Connect December 2010

WINTER 2010 VOL: 12

Seasons Greetings to all our Members

NO. 4

Editorial

Dear Colleague,

Contents Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Education Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organising Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SIPTU - in Place of Fear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ICTU Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Equality Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CWU Charitable Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . eircom Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CWU’s New Digital Presence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MABS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CWU Grop Life Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Postal Liberalisation Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Postal Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

An Post Work-Life Balance Initiatives . . . . . . . . . .

Fear and dread left me a wreck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Structure of the Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Youth Committee Halloween Fundraiser . . . . . . . .

Humanitarian Aid Trip to Moldova/ Transdniestria, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CWU People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FM Downes Travel Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

An Post Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CWU Membership Application Form . . . . . . . . . . .

2-3 4-5 6-7 8-9 10-12 13-15 16-17 18-19 20-22 22 23 24-28 29-30 31-35 36 37-40 40

We approach the Christmas holiday period with the country facing its greatest crisis since its foundation. We have all become almost immune to the incessant media diatribe outlining the constantly deteriorating situation which we are faced with. Each successive news item concerning the country’s economic decline seems to be surpassed by the subsequent coverage. During the last eighteen months, it is hard to remember circumstances where the Government and, in particular, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance, have got any figures or projections right.

Indeed, the one thing you can be absolutely sure of is that it is a safer bet to believe the opposite to what they tell you. It is hard to fathom that socalled educated people could be so wrong, so often, and the level of their incompetence is frightening and allied to their insistence on saving their banker, speculator and developer friends it is little wonder that the Irish people as a whole are dazed and confused. It is also worth emphasising again that, unlike most other jurisdictions, the Fianna Fail Party propped up by the Green Party, have managed to ensure that none of that “golden circle” have been prosecuted or jailed for their crimes against the Irish people.

As I write the news is just breaking that Ireland now needs to be bailed out by a combination of the IMF, the EU and by a considerable contribution from the UK government. It seems that Fianna Fail, the so called soldiers of destiny, have handed over our national sovereignty gained through the blood of our forefathers less than one hundred years ago, to the robber barons. Protecting their names and their friends has become more important than fulfilling their duties to their people and generations of Fianna Fail patriots must now be spinning in their graves. The charges against them of economic treason and economic terrorism no longer seem so far off the mark. Nor should anyone forget that none of their handouts and bailouts would have been possible without the

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Editor: Steve Fitzpatrick Sub-Editor: Imelda Wall Issued by: Communications Workers’ Union, 575 North Circular Road, Dublin 1.

Telephone: 8663000 and Fax: 8663099 E-mail: info@cwu.ie Incorporating the PTWU Journal, THE RELAY and THE COMMUNICATIONS WORKER The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the CWU.

Photographs: John Chaney Printed by Mahons Printing Works, Dublin.

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acquiescence and wholehearted support of their Green stooges.

Sometimes it is easy to be so overwhelmed by the state of the catastrophe in Ireland that you take your eye off the impact of the actions of our so-called government. The impact on families that are torn apart as their children have to emigrate, the impact as families break up under massive financial strain, the impact as families lose their homes, the impact of an increased suicide rate, the impact of increased homelessness on our streets, the impact of a further breakdown in law and order, the impact of a diabolical health system, which can only get worse, the impact of cutbacks in education for our children etc. etc. etc. As a direct result, tens of thousands of Irish families will face a cold, cold Christmas with little resources to assist them in helping to fulfil their children’s Christmas wishes.

We cannot allow those crimes against our people to go unpunished and under no circumstances could any sane person vote to put any of the parties’ responsible back into power. There is a real chance that we will have a National General Election early in Steve Fitzpatrick, the New Year and it is my sincere hope that in that election the Irish General Secretary, CWU people will grasp the chance to cast its judgement on this failed government. The manner in which it had to be dragged through the courts to give a voice to the people of Donegal was to say the least unedifying and indicative of the lengths they will go to hang onto power.

Unfortunately the next government will have to pick up the pieces and it now seems that a level of pain and sacrifice for all is inevitable but it is absolutely critical that the crisis we now face is dealt with in an evenhanded manner with the correct balance being reached between cuts and taxation. That balance must take into account the ability of people to pay and the greater needs of society. We already know whose primary needs are being looked after by the present Fianna Fail led government, the needs of the “golden circle”.

Therefore, it is my sincere belief that all our members and their families should use this election as an opportunity to vote for parties who will put ordinary working class people at the forefront of their policies. It is my intention to ask difficult questions of all of the parties before that election and share the information with the members in order to help them make an informed decision.

Against that stark background, the CWU has been attempting to hold the line against pay cuts and attempting to ensure a longer term future for our members within their employment. This on a daily basis is becoming an increasingly more difficult task and that is largely, though not solely, down to the state of the economy. It would be a grave mistake to believe that as members in employment we have escaped the worst excesses of this foul government and it is critical that we as individual Union members take the upcoming opportunity to banish them from power for generations to come. It is a time to raise your voice and the voices of your family and communities rather than sit silently on the sidelines bemoaning your faith. Participation in politics and in your Union is now absolutely critical if we are to stop the worst excesses of this Government and its puppeteers So we finish one year and begin another year facing difficult times. It will be the measure of your Union, and your involvement in your Union, as to how we come out of this crisis. One thing that has become abundantly clear over the past two years is that those without the protection of a Union have been treated obscenely as they have had no chance of defending themselves against the opportunism of many employers who are using the economic crisis as an excuse to do all of the things they could not do before. Therefore, there is no doubt that you are better off with a Union, but there is also no doubt that the protections enjoyed will come under further attack in the New Year. It is only through your own involvement and agitation that we will survive into the future.

I look forward to joining you in that struggle in the New Year and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours as Happy a Christmas as is possible in these difficult times in the hope that the New Year will see a new pathway to a better future.

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Education Update

Meteor Mobile has a New Committee The CWU is very pleased to introduce the new Meteor Mobile Branch Committee. The committee attended training both on their own premises in Park West and also in Union Head Office. The purpose of the first phase of the training was to establish the new committee and to introduce the group to the structure and workings of the Union. In the second phase, the committee met with the Youth Committee and both groups received training on grievance and disciplinary procedures.

We are very pleased to introduce the new committee to the Union, who will no doubt prove very helpful to members in Meteor Park West and we look forward to working with the committee into the future.

Head Office Training On September 11th, a training course was held for the newlyestablished Meteor Committee and the Youth Committee.

Pictured left is the Meteor Committee.

Back row L-R: Michael Crowe, Larry Ojelade, Alan Brennan and Louise Quinn Front row L-R: Ronan O’Brien, Csilla Czelvikker and Stephen Dunne.

(Missing from shot is Natasha McDermott, Jeffrey Owie and Alan Maher, who were also trained as part of the committee.)

Youth Committee Training Right is a combined shot of the Youth Committee and the Meteor Mobile Committee, who were trained together in Union Head Office on Saturday, September 11th.

Back row L-R: Nicola McKenna (Vodafone), Claire Robinson (Vodafone), Ronan O’Brien (Meteor), Eric Partridge (Dublin Postaland Amalgamated Branch), Michael Crowe (Meteor), Stephen Dunne (Meteor) and Louise Quinn (Meteor).

Front row L-R: Larry Ojelade (Meteor), Csilla Czelvikker (Meteor), Caroline Corcoran (Dublin C&A) and Alan Brennan (Meteor).

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Education Update

Branch Secretary Stage 2 The following attended the Branch Secretary Stage 2 training course.

Back Row L-R: Danny O’Neill (Eircom Galway District), Sarah Vaughan (Union HQ), Anna Lovely (Mullingar DQ), Regina Abernethy (Cork C&A) and Ger Falvey (Eircom Limerick District).

Front Row L-R: Lorraine Newman (Union HQ), Ray Neville (Limerick Postal), Bernard Foley (Eircom Dundalk), Colin Moore (Dublin Postal Managers) and Collette Healy (Capita Cork).

The “Branch Secretary Stage 2” course was held the week of September 27th. This course is attended by Branch Secretaries who have completed Stage 1 and are in their second or consecutive term as Branch Secretary. They are therefore re-elected to the post of Branch Secretary and then attend the next round of training. The “Branch Secretary Stage 2” course focuses on the experience of the Branch Secretary in their role, since they were elected, and any further supports that are required for the duties of Branch Secretary. There are also more advanced modules on communication skills, equality and diversity, negotiation skills, health and safety etc.

Branch Officer & Treasurer Training A Branch Officer training course was held in Union Head Office in late April of this year. It is open to Assistant Secretaries, Vice Chairpersons, or anybody else who has not had an opportunity to attend before.

Treasurer training was also held in conjunction with the course. Overall attendance was high this year, with members from eircom, An Post and UPS on the training course.

In attendance were: Dan Duggan (Cork Clerks), Enda Montgomery (Mullingar Postal), Anthony Maher (Portlaoise Postal), John Lynam(Bantry Postal), Margaret Hegarty (Cork Mails Centre), Paul Crawford (An Post Donegal South West), Martin O’Brien (An Post Donegal South West), Conor Hodgins (Gorey Postal), Catherine Needham (Tralee Tels), Tom Fitzgerald (Gorey Postal), Niall Daly (Carrick-on-Shannon Postal), Leonard Coote (Ennis Postal), Thomas Clare (Gorey Postal), Noel Adamson (DPDB), Pat Freeman (Mullingar Postal), Jackie Mee (Mullingar DQ), Damien Duncan (Mullingar Postal), Paul Dunleavey (Tuam Postal), Helen Dunne Phelan (Portlaoise Postal), Brendan Keating (Dublin Mails Managers), Matthew Pepper (Eircom Dundalk), Michael Seavers (Eircom Dublin No 2), Michael Brannelly (Ballina Postal), Thomas Redmond (Eircom Dublin No 2) and Gary Lalor (UPS).

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Two-thirds of workers “not in Unions” STEVEN CARROLL Almost two thirds of Irish workers are not members of a Trade Union or staff association, according to a national workplace survey published today.

Only 15.9 per cent of under-25s are Union members, down from 27.8 per cent when the previous survey was conducted in 2003, and less than a quarter, 24.9 per cent, of private sector works are members, compared to 30 per cent in 2003.

The ESRI survey of more than 5,000 employees and 3,000 employers shows that Union membership among public sector workers remains strong at 68.7 per cent.

