Doherty.

austerity isnot working

Pic

ture

s: C

C R

ain

fore

st A

ctio

n

So who does rule the world?By eoin Ó Broin

Refusing topay AngloIrish Bank...would cutour nationaldebt by 20%

with the result that those withleast are suffering most. Those who do not benefit from

the profit creating system, thosewith not enough money to get anopportunity, those with no controlsuffer the most as a result of theactions of those with most.

Unions as the sword of justiceOrdinary workers, such as the

La Senza and Vita Cortex workers,have to go to extraordinarylengths to get just basic entitle-ments and rights. Other workers, like those in the

Ulster Bank, face the choice of re-dundancy on poor terms or anuncertain future on worse termsand conditions of employment. Senior managements in the

public and private sector con-tinue to be paid huge salariesand bonuses implementingpolicies that pauperise work-ers. And the global billionaires

continue to make more andmore money in what canonly be described as a sys-tem of “trickle up” econom-ics where money isconstantly flowing from

those who have very little tothose who have loads.The trade union movement

must broaden its agenda and thescope of activity away from justrepresenting the immediate in-terests of its members to repre-senting the interests of itsclass – indeed the people of the

planet, as a whole. It must become the sword of

justice that people look to for in-spiration, hope and deliverancefrom the catastrophe that willsurely happen if this economicsystem is not changed in radicaland meaningful ways.

Profit before people:The big business view of the world

sHopflooR y March 201214

AUSTERITY is wreaking havoc in so-ciety and damaging the economy.Just to be sure European leadershave agreed a Fiscal Compact. Politics is ever more about hold-

ing power than offering any realchange. There is a deepening politi-cal unresponsiveness to any opposi-tion to austerity. The mainstream media continues

to divide. First it was the publicagainst the private sector. Now it isthe so-called squeezed middleagainst those on welfare and lowpay. This is the same media that offers

almost no space to alternatives.Opposition remains limited and

fragmented. It is mostly limited tochallenging specific issues likeworkers being made redundant un-fairly or disadvantaged schoolsbeing cut back. It is usually sectoral in that it is

left to those who are immediately af-fected by the issue to make the chal-lenge. This opposition is important

and has made gains. However, it isinadequate to the scale of the chal-lenge faced by those who believe inequality, environmental sustainabil-ity and solidarity.There are alternatives to austerity

being developed by trade unions,environmental organisations, com-munity groups and various think-tanks. Even within the parameters of a

loss of sovereignty, political choicesare being made, choices to create a

society of inequality and injustice.Alternatives are possible and neces-sary.We need to secure greater traction

for these alternatives. People needto believe things could be done dif-ferently, to commit to alternativesbased on equality, environmentalsustainability and solidarity and toplace new types of demands on ourdecision makers. We have to move beyond our indi-

vidual organisations and our ownsectors to make this challenge.Claiming Our Future offers one

such space from which to advancealternatives. It brings individualsand organisations together fromtrade union, community, environ-ment and other sectors of civil soci-ety. It has organised events to enable

people to deliberate on the issuesand to identify shared priorities.Now it is building its campaigningrole.The first challenge is to agree the

issues that have resonance and thatcan be framed in a way to unite civilsociety. The second challenge is todevelop new ways of campaigningthat focus on people and buildingpopular support for these issues. This is about developing a popular

movement for social change ratherthan a lobby like any other vestedinterest. The third challenge is to find inno-

vative ways to demonstrate the sup-port for a more equal, just andenvironmentally-sustainable society.Three campaigning themes have

emerged from the deliberations todate:1. Income equality and the chal-

lenges of achieving an adequateminimum income threshold, limitingexcessive incomes with a maximumincome, and reducing the gap be-tween high and low incomes.2. An economy for society and the

challenges of stimulating resilientlocal economies, securing a steadystate economy and establishing a

new value base of environmentalsustainability.3. Democracy and the challenges

of securing more participative formsof political decision making, reform-ing local government and insertingthe values of equality, environmen-tal sustainability and solidarity intothe Constitution.An overarching campaign is also

being developed by Claiming OurFuture under the heading of ‘Plan B’. A set of demands are being

worked on that would reflect anachievable alternative to austerity,that could be framed in a manner tobring civil society together and thatwould serve to build support forchange. This will only work to the extent

that different sectors buy into theidea. It will only work to the extentthat individuals within different sec-tors decide it is worth investingtheir time in the idea. Find out more on 

www.claimingourfuture.ie

an alternative to cuts, cuts, cuts

By Niall Crowley

Tutor Mary Muldowney, left, taking the Mandate Introductory Union Representativescourse in February

IN December 2011, Mandate – alongwith CWU, IBOA, INMO, TEEU, SIPTUand Congress – applied for fundingfor training to Skillnets. The application was successful

and a full programme of courses willbe available to members in 2012. The Women at Work Skillnet and

the Union Learning Skillnet havebeen amalgamated and will now beknown as Trade Union Skillnet. Under Trade Union Skillnet a num-

ber of courses will be available tomembers from each of the unions in-volved plus to some of unemployedmembers. These may be jointly de-livered to participants. There will also be courses avail-

able specifically for Mandate mem-bers and staff.Aileen Morrissey,national co-ordinator for training,said: “Mandate wants to take this op-portunity to thank Alacoque McMe-namin – project manager for Womenat Work Skillnet – for her supportand dedication to members over thepast four years.” The VEC Skills for Work training

initiative has also recommenced. 

Courses in IT, Communicationsand Maths at FETAC Level 3 are onceagain available to Mandate membersacross the country.Mandate's Introductory and Ad-

vanced Shop Stewards courses arealso to be held at several locations.These are designed to help shopstewards develop and augment theirskills and expertise.A Mandate Health and Safety

FETAC Level 5 course, for electedhealth and safety representatives,will be held at Mandate’s TrainingCentre in May.All courses are available free of

charge to members and are held attimes and in local venues to suit ourmembers.All courses are listed on Mandate’s

website www.mandate.ie.If you are interested in attending

any of these courses or wish to havemore details regarding training, askyour Mandate official for more infor-mation or phone Mandate’s TrainingCentre on 01 8369699. Also see thisedition of Shopfloor for some courseadvertisements.

tRAininG

Trade Union Skillnet set for launch

Pictures: John Chaney

Pic

ture

: C

OF

March 2012 y sHopflooR 15

neWs

THE LONG-RUNNING dispute atConnollys Shoes is no nearer resolu-tion and has now been in progressfor nearly two years.The dispute arose following the

dismissal of two members of staff atthe Dun Laoghaire retailer on April6, 2010.A few weeks later two other mem-

bers of staff were dismissed forstriking in support of their col-leagues.  The four employees had a com-

bined total of 110 years service atthe store.All attempts by people and groups

as diverse as the Labour RelationsCommission, Dun Laoghaire Cham-ber of Commerce and some localTDs failed to get shop ownerMatthew Connolly to sit down andnegotiate with staff.Mr Connolly  – who refused to

recognise Mandate’s right to repre-sent its members at the shop – alsorefused to talk directly to his ownemployees.All four staff have been awarded

compensation for illegal deductionfrom wages before their dismissal.And an Employment Appeals Tri-

bunal  found all four to have beenunfairly dismissed.They were awarded compensation

totalling thousands of euro.Divisional organiser Joe Donnelly

said:  “So far the employer has notpaid one cent of these awards.  Man-date is now instigating legal pro-ceedings for the recovery of thesemonies.”Time has moved on for those

members involved in the strike.One of the strikers opened his

own store – Keegan Shoes – in thenearby Dun Laoghaire ShoppingCentre and employed one of his for-mer co-workers. Mandate would en-courage all members to try andsupport this new enterprise.A third striker has since moved to

Co Wexford and can no longer par-ticipate in the ongoing strike action.The remaining striker – John

Mulpetre – continues to picket theshop which has now been re-branded Shoe Exclusive by Mr Con-nolly. Despite the change of image,the picket is still in place and manylocals have continued to show theirsupport by refusing to shop there.

