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The clock is ticking for a new social contract
Trade unions from across the globe have launched a #TimeFor8 campaign to highlight the centrality of the labour agenda within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the compelling need to address the big challenges to achieve the 2030 agenda.
Speaking at the United Nations High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, Vice Chair of the ICTU Global Solidarity Committee, Yvonne O’Callaghan, said: “The 2008 financial crisis together with the slow and fragile recovery that followed that crisis vividly shows that the current economic model has reached its limits. Economies are now caught in a ‘low wage/low growth’ trap, because wage and labour market flexibility have gone too far and workers’ bargaining position has become too weak even if headline unemployment rates have gone down.”
She added: “The #TimeFor8 campaign calls for a renewed contract for governments, business and workers, with a universal labour guarantee that provides a protection floor for all workers. This means rights and women’s equality are respected, jobs are decent with minimum living wages and collective bargaining, workers have some control over working time, social protection coverage is universal, due diligence and accountability drive business operations, and social dialogue ensures just transition measures for climate, technology and displacement.”
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SIPTU Section 39 workers securing Pay Justice
By now, the majority of Section 39 organisations are in the process of restoring thousands of SIPTU members pay.
A special update will get given to all members in Rehabcare and the National Learning Network over the coming days.
Today, our representatives are in the Workplace Relations Commission negotiating for pay justice of Section 39 workers in home care services.
The campaign continues…
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SIPTU members in National Ambulance Service to ballot for strike action
SIPTU Ambulance Sector representatives have today (Monday, 15th July) confirmed that SIPTU members working in the National Ambulance Service (NAS) in Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare will be balloted for industrial action, up to and including strike action, over the failure of NAS management to rectify problems with a new payroll system.
SIPTU Industrial Organiser, John McCamley said: “Despite repeated calls to fix the IT problems and numerous engagements, NAS management has failed resolve this matter to our members’ satisfaction. We have members who depend on every cent they earn to pay mortgages and childcare costs, left in the intolerable position of being short changed on their overtime, bank holiday and subsistence payments for over five weeks now. We regret taking this action but our members have been left with no option. They perform an essential public service and are now in limbo with no sign of payment on the horizon. It is not acceptable. The dispute also involves the unilateral withdrawal of subsistence payments for ambulance professionals in some circumstances.”
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No deal Brexit looms large
The prospect of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit in less than four months is looming large. The implications of the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement include the destruction of up to 100,000 jobs across the economy, North and South. It will mean massive disruption of trade between the economy of the Republic of Ireland and the UK and across the English landbridge to the EU.
It will involve punitive tariffs on the export of agri-food and other exports to the UK as well significant delays in the movement of goods and workers across the border. Last week, the Government conceded that customs checks, including the possible introduction of some infrastructure on or near the border to protect the EU customs union, will be required.
For over a year the trade union movement, through the ICTU, has called for the introduction of a fund to mitigate the substantial job losses projected after a no-deal Brexit and indeed following British withdrawal from the EU even with an agreement.
This is essential to ensure that jobs are retained where possible until alternative markets to the UK are found, or to ensure the re-skilling and re-training of the workers whose jobs are destroyed over the coming months.
Equally as important, the Government needs to assure the Irish people that real steps are in place to protect the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement which have at their core the development of an all island economy and the free movement of goods, people and services across the Irish border
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SIPTU accepts invitation to Labour Court hearing on health dispute
SIPTU Health representatives have accepted an invitation to attend a hearing at the Labour Court on Monday, 22nd July, to discuss the dispute involving 10,000 health service workers over the implementation of a job evaluation scheme and chef review.
SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said; “We have accepted an invitation from the Labour Court to attend further discussions in order to resolve the dispute involving our members over the implementation of the job evaluation scheme. Further strike action remains deferred pending the outcome of these talks, which are due to commence on Monday 22nd July.”
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Video: Labour Court hearing adjourns
Video: Following a long day of engagement in the Labour Court a hearing aimed at resolving the dispute involving 10,000 health workers and chefs has now adjourned.
#ourSIPTU members asked to continue to prepare for strike action. #payjusticestrike
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Labour Court hearing resumes at 3.30pm
A Labour Court hearing aimed at resolving the current dispute involving up to 10,000 health workers and chefs will resume today Wednesday 10th July at 3.30 p.m.
Updates will be issued on SIPTU Health App.
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Patricia King responding to an Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at #BDC19
ICTU General Secretary Patricia King’s powerful response to Leo Varadkar at last week’s Congress. Taoiseach left in doubt about our movements all-Island position on
- Workers Rights
- Decent Housing
- Fair Taxation
- Equality
Full video here
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Labour Court hearing adjourns until Wednesday
A Labour Court hearing aimed at resolving the current dispute involving up to 10,000 health workers and chefs has adjourned until Wednesday 10th July at 3.00 p.m.
SIPTU Health Divisional Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “After three days of intensive engagement in the Labour Court the hearing has now adjourned at the court’s request. All the issues of concern that led to 10,000 health workers taking strike action last week were robustly presented by SIPTU representatives.”
He added: “SIPTU representatives are satisfied members of the Labour Court have full knowledge of our members grievances over the implementation of a job evaluation scheme and what may be necessary to resolve this ongoing dispute.”