However, the percentage of construction (22 per cent), manufacturing (33 per cent) and retail workers (21 per cent) paying dues fell significantly.

The survey also shows that employees are more willing to work harder to keep their jobs, with 61 per cent of businesses having reduced their workforce in the previous two years.

Some 54 per cent of workers say the pressures under which they are working have increased, while 33 per cent say their level of job security has fallen.

Three-fifths of workers say their responsibilities have increased in the last two years, while 52 per cent say they are now expected to make more decisions than in the past.

One-fifth of workers had experienced a fall in their hourly earnings in the previous two years, with public sector staff (37 per cent) more frequently reporting a reduction than those in the private sector (21 per cent).

The survey was conducted following the imposition of a pension levy on public sector workers but before a pay cut introduced in the budget came into effect.

The ESRI said, “Our workers are more committed than ever; they are more willing to accept change and to take on more responsibility; they are registering higher levels of job satisfaction and commitment and are more involved in decision-making.”

According to the survey, the average worker earned €707 a week between March and June of last year.

Men earned an average of €808 per week – about one-third more than women.

Workers in the private sector earned an average of €678 weekly, compared to €792 for those in the public sector and €809 for those in commercial semi-state organisations.

Submitted by Ian McA rdle.

Organising Officer

Dell Ireland Update Workers at Dell Ireland have been attempting for some months to engage with the company, to resolve outstanding issues affecting shift changes and allowances. They have also been seeking confirmation from the company that it will acknowledge their entitlement to Trade Union representation at individual grievance and disciplinary hearings.

As reported in the last issue, the Union referred Dell to the Labour Relations Commission for the second time, after receiving a communication from the company’s legal advisers, stating that they were not prepared to attend.

Despite numerous efforts to bring the company to the table, Dell have persisted with their position of non-engagement.

Due to the company’s determination to refuse to engage at any level with their employees to resolve their issues, the CWU has been obliged to escalate the matter to the Labour Court. Despite enormous delays facing the industrial relations mechanisms of the state, the CWU has secured a date for a hearing in December and Dell workers hope that, at this late stage, the company will choose to do the right thing and address their ongoing issues.

Zevas Communications Following on from the success of the “Employment Rights” information day held in Cork, CWU organisers are continuing to work with employees of Zevas Communications to address the concerns that have been raised regarding work practices and internal procedures.

In an attempt to tackle these issues and others, the company has been invited to meet with the CWU to discuss, and attempt to resolve, some of the issues raised by its staff.

The company have so far declined to undertake any kind of dialogue either with its employees or their Union. In the interests of developing a positive relationship with management, the organisers will continue to encourage the 6

company to recognise its workers’ right to be heard, in the hope that referral to a third party can be avoided.

Of course, to strengthen the employees’ position, those workers who have not yet joined with their colleagues are being actively encouraged to have their voices heard by joining the CWU.

West. The new committee recently attended a training seminar which was arranged by the Education Committee.

The branch recently held its inaugural committee meeting.

The organisers and Organising Committee extends our best wishes and offers its support and assistance to all of those involved.

Call Centre Action Month

Carphone Warehouse workers join Union

The Communications Workers’ Union is participating in an international campaign, organised by Union Network International (UNI) to promote Call Centre Action Month.

Several studies have shown that when asked why they are not a member of a Trade Union, the majority of people respond that they have never been asked. With this in mind it becomes clear that Call Centre Action Month is a vital opportunity to visit contact centres throughout the country and invite workers to join the Union.

Call Centre Action Month gives organisers the chance to meet existing members, as well as potential members.

Workers will be given the opportunity to ask questions about membership and their rights at work. Stress, in particular, has been identified as a recurring issue for workers in this environment and organisers will be armed with information designed to assist people in dealing with the pressures of contact centre working.

At the time of going to print, visits are planned for American Airlines, One Direct and also eircom’s 1HSQ building, with several other sites to be visited in the following weeks.

Carphone Warehouse workers recently contacted the CWU, as they were concerned that the company wanted to introduces changes to their employment contracts.

Organisers met with some of the workers who subsequently joined the Union. The Union has since advised Carphone Warehouse staff in the company’s grievance procedures.

The aim of the organisers is to ensure that many more Carphone Warehouse employees will join the Union and, thus, increase their voice in the workplace. We have also visited several Carphone Warehouse stores, during our mobile retail campaign.

Mobile retail campaign The organisers recently commenced a campaign in the mobile retail outlet sector. This involves visiting all of the major companies’ retail units, such as Vodafone, Meteor, O2, 3 and Carphone Warehouse. The campaign started in Dublin at the beginning of November and will continue throughout the rest of the country. If you have any friends or family members who are employed in the industry, tell them of the benefits that membership of the CWU brings.

Conduit The Communications Workers’ Union has been contacted by workers at Conduit, in Navan, a call centre which operates the 999 emergency services. Union organisers met with staff and listened to their issues.

The 999 contract was previously carried out by Eircom, but has since been awarded to BT. BT then sub-contracted the work to Conduit. In addition to the thirty-five employees at Navan, Conduit also have operations in Ballyshannon in Donegal and East Point in Dublin, where we have a number of Union members. The organisers will keep you up-to-date with future developments.

Wear your Union Badge

New branch committee in Meteor/ Rigney Dolphin, Park West As outlined elsewhere in the journal, there is a new Branch Committee in place at the Meteor contact centre in Park 7

IN PLACE OF FEAR Statement by Jack O’Connor, President of Congress, General President of SIPTU on Jobs and Growth – ETUC Day of Protest 29th September 2010 who live in Ireland.

Then they unleashed the most sustained assault on working people and those who depend most on Public Services in living memory. Savage cutbacks have been inflicted on the most vulnerable in the community, accompanied by pay and pension cuts. Simultaneously, hundreds of thousands have been condemned to hopelessness, as unemployment has been cynically and deliberately allowed to escalate relentlessly, in order to drive down wage costs, in the hope of bringing about recovery through export led growth. (Ironically, this is predominantly the same Government which inherited a booming export-led economy in 1997 and went on to ruin it, by prioritising speculation over sustainable development).

Now, two miserable years on, the evidence of the failure of this cruel strategy is there for all to see. Despite record growth in exports, the economy is still declining, businesses are still closing and people are still losing their jobs. The much-sought miracle of export-led growth has turned out to be a chimera, delivering neither jobs, revenue or recovery. It must now be transparently obvious, even to the most blinkered adherents of liberal orthodoxy, that concentration on 30% of the economy to Today, all over Europe, workers are protesting against the detriment of the other 70%, will result only in further austerity policies which are placing the interests of misery. bankers over citizens – destroying jobs and But what is our Government doing? Committing to Seemingly jeopardising economic recovery. more of the same, only worse – declaring the we must prove Here, the day marks the resumption of Dáil our determination to intention to intensify the austerity programme business, after a long summer recess. Ironically, beyond the €3bn they earlier announced for repay the debts it also coincides with the 2nd anniversary of the budget 2011. All this is to appease the incurred through the perceived sentiment of the financial markets. single most catastrophic financial policy profligacy of those at Seemingly, we must prove our determination to decision in the history of the state: the inclusion the top of our society repay the debts incurred through the profligacy of Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide in the by crucifying those of those at the top of our society by crucifying Bank Credit Guarantee Scheme. On that day, two at the bottom. years ago, our policy makers, mesmerised by the those at the bottom. There might be some rationale men with the midas touch, issued (perhaps for the best in it. if it did “what it says on the tin”, but it clearly of reasons) a limitless blank cheque, to be honoured does not. The speculators who infest the global money through the misery of more than one generation of the people markets are not impressed. They can evaluate the results of our

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tragic experiment over the last two years as well as we can.

They know it isn’t working. There is no map to the future, only a set of staging posts on the road to perdition. They will continue to extract ever-increasing levels of interest on Irish Government Bonds, as long as the current cycle of terror continues. Indeed, countries such as Spain, which have adopted more balanced approaches, are receiving more favourable treatment because their strategy is believable.

The assertion that the Irish Government Bond commitments might not be honoured is overhyped. Current debt servicing, as a percentage of tax revenue, is less than half it was in the 1980s and only one-third as a percentage of GNP or GDP. The entire matter turns on the development of a credible plan for recovery and two years on, our Government has failed abysmally to develop one. The so-called fiscal plan is not a plan at all, merely a route to self-destruction.

Today, we are calling for an end to the economics of failure.

Along with Trade Unionists all over Europe, we call for real solidarity in the form of a Trans-European plan for recovery, embracing the establishment of a euro bond mechanism, combined with a co-ordinated investment strategy for jobs and

growth.

Meanwhile, at home, we urge our Government to end their doomsday campaign of terror against the people before it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. In place of fear, we urge them to apply themselves to rolling out a credible plan for recovery. This must offer reassurance to people in terms of their jobs, their pensions and retention of the roof over their heads.

Spending is critical to growth and people will not spend, as long as they are terrified of what the future may hold. In pursuit of reducing the deficit, we urge the Government to shift focus to revenue sources that will not take out vast sums of money currently in circulation in the economy. This can be done through the application of temporary progressive taxation measures on capital and wealth. Most of all, we urge them to recognise the necessity of replenishing resources withdrawn in the deficit reduction process, through the injection of off balance sheet investment.

This is entirely feasible, through a combination of measures including: •

•

•

The use of a proportion of the National Pension Reserve Fund to provide equity for new enterprises and protecting current ones Creation of a State Holding Company, to utilise the assets of our commercial semi-state bodies as a vehicle for investment and leveraging new resources for development and innovation, (instead of planning to sell them off at bargain basement prices, to be asset-stripped by the corporate vultures.

Incentivising the investment of savings, through the creation of imaginative innovation and State Equity support funds.

It is not too late for our Government to embrace the lessons of the wasted years – but if they do not do so immediately, they should do the next decent thing by calling a General Election, respecting our sovereign right as a people to decide our fate.

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ICTU Update

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ICTU Update

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ICTU Update

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Equality Update

Women in Leadership – Communications Programme A training programme for women in leadership positions was organised through the Women at Work Skillnet. The course was delivered by Enda Brennan, of Oyster Coaching, and covered topics such as communication skills, conflict resolution negotiation skills and assertiveness. This type of training, under the ambit of personal development, is an important part of our equality training and it will be our intention and hope to repeat the course for other participants.