WALMART needs no introduction.The behemoth from Bentonville, asmall town in Arkansas, has growninto not just the globe’s largest re-tailer, but perhaps the most power-ful corporation the world has everseen.It is the third largest global em-

ployer in terms of the number ofpeople who work directly for it, be-hind only the Chinese and US mili-taries.  It boasts global annual revenue

of more than $400bn, dwarfing theGDP of the vast majority of coun-tries.  In the retail sector, it is four

times bigger than the number twoplayer in the market, and biggerthan the next five global retailerscombined.All of this would simply be fasci-

nating if it were not for the mannerin which Walmart uses its vastpower.  It is well known for being the

most anti-union company in theUS, and is widely viewed as im-pacting adversely on workers’ con-ditions both in the retail sector andthe supply chain.  The United Food and Commer-

cial Workers International Union(UFCW) of North America – repre-senting 1.3 million workers in theretail and food processing indus-tries in the US and Canada – haslong grappled with the rise of Wal-mart.  Not only  does Walmart’s growth

threaten union supermarket jobs,but the downward pressure thatWalmart brings on retail sectorwages has a direct impact on theability of the union to drive stan-dards up at the bargaining table.The UFCW is engaging Walmart

on a number of levels, directlychallenging the ability of the com-pany to grow in the cities andaround the world, while support-ing mobilisation efforts by Wal-mart’s staff.

Resistance in the cities…Despite reporting a good quarter

recently, the company had beforethen suffered a decline in samestore sales for nine consequtivequarters.  

Walmart, having saturated ruralmarkets in US, must now expandboth into American cities andcountries outside its US base.The UFCW has joined with com-

munity organisations in cities suchas New York, Washington DC,  SanFrancisco and Los Angeles to high-light Walmart’s track record andhold it accountable to higher stan-dards if it wants to access thesemarkets.  The company’s refusal to com-

promise means that its successfulentry into these markets is farfrom certain.  And even if the company does

access these markets, consumerswill not easily forget the intran-sience demonstrated in the face ofthe community concerns.

…and around the globeThe UFCW has also partnered

with unions across the world thathave had to deal with Walmart.At the invitation of local retail

workers’ union SACCAWU – theUFCW travelled to South Africa andplayed a pivotal role in a mergerapproval process there as Walmarttried to gain access to the market.The UFCW did this by submitting

affidavits, arranging expert testi-mony as well as speaking to thepress.Also, the UFCW, along with UNI

Global Union, briefed the govern-

ment in Delhi on the possibility ofWalmart entering the Indian mar-ket in the wake of a proposal toderegulate the retail sector there.Latin America is another forum

where the UFCW is working withunions – specifically in Chile, Braziland Argentina – to share relevantinformation about the firm’s plansand policies.

Walmart workers rise upWalmart’s reputation as an anti-

union retailer is highly deserved.  The company employs psycho-

metric testing, in part, it is claimed,to root out pro-union workers.  In 2005, when one of its stores

in Jonqiere, Canada, voted forUFCW representation, Walmart in-famously closed it down, pitching300 workers into unemploymentand sending out an unmistakablyclear message to its workers else-where in North America.  The closure of the store at Jon-

qiere followed the disbandment ofan entire worker classificationabout five years earlier when Wal-mart eradicated butcher positionsacross the US following a vote bybutchers in Texas to join the union.All of this would be bad

enough – but added to the dearthof workers’ rights protection in theUS and coupled with the state ofthe economy – it means that Wal-mart workers would be forgiven

for keeping their heads down andbeing grateful for having any job. They, however, have refused to

do so.Walmart workers have instead

banded together and formed theOrganisation United for Respect atWalmart, or OURWalmart forshort.  They are creating a nationwide

network of workers who come to-gether to take direct action on is-sues such as pay, scheduling andworkloads.  The underlying themeof the workers is that they demandrespect, encapsulated by the nameof their website – forrespect.org.  The workers have taken their

message directly to companybosses on two separate occasions,visiting Walmart’s Bentonvilleheadquarters in June and Octoberlast year.  They have spoken out at rallies

and events across the nation, caus-ing ally groups to band with themin the struggle.  With a US workforce of 1.4 mil-

lion employees, OURWalmart isusing online tools such as Face-book, Twitter and itsforrespect.org website to stay intouch with each other and build to-wards the next event.OURWalmart means that, not

only can workers stand togetherand speak with one voice, but alsothat the company must now takeaccount of what they are saying.  Following the firm’s decision to

change its healthcare coverage –which many workers think was totheir disadvantage – an OURWal-mart member recently appearedon the CBS nationwide news high-lighting the move.  Walmart workers should be

commended for standing up to thelargest company on earth.  Of course, they will tell you that

they don’t want commendation –they want respect.  History demonstrates that work-

ers coming together with a unitedvoice is by far the most effectiveway to achieve this.  It is high timefor Walmart to heed their voices.

Michael t Bride is uFCW’s Deputy organising Director for Global Strategies

2010 picket outside Connolly’s Shoes

Dispute atConnolly’sShoes stillnot resolved

The world’s largest retailer is facing business woes and a workers’ insurgency asit looks towards an uncertain future, reports US union organiser Michael T Bride

Our bid tooutsmartWalmart

Workers stage protest at Walmart’s global HQin Bentonville, Arkansas, in June 2011

sHopflooR y March 201216

BlOW THe WHISTleON THe BaD BOSSeS

10MaNDaTe1. an organising and campaigning union: Mandate is focused on building an activist base to protect and improve employment conditions. Through better organised workplaces and the power of the collective strength, we will deliverjustice for working people.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Together we’re stronger

reaSONSTO JOIN

JOIN MaNDaTe TraDe UNION ONlINe aT http://www.mandate.ie/Contact/Join.aspx

oRGAnisinG

MANDATE has described as “excitingand innovative” a new internationaltrade union alliance focusing on rela-tions with IKEA.In 2011, UNI Commerce formed an

IKEA working group, with Mandate asa key stakeholder.The group was tasked with review-

ing and analysing local and nationalpractices at IKEA and developing sug-gestions for a Global Agreement be-tween UNI and the Swedish-basedmultinational. The UNI IKEA GlobalUnion Alliance will be officiallylaunched in Istanbul, Turkey, next

month.National co-ordinator BrianForbes will speak on the Irish experi-ence of dealing with the iconic retailerat the event. He said: “Our message toIKEA is that the Alliance should beseen by them as a constructive globalpartner. One of our key aims is tostrive for a Global Agreement thatguarantees good labour standards ofall IKEA workers.”Mr Forbes pointed out that IKEA

had already developed national agree-ments, guaranteeing union and organ-ising opportunities, in a number ofcountries, including Norway, Sweden,

Australia, Austria and France.On Mandate’s role in the new al-

liance, he added: “This is an excitingand innovative way of forging coali-tions across borders and jurisdictionsand a great way to get IKEA to recog-nise global standards of behaviourwhen it comes to recognition and col-lective bargaining among other things. “Mandate looks forward to making

our contribution in Istanbul and to theemergence of increased global unionsolidarity when organising workers inmultinationals such as IKEA.”   

