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Sunday Video: Happy Easter to all SIPTU members working on the frontline
Every year on Easter Sunday, we commemorate of the men and women of 1916, who gave their lives for the cause of Irish Freedom. This year is very different, we have to stay at home to protect those we love and vulnerable people in our communities.
While we can’t remember as a collective, it is important that we, as a nation and as workers, honour this moment that a small group of people had the courage and vision to strike a blow against Empire for a free republic. It is also important that we recognise the central role played in the Rising, by our union, and the labour and trade union movement, which had taken on new momentum in the early 20th century.
It was the Lockout that brought Pearse closer to Connolly. It is reflected in their joint influence on the Proclamation; printed here in Liberty Hall, and the execution of both men explains much of the diminished emphasis on equality in the decades that followed. It was our union’s founder James Connolly’s vision for a different Ireland – a better Ireland – that turned the movement for workers’ rights into an essential element of the broader movement for Irish independence.
Frontline health and essential workers battling the coronavirus are like the men and women of the Irish Citizens Army serving Ireland, and like the women and men of 1916 their courage, perseverance and strength is what inspires us.
Together, we will beat this. Happy Easter to all.
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#PKYD – the Mater staff show their moves
Brilliant video delivering a very serious message in a fun way. Congrats to all the staff in the Mater Hospital.
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The true value of Public Service
We are living and working through unprecedented times and this an Easter Sunday like no other.
SIPTU members in the public service, community or private sector, are going about their business to the best extent they can, mindful of their obligations to strictly follow HSE Covid-19 safety protocols.
Our members are working in production and distribution sectors, in commercial and financial services – all to ensure that we can continue to access essential goods and services.
In the public service, our members are delivering essential services in our health sector, fire and ambulance, local government, social protection and public administration.
In our health services, our ambulance professionals, our cleaners, caterers, home care workers, household staff, health care assistants, midwives, multi task attendants, nurses, radiographers, radiation therapists, phlebotomists and members working in Section 38 and 39 organisations and in residential and community based intellectual disability centres are all making a huge contribution to defeat Covid-19.
At times of crisis, we begin to truly value our public services. It is during a crisis that we rely on and meet the workers who deliver these services. In normal times, we associate public services with the taxes that we pay and the politicians who manage them.
In times of crisis more personal relationships emerge between who uses and who delivers those services.
Over the years, with the onset of climate change, we have experienced an increasing frequency of storms and bad weather events. When these happened, public service workers acted to protect people, communities and property. And this was taking place during the period when investment and employment in the public sector was being reduced.
This phenomenon is being replicated across the EU.
It stands out in Ireland because of our low level of investment in public services relative to our EU partners. We are experiencing a health crisis. This time, fortunately, the EU and governments are increasing resources to public services and social protection to sure that people and communities are protected, our economy is sustained and the fabric of our society is maintained.
Yet, workers providing health and other essential life-saving services do so despite the dismantling over decades of the basic infrastructure they require and the conditions under which they work.
The true value of public services cannot be found in some financial bottom-line at the end of a spreadsheet.
It is in a country’s capacity to provide for the health, security and well-being – physical and financial – of all its people, especially in times of need, through well-funded social protection schemes and investment in public services.
It may well be that as this pandemic crisis continues, these realities will become more evident – so that when the emergency passes we can have a mature debate on the type of society, community and economy we wish to build for the future.
We have heard about how the political establishment, whether in Ireland or in the EU, have lost touch with people and communities. Over the decades we have experienced throughout Europe a slow degradation of the public sector through privatisation, turning essential services into market commodities
It’s time we connect these two phenomena and see the relationship between the loss of public trust and the decline of public services.
No matter what happens in the time ahead, no matter what new crisis lurks around some corner, our members in the public service will continue to provide the services we rely on, just as our members have done through storms, red weather alerts, foot and mouth disease, flu outbreaks and recessions.
Together with members in the private sector our members in the public sector and health service will continue to go to work in the hope that when we through this together, we can build a society that is fair and protects all and where no one is left behind.
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Podcast: How cleaners are coping with Covid-19
Sharon Cregan, SIPTU Health Organiser and SIPTU member Ian Morey in Cork, discusses how staff like cleaners in hospitals and nursing homes are coping with the Covid19.
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SIPTU representatives call on Minister for Health to intervene on student radiographers pay
SIPTU representatives have today (Tuesday, 7th April) called on the Minister for Health, Simon Harris to intervene and approve pay for student radiographers working in the health service in the fight against COVID-19
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Kevin Figgis said: “The failure of the Department of Health to be consistent, in the decision to approve pay, across student health professions in nursing, midwifery and medical science, is unacceptable. There are over 50 fourth year student radiographers currently on the front line of our health service in the battle against COVID-19.
“Many of these student radiographers are replacing existing staff who are out of work due to self-isolation requirements. This is no way to treat these students and sends the wrong message to them as they approach their graduation and hopefully retention within the Irish health service workforce. Fourth year student radiographers are currently placed in radiology departments across the country with many departments at breaking point, due to the number of staff on special leave as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.”
SIPTU’s call for equitable treatment for student radiographers is supported by the School of Radiography in University College Dublin and by the Radiography schools in University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin and the Faculty of Radiologists.