Pictured Left Front Row L-R: Adrienne Power (Union Head Office), Breda McGuinness (Eircom Athlone), Collette Healy (Capita Cork), Caroline Maunsell (Eircom Mullingar DQ), Deirdre Medlar (Ballina Postal), Ann-Marie Fadden (Eircom Castlebar Section) and Mary Conroy (Galway Postal).

Back Row L-R: Enda Brennan (Oyster Coaching), Eileen Fitzgerald (Tralee Tels), Helen Dunne Phelan (Portlaoise Mails Centre), Catherine Slattery (NEC), Mary O’Brien (Portlaoise C&A), Marie McGovern (Sligo C&A), Carol Scheffer (National Officer), Angela Rowntree (An Post Castlerea and District) and Martina O’Connell (NEC).

Marie McGovern (Eircom Sligo)

Martina O’Connell (NEC) and Catherine Slattery (NEC)

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Deirdre Medlar (Ballina Postal)

Equality Update

Equality Representative Training Course October 7th & 8th Pictured Left Front Row L-R: Gerry Murphy Eircom Southern Region Managers Branch, Paul Torsney Eircom Dublin No 2, Anne Marie O’Sullivan An Post DO 22, Liam O’Callaghan Cork Postal Clerks and Jackie Mee Eircom Mullingar DQ. Back Row L-R: John McCarthy Clonmel Postal, Martin Finn Gorey Postal, Ellen Redmond Clonmel Postal, Fiona Barrett Bandon Postal, Siva Kadismetty Capita, John Dunleavy Eircom Dublin No 2 and Paul McElroy Drogheda Postal.

Fiona Barrett, Bandon Postal.

Paul McElroy Drogheda Postal & Anne Marie O’Sullivan DO 22.

Gerry Murphy, Eircom Southern Region Managers.

Get into print!

Anyone wishing to submit articles or photos to appear in the Connect journal, please, either email to:

imelda@cwu.ie or post to: Imelda Wall

Communications Workers’ Union 575 North Circular Road, Dublin 1.

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Equality Update

Equality Representative Training Course October 13th & 14th

Front Row L-R: John O’Mahoney (An Post Cork Outdoor), Helen Fleming (Limerick Postal), Ambrose McKenna (Monaghan Postal), Tom Murphy (Eircom Dublin No 1), Kevin Mundy (An Post Donegal SW) and Paul Cox (Cavan Postal).

Back Row L-R: Ollie Butler (Navan Postal), Henry Kiely (Eircom Southern Region Managers Branch), Trevor Ryan (An Post Cork Outdoor), Siad Shakir (An Post Foxrock DO), Helen Dunne Phelan (Portlaoise Mails Centre), Bernadette Kavanagh (Eircom Drogheda C&A), Paul Gallagher (An Post Lifford/ Inishowen) and Ger Falvey (Eircom Limerick District).

Group Discussions

Ambrose McKenna explains how he would deal with the situation.

Ger Falvey and Ollie Butler take notes on group ideas.

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CWU CHARITABLE FUND A Donation of €50,000.00 was made to the Pakistan flood victims, which was distributed as follows:

(1) €25,000.00 was donated to the Disaster Relief by Irish and Pakistan.

On behalf of the Disaster Relief by Irish & Pakistan, they wish to thank all our CWU members for their generous donation of €25,000.00. Your contribution makes it possible to provide food, shelter and essential medical facilities to some of the millions affected by the recent floods in Pakistan.

The main types of Medicines & Vaccines that would be purchased with the funds include: • • • • • • • •

Antibiotics (injectables and tablets) Antiseptics (plastic bottles) Vaccines against childhood diseases Cholera and Tetanus Vaccines Oral Re-hydration Solutions (ORS) Lice Medication (Malathion) Scabies Medication (permethrin 5% cream) Disposables e.g. Gloves, Band aids, dressing.

(2) €25,000.00 was donated to Concern’s Emergency Response in Pakistan.

Through Concern, the CWU donation will be specifically used to do the following activities in Kohistan and Swat districts.

ACTIVITY

UNIT

NO OF UNITS

UNIT COST

TOTAL

Repair/revitalisation of damaged water supply schemes

Schemes

6

3485

€20,910.00

Restoration of essential damaged community-based infrastructure schemes (irrigation channels, farm to market roads, pedestrian bridges, small hydro power station etc.,

Scheme

1

4094

€ 4,094.00

TOTAL

€25,004.00

Thank you for your financial support ~ it is very much appreciated!

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CWU CHARITABLE FUND Donation of €2,000.00 was made to Global Action, Kenya A million thanks to the CWU from Global Action and the village of Kwakakula in Kenya. As a result of your donation, 3 laptops were bought for the local polytechnic school. The leftover money from the donation went towards clothes for the local orphans. Education is the key to

relieving poverty and creating social mobility.

The computers which were in the school were almost 20 years old and quite inadequate. The brand new laptops helped in improving the diversity of skills which can be obtained in the polytechnic.

INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY HOUSING FUND Donegal Parents and Friends of People with Intellectual Disability The CWU former President, Charlie Kelly, a native of Letterkenny, and the Financial Officer, Monica Hempenstall, and other members of the Finance Committee and the National Executive Council, along with Hugh Quinn, Michael Gallagher (An Post) and Gerry Mullan, Connie Carr (eircom), presented a cheque amounting to €20,000.00 to the Donegal Parents and Friends of People with Intellectual Disability Limited, to assist them with the construction of an extension to Cill Aoibhinn Killymard, Donegal Town.

Cill Aoibhin has been home to eight people with an Intellectual Disability, since it was built in 1996. The site for the house was provided by the local parish of St Mary’s, Killymard, and the original construction of the house was financed by the Parents and

Friends of People with Intellectual Disability, The North Western Health Board People in Need, Lotto, FÁS and the CWU. It is still a home to many of the original residents and an extension is now to be added to provide additional living space.

Vincent O’Donnell, Chairman of the South West branch of Parents and Friends of People with Intellectual Disability, thanked the CWU for their generous donation and said: “The generous donation of €20,000.00 means that they can now proceed with the extension to Cill Aoibhinn immediately.”

As stated, Cill Aoibhinn will always be a reminder of the commitment of CWU members to improving housing conditions for people with Intellectual Disability.

Co Donegal parents and Friends for the Intellectual Disability The following members that represented the CWU members at the presentation were as follows:- An Post: Hugh Quinn (Donegal South West), Martin Gillespie (Donegal South West), John Tansey (NEC) Damien Tuohy (Finance Committee), Former president of the CWU, Charlie Kelly (Letterkenny), Maureen McCarthy (CEO), Vincent O’Donnell (Chairperson) and the Residents of Co Donegal Parents and Friends. Eircom: John Quinn (Sligo Branch), Gerard Bourke (Drogheda Branch), Gerry Mulhern (Donegal Section), Connie Carr (Donegal Section), Monica Hempenstall (Financial Officer).

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Sponsorship for the construction of the Lift for the Intellectual Disability in Donegal L/R Martin Gillespie,(Donegal), Monica Hempenstall, Financial Officer, John Tansey, NEC, Gerard Bourke, Drogheda, Damien Tuohy, Finance Committee, Charlie Kely, Finance Committee

eircom Update

“ Watt” Challenge at eircom Hq The eircom Group Energy Awareness Campaign was launched recently.

• Among the main aims of the campaign are to publicise environment and energy policies, raise overall energy awareness among all staff and engage staff in energy-saving activities, • Among the energy initiatives already underway, are a new energy website and an energy awareness roadshow. The group have arranged for WEEE Ireland to provide recycling cages for free disposal of unwanted domestic electrical equipment and batteries at a number of locations around the country, and have also launched a children’s art competition, in conjunction with the campaign.

The Energy Awareness Roadshow was launched at eircom Hq in Heuston Square, in October, where Connect caught up with some of the staff involved in the campaign.

Pictured l to r: Séan Bailey, Claire Kelly, Gerry O’Dowd, Gráinne O’Boyle, Pat Sullivan & John Brophy.

Claire Kelly

Tommy Coughlan

Tom Lynch trying to beat the “Watt” Challenge.

Gerry O’Dowd (Energy Roadshow) with Paddy Appleby.

18

eircom Update

Eircom loses the 999 Service

Mick Kennedy

Brege Greevy

Charlie O’Keeffe

Barbara Shevlin

snow, ice nor storms prevented staff from manning the service down the years, to provide the first port of call to the public, who needed to be directed to the appropriate emergency services.

The staff of the 999 were often first to deal with many tragic emergencies down the years, for example, the Stardust fire. The staff had to remain calm and in control in the midst of cries for help.

It remains to be seen if the Company or staff get any mention from the powers-that-be at the end of an era and indeed, a lifetime of service.

The 999 service, which has been provided by eircom staff, and indeed, as far back as the days of Posts and Telegraphs, is finally departing, with eircom losing out to a tendering process which was won by BT. It is disappointing on another front that BT, who won the contract, do not recognise Unions in the 26 counties but do across the border in the 6 counties. Now that is what you call double standards.

If medals were given out to staff for dedication to duty, the staff on the 999 would be first in the queue. Neither 19

CWU’s New Digital Presence CWU launches its new website www.cwu.ie The CWU is delighted to announce that work on the redesign of the Union’s website is now complete and the site is now live. At the beginning of 2010, the NEC tasked the Organising Committee with the project of redesigning the existing website and to-date, the feedback has been very positive.

The importance of the internet, as a tool for reaching both existing and potential members, cannot be underestimated. Workers, the length and breadth of the country, browse the internet daily, searching for information, including information on work-related issues. Having a professional, userfriendly and informative website has become invaluable for any Trade Union.

The redesign of the website has allowed the Union to create a more interactive site, without sacrificing the level of information previously provided. The new site was designed to include all the pages that our members are familiar with, such as General Secretary Circulars, along with some new pages.

There are a number of new sections on the website, one of which is for activists. This section of the site was designed as a tool for existing activists and for those who are considering becoming more involved in Union activities. The ‘Toolkits’ page contains a wealth of information for Trade Union Representatives, Health & Safety Representatives, and even Organising Representatives. Having this information on the website for both members and potential members demystifies a great deal of what work is involved in being a Trade Union activist, and it will hopefully encourage individuals to become more involved in their Union.

Two new features that have been added to the site are the options to ‘Join CWU’ and ‘Update Details’. The option for individuals to complete an online form to join the Union is an essential organising and recruiting tool. This function allows users to complete a form, based on the membership form, which is sent to an email address in Head Office and is then processed by the Membership Administrators.

