What is the 1990 industrial relations act? Debenhams workers have been charged for alleged breaches to the 1990 Industrial Relations Act. This is the state acting to break their resistance. Next step, the heavy gang, the enforcers of the injunctions, the private balaclava’d security firm, backed up by the state, the Gardaí The 1990 act is the worst dilution of workers’ rights in the history of this state it gives all the power to employers & decimates workers’ power. The 1990 act is the state attacking workers’ rights, the citizens, in favour of business rights, the ruling class.   The […]

Thousands of students, workers protest new Indonesian law. BANDUNG, Indonesia — Thousands of Indonesian students and workers protested on Wednesday against a new law they say will cripple labor rights and harm the environment, with some clashing with police. One student was apparently shot. Authorities in Bandung, the capital of West Java province, blocked streets leading to the local parliament building and city hall, where clashes between rock-throwing students and riot police broke out late Tuesday when police tried to disperse the protesters. On Wednesday, more than 3,000 protesters, including workers and high school and university students, attempted to reach […]

The FF, FG, Green government is now just over 100 days old.  Here are some of the chaos that has ensued.  29th of June citizens dealt a blow as Daragh O Brien is appointed as housing minister his record on housing thus far.  🚨2016 opposed rent certainty 🚨2016 opposed Focus Ireland amendment 🚨2017 opposed Right to Housing 🚨2018 facilitated failed ‘Housing Budget’ 🚨2019 facilitated ‘confidence’ in E Murphy   6th of July they were considering extending breast screening from two to three years putting women’s lives at risk   7th of July Éamonn Ryan says “our priority are travel agents […]

Fórsa says additional resources for health professionals, social care services and supports to frontline staff will be needed to make a success of the HSE’s new winter plan, which was launched earlier this month. The union says it supports the plans aimed to increase community health capacity and reduce demand on hospital services to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 and make progress on a central pillar of the Sláintecare programme. But its head of health, Éamonn Donnelly, said it would fail without a “structured and defined funding model” to invest in community services, underpin supports to frontline staff in hospitals […]

NIPSA Policy and Research We continue to promote the view that it is essential for the Trade Union movement to engage in a “battle of ideas” not only to challenge the dominant economic orthodoxy that has brought cuts and privatisation to our members and their families but also to explore alternative policy models that would reshape our society for the better. The latest NIPSA Policy and Research publication, arising from a conference motion proposing NIPSA campaign for the introduction of a four-day week in the NICS, continues this mission. The booklet makes the point that it is essential that all […]

MANDATE SAYS GOVERNMENT REFUSAL TO LEGISLATE HAS LED TO OCCUPATIONS Mandate Trade Union says the government’s refusal to legislate to protect workers’ agreed redundancy packages has created huge frustration with Debenhams workers and led to several workers occupying the Debenhams store in Waterford. Mandate National Coordinator Jonathan Hogan said the liquidator, KPMG, escalated the dispute last week by sending in individuals to pass official picket lines to pack stock in preparation for removal and this antagonised the workers who have been on strike for 172 days. Mr Hogan said: “Last week we wrote to KPMG seeking clarification of their position, […]

  Posted on September 30, 2020 Report says Post Office Network continues to return strong economic and social value ‘Collapse of Post Office Network’ if State support not introduced urgently  An annual Public Service Obligation (PSO) for the Post Office Network of €17m has been recommended in an independent review by business advisors Grant Thornton. READ the full Grant Thornton Report. The report Review of the economic contribution and financial sustainability of the Irish Post Office Network, commissioned by the Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU), recommends that the Government invest with urgency in the Post Office Network, as it provides a multi-fold economic and […]

Friday 25 September 2020 UNION REFERS DISPUTE TO LABOUR COURT 40 Estee Lauder workers in Dublin Airport are on strike for a second time today (Friday, 25th September) as they seek to prevent compulsory redundancies and stop the company rehiring workers on inferior terms and conditions of employment. The strike will take place from 7am at the Dublin Airport roundabout. Mandate say workers should be afforded the principle of voluntary rather than compulsory redundancy but the terms of the redundancy package must be negotiated including the selection criteria. The Union also wishes to negotiate the terms & conditions of those […]

Congress withdraws from Low Pay Commission 22 Sep 2020 The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has announced it has withdrawn from the Government established Low Pay Commission. Commenting on the decision, Patricia King, ICTU General Secretary said “we have been engaged in extensive discussion at the Low Pay Commission on proposed changes to the National Minimum Wage to be issued to the government for consideration. It became very clear to myself and Gerry Light General Secretary of Mandate, this evening that other members of the Commission were not prepared to propose an increase for 2021 beyond 1%, i.e. 10 cent. We could not in conscience […]