IKea workers forgeinternational links

Representatives from a number of unions from various countries organising in IKEA met in January in Copenhagen

sHopflooR y March 201216

FIRST of all, I’d like to give you somebackground information about thetrade union movement in Turkey.Unions here have been losing powersince the 1980s due to a number ofreasons – privatisation, companies’sub-contracting work, the anti-union behaviour of some employ-ers – and membership rate hasslipped from 22% in 1988 to 5.8%today.There are many multinationals

and popular brands in the retail sec-tor in Turkey, including Carrefour,Tesco, Metro and IKEA.The current double threshold sys-

tem prevents the right to free bar-gaining. A trade union has to have  atleast 10% of workers as members atsectoral level and, in addition, morethan 50% of workers at enterpriselevel. At the end of this long procedure

labour ministry provide the officialdocumentation to start legal collec-tive bargaining meetings.However, there is a Collective Re-

lations Law Proposal going throughthe Turkish Parliament.If this becomes law, the workplace

precentages will decrease from 50%to 40%. This will be very positive

development for unions organisingacross the country.

Organising at IKEA!The second biggest commerce/

retail workers’ union Koop-İş hasbeen busy organising at IKEA stores.This is with the support of UniGlobal who has 900 member unionsrepresenting more than 20 millionmembers across the world. IKEA, which has been opening up

stores all over the world through afranchising system, entered intobusiness partnership with MAPAMobilya Aksasuar A.S.After many meetings with Uni

Global Union, we signed the Cooper-ation Agreement between UNIGlobal and Koop-İş on June 15,2011.Our long term objective is to em-

power Koop-Is and commerce work-ers  generally in Turkey and toachieve decent working conditionsby building and protecting workers’rights and growing union represen-tation in the sector. To reach this, we need to get offi-

cial recognition by the Labour Min-istry at IKEA Stores.About 1,700 workers are em-

ployed at IKEA Turkey. Our organis-ing activities started in early 2007.The first meeting with UNI was heldin Istanbul in October 2010. Koop-İş union started to recruit

members at IKEA Stores in 2009and since then membership hasgrown. Our struggle to organise atthe multinational is going well. And to help in that process, UNI

IKEA Global Union Alliance will beholding a two-day meeting in Istan-bul starting on March 6.We believe that after this launch

meeting, we will secure the backingof most workers and apply to theMinistry for our official documenta-tion. 

Our aim is to meet with all thetrade unions organising at IKEA toshow international solidarity to theglobal employer. On behalf of Koop-Is union, I’d like

to thank you for the great solidarityyou have shown to your Turkish col-leagues.  

Deniz Akdoğan, IKEA Organising

Project CoordinatorPresidential Advisor

Organisingat IKea inTurkey

March 2012 y sHopflooR 17

My advice? Don’t allow yourselfto be treated badly... join a union

Winningthrough together:La Senza staff involved in the protest

Michael Meegan: Offered advice

Tara Keane, above, during the La Senza sit-in. Shop window slogans, below

industRiAl neWs

BEING in a union is a vital protec-tion for workers – that’s the conclu-sion one of those involved in therecent sit-in at La Senza has cometo.Tara Keane – a member of Man-

date – was reflecting on January’ssuccessful four-day action at the lin-gerie chain’s premises in Liffey Val-ley, Clondalkin.Successful only in the sense that

the La Senza staff had secured whatwas rightfully due to them – thoughthey lost their jobs.The 20-year-old retail worker

from Inchicore said: “Trade unionsgave us huge support. I don’t thinkwe would have gotten the result wedid if they hadn’t been involved. “Mandate came and really got the

ball rolling for us, got us organised. Ithink it’s really important for work-ers – particularly in retail – to jointhe union. If we hadn’t have hadmembers in the union we reallywould have been lost.”Tara, who spoke to Eoin Ó Broin

for An Phoblacht earlier this month,added: “The main lesson from ourexperience is the importance ofbeing in a trade union.  “I would say to all workers, no

matter what sector you work in, joina union. You have rights, there is leg-islation there to protect your rights,and if you take a stand like we did,you are standing up for your basicrights as an employee; don’t allowyourself to be bullied, don’t allowyourself to be treated badly.  “We didn’t and we got what we

asked for.”What fuelled the La Senza

women’s protest was the deep senseof injustice of it all. It followed abusy Christmas and staff hadworked flat out over the festive sea-son.But on a cold day in early January,

the company’s beancounters actedand 100 outlets were closed acrossthe UK and Ireland. A total of 1,300 employees were

thrown on the scrapheap and ad-minstrators KPMG were called in tooversee the wind-up of the business.Employees received word from

head office: “The store that youwork in ceased trading this morningand all stock has been prepared forcollection. As a result of your storehaving ceased to trade the Adminis-trators regret to inform you that thecompany is no longer able to makepayments to you for services ren-dered under the terms of your em-ployment. Your employment withthe company is therefore terminatedwith immediate effect.”Tara remembers how she heard

the news first.“On Monday morning I went into

work and received calls saying thatthere were men there packing upthe other stores shops. A few of usspoke together and decided that we

would sit-in in solidarity with thegirls who had just lost their jobs.  “As far as I was concerned my job

was still there. I hadn’t been toldotherwise. “So we went straight to Liffey Val-

ley from work and sat with the girls.“On Monday night KPMG phoned

me and said my job was gone andnot to come to work on Tuesdaymorning. “That made us more determined

to do the sit-in. The way we foundout was just absolutely appalling.“On Tuesday morning I made a

few phone calls to the media. We ex-

pected to be booted out by Tuesdayafternoon. But it just snowballedonce the media took interest. “Then everyone got behind us so

it just gave the movement a lot morepower.” Tara describes it as an “im-pluse decision” to occupy, adding,“we were all so angry.”

She said: “We didn’t know whatelse to do. We had no answers fromanyone; we had no paperwork totake to social welfare. “As far as we were concerned the

store stock and whatever moneywas in the safe were the only bar-gaining chips we had to get what wewere entitled to.“So the occupation was just com-

mon sense. If we left the store thenLa Senza would have won. By sit-ting-in we were shining a little bit oflight on what they are doing, makingbad publicity for them forcing themto resolve things as quickly as theycan.”And Tara was “completely over-

whelmed” by the “incredible publicsupport” the staff involved in the sit-in received.“From the moment Liffey Valley

opened on Tuesday morning peoplestopped to read the signs we put inthe windows, they came with food,money, blankets, and cups of tea.The stores in Liffey Valley were alsogreat; they did collections, sentdown tea every hour. The supportwas unreal.  “I think what was happening to us

was really resonating with people,because it is happening all acrossIreland and I think we captured themood of people who are fed up andnot willing to take it anymore. That’swhy they got behind us so much.”Mandate negotiated throughout

the week with KPMG and late on Fri-day – four days after the start of thesit-in – officials were able to bringword that the workers would re-ceive their full entitlements.Tara said: “I was absolutely de-

lighted. I think I speak for all thegirls when I say we were so emo-tional because we had been there allweek getting two hours sleep anight, and then suddenly to realisewe got what you asked.“It was great, the pride we all felt

was unreal. We didn’t expect to get asuccessful result. We thought wewould raise awareness help the nextpeople after us.  We were very proudand very happy.”Meanwhile, divisional organiser

Michael Meegan, who played a keyrole in in the La Senza negotiations,called on members of the union toactively recruit their non-union col-leagues into Mandate.He told Shopfloor: “It is essential

that retail workers collectively or-ganise themselves into unions andare professionally represented insituations such as those faced by theLa Senza workers.“These situations are becoming

more prevalent – especially in thecurrent economy.  It is now moreimportant than ever that retailworkers join a union and this mes-sage should be constantly communi-cated by Mandate members to thosecolleagues that are not in a union.”