The ‘Update Details’ feature is also extremely important from an administrative point of view. This feature is very similar to the ‘Join CWU’ form, where members can fill out their contact details and then send an email to Head Office, where the Administration staff can update the Union’s membership database. The need for this facility has arisen, as mail sent to members is often returned to Head Office as undeliverable because members have changed addresses. In the past, the Union has spent time calling and writing to Branches to get the new information, however it is hoped that this feature on the new website will allow the Union to maintain an up-to-date membership database – this is in best interest of members, as they will receive all information sent to them from the Union in a timely manner.

Members will be familiar with much of the content on the new site, such as the circulars, Union Post, and Connect journal, along with news about events and campaigns. A new function that has been added for the journals allows users to view a digital version of both Connect and Union Post. The facility to download a PDF copy of these journals is also still available.

Past issues for the last two years are available for both Connect and Union Post.

The website will be updated regularly by staff in Head Office, to ensure that members and potential members are kept informed about the work of the Union. The ‘Latest News’, ‘Events’ and ‘Campaigns’ pages will be utilised in conjunction with one another, to inform and coordinate any campaigns, events, demonstrations, etc that the Union is involved in. We would recommend that you check these pages regularly, as the website will be a vital resource for keeping members informed of Union activities, in between issues of the Connect journal.

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CWU Call Centre website to be redesigned www.cwucallcentres.ie With the redesign of the main CWU website complete, the Union is now undertaking to redesign its dedicated Call Centre website.

The decision to develop a separate website for call centre employees arose from the fact that a growing number of the Union’s members are employed in call centres or contact centres throughout the country and they face very specific challenges in the various companies where they work.

As the call centre Union in Ireland, the CWU saw the opportunity to develop a platform through which it could keep call centre staff informed of their rights in work, their entitlements, and to offer support to a large section of our membership base. I am sure all of our members are aware of the difficulties faced by workers in every sector; however those difficulties are significantly increased in companies where the Union has no recognition agreements or collective bargaining rights. It is for this reason that, while the Union will continue to strive for collective bargaining rights in these companies, we must offer the best support we can to the individual members, who may be exploited and taken advantage of.

This website will be tailored to provide information relevant to members and potential members working in call centres, as an additional resource to complement the main CWU website.

CWU on Facebook CWU Ireland and CWU Youth Committee Ireland

Coinciding with the redesign of the Union’s websites, we have created two Facebook Pages – one for the Union (CWU Ireland) and one for the Youth Committee (CWU Youth Committee Ireland). The use of social networking as a means to reach people has become an essential tool for all organisations. It allows a level of engagement with people that is not facilitated on most websites, including our own, through wall posts and discussions etc.

Many of you are probably familiar with Facebook and may have personal profiles, and we would invite you to visit our Pages (links are on the new CWU website). These Pages have been created, not only for the Union and Youth Committee to share information with members, but also for members to discuss issues, share information with the Union and other members, and to build a stronger network between the Union and our members.

21

CWU launches its first Campaign Website www.protectyourpost.ie The CWU has launched a national campaign, Protect Your Post, to highlight the serious issues that are facing the Irish postal market with the impending liberalisation of the market. The campaign is designed to work across a number of fronts by providing our members with an information booklet, a media pack to use when talking to political representatives, and a dedicated campaign website.

Protectyourpost.ie contains a raft of information on the challenges that liberalisation brings to the postal market, but most importantly, it features a useful tool that allows members of the public, as well as members of the Union, to send a message that is pre-written to their local elected representatives.

By simply clicking on the appropriate constituency and following a couple of easy steps, an individual can send a message to all of their representatives in one go. This has been designed to involve as many people as possible in the campaign – particularly those who will not be familiar with the issues we are facing but who still want to take action to protect their post!

The website is designed to work in conjunction with the Protect Your Post booklet, which provides members with a prepaid postcard that will be sent to the Minister for Communications. In addition, the CWU Facebook presence also features a campaign page that directs visitors to the website.

MABS The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is a free, confidential, independent and non-judgemental service for people in debt, or at risk of getting into debt. It is a national service with over sixty offices. It is funded and supported by the Citizen’s Information Board. The service has experienced a considerable increase in people seeking advice recently, with over one hundred people a day calling its helpline.

People often seek the help of MABS when: • There are extra bills to pay because something has happened, such as unemployment, illness in the family, separation, bereavement, or an accident • There is no money left over to pay everyday bills • The money coming into the household is less than it used to be and loan repayments have fallen behind • They have been living on a low income for a long time and are getting further and further behind because of the cost of medicines, childcare, travel or rent etc.

Not being in control of your finances can be a difficult, lonely and sometimes desperate place to be. The MABS experience is that financial difficulties can affect everyone from high income earners to people on low income, so if you are worried about money you are not alone. Money difficulties can affect people’s health and overall wellbeing.

In a non-judgmental and confidential setting, MABS is there to assist people to regain control of their finances, by putting in place with them an affordable and sustainable budget.

The service is there to work with the person: • in making out a budget and establishing priorities • researching their rights and entitlements • contacting and negotiating with creditors on their behalf, if necessary • establishing affordable offers to creditors • setting up appropriate payment systems • Monitoring, if required, new budgeting arrangements.

MABS has a helpline service 1890 283438 (available Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm) and website www.mabs.ie. to assist people in debt or in danger of getting into debt.

22

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POSTAL LIBERALISATION CAMPAIGN CWU Delegation meets Joint Oireachtas Committee to discuss Postal Liberalisation

Ian McArdle, Organising Officer, CWU

On the 27th October, a delegation of the CWU, comprised of General Secretary, Steve Fitzpatrick, Postal/Courier National Officers, Seán McDonagh and Joe Guinan, Vice-President, Cormac O’Dalaigh, and Head of Regulatory Affairs, Ian McArdle, met with the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Communications to discuss the Union’s concerns regarding the liberalisation of the postal market and the soon-to-be-published Postal Services Bill.

The Delegation began by taking the Committee members through a comprehensive presentation on a number of key areas, including: • • •

Jerry Condon, Worker Director

Ger Hanrahan, Limerick Postal

The social and economic value of the postal market Postage costs Liberalisation – key concerns o Viability of USO in a liberalised market o Job losses and social dumping o Downstream access o Cherry-picking

The Union delegation went through these issues in some detail, highlighting the fact that the liberalisation of the postal market could have a profound and negative effect on the market if it is not done in the right way.

The delegation went on to outline a number of proposals for the Committee to consider as it deliberates on the Bill in the coming weeks.

John Morris & Seanie Morrissey, Kilkenny Postal, read from the Liberalisation Booklet

The main proposals included: • • •

Eamon McNally D.P.D.B.

Noel Adamson, D.P.D.B.

forced, under a revised licensing process, to make appropriate provision for national pay awards, pension schemes, a decent standard of terms and conditions as well as Steve Fitzpatrick, general adherence to General Secretary social policy and industrial relations best practice.

In conclusion, the delegation put pay to some of the myths that may persist in the public mind with regard to An Post as a semi-State organisation.

The delegation reminded the Committee that An Post receives no State support or taxpayer handouts and that it funds its entire operation based on the price of the stamp.

The delegation also noted that the price of the stamp is actually the eighth lowest out of 29 European countries, as per a recent survey

Meaningful protection of the USO Strong regulation and legislation Minimise job losses, avoid social dumping

The delegation argued that the Universal Service Obligation is the cornerstone of the postal market and without proper protection the entire postal service will be under threat. To avoid this scenario strong regulation and legislation is required which recognises the vital role of An Post in the longterm development of the Irish postal market. In addition, the CWU called for issues such as ‘cherry-picking’ and ‘downstream access’ to be managed in a way that does not undermine the marketplace.

The delegation suggested that revised licensing and authorisation process could be used to ensure that employment standards are maintained and social dumping is avoided. Operators could be 24

conducted earlier this year by DHL and that in actual fact An Post is one of the most efficient postal companies across Europe at this time. The delegation observed that An Post is taking the introduction of liberalisation very seriously and whilst it is currently coming to terms with a serious decline in mail volumes of almost 20%, it is, at the same time, engaged in a staff reduction programme in conjunction with the unions. An Post has, in the last year, reduced its labour costs by 4.2%. In addition to this, the delegation noted that the quality of service figures are increasing, with a jump from 77% next day delivery in 2007 to 85% so far in 2010, which is likely in increase as the year progresses.

The presentation was concluded by reminding the Joint Oireachtas Committee that An Post is at best marginally profitable and that in the current economic climate will struggle to remain so. In

circumstances where the Company requires no taxpayer or State support, liberalisation could mean the difference between a viable, efficient and independent semi-State operation like An Post becoming loss-making and dependent on taxpayer handouts.

Communications Spokespersons for Finé Gael and Labour were in attendance and both acknowledged that the liberalisation process must be handled with care in order to ensure that An Post is not destabilised and that the postal market does not suffer as a result.

Specifically, Deputy Leo Veradkar of Fine Gael commented that “An Post is a very good company. My view is that if it is not broken, do not fix it”. He went on to express concern that, if liberalisation is handled in the wrong way, “we could end up having to subsidise An Post, a company which has never required a State subsidy…it would be strange if we introduced liberalisation for other companies to make a profit while we end up subsidising the company that was not making a loss previously.

We should approach liberalisation in such a way that we do not end up with An Post needing a State subvention”.

Deputy Liz McManus of Labour noted that the concept of liberalisation was drawn up in good times which no longer exist and suggested that the one-size-fits-all approach being adopted by Europe does not suit a country like Ireland.

Deputy McManus went on to say “there are real dangers in transposing this directive into Irish law which have been signalled clearly in the presentation. We need to be aware of that. I am not comfortable with the idea that, as legislators we would put the Universal Service Obligation at risk so that it would or may have to be supported by direct Government subvention”.

Both Deputies suggested that, when the Bill comes before the Joint Oireachtas Committee, the Union would be invited back to discuss the legislation in more detail, along with other stakeholders in the postal market.

Fitzpatrick, National Officer Seán McDonagh, and Head of Regulatory Affairs Ian McArdle, met with representatives from the Department of Communications, including Department Assistant Secretary Eamonn Molloy and John Swan who was representing PA Consulting, the company which won the tender to appoint a postcode operator.