He added: “The Department of Health and HSE must recognise the role being undertaken by student radiographers in the fight against COVID-19. SIPTU and the relevant universities are determined to fight for recognition for these students to ensure their effort is not ignored at this critical time for our people and our country. We are calling on the Minister for Health to intervene in the matter and ensure all roadblocks are removed to recognise the effort of this essential group of new health professionals.”
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Thank you to all our Frontline Heroes
From treating and caring for the ill and vulnerable, providing public transport, maintaining essential supply chains, manufacturing medical devices and medicines, collecting refuse, cleaning, retail workers, administrators, maintaining our critical infrastructure and numerous other forms of essential work, SIPTU members are not only on the frontline of our response to the virus but are the backbone of our economy and society.
Members of our SIPTU Health Division have been tasked with continuing to do what is essential work in these extraordinary times. Our union is here to support you and all of our members in this fight against COVID-19.
This week, SIPTU representatives called on Government to prioritise childcare arrangements for all health workers, enhanced COVID-19 testing of all health workers and to work towards a testing policy that safeguards our health workers, patients and community. We also raised members concerns on the suitability or PPE equipment and sought an immediate and transparent analysis of the health settings where over 900 health workers have so far tested positive for COVID-19 in order to assist with the process of finding solutions that can enhance protections for staff, communities and patients.
Our union intends to recognise our members as ‘Frontline Heroes’ in a media and online campaign that will seek to ensure that the general public understands the value of these essential workers and the work that they do.
Members can follow the campaign on SIPTU’s social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube.
Through recognising our SIPTU Frontline Heroes, we recognise our members’ contribution to the national effort to fight the coronavirus and to keeping our society and economy going during this unprecedented public health emergency.
On Friday, 24th April our union will take part in a global day of online action with health workers across the world that will give an international and collective voice to all Frontline Health Heroes.
You can be a part of the campaign by emailing a picture of you and or your colleagues in the workplace to covid19info@siptuhealth.ie or by sending a member of our team PM on Facebook or Twitter
Keep safe. Keep well and thank you.
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SIPTU calls for analysis of COVID-19 positive health settings
SIPTU representatives have today (Saturday, 4th April) requested that public health officials provide a detailed breakdown to Union representatives of the health settings where over 900 workers have now tested positive for COVID-19.
SIPTU Health Divisional Organiser, Paul Bell said: “This information is of deep concern to our members and requires an immediate and transparent analysis of the health settings involved in order to assist with the process of finding solutions that can enhance protections for staff, communities and patients.”
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SIPTU welcome calls to prioritise COVID-19 testing of all health workers
SIPTU Health representatives have today (Thursday, 2nd April) welcomed the call from leading infectious disease specialists calling on the Government to prioritise the testing of all health care workers for COVID-19.
SIPTU Health Divisional Organiser, Paul Bell said: “We urgently need to ramp up testing and to work towards a policy that safeguards our health workers, patients and community. We have looked to other jurisdictions where mandatory testing of health workers proved to be a positive factor in defeating the virus. South Korea, Hong Kong and health authorities in Taiwan committed to this policy early and with some success.
“Since SIPTU representatives first issued our demand to rigorously monitor and test all health workers for COVID-19, our concerns have proven to be well founded as official figures show 22 nursing homes have been confirmed as COVID-19 positive clusters.
“The need for COVID-19 testing of community health workers is also essential as numerous older people receiving home care have been refused access to their home due to concerns that their carer might carry the virus. Our members working as Home Helps and Home Care Support Assistants need support to keep people safe and well in their homes, as the majority of the people for whom they care, are in the high risk category. This will allow hospitals to concentrate on treating COVID-19 patients and give people the assurance and comfort that they are safe in the hands of our carers.”
He added: “SIPTU representatives have also expressed deep concern about the increasing number of health workers waiting for tests or test results and are alarmed that the Department of Health has confirmed that almost 600 health care workers have tested positive for the virus and are off duty. We need all hands on deck so regular monitoring is essential and our members believe that the testing of all health care workers can only help our collective effort to overcome the coronavirus.”
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SIPTU seeks government action to address childcare crisis for all essential workers
SIPTU representatives have today (Tuesday, 31st March) asked the Government immediately publishes a strategic and sustainable plan that puts childcare arrangements in place for all essential workers for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis.
SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell said: “The Government must take action immediately over the critical issue of providing adequate childcare arrangements for all health and essential workers. Our members want the Government to publish plans that will address this problem which is now reaching boiling point, with many health workers unable to report for duty.”
“The Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) have said that people over 70 should cocoon from the community as they are deemed to be a high risk. However, this policy, coupled with the complete shut-down of creches and schools has added to the burden of an already stressed workforce.
“The COVID-19 virus is global, which allows us to review the response of other governments in how they have decided to assist their health and other essential workers. In Canada and the UK, for example, the provision of childcare is viewed as an essential component in the effort to defeat the pandemic. Our members believe the same kind of urgency and planning must be applied here in Ireland. It is vital that any plan put in place by the Government is in line with HSE COVID-19 guidelines and protocols that protect the health of parents, children as well as childcare workers who should be paid appropriately.”
He added: “SIPTU representatives also have serious concerns about the number of lone parents contacting the SIPTU COVID-19 information helpline, many of them deeply upset, as they have to rely on family and friends to take care of their children or call in absent from work.”