Tara Keane – who took part in the successful La Senza sit-in – recalls four momentous days in January...

sHopflooR y March 201218

Why organise in Mandate?

We organise because ithelps us build a strong ef-fective Mandate capableof delivering for membersin the workplace and be-yond

What does organisingmean in Mandate?

• Building a union thatdraws its strength not justfrom its member numbersbut also from our shopstewards and activists• Campaigning on the val-ues and issues that mem-bers and potentialmembers care about andinvolving them in cam-paign activity• Reflecting the diversityof the workforce the unionsupports and represents

What does an organised

workplace look like?

• A high level of unionmembership and activity• Mandate shop stewardsin all areas of the work-place• Mandate meetings arewell attended• Mandate members priori-tise and participate inunion activity• Effective two-way com-munication between Man-date and our members

Organising gives us achance to turn what wehave (our resources) intowhat we need (Power) toget what we want. Unionorganisers turn resourcesinto power that helpsmembers.

Source: The TUC Pocket Guide to Organising

UNIONORGANISE

R

POCKeT GUIDe TOOrGaNISING

ParT ONe

March 2012 y sHopflooR 19

issues

By Jemma HoganHOME is a special place for most ofus.  We want to continue to live inour own homes as we grow older.  Older & Bolder is running the

MAKE HOME WORK campaignthroughout 2012 to highlight thepolicies, supports and services thatenable us to remain living in ourown homes – as well and as inde-pendently as possible – as we growolder.Throughout the year ahead we

will, with your help, be deepeningour campaign – speaking out andtaking action to secure the right toage without fear in our own homes. Despite the strong collective

message we sent to government inadvance of the budget, we are fac-ing cuts of €750 million to HSEfunding which could work againstour shared goal of enabling olderpeople to live at home and in thecommunity.  Older & Bolder believes that this

is a moment for action. We are asking you to let politi-

cians and decision makers knowthat cuts to home help, respite, daycare and other community servicesdo not make sense. What we neednow are forward, not backward,steps. 

What you can do: Join us in delivering a strong mes-sage to politicians and decisionmakers. Write, phone or email allof your local TDs with the message

that cuts to community services forolder people are a backward stepand tell them why. • Let decision makers know thatthe home help service is alreadythinly spread and that with prom-ised cuts to these services of 4.5%,it will now be on life support. Tellthem that just 3% of the older pop-ulation receive home help servicesand we know that 12% of olderpeople with limitations in activitiesof daily living receive no formal orinformal support.   • Let them know your concernsabout cuts to respite serviceswhich are vital to family carerswho are the backbone of our com-munity services.• Tell decision makers that it doesnot make sense on a human levelto cut vital community services. • Tell them that it does not makesense on an economic level to cutvital community services becausepeople will spend more time inacute hospitals; and will move tonursing homes too soon. Both will

cost more in the long run.• Ask your TDs to carry this mes-sage to the Minister for Health, DrJames Reilly or to their healthspokesperson. The MAKE HOME WORK campaignis about planning community careservices for older people. Thatmakes sense on a human level andon an economic level.Making your views heard is im-

portant.  Older & Bolder is plan-ning a series of actions as part ofthe MAKE HOME WORK through-out 2012.  We will continue to keep you in-

volved and informed, inviting youto help shape a better system foreveryone.  For now, please take the first

step and show politicians and deci-sion makers that we will not allowcuts to vital services to happen insilence. If you would like support or sug-

gestions on the most effective andappropriate ways to lobby your po-litical representative, please con-tact us on 01-8783623 or emailinfo@olderandbolder.ie

l Older & Bolder is an alliance ofeight organisations that work witholder people in Ireland: Active Re-tirement Ireland, Age & Opportu-nity, Alzheimer Society of Ireland,Carers Association, Irish HospiceFoundation, Irish Senior CitizensParliament, Older Women’s Net-work and Senior Help Line.

IN RECENT years, Mandate has  re-organised the way it representsmembers in the Licensed Trade Di-vision.It follows the retirement in June

2010 of Licenced Trade Division di-visional organiser Eddie Cassidy.  It means that LTD members are

now serviced by the official wholooks after the geographical areathey work in. In effect, this has increased to

nine the number of officials who canbe of help to members working inthe sector. And this has also augmented the

union’s ability to deal with mem-bers’ queries as promptly as possi-ble.The licensed trade national nego-

tiating committee – charged withdealing with issues of more generalconcern to members – is led by assistant general secretary GerryLight, divisional organiser DaveMoran and industrial officerJonathan Hogan. It also includes members of the Li-

censed Trade Council, comprising ofNational Executive Council membersand representatives from various li-censed premises across Dublin. The two current National Execu-

tive Council members for the li-censed trade are Noel Dunphy andDermot Fay, who are both long-serv-ing and active members of theunion.At its council meeting in October

2011, the Licensed Trade Councildecided to commission a surveylooking at employment practiceswithin the trade. The move was based on anecdotal

evidence that compliance with em-ployment legislation was – at best –only being paid lip service to bysome employers.Among issues the Council wished

to explore were:• Contracts of employment  – if

Jonathan Hogan: ‘Interesting trends’

lTD members’ surveyto shape future agenda

industRiAl neWs

members, in fact, had one or knewtheir rights in relation to them, • The age profile of members and

length of service in the trade,• Pensions – if members were

aware of recent changes and to de-termine if they had an opportunityto avail of the new scheme agreedwith the Licensed Vintners Associa-tion,• Pay rates and premium pay-

ments current in the trade, • Changes to members’ terms and

conditions – had changes been in-troduced and with members’ agree-ment?• Health and safety – to try and

determine compliance with the leg-islation, and • To establish what the main con-

cerns of members were in relationto their employment.The survey was conducted at a

broad selection of licensed premisesacross Dublin in November and De-cember last year and the responsewas excellent. Data is currently being compiled

and it is hoped results will be pre-sented at the biennial conference inApril.Industrial officer Jonathan Hogan

said: “Early results have shown upsome interesting trends in the in-dustry and we believe it will helpshape the agenda for the licensedtrade into the future.”

MANDATE hopes to hold an early meeting with the new owners of theA-Wear chain. This follows the acquisition earlier this month of the fash-ion retailer by the Luxembourg-based Jesta Group.

It is second time A-Wear, which has 37 outlets in Ireland and employs450 staff, has been sold in recent months. Last October, it was boughtover by Hilco Capital Ireland who then set about a restructuringprocess.

Mandate industrial officer Robert McNamara said: “We’re seeking animmediate meeting with management so we can discuss all the perti-nent issues impacting on our members arising from this transfer ofownership.”