A frank and earnest discussion took place whereby the General Secretary clearly outlined the Union’s concerns around the introduction of Postcodes at this time. In circumstances where An Post is already struggling to come to terms with an unprecedented decline in mail volumes and the introduction of postal liberalisation, one could rightfully question whether introducing Postcodes now is the best way to spend taxpayer’s money.

Discussions moved on to the kind of Postcode that may ultimately be opted for, albeit PA Consulting were keen to emphasise the fact that they were not in a position to get into specifics and would not know the exact format until the tendering process had been completed. The Department agreed to keep the CWU, as an important stakeholder in the postal market, informed as the discussions with various other stakeholders progressed and as the process moved forward.

Union meets Department to discuss Postcodes

Postal Liberalisation Seminar takes place in Union Head Office

On Tuesday 26th October a delegation from the CWU, comprised of General Secretary Steve

The Union organised a Seminar for all Postal Branch Secretaries on 29th October in Union 25

Bill Colfer, Co-Ordinator

Ger O’Connor, Mullingar Postal

John Whelan, Co-Ordinator

Colin Moore, Dublin Postal Managers

Seán Coultry, D.P.D.B.

Danny Roche, Tralee

Deirdre Medlar, Ballina Postal

Head Office. The Seminar was arranged on the basis that the Union is launching a national campaign to highlight the concerns we have in relation to the liberalisation of the postal market. As part of this national campaign all CWU members will be asked to lobby their local Councillors and TDs on the issues arising from the liberalisation process.

The Seminar was designed to help our Branch Secretaries and postal representatives prepare for this campaign.

The attendees were brought through a new booklet that has been designed by Head Office as an easy guide to postal liberalisation – PROTECT YOUR POST. In addition to this, a dedicated campaign website www.protectyourpost.ie has been built, which allows anyone to send a pre-written message to their Dáil representatives by email. Finally, following an introduction from General Secretary Steve Fitzpatrick, Ian McArdle (Head of Regulatory Affairs) briefed those present on the discussions and presentation given by the Union at the Joint Oireachtas Committee.

The Union has designed its Protect Your Post booklet to help all members to better understand the implications of postal liberalisation and it includes an easy-to-read Executive Summary of the Union’s position on these matters, as well as a section dedicated to explaining the jargon involved in discussing liberalisation. The booklet also includes a section describing how liberalisation will affect everybody, from an ordinary member of the public, right through to postal workers at all levels. In addition, there are descriptions of how liberalisation has affected other countries as well as answers to frequently asked questions.

John Mora, D.P.D.B.

Send a message to the Minister

Frank Burke, Dublin Mails Manager

Included in the booklet are two postcards that can be torn out and sent to the Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan via Union Head Office.

It is important that all members, Postal and Telecoms, ensure that they take the opportunity to send these postcards back to Union Head Office to ensure that a clear message is sent to the Minister on the concerns our

people have in relation to this process. As well as sending a postcard to the Minister, all members, their friends and families, are encouraged to visit www.protectyourpost.ie which features a very handy advocacy tool that allows anyone to send a message to their local TDs outlining their concerns on the effects of liberalisation on the postal market. At the time of writing hundreds of members had already availed of this very handy tool.

Lobby your local politicians The latter half of the Seminar was dedicated to discussing how all Branches should lobby their local Councillors and TDs to get their message across. To that end, the information packs given out on the day included guidelines on talking to local elected representatives, in conjunction with a summary of the Union’s position on liberalisation, as well as a number of other useful documents.

Ian McArdle explained to those in attendance that the National Executive had formed a Sub-Committee, the Liberalisation Sub-Group, which would oversee the implementation of this campaign across the country by liaising with local representatives in their areas. This Sub-Group, which is comprised of Cormac O’Dalaigh (Vice-President), John Tansey, Martina O’Connell, Damien Tuohy, Ger O’Brien, Charlie Kelly, and Emmanuel Cassidy, have divided the representative network among them and will be keeping in contact with all of the Branches over the coming weeks to ensure that a clear message is delivered to all local and national elected representatives. It should be noted that the Union has had some success in this regard with a Motion on postal liberalisation already passed by Kerry County Council, as well as Cavan Urban District Council in the last number of weeks.

A number of action points were agreed at the meeting following suggestions from the floor, which will now form part of the strategy into the future. The general consensus was that, our members should now be fully briefed and prepared to talk to their local elected representatives with the assistance of the booklet, the website, and continued support from Union Head Office and the Liberalisation Sub-Group.

26

time and 12,000 part time jobs were lost. In the Netherlands, up to 16,000 jobs were lost.

An Post, which employs around 10,000 people, is already reducing staff numbers by 1,400, partly due to the current economic environment, but also because of preparations for the liberalisation of services. The fear is that thousands of additional jobs could go.

Westmeath Topic, 4th November 2010

Plans to Liberalise the Postal Service Causes Alarm New ‘Protect Your Post’ campaign launched by CWU

Adverse Effects

Local employees of An Post, and in particular members of the Communications Workers’ Union, have expressed serious concerns about new legislation which will bring about the liberalisation of the Irish postal service, and say this is likely to result in the loss of thousands of jobs in An Post and in a reduction of services, with, among other things, daily postal delivery under threat.

“At a time when we should be creating employment, the Government is preparing legislation that could wreak havoc in the postal sector, which employs around 10,000 people in An Post alone”, the CPU has pointed out. The liberalisation of the Irish postal market is coming about because the 3rd Postal Directive has been passed by the European Commission and Euro Parliament – obliging all EU member states to open their postal markets to full competition by January 1 next.

The Directive obliges EU countries to eliminate the monopolies that most national operators use to fund the Universal Service Obligation – which allows all citizens the right to send and receive mail five days a week, at a uniform price, regardless of location. The An Post monopoly at present relates only to letters under 50 grams, and removing this would allow letters to be delivered by the keenest bidder.

Under Irish law, all citizens have a right to receive (and send) mail five days a week at a uniform price. While it is not profitable to deliver mail to large parts of the country, An Post still manages to make a small profit, without any State support. It does so by using the profits from the high population density areas to help fund the deliveries everywhere else, giving everyone a similar service.

Looking at what has happened in other countries, liberalisation of postal services has led to major job losses.

In Germany between 1999 and 2006, more than 21,000 full

From the viewpoint of the general public, liberalisation will adversely affect a lot of people, in addition to postal staff.

The Irish postal service is an essential element of the social fabric of this country, and has been for a long time, providing an important communications link for residents, especially in rural areas, and also for the old and disabled. It’s a reliable single price service countrywide. Research suggests that a liberalised service will see competition based on cherry picking profitable routes, and downstream access, and rural areas may suffer.

Daily postal delivery will be under threat, with rural and isolated people and businesses facing a reduction in service.

The postage costs are also likely to increase, particularly in rural areas, and the social value of the Irish postal service will be badly hit. In a free market, whoever comes up with the best deal, at the lowest price, is likely to win, but with such a vital and valuable public service, set up by the State because profitability was not the only measure it is another story.

The Communications Workers’ Union is contacting all County Councils and is calling on them to urge the Government to recognise the unique and vital role of the postal service in Ireland, particularly rural Ireland, and its social as well as its economic value, and to protect these in drafting legislation.

It wants the Universal Service Obligation protected by legislation, and not to allow opening the market to result in widespread job losses, social dumping and erosion in service levels, as has happened elsewhere.

The public are being encouraged to contact their TDs and Councillors, and raise this important issue with them and seek support.

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Westmeath Topic, 6th November 2010

EDITORIAL An Post Needs Our Support Do you think it is worthwhile and important to hold on to the type of postal service which we enjoy in Ireland at present, and have enjoyed for more than a century, where every citizen can send mail and can also receive it, five days a week, for a fixed charge? If you do, and value the service provided by An Post and its employees, and want to see our government retaining the level of service we now have, then you need to seriously consider supporting the “Protect Your Post” campaign, launched by the Communications Workers’ Union. Such support is needed, because the European Commission and Parliament have passed legislation, the 3rd Postal Directive, obliging all EU member states to “liberalise” their postal markets, i.e. to open their postal markets to all and sundry, from January 1 next. It’s yet another of those directives which always seem to be regarded by our compliant politicians (but not by those in other EU countries) as written in stone, and which have already cost the people of this country a great deal – in terms of lost jobs, all sorts of senseless restrictions, and a dumbing down of various services. One needs only to look at the printing industry here, and to see that not only have thousands of printing jobs been lost, but only a small fraction of what could and should be produced in Ireland is printed elsewhere, sometimes not even in EU member states.

Now our postal service is to be “liberalised”. Translated, this means that whichever operator claims to be able to provide the cheapest postal service is to be given the job. The An Post monopoly relates to letters under 50 grms weight.

The outcome of all this is likely to be that Irish people will find themselves with a ‘dumbed down’ postal service, with areas of high population density getting their letters delivered daily, but with others not so lucky. Worse than that, it is likely to result in thousands of jobs being lost – something that no government or Irish politician should be willing to support at

the present time. Our dole queues are lengthening by the week, and as never before, job creation and preserving existing jobs are of crucial importance.

A study shows clearly what has happened with postal services elsewhere.

In Germany, a similar ‘liberalisation’ saw the loss of 21,000 jobs in the space of seven years, up to 2006, and loss of over 12,000 part time jobs. In Netherlands, there was a drop of 16,000 postal jobs.

Ireland simply cannot afford this type of ‘blood-letting’, no matter what any European Directive declares, and when so many other countries are able to find ways around these ‘decrees’ from on high, we must do the same. Up to 10,000 people are employed in An Post alone at present and it is one of the country’s largest employers. We have seen enough damage done already to jobs and services by EU directives and such-like, and An Post is already reducing staff numbers by 1,400 due to present conditions.

According to the European Commission itself, postal services are “an essential vehicle of communication and trade… vital for many economic and social activities”. Ireland has always taken this view, and though we have a large rural population, widely spread, and providing a mail service for such people is costly, they have never been denied the service. Under our law, everyone has a right to send and to receive mail five days a week, at a common price. A service universal throughout the country is provided. An Post at present is able to make a profit in the big towns and areas of high population density, and this profit helps to fund the cost of the services provided everywhere else in the country and to make it viable.

What can be done to circumvent job losses and retain the present standards of service? The Irish Government needs to acknowledge the importance of the existing service, and see that the Universal Service Obligation is legally protected. It cannot allow the “liberalisation” to result in erosion of service levels, social dumping and job losses as has happened elsewhere. We don’t want a jump in postal costs, a poorer service in rural areas for businesses and individuals, daily postal deliveries under threat and widespread postal job losses. It is up to our politicians to act, and we should push them on this.

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Postal Update

Up to 500 Postal Jobs at Risk in Tipperary

By Noel Dundon Up to five hundred An Post jobs could be under threat across County Tipperary, should the controversial Postal Services Bill which is going through the Dail at the present time, get the go ahead.

The Bill, which deals with the liberalisation of the postal services, promotes the removal of Government regulations from the market, to encourage increased participation of private companies. This is a controversial economic theory where too little regulation can harm the market, and, the main impact will be the removal of the small monopoly from An Post to fund the postal service.

Where the postal services have been interfered with across Europe, widespread job losses have followed and there has also been a huge strain put on the Universal Service Obligation with a decline in the level and quality of postal service. The USO is a legal guarantee that every address in the country, regardless of location, can send and receive a delivery of post every working day. It is viewed as the cornerstone of the postal service, particularly in Ireland where much of the network is not profitable. Although the obligation is loss making, An Post uses profits from the reserved area to help fund it. Ireland has the 8th lowest postage costs of the 29 countries in the Europe with only three price increases having taken place over the last 20 years.

Within County Tipperary there are up to 500 people working in the postal services and ancillary industries. Post Offices feature in all large towns as well as in many villages right across the Premier County, including remote areas. And, for many living in isolated regions, the Post Office or postman, might be the only form of communication they have from day to day.

“The Government needs to recognise the unique and vital role of the postal services, not just in Tipperary, but in Ireland – particularly in rural Ireland – as a means of communication and as a vital economic tool. It is an intrinsic part of the fabric of the community and has a very real social and economic value. These have to be properly protected as the Government drafts this legislation. An Post operates without any State support and we’d like to keep it that way,” one An Post employee told The Tipperary Star.

An Post’s extensive delivery and collection network spread from Lorrha to Carrick-on-Suir, Urlingford to Cappawhite, is an intrinsic part of the economic and business infrastructure of Tipperary. It reaches into every corner of the county and by delivering to every front door, it is an

essential partner in business from a marketing, payment collection and business generation viewpoint, according to An Post.

In the US, the State has continued to protect the postal service on the grounds that the USO could not be met. The fear in Ireland is that the quality of service will diminish hugely if some aspects of the liberalisation process goes ahead. And, with liberalisation usually comes job losses.

Social dumping is also a concern and the Communications Workers’ Union is seeking adequate protection for employment standards across the industry, to ensure that decent jobs are maintained. This can be done by properly implementing Recital 16 on social protection from the European Directive. This is a section of the Third Postal Directive which states that member states can regulate employment conditions in the postal services and that “Social considerations should be taken into due account when preparing the opening of the postal market.” This section of the legislation was specifically inserted to give member states the chance to regulate against social dumping.

Should the service be liberalised, there is also the risk of private companies “cherry picking” areas of large population densities where profits can be made, but at the expense of rural areas. This could have a big impact on the service in many remote, rural parts of Tipperary.

The CWU which represents the majority of the 500 affected workers in Tipperary wants liberalisation to proceed in a way that does not undermine the overall viability of either An Post or the potential new market entrants who will rely on the An Post network for the delivery of their products and services.

“The legislation that is being created by the Government will shape the future of the Irish postal market for generation. The changes that will be introduced by the Postal Services Bill need to be carefully considered to ensure that we do not make the mistakes that other countries have made in liberalising their postal markets. At stake is a vital public service that must be considered a basic right, as it connects every household and business to a communications and economic infrastructure that is essential to the wellbeing of the country,” the CWU says.

At present An Post employees are lobbying Oireachtas members to ensure that they are fully briefed on the feelings of the company on the liberalisation process.

The Communications Workers’ Union is seeking adequate protection for employment standards across the industry, to ensure that decent jobs are maintained

29

AN POST WORK-LIFE BALANCE INITIATIVES STATUTORY ENTITLEMENTS

~ ADOPTIVE LEAVE ~

These entitlements are covered under existing employment law.

• • • • •

Adoptive Leave Carer’s Leave Force Majeure Leave Maternity Leave Parental

Description

24 weeks leave on the occasion of adopting a child. There is an option to take an extra 16 unpaid weeks leave immediately afterwards.

Conditions /Availability

Available to adopting mothers and sole male adopters.

Salary

Full salary during first 24 weeks for all eligible employees, since employees who pay full PRSI contributions (Class A) are entitled to Adoptive Benefit from the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Therefore, the difference between Adoptive Benefit and normal salary will be paid by An Post for first 24 weeks.

NON-STATUTORY ARRANGEMENTS Given that An Post puts the customer at the centre of everything we do these initiatives have been introduced and are not a legal entitlement. They may be limited to certain grades and are subject to the exigencies of the service and are generally at the discretion of An Post.

• • • • • • • • • •

Career Break Flexitime Job Sharing Marriage Leave Part Time Working Paternity Leave Special Leave (Paid) Special Leave (Unpaid) Study/Exam Leave Term Time Working

For further information contact http://www.welfare.ie.

ADDITIONAL INITIATIVES In addition to Statutory Entitlements and Non-Statutory arrangements, An Post’s provides supports and services to employees as follows: Occupational Health and Support is concerned with the relationship that exists between people’s health, welfare and their work. They provide services and support in relation to a broad range of issues such as mental health & stress, family, marital, bereavement, alcohol, drugs or substance abuse, financial, legal, retirement and other concerns.

For further information check out http://intranet/C19/OHS/default.aspx Refund of Fees Scheme – supports employees who wish to continue in education to further their personal development and employability.

Deductions at source from pay - VHI, Tax efficient Travel Pass, Cycle to Work, etc.

Useful Websites Work Life Balance Network – www.wlbn.ie Work Life Balance Framework Committee www.worklifebalance.ie Department of Social & Family Affairs – www.welfare.ie Information on public services – www.oasis.gov.ie

Annual Leave

Unaffected

Public Holidays Entitlement

Unaffected

Pension Entitlements

Pension contributions will continue to be made during paid Adoptive Leave. The 24 weeks unpaid leave is not reckonable for pension purposes.

PRSI Contribution Impact

Credits are automatically accumulated during first 24 weeks of paid Adoptive Leave. Where unpaid Adoptive Leave is taken credits will be awarded on return to work when An Post HR automatically complete the relevant application and returns it to the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Incremental Progression

Unaffected

Additional Information

Apply directly to HR. A1 PRSI contributors should apply for benefit to DSFA.

See Company Circular No: 17/2006 and 38/2004. http://sppgpo01/intranet/documents/corporate%20affairs /company%20circulars/17-2006.doc

31

~ FORCE MAJEURE LEAVE ~ contd.

~ CARERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LEAVE ~ Description

Up to 104 weeks unpaid leave to provide full time care to a person in need of such care.

Conditions /Availability

Available to staff with one year continuous service subject to the conditions laid down in the Carer's Leave Act 2001. Can be taken in one block or in blocks of not less than 13 weeks.

Salary

No entitlement to salary. May be eligible for Carer's Benefit from the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Pension Entitlements

Unaffected

PRSI Contribution Impact

Unaffected

Incremental Progression

Unaffected

Additional Information

Complete standard application form and forward to HR (via line manager).

See Company Circular No: 41/2001. http://intranet/apps/corp/docs/41-2001.doc

For further information contact http://www.welfare.ie Annual Leave

Annual leave is accumulated during the first 13 weeks of this leave only.

Public Holidays Entitlement

Public holidays and privilege days are accumulated for the first 13 weeks of this leave only.

Pension Entitlements

Not reckonable for pension purposes.

PRSI Contribution Impact

PRSI credits accumulate automatically where Carer's Benefit is applicable.

Otherwise credits will be awarded on return to work provided the employee requests An Post to notify the Department of Family & Social Affairs.

Incremental Progression

Unaffected

Additional Information

Complete standard application form and forward to HR. (via Level 3 manager).

Six weeksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; notice required. A1 PRSI contributors should apply for benefit to DSFA.

~ MATERNITY LEAVE ~

See Company Circular No(s): 1/2007 and 35/2003. http://sppgpo01/intranet/documents/corporate%20affairs /company%20circulars/01-2007.doc

~ FORCE MAJEURE LEAVE ~

Description

Paid emergency leave to deal with urgent, unforeseen family crisis, where the employee's immediate presence in the same place as that person is indispensable.

Conditions /Availability

Available to all staff. 3 days per year subject to a maximum of 5 days in any 3 years.

Salary

Unaffected

Annual Leave

Unaffected

Public Holidays Entitlement

Unaffected this leave only.

Description

26 weeks paid leave on the birth of a child. There is an option to take an extra 16 unpaid weeks leave immediately afterwards.

Conditions /Availability

All mothers. Father in event of death of mother.

Salary

Full salary during first 26 weeks for all eligible employees. Employees who pay full PRSI contributions (Class A) are entitled to Maternity Benefit. Therefore, the difference between Maternity Benefit and normal salary will be paid by An Post for first 26 weeks.

Annual Leave

Unaffected

Public Holidays Entitlement

Unaffected

Pension Entitlements

Pension contributions will continue to be made during paid Maternity Leave. The 16 weeks unpaid leave is not reckonable for pension purposes.

PRSI Contribution Impact

Credits are automatically accumulated during first 26 weeks of paid Maternity Leave. Where unpaid Maternity Leave is taken, credits will be awarded on return to work when An Post HR automatically complete the relevant application and returns it to the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Incremental Progression

Unaffected

Additional Information

Apply to HR directly with a doctor's certificate confirming the dates. A1 PRSI contributors should apply for benefit to DSFA.

See Company Circular No: 17/2006 and 38/2004. http://sppgpo01/intranet/documents/corporate%20affairs /company%20circulars/17-2006.doc

32

~ CAREER BREAK ~ contd...

~ PARENTAL LEAVE ~ 14 weeks unpaid leave (for each child) under 8 (or a child with a disability under 16 years) or within 2 years of adoption for children adopted between the ages of 3-8.

Description

Conditions /Availability

One year's continuous service for full entitlement. Available to both parents.