A-Wear meeting sought

Older & Bolder launchesfight on the home front

‘It's not the people's debt - Why we should not pay it’

Saturday 31st March 2pm – 4.30pmVenue: Ireland Institute 27 Pearse Street (5 mins College Green)

Speakers:Prof Kathleen lynch (equality Studies UCD)

Dr Conor McCabe (Historian and author)Trade union speaker

sHopflooR y March 201220

A HUGE crowd attended a Mandatesponsored ‘Alternative Cinema’night – featuring the enthrallingSpanish film Even the Rain – inGweedore, Co Donegal, earlier thismonth.

Even the Rain, directed by IciarBollain and written by PaulLaverty, recounts the 2000/2001Bolivian water demos and riotsagainst the then-government’s de-cision to sell off the country’swater supply to private global com-pany Veolia. Beautifully constructed and

acted, the film centres on a Spanishfilm crew’s visit to Bolivia to makea movie.There, along with imported

stars, a large local cast of extrasand key actors are hired to drama-tise the brutal Spanish colonisationand conquest of the Americas inthe 16th century.The pursuit and exploitation of

natural resources of the Americaswas central to Christopher Colum-bus and his bosses’ (the SpanishKing and Queen) expeditions.While the movie is being shot in

the town of Cochumba, the localcampaigns and demonstrationsagainst the privatisation of Boli-vian water impacts and connectswith the making of the film, as keylocal actors central to the cam-paigns are increasingly caught upin the simmering and eventual un-rest against their government’s ac-tions. The film has a clear message –

colonisation might not come in theguise of a Christopher Columbus,but it has been replaced by a morecreeping, but nonetheless brutal,privatisation of natural resourcesand national industries by multina-tionals and global finance compa-nies. Similarly there are number of

cameos in the film which clearly

demonstrate that the film-makers– despite their liberal views – stillharbour the exploitative and colo-nial-type attitudes and actions to-wards the local population.This climaxes in their incredu-

lous “the film comes first – at allcosts” perspective, despite the factthat Bolivia was going up in flamesaround them!Its poignant and powerful pri-

vatisation message was felt by thelarge audience. More so, when following the Feb-

ruary 11 screening, local TDThomas Pringle, further arguedthat the government’s intention tocreate a company/organisationcalled ‘Water Ireland’ is a potentialstep towards the privatisation ofIrish water – a move which mustbe fought at all costs.

‘Moral dilemma’

Mandate official Ciaran Campbellalso underlined the impact thatprivatisation has on workers’ jobsecurity, pay, terms and conditions. He added that this also had a

knock-on impact on families, com-munities and, thus, society at large.Ciaran Campbell told the audi-

ence:  “Water privatisation poses amoral dilemma.  Access to a valu-able natural resource is then at thebehest of a private company noteven organised or resident in thecountry.” “Local campaigning on a piece-

meal basis – such as anti-house-hold or septic tank charges andschool closures – must be seen inthe context of a wider neoliberalagenda that is pushing the viewthat there is no alternative but forordinary people to pay for the eco-nomic collapse.”He suggested that this agenda ef-

fectively being used to ensure thatthe current amassing of huge fi-nancial reserves by private finan-cial institutions – some of which

are the very bond-holders we arepaying billions to – is directed andinvested in areas, projects or utili-ties that are currently the propertyof the people. “In doing so”, Ciaran Campbell

explained to the audience,  “the fi-nancial reserves are then beingused to make more profits for thevery same institutions that haveled to the economic bust, and willdeny natural resource and utilitysovereignty.”He noted that the Troika were

key to the process – the IMF, EUand ECB were, he said, “acting andbehaving” as “agents for the cir-cling financial vultures”.Mr Campbell pointed out that

opposing privatisation had to havea political angle and presented theviews of James Connolly as pre-senting a real alternative to thecurrent bail-out programmes.The Alternative Cinema nights –

while maybe not dealing with“earthy” subjects such as local hos-pital and school closures – clearlyprovide an educational and chal-lenging stimulus for those peopleinterested in escaping the drossthat monopolises much of today’sTV and cinema  – where much ofthe output is arguably politicallycontrolled and directed. Ciaran Campbell claimed that

after the screening of Even theRain, the evening positively“hummed” with “social and cam-paigning ideas and activism”. February’s Alternative Cinema

night was very successful. Theevents are usually free and heldevery three months.It is hoped that the project will

now spread out across the country. Already it appears a number of

people are considering organisinga similar event in central Dublin.Mr Campbell added: “Long may

it grow!”

even The rain filmprompts debateon privatisation

CineMA BooKs

ExECutED for ireland: the PatrickMoran Story is a moving and attimes harrowing account of eventsthat unfolded in this country during the War of Independence. The focus of the book is, as the

title suggests, the tragic ending ofPatrick Moran's young life – he washanged in Mountjoy at the hands ofBritish Forces. Patrick Moran was murdered for

his involvement in Bloody Sunday –November, 21, 1920 – although hewas quite conclusively proved inno-cent of the actual crime for whichhe was eventually convicted. Before his life was taken, Patrick

was quite heavily involved with theVolunteers,  and was stationed atJacob's factory during the EasterRising.He was an active member of the

GAA, and was involved in setting upthe Dunleary Commercials footballteam in his adopted county ofDublin.Patrick Moran was also a mem-

ber of the Gaelic League and an ac-tive trade unionist. Having played a key role in win-

ning improvements in pay andworking conditions, he was electedPresident of the Irish NationalUnion of Vintners', Grocers' and Al-lied  Trades Assistants in Septem-ber 1920. This union was the forerunner of

what became Mandate Trade Union. The book was written by May

Moran – a neice of the protagonist –and throughout she draws on theexperiences, memories and per-sonal recollections of older mem-bers of her family. When these accounts are coupled

with the thoroughly extensive re-

search that went into the book, youare left with an accurate account ofwhat happened but delivered froma decidedly personal and impas-sioned angle. Even after Paddy Moran's death,

the family’s struggle continued for80 years, as they sought to have hisremains removed from the bound-ary walls of the prison where hewas executed. In 2001, Patrick Moran, along

with nine other men, were ex-humed from their graves in Moun-tjoy, and finally laid to rest inDublin's Glasnevin cemetery.At times, when reading this story,

it is impossible not to feel anger atthe actions of the British Forces indealing with this particular case,and with many other mistreat-ments and injustices mentionedthroughout. However, it is difficult not to feel

awe and pride at the manner inwhich Paddy Moran and his com-rades faced their deaths. To try and place yourself in the

shoes of a man condemned to deathis nigh on impossible, but there aretranscripts of letters written byPaddy to friends and family whilehe faced that very situation.

Executed for ireland: the PatrickMoran Story would be a hugely in-teresting and relevant read for any-one with an interest in Irish history,any trade union activist, or anyoneinterested to reading about an indi-vidual who would give all for hiscountry.

Executed for ireland: the PatrickMoran Story is published by MercierPress, Dublin. €16.99.