Employees may take 14 weeks’ leave (except for multiple births), in separate blocks of a minimum of 6 continuous weeks. Subject to the employer’s agreement.

Salary

No salary paid

Annual Leave

Unaffected

Public Holidays Entitlement

Unaffected

Pension Entitlements

Not reckonable for pension purposes.

PRSI Contribution Impact

Credits are awarded on return to work when An Post automatically completes the relevant application (in respect of full weeks) and forwards it to the Department of Social and Family Affairs accordingly.

Incremental Progression

Unaffected

Additional Information

Complete standard application form and forward to HR (via line manager) at least six weeks in advance of proposed date of commencement.

Incremental Progression

No Entitlement

Additional Information

Complete standard application form and forward to HR (via Level 3 manager).

Submit at least two months in advance of proposed date of commencement.

See Company Circular No: 40/2007. http://sppgpo01/intranet/documents/corporate%20affairs/ company%20circulars/40-2007.doc

~ FLEXI TIME ~

See Company Circular No(s): 112/2007; 22/2006 and 41/2001. http://sppgpo01/intranet/documents/corporate%20affairs/ company%20circulars/112-2007.doc

Description

Varying start and finish times with agreed core attendance hours, subject to customer and service obligations.

Conditions /Availability

Available to certain headquarters grades, including job sharers.

Salary

Unaffected

Annual Leave

Unaffected

Public Holidays Entitlement

Unaffected

Pension Entitlements

Unaffected

PRSI Contribution Impact

Unaffected

Incremental Progression

Unaffected

Additional Information

Complete standard application form and forward to HR (via line manager).

Internal Memorandum: 7/4/2008.

~ JOB SHARING ~

~ CAREER BREAK ~ Description

Special Leave without pay for a period of 1- 5 years.

Conditions /Availability

May be available to those staff who have satisfactorily completed their probationary period. For the purposes of further education, domestic responsibilities, starting a new business unconnected with the business of An Post, or a stay abroad.

Salary

No salary paid

Annual Leave

No Annual Leave Entitlement

Public Holidays Entitlement

No Entitlement

Pension Entitlements

Not reckonable for pension purposes.

PRSI Contribution Impact

No PRSI paid. (However, arrangements can be made to pay contribution on a voluntary basis for limited benefits - see Company Circular 40-2007).

33

Description

Weekly working hours are reduced by 50% in a variety of attendance patterns, e.g. mornings only, week on/week off, etc.

Conditions /Availability

May be available to those staff who have satisfactorily completed their probationary period.

Salary

Pro-rata salary (e.g. 50% of normal salary)

Annual Leave

Pro-rata entitlement (e.g. 50% of normal entitlement)

Public Holidays Entitlement

- The employee who is scheduled to work on a public holiday receives normal day’s pay.

Pension Entitlements

Pension contribution is pro-rata. Jobsharers are eligible for pension benefits on the same basis as full-time staff.

However, one year service as a job-sharer will only reckon as six months service for pension purposes.

~ PART-TIME WORKING ~ contd...

~ JOB SHARING ~ contd...

PRSI Contribution Impact

Unaffected, unless the employee does not work one day during any PRSI week (commencing 1st January each year).

Incremental Progression

Unaffected

Additional Information

Complete standard application form and forward to HR. (via Level 3 manager).

Incremental Progression

Unaffected

Additional Information

Determined by contract of employment

See Company Circular No: 34/2004 and 7/2002. http://sppgpo01/intranet/documents/corporate%20a ffairs/company%20circulars/34-2004.doc

See Company Circular No: 17/2002 - CWU Grades; 29 /1986 for CPSU Grades, and 124/99. http://intranet/apps/corp/docs/17-2002.doc

~ PATERNITY LEAVE ~

Description

Paternity Leave allows 3 days leave with pay specifically for fathers on the birth or adoption of a child. The employee must either be the biological father of the child, or the adoptive father of the child. The 3 days must be taken together within four weeks of the birth/adoption or homecoming of a child.

Conditions /Availability

May be available to those staff who have satisfactorily completed their probationary period. Leave can only be taken for the purposes of caring for a new baby/adopted child and/or to support the mother of the child. Job-sharers and part time workers will be entitled to Paternity Leave on a pro-rata basis.

Salary

Unaffected

Annual Leave

Unaffected

Public Holidays Entitlement

Unaffected

~ MARRIAGE LEAVE ~ Description

Up to 4 days leave on the occasion of marriage.

Conditions /Availability

May be available to those staff who have satisfactorily completed their probationary period. The amount of marriage leave and the employee's annual leave cannot exceed 24 days in the leave year in which the marriage takes place.

Salary

Unaffected

Annual Leave

Unaffected

Public Holidays Entitlement

Unaffected

Pension Entitlements

Unaffected

PRSI Contribution Impact

Unaffected

Pension Entitlements

Unaffected

Incremental Progression

Unaffected

Unaffected

Additional Information

Complete standard application form and forward to HR (via line manager).

PRSI Contribution Impact Incremental Progression

Unaffected

See Company Circular 7/82; and 90/1989 where leave refers to long term Temporary staff

Additional Information

~ PART-TIME WORKING ~ Description

Working a variety patterns/hours.

of

Conditions /Availability

As per contractual arrangement.

Salary

Pro-rata salary. Salary reduced according to the hours worked.

Annual Leave

Annual leave is reduced pro-rata.

Public Holidays Entitlement

Unaffected

Pension Entitlements

Pensionable service is reckonable on a pro-rata basis.

PRSI Contribution Impact

Unaffected

See Company Circular No: 101/2007. http://sppgpo01/intranet/documents/corporate%20a ffairs/company%20circulars/101-2007.doc

attendance

~ SPECIAL LEAVE (PAID) ~ - Bereavement Leave: from 3 to 5 days on the death of an immediate family member.

Description

Conditions /Availability

34

- Domestic reasons: subject to an overall limit of 5 days in one year and 15 days in 3 years (only in circumstances where annual leave have been exhausted).

May be available to those staff who have satisfactorily completed their probationary period.

~ SPECIAL LEAVE (PAID) ~ contd...

~ STUDY & EXAM LEAVE ~ contd...

Salary

Unaffected

Salary

Unaffected.

Annual Leave Public Holidays Entitlement Pension Entitlements PRSI Contribution Impact Incremental Progression

Unaffected

Annual Leave Public Holidays Entitlement Pension Entitlements

Unaffected.

Unaffected Unaffected

PRSI Contribution Impact

Unaffected.

Unaffected

Incremental Progression

Unaffected.

Additional Information

Discuss with your Level 3 manager first and then forward application to HR. Public Service Circular No: 16/80 (2nd Level) and 38/81 (3rd Level).

Bereavement: discuss with HR on case by case basis. Domestic reasons: apply directly to HR (via line manager).

See Company Circular No: 114/2008. http://sppgpo01/intranet/documents/corporate%20affairs/ company%20circulars/114-2008.doc

~ TERM TIME WORKING ~

~ SPECIAL LEAVE (UNPAID) ~ Description

2 - 6 months unpaid leave for domestic reasons.

Conditions /Availability

May be available to those staff who have satisfactorily completed their probationary period. Must be for urgent domestic affairs, serious illness of a relative, care during old age of a relative etc.

Salary

No salary paid.

Annual Leave

No entitlement.

Public Holidays Entitlement

No entitlement.

Pension Entitlements

Not reckonable for pension purposes.

PRSI Contribution Impact

No PRSI paid.

Incremental Progression

No entitlement.

Additional Information

Discuss with HR (via line manager).

Operational grades must complete standard application form and forward to HR.

Description

Conditions /Availability

Salary

Annual Leave

Public Holidays Entitlement Pension Entitlements

See Company Circular No: 114/2008. http://sppgpo01/intranet/documents/corporate%20affairs/ company%20circulars/114-2008.doc

Up to 5 days paid leave to study for an exam for each year of the Company approved course.

Paid leave to sit approved exams during normal working hours.

Available to those approved for Educational Support Scheme on third level and other specified courses of study.

4 - 13 weeks leave for primary carers to match their working arrangements to the main school holidays or to care for a person with a disability who resides with them. Leave may be taken during the period June to end of August.

May be available to those staff who have satisfactorily completed their probationary period. Available during summer holiday period.

Salary is reduced on a pro-rata basis.

Employees' salary is averaged in equal parts over the 12 months of the year.

Alternatively, an employee can opt for no pay for the duration of the leave.

Annual leave entitlement may be reduced on a pro rata basis. This is subject to a minimum of four working weeks annual leave where an employee has worked 1,365 hours in the leave year as provided by the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997.

Unaffected.

Unaffected.

PRSI Contribution Impact

In the case of individuals availing of special administrative arrangements for payment of basic salary in equal amounts over 12 months, the number of PRSI contributions and contributions paid will be adjusted at the end of the year. This could result in an underpayment of PRSI which will be recovered from the employee before the end of the tax year.

Incremental Progression

Unaffected.

Additional Information

Complete standard application form and forward to HR (via Level 3 manager).

Written notice usually sought in the previous November.

~ STUDY & EXAM LEAVE ~

Conditions /Availability

Unaffected.

Unaffected

Additional Information

Description

Unaffected.

See Company Circular No: 105/2007; 44/2006 and 39/2004. http://sppgpo01/intranet/documents/corporate%20affairs/ company%20circulars/105-2007.doc 35

Fear and dread left me a wreck MY HEALTH EXPERIENCE: Cancer was diagnosed after MARIE RECK found a lump in her breast.

Marie is a member of the Dublin Sports & Social Club

Story reproduced by permission of The Irish Time

I HAD a life plan. I’m a neat freak and a fitness fanatic. I’ve worked in a gym for years and I like my body symmetrical. My life plan changed the day I was told I would have to have treatment for breast cancer. Me, fit freak, Marie, who never sat down for a moment in her life, who had never been sick a day in her life, who had a degree in super high heels . . . here I was, ill. Sick with cancer.

I found a lump in my breast in March last year and I went to a family planning clinic. I was told it was nothing to worry about, but I was referred onto the breast clinic in Tallaght Hospital. I waited two months for my appointment. I wasn’t too worried; lots of young women have lumps and they turn out to be benign. I was about to go on holiday.

“Have you got holiday insurance?” they asked me.

“Why,” I wanted to know, “is it cancer?”

“Could be,” I was told. “It’s 50:50, the glass is half full.” The doctor tried to reassure me.