Ken Reilly

Retailworkers’chief paidultimateprice

Pic

ture

s: M

erc

ier

Pre

ss

Executed:Paddy Moran

March 2012 y sHopflooR 21

peRsonAl vieW

CONSIDER the differing treatmentmeted out to five Cubans whosought to defend their countryfrom terrorism, and a US Armysergeant sent to Afghanistan tofight the ‘War on Terror’ and laterconvicted of three murders.The Cubans – dubbed the Miami

five – are, barring one, spendingyears in jail with little likelihoodof release.  Rene Gonzalez was freed on Oc-

tober 7 last year but must remainon American soil for the nextthree years.This effectively endangers his

life, given that he has to avoid thevery right-wing groups he and hiscomrades had infiltrated in at-tempting to thwart Miami-launched terrorist attacks againsttheir native land.US Army Staff Sergeant Calvin

Gibbs, 26, was convicted andcourt martialled of 15 charges in-cluding three murders.Some of the charges involved

cutting off the fingers of corpsesand the taking of teeth as tro-phies.Sgt Gibbs will be eligible for pa-

role in less than nine years. He was the ringleader of a

rogue US Army unit – which he

called the ‘kill team’ – that wasregularly responsible for attack-ing unarmed Afghans for sport,after which they photographedthemselves with the bloodiedcorpses of their victims.Prosecution witnesses por-

trayed Gibbs as a bloodthirstyrenegade who despised Afghans,calling them “savages” and whoregularly played with and mockedAfghan corpses.  Cited as having being responsi-

ble for the “ultimate betrayal... hebetrayed his folk, he betrayed hisunit and with the flag of his nationemblazoned across his chest,thousands of miles from home, hebetrayed his nation”, the Montananative was sentenced to life inprison.His lawyer, pleading for le-

niency for his client, stated thatGibbs was “not the same personhe was in Afghanistan” and thathe didn’t “want his wife to have toraise their son on her own”The defence must have struck a

chord as the military jury decidedhe would be eligible for parole ineight-and-a-half years.Unike Rene Gonzalez, I suspect

he won’t have to spend a proba-tionary period of three years liv-ing among “savages” ofAfghanistan upon his release...

War Crimesverdict flagsup injusticeover Cuban 5By Ciaran Campbell

Rene Gonzalez following his release from a US penitentiary last year

Benefits

THE last number of years have seenincreased taxes for low paid work-ers, and cuts to social welfare pay-ment rates – cuts that Mandatemembers are all too familiar with. But less attention has been paid to

other social welfare changes that arequietly eroding the level of socialprotection for workers in the Irisheconomy. These are the ‘stealth cuts’of the social welfare system. Below we look at Jobseeker’s Ben-

efit (JB), a core element of workers’social protection, paid for throughtheir social insurance (PRSI) contri-butions.  

Qualifying for Jobseeker’s BenefitThere are two PRSI ‘contribution

conditions’ that a person must meetto qualify for JB:• The first condition is to have

paid a certain number of social in-surance contributions since firststarting work. Historically, 39 paidcontributions were needed to meetthis condition; this was increased to52 in April 2004. Budget 2009 dou-bled this to 104, so that a workercan’t qualify for JB (and many othersocial insurance payments for work-ing age people) until they have atleast two full years of insurable em-ployment. • The second condition is to have

a certain number of paid or creditedcontributions in the ‘relevant year’(the second last complete tax yearbefore the year in which your claimis made – e.g. for claims in 2012, therelevant year is 2010). Workers re-ceive credited contributions duringthe period when they are unem-ployed, or sick for example. Budget2009 introduced a new requirementthat at least 13 of those must bepaid rather than credited.

How long the payment lastsUp until 2009, if you had paid a

total of 260 contributions since firststarting work, you could qualify forunemployment benefits lasting up to15 months; with less than this, thepayment lasted up to a year. Budget2009 reduced JB to a maximum of 12and 9 months respectively.

Stealth cutschipping awayat your income

Low paid workers know all about the headline taxhikes they’ve had to endure over the last fewyears, but Camille Loftus takes a look at stealthcuts steadily eroding social protection in Ireland

Rate of

payment2008 Since 2009

45% Less than €80 Less than €150

65%€80 & less

than €125

€150 & less

than €220

78%€125 & less

than €150

€220 & less

than €300

100% €150 or more €300 or more

Weekly wage bands

How much is the payment?To qualify for the full rate of pay-

ment, weekly earnings in the rele-vant year must be over a certainamount. In 2008, weekly earnings ofat least €150 per week gave entitle-ment the full JB weekly rate. Budget2009 doubled this to €300 per week– a cut that affects low paid workersmost. (See table)

Working reduced hoursFor workers who have had their

hours cut, one option is to claim JBon days they’re not working – ifyou’re not working on three days insix, you may be eligible. The mostrecent budget announced changes tothe entitlements of such workers,due to come into effect over the nextyear.Traditionally, JB payments are cal-

culated on a six-day week – i.e. foreach day a person is unemployed,they receive a sixth of their weeklyrate. For example, a person workingthree days would receive half (i.e.three days) the weekly rate; €94 fora single adult. From July 2012, JBpayments will be calculated on a

five-day rather than six-day week, sothat a single person working threedays will only be entitled to €75.20.In addition, work on Sundays isn’t

currently included when calculatingthe amount of benefit due; this isdue to change from January 2013,when Sunday working will be in-cluded, which will also reduce thelevel of payment received.

Stealth cuts in summaryTaken together, these stealth cuts

add up to a significant erosion ofworkers’ social protection. It’sharder to qualify for benefits, pay-ments don’t last as long, and howmuch of a payment workers are en-titled to has been cut; cuts that comeon top of the reductions in basicrates – while workers’ contributionsremain the same. These stealth cuts attack rights

and entitlements that workersfought hard to achieve, and they hithardest on low paid workers, whoare more vulnerable to reducedhours and unemployment. With pressure for even more aus-

terity, the risk of further stealth cutsto workers’ social protection grows.

sHopflooR y March 201222

By Niall ShanahanI’M not a sports fan. I’m not proud of it, but Ifind the perpetual cycle of premier leagues,all-Ireland competitions, and seemingly end-less golf tournaments, has become an excusefor people (men especially) to speak to eachother in statistics.Sports results, and especially football,

have replaced meaningful conversation atthe beginning of every meeting, every pubconversation, and every casual encounter. Tome, they might just as well be speaking flu-ent Greek. I simply don’t care. Can we pleasetalk about something else?OK, I can get behind the national team (in

just about any sport) when they’re on formand in need of support. I can muster up a lit-tle enthusiasm to see the Dubs win the All-Ireland after such a long spell withoutwinning it. You would have to have a heart ofstone not to take some pleasure in Ireland ’sGrand Slam win in… whatever year it wasthat we won it.I have no deep rooted connection to any

team. I never remember the scores or thenames of the players. I don’t retain that in-formation, it doesn’t really interest me, and Iam painfully aware that puts me in a minor-ity.If I’m honest, I blame Croke Park .At the age of four I was taken to a game

there by my dad and my uncle. I remembernoise, and being surrounded by adults whojumped to their feet every few secondswhich meant I couldn’t really see what wasgoing on. There was shouting, and swearingand cigarette smoke everywhere (this was

Stuff Croke Park!peRsonAl vieW

10% reduction to new entrants’pay.After the second pay cut, tradeunions warned that attacks on payacross the private sector were in-evitable. Very quickly, wage setting mecha-

nisms for low paid workers cameunder attack along with the mini-mum wage, as many employers pur-sued the race to the bottom.So for public servants, Croke Park

means that as their numbers declinethey will have to change the wayservices are delivered. For all of us, that means they will

have to deliver a service to a society thatneeds more services, not less, in a time ofeconomic crisis. This process has started, and has so far

proved effective in saving money and ensur-ing delivery of the services people need.But, like the four-year-old boy who found

all the shouting and swearing and smoke atCroke Park too much to bear, there are a lotof commentators, pundits, and armchaireconomists who feel much the same wayabout the Croke Park agreement. Just as I might attempt to analyse a game

of football, my disinterest and antipathy forthe game means I am almost entirely inca-pable of an informed or fair analysis. And soit is with many of the critics of the agree-

1973 after all). I was tired, bored, hungry anddisinterested. So what might have been an aweinspiring visit to a field of dreams was, for me,an alienating and slightly frightening experience.And my relationship with Croke Park has been

a difficult one ever since, now further compli-cated by the fact that ‘ Croke Park ’ has come tomean something else too.In 2010, members of IMPACT and other public

service trade unions signed up to the Croke Parkagreement. This was after two successive cuts (averaging

14%) to public service pay, with an additional

ment.Attacks on the Croke Park agreement, onpublic servants and their unions, are usuallylaunched by the same people who want to cuteveryone’s pay – public and private – includ-ing yours. The same critics tend to argue that the very

well paid in society have contributed enough.That’s code for “no more taxation please, cutworkers pay”. That’s why the calls to scrap Croke Park

have become so aggressive. We are standing intheir way. They don’t like that.I can understand and appreciate that Croke

Park (the stadium), and the sporting lifewithin it, means a lot to people throughoutIreland and beyond. I know that it plays an important role in

Irish life, that it provides a social glue to bindus all in moments of glory as well as defeat.And I know that it is all for nothing without

the collective efforts of the players, teams andsupporters. In short, I might not understand it, but I can

appreciate its value.And so, whenever the public debate de-

scends into chaos and public sector workersare pitted against private sector workers, andcritics call for the shredding of an agreementwhose purpose they don’t seem to under-stand, I try to remember that behind all theshouting, swearing and noise and smoke,there are teams of people working hard to en-sure that Croke Park means something.More importantly, there’s a bunch of us

standing together to slow down the mob try-ing to tear it all apart.

Niall Shanahan is an information officer at IMPACT

Croker and me: Niall Shanhan today and, inset, in 1973

BOBBY Gourley embodied the spirit ofthe trade union movement which he wasinvolved with from his first day of work. When Bobby retired in 2005 after 23

years leading the Usdaw union in North-ern Ireland, he described his years ofservice as a “roller-coaster ride.”Before taking the helm at Usdaw, Bob

was active with the engineering unionAEUW, eventually becoming convenor atthe ICI plant in Carrickfergus. Bobby was a long-time activist for

peace and the unity of workers, and dur-

ing the Ulster Workers’ Council strike in1974 joined the then-TUC leader LenMurray in the “back to work” march toBelfast Shipyard.Bobby also served on the ICTU Execu-

tive Committee and was chair of theNorthern Ireland Committee of the ICTUin 2003 when he spoke at the rally heldin August 2002 after the murders of aCatholic teenager,  Gerald Lawlor, and aProtestant worker, David Caldwell.Addressing several thousand 

people in front of Belfast City Hall, Bob

said: “The evil purveyors of  bigotry havedeclared war on us all and wished to en-sure that the legacy of hatred continued.“Sectarianism kills all of us and we

must all fight against sectarianism atevery opportunity – in our workplaces,societies, clubs, as well as in our imme-diate and extended  families.”It is a measure of Bob’s open mind

that he had no qualms, as a long-servingpart-time member of the UDR, when heaccompanied me to an All-Ireland GAAfootball final  in Croke Park. Bobby was

also a founder member of the Progres-sive Unionist Party and was a staunchsupporter of the ICTU’s anti-sectarianwork.His bravery in confronting bigotry

was matched by his sense of mischief.You always walked away from a chatwith Bobby with a smile on your face.If we can emulate that bravery in our

future struggles against bigotry, Bob willhave the legacy which he richly de-serves. 

Peter Bunting, Congress

OBITUARY Bobby Gourley 1943-2012

Staunch opponent of bigotry

ON A recent visit to Mandate officesI noticed a brochure entitled 10 rea-sons to join Mandate.  One of thosereasons was “legal protection”.  Mandate, through its solicitors,

Murray Flynn Maguire (MFM) haswon significant legal compensationfor members who were injured as aresult of an accident at work.  As a Partner in MFM solicitors

who work with Mandate in pursuingcompensation for injured employeesit might be useful to explain whenand how employees are entitled tocompensation.Over the past five years we have

acted in approximately 180 cases in-volving Mandate employees whohave been injured at work.  Approximately €4,500,000 was

awarded in compensation for those

members.  The average award/set-tlement figures have been €25,000.

Duties of an Employer Employers have a duty to main-

tain a safe system and a safe place ofwork.  They have a duty to provideproper equipment and to provideadequate and appropriate training.Should they fail to comply withthese requirements and this failureresults in an injury to an employee,that employee is entitled to seekcompensation.Compensation is divided in to two

categories.Firstly, “out of pocket expenses”.

This comprises mainly of loss ofearnings, medical bills and other ex-penses incurred as a result of the in-jury.  Secondly, General damages.

which is the category that attractsmost media attention. It is essen-tially compensation for “pain and

suffering” both to date and into thefuture.It is possible that an employer

may not have a safe system of workbut the employee may also havecaused the injury to some extent.This is known as “contributory neg-ligence.”  In these cases an employee may

have his or her compensation awardreduced by the same amount andsame degree that he or she is con-sidered at fault for the accident.  Forexample, if an employee is 50% re-sponsible for the accident he or shewill only receive 50% of the com-pensation they would otherwise beentitled to.

Injuries BoardAll personal injury claims must ini-tially be registered with the InjuriesBoard (see injuries board.ie).  More than 90% of claimants use a

solicitor to bring a claim to the In-

juries Board.  Mandate pay the costsof the medical reports (approxi-mately €350 each) and recoup thisexpense out of the employee’s set-tlement.  Most Injury Board Assessments

take approximately one year. If theassessment is accepted by both par-ties that should be the end of thematter.  If either party reject the as-sessment the case is referred tocourt and will normally take a fur-ther nine months.

Types of Cases Many people injure themselveswhen they slip, trip or fall in theworkplace.  This can be due to anunsafe cleaning system or indeed nocleaning system.  It can be due tohazards being left on the work floor.If injured, an employee is entitled toclaim in these circumstances. Another common cause of injury

is where an employee is obliged to

lift an excessive weight and sustainsan injury.  This is regularly due to in-adequate training or no training orwhere the task is too much for oneperson with no help provided.Over recent years there has been a

significant increase in claims beingbrought by employees who havebeen traumatized by armed rob-beries or assaults in the work place.This can be due to an employer notproviding a safe place of work or asafe system of security for workers.This can occur were an employerhas reduced a number of securitystaff to reduce overheads.If you are injured in an accident at

work you may be entitled to bring aclaim for compensation.  You shouldget professional advice.

Contact:  John Flynn, Partner with Murray Flynn Maguire solicitors officesin Ballsbridge and FairviewTelephone 01 6600622 or 01 8363551;email: admin@murrayflynn.ie

Partner & Solicitor at Murray Flynn Maguire

accidents at work... what are your entitlements?By John Flynn

March 2012 y sHopflooR 23

And finAllY...

“YOU need a fierce commitment to sustain[the fight for workers’ rights] but it’s the onlyway.”Brian Higgins was speaking to Shopfloor a

few days before he retired as Mandate’s divi-sional organiser for the Mid West.The 64-year-old, who bowed out at Christ-

mas after serving Mandate members for 29years, was in upbeat form and looking for-ward to a trip to South Africa in January.But as the clock was ticking down, his

mind was also focused on bigger issues – inparticular the future of trade unionism.“I was opposed to the social partnership

model. I didn’t think it was good for the tradeunion movement and, with the benefit evenof hindsight, I think I’d be more convinced ofthat now.”Brian’s view is that social partnership

made unions more “remote from the mem-bership”. “There is less trust and there is alsoa problem with credibility in terms of work-ers in general and even the workers that werepresent. I think social partnership put us ina position where we were seen to be tooclose to the corridors of power.”But would social partnership – had it still

been in operation – have given unions anadded leverage – at least with the Labourcomponent of this coalition government?Brian is far from sure and he describes as

“limited” unions’ ability to influence the cur-rent government.“Even if we had access now, I don’t think

we could achieve very much, given the econ-omy of the country is virtually governed byexternal forces – the so-called Troika. “They are the ones who are also responsi-

ble for these austerity measures that havebeen imposed upon us.”However, the fact that social partnership

did not deliver on union recognition was, hesuggested, a “damning indictment of thewhole [social partnership] strategy”.He points out that had union recognition

been enshrined in law, it would have been“very beneficial” to Irish workers.“The right to collectively bargain would

have been real and lasting progress, some-thing that was needed.”Brian also thinks that Fine Gael and

Labour make a bad fit – “I don’t think that is agood combination anyway… and it is boundto create tensions.”As it stands, the government seems far

from eager to listen to trade union calls for achanged approach based on social solidarityand growth. Brian puts this down to the“fierce pressure” being brought to bear by“employers, the media and other propagan-dists” in order to shape the agenda in favourof austerity.“That Ireland is not competitive, that we’ve

priced ourselves out of the markets, that wehave to cut wages – got to reduce people’sterms and conditions of employment tomake ourselves more competitive. “In other words, having people working for

the minimum wage. That seems to be the ap-proach. That has gained a lot of traction in[this] government.”In the light of this, should unions become

more active outside of the workplace – incommunities, for example?“I think that is another area in which we’ve

fallen down. We need to be making progresson all fronts – social, economic and political –in terms of educating people, generating poli-

cies and to have a real impact on people’slives in terms of their workplace, in terms oftheir communities, in terms of the country aswell. All our futures are linked in that re-spect… and we haven’t done that.”However, Brian does not think that this in-

creased community involvement shouldmove towards the formation of a separatepolitical party. “There is no such thing as aquick fix in the political sense. You have to beinvolved at community level, at shop floorlevel, involved in your locality. That meansopposing policies that are against workingpeople and mobilising people against them.”However, he does emphasise the need to

“politicise our membership” and to use “ourinfluence in terms of numbers”.

“Getting numbers on the streets [atdemonstrations] is one thing but you oughtto deliver at the ballot box as well. “That is where political parties sit up and

take notice. If you deliver, they may deliver inreturn in terms of policies that make life bet-ter for working people.”Trade unions have shown how they can

mobilise tens of thousands of people in one-off anti-austerity demos, but where do theytake it from there?“You need to have a direction, a strategy

and a clear objective. I think it is very difficultto mobilise people if they don’t see progress. “It’s where we have been falling down. I re-

member the tax marches in the 70s. We gothundreds of thousands of people on thestreets back then – but it didn’t deliver. “What happened subsequently was you

had right-wing parties like the PDs and theywere the ones who delivered on their neolib-eral agenda. So in the end it’s down to credi-bility and being able to bring people with us.”Brian blames the media for “fashioning the

political consensus” and “keeping people vir-tually in a state of fear” with so much uncer-tainty about their futures.“There is all sorts of fear out there. We are

encountering it on the shop floor – that peo-ple are afraid to stand up or stick their headabove the parapet. In some places we havehad resistance to cuts being imposed – in pay,terms and conditions – but it is sporadic.”

He remains unconvinced that attempts bypower elites, banks and the media to shoreup the capitalist model will succeed.“I think their ability to do it is more limited

now than it was in the past. It is a modelbased on consumerism – based on moneythat is borrowed rather than improving peo-ple’s conditions, their incomes and wealth. “Where all the wealth is concentrated in

the hands of the few, you’re bound to haveproblems with the system and that is exactlywhat has happened…”As roughly 200,000 people work the retail

sector in the Republic,  Brian thinks there iscertainly an opportunity to boost Mandate’smembership. In the boom times of the early noughties,

he claimed he detected a feeling – especiallyfrom some younger workers – that “If I’mnot happy with my job, I can just go else-where”, because there were so many jobsavailable. That has now changed.“In truth, they didn’t see the need for a

trade union, but now we have a lot of peoplecoming into the office and saying, ‘My job ison the line’, ‘I’ve been dismissed’, ‘I’ve beenmade redundant’.”Pointing out that membership is the “life

blood of any union”, he adds that the key toattracting new members lies in “the vi-brancy of the organisation”.  “It’s about your profile [among workers],

your ability to organise and your ability torepresent.”So what can unions do restore their influ-

ence in society? “The only thing we can do isrestore our credibility, the trust that is re-quired.” But having “worked at the coalface”for many years, Brian acknowledged thatthis is not an easy task. “You need a fierce commitment… but that

is the only way. You’ve got to build from theground up. You’ve got to organise people,but also recruit them first – and do that onan ongoing basis. “Organise and try and build it from there.

Then use whatever influence you have – in-dustrial, campaigning, whatever – in thebest way possible. That is the only way to doit.”

recruit, organise, influence...only way to push our agenda

LINDA Tanham – who has left Mandate to takeup a role at the Labour Court – started her ca-reer in retail as a 16-year-old sales assistant atRoches Stores in Henry Street, Dublin.

She soon became involved in the unionIDATU [now Mandate], firstly as a shop com-mittee member and later as senior shop stew-ard.

Linda’s union activity brought her to the at-tention of fellow shop assistants in Dublinwho selected her to run for the union’s Execu-tive Council.

She was elected and later progressed to theposition of National Treasurer.

Linda’s interest in the issues facing shopworkers and her growing reputation as a stal-wart defender of workers’ rights led her totake a job as a union official based in theunion’s Cork office, representing workers inCork/Kerry.

She was later to move to the union’s West-ern Division dealing with the interests of re-tailer workers from Galway to Donegal.

It was during her time in the west that shesuccessfully led thousands of Dunnes storesworkers – under the Mandate banner – in twonational strikes for fair play and decent con-tracts.

Later she transferred back to her nativeDublin where she had begun her journey withthe union. After a number of years, she waspromoted to the role of assistant general sec-retary with national responsibilty for the in-dustrial relations agenda.

She was also elected to the Executive Coun-cil of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

Her tireless work as assistant general secre-tary and as a member of the ICTU ExecutiveCommittee was also a time of great progressfor retail and women workers.

This resulted in her been selected as a boardmember of the Equality Authority and the Na-tional Employment Rights Authority.

General secretary John Douglas said: “Lindahas been a fearless advocate of workers’rights with a keen intrest in issues facingwomen workers and the lower paid.

“So it was no supprise when in 2011 she waschoosen for the position of permanent workerrepresentive on the Labour Court.”

He added: “Mandate’s loss is the LabourCourt’s gain. All workers now have a cham-pion in the court – someone who knows thereality of working in shops and the problemsfacing them each day.

“Linda never forgot she was a retail worker.She will continue her trade union work and wewish her every success.”

Championingthe rights of workers

Linda Tanham is leaving Mandate and moving tonew role at the Labour Court

Mandate stalwart Brian Higgins, now retired, with general secretary John Douglas Picture: John Chaney