I went on holiday, but spent most of my time crying my eyes out. Why me? How can all those people be so happy on their holidays and my life is falling apart. The world had stopped for me. I didn’t know then the journey I would go on for the next year.

I came home and had the biopsy, then waited a week for the results. The fear and dread and horrible anxiety left me a wreck. I couldn’t sleep, eat and yet I was trying to get on with things as normal, to put one foot in front of the other. I hated to think of my poor mam and dad worrying about me.

The doctor sat me down and told me I needed a lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed. It was a grade 2 tumour on my left breast. I went home, sat in the garden and cried with all my family around me. I’m a twin – they say people come into this world alone, but I hadn’t, I’d never been alone. My twin lives down the road from me, but I felt so, so alone in this.

When I went to hospital for my operation, I burst into tears when I saw my name over my bed. This was too much reality, I was no longer in control and had to let the doctors and nurses take over my life. I didn’t want to bond with the hospital environment, I wanted to be operated on and then get out. Fast.

I hadn’t felt sick till these people told me I was.

When I came out of the operation I was very positive – I had my prayer, Angel cards, healing crystals and my family and good friends. It’s gone, I was told. Twenty-one lymph nodes had been removed and my consultant was sure she had removed all the cancer.

I was discharged and went to get my hair done every day as I knew I’d soon lose it.

Then came worse. My test results showed they would have to remove the entire breast. All faith went out the window. I will never get too cocky over anything again.

I prepared myself for more hospital stuff. There is a lot of negative energy in hospitals and I decided I wouldn’t soak it up. So I went walking, up and down the corridors. Now I walk outdoors in the green gym, outside in the fresh air up the

mountains near where I live. I started praying again. I could get busy dying or get busy living.

After my second operation my twin brother brought me in DVDs: Fawlty Towers, Little House on the Prairie, anything to put a smile to my face, but I just cried. The worst was when my mam came in and saw her previously active daughter back to being a child in that bed.

When they removed my breast I felt they had taken away my womanhood, my self-image crumbled. Visitors would sit around me – it’s amazing some people lack emotional intelligence and they would talk over my head about chemo and radiation. But I was like a newborn, taking baby steps. They didn’t understand how delicate I was.

I got discharged and tried to move on. You go inside and look at yourself. Cancer strips you of your previous existence.

I started my chemotherapy treatment. My best friend Patricia called around and I handed her the shaver and said, “Go for it”. I had done my crying by then. She came with me for the wig fitting and we called her Joy as I was determined to rediscover the happiness in my life. Joy would bring it back.

I had been addicted to being busy and now I found other things. I found yoga and t’ai chi, meditation.

One day I was looking at Angel Cards and the study card popped out. I decided to learn a new way of life. I learned a four-step plan in Grove Health Spa, Co Cork – juicing, pure water, power foods and safe toiletries. I have discovered new ways of eating and how to relax.

In all I had six cycles of chemo. My twin brother’s wife came with me. We brought laughter and light into the chemo ward. People wanted to sit near the “Glamour Hammers”, me tottering in on platform heels. Joy came too. I sometimes got frightened with other people’s pain, but self-hypnosis brought me through.

Then I had radium in St Luke’s, 28 days in a row. It’s daunting looking at beanies and bandanas. I started knitting and knit little egg cosies for fellow passengers on this journey. It created laughter and chat and took our minds off radium. I got to know people’s stories and shared mine. Sharing the experience helps.

Between the treatments I went to food seminars and cooking lessons, wellbeing for life, anatomy, physiology. I wanted to take my power back. I removed all toxins from my life, chemicals and toxic people, people who brought me down.

I walk every day in the fresh air – oxygen kills cancer, sugar feeds it. Sugar is poison for people. I start the day with a shot of wheatgrass from my juicer and am learning to sprout my own seeds.

When my new hair grew again, I got Patricia to shave it off.

It was full of chemo chemicals and I want to be free of them.

Now my hair is growing back again.

The day I finished I found a little feather. I believe the hardest work is behind me. I want to learn more, then I want to work at helping others survive this.

36

Structure of the Union ■

Union Structures Organisation

Officer in Charge Monica Hempenstall Membership Gerry Cuirc, Charlie Kelly, Fintan King, Damien Tuohy, Mick Smith, Ray Lawlor, Martina O’Connell, Pascal Connolly

Rule Book Branches Branch Officers Biennial and Special Conferences National Executive Council General Officers

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

The Finance Committee meets on a monthly basis and considers any appeals for financial assistance from members.

Organisations etc. It submits a report to the National Executive Council who make the final decision.

RULE BOOK Rule 1 – Name, Address and Objectives Rule 2 – Membership Rule 3 – Branches and Sections Rule 4 - Conferences Rule 5 – National Executive Council Rule 6 – President and Vice President Rule 7 – General Secretary and Officers Rule 8 - Trustees Rule 9 – Funds and Property Rule 10 – Union Benefits and Funds Rule 11 – Industrial Action Rule 12 – Alteration of Rules and Constitution Rule 13 - Dissolution of Union

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

■

The Diversity and Equality Committee meets regularly to discuss and progress relevant equality issues in the workplace.

■

■ ■ ■ ■

The CWU education committee will provide comprehensive quality training courses for our Union activists. This training will enable activists to represent members to the best of their abilities and to enhance their effectiveness as Union Representatives

National Executive Council Rule 5

■

Members - 34 (17 Telecoms and 17 Postal/Courier) Elected at Biennial Conference Responsibility to run the Union Final authority in the interpretation of the Union’s rules Organisation Sub-Committees

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Organising Committee (6) Officer in charge Ian McArdle Membership Gerard Burke, Susan Casey, Willie Mooney, Ger O’Brien, Carmel Hickey, Ger Nolan, Brian Harney This Committee assists the Organising Officer in devising, shaping and implementing the Union’s overall organising strategy as well as assisting, where possible on the development and execution of various recruitment and organising campaigns.

NEC/Union Side Sub-Committees ■

Education Committee (5) Officer in Charge Carol Scheffer Membership Ray Lawlor, John Tansey, Martina O’Connell, Ivor Reynolds, Willie Mooney, Cormac O’Dalaigh, Jim O’Flynn and Pat Kenny

Branch Representation Branch Motions and Amendments Business of Conference Business of Occupational Conferences Special Conference Conference Standing Orders

■

Equality Committee (7) Officer in Charge Carol Scheffer Membership Susan Casey, Tim O’Donovan, Ellen Moore, Willie Day, Catherine Slattery, Michael O’Toole, Pat Kenny, Ivor Reynolds, John Halton, Carmel Hickey, (Mary Conroy Galway Postal and Paul Torsney Dublin No 2, two nominees from Branches)

Biennial & Special Conferences Rule 4 ■

Finance Committee (6)

General Purposes Committee (6) Officer in charge Steve Fitzpatrick Membership Charlie Kelly, Gerry Cuirc, Fintan King, Frank Donohoe, Mike O’Connor, Willie Day, John Carney, John Tansey

■

Rationalisation (6) Rationalisation Committee Officer in Charge Steve Fitzpatrick Membership Cormac O’Dalaigh, Charlie Kelly, Ivor Reynolds,

The General Purposes Committee deals with any issue referred to it by the National Executive Council.

37

■

Syl Curran, Kevin Donnelly, Emmanuel Cassidy, Gerard Burke, Ray Lawlor

Officer in Charge Sean McDonagh Membership Cormac O’Dalaigh, Syl Curran, Ellen Moore, Tim O’Donovan, Ger O’Regan, Martin Duffy

The Rationalisation Committee is responsible for the Branch Structure and will address any issue around Branch structures or disagreements between Branches.

■

Health & Safety Committee (7)

This group reviews the implementation of the Mails Centres Agreements as well as any issues relating to automation.

Officers in Charge Pat Kenny / Brendan Moorhouse Membership Syl Curran, Pascal Connolly, Catherine Slattery, Damien Tuohy, Ger O’Brien, Gerry Cuirc, Vincent Kilroy

■

This Group informs and influences the formation of the Company’s Uniform budget. They also ensure proper testing and acceptance of items of uniforms through agreeing trials etc.

Private Sector Servicing Officer in Charge Ian McArdle Membership Willie Day, Charlie Kelly, Carmel Hickey

■

■

Youth Committee

The LAMP Group shares its views with the Company and develops an understanding on the key principles that underpins a balanced and effective approach to attendance management.

The CWU Youth Committee aims to encourage greater involvement of young members across all Branches and sectors of the Union. It supports Union efforts to recruit young members and encourages the development of young activists within the Union.

■

Clerical Pay and Grade Officer in Charge Sean McDonagh Membership Frank Burke, Willie Mooney, John Tansey

The Accommodation Committee informs and influences the formation of the Company’s Capital Expenditure Budget in relation to accommodation.

■

This Group reviews the implementation of the various Clerical Agreements as well as reviewing any issues referred to it by Branches.

Quality of Service Officer in charge Sean Mc Donagh Charlie Kelly, Damien Tuohy, Emmanuel Cassidy and Frank Donohoe

Collection and Delivery Officer in Charge Joe Guinan/Sean Mc Donagh Membership Martina O’Connell, Frank Donohoe, John Tansey, Ray Neville, Ger O’Brien

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Ancillary Officer in Charge Joe Guinan Membership Martina O’Connell, Syl Curran, Ellen Moore

This Group reviews the implementation of the Collection and Delivery Agreement as well as reviewing any issues referred to it by Branches.

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Joint Accommodation Officer in Charge Joe Guinan Membership Willie Mooney, Damien Tuohy, Cormac O’Dalaigh, Vincent Kilroy

Postal/Courier Sub-Committees

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LAMP Officer in Charge Joe Guinan Membership Charlie Kelly, Cormac O’Dalaigh, Frank Donohoe, Emmanuel Cassidy

Caroline Corcoran, Eric Patridge, Audrey Kaur, Nichola McKenna, Claire Robinson, Ciara Ni Mhaoilfhinn and Fionnuala NiBhrogain

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Uniform/Workwear Officer in Charge Sean McDonagh Membership Damien Tuohy, Emmanuel Cassidy, John Halton

The Health and Safety Sub Committee reviews on an ongoing basis relevant health and safety issues in the workplaces as well as examining changes in legislation etc.

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Automation

This Group oversees the implementation of the Ancillary Agreements as well as addressing any issues relating to Ancillary Staff referred to it.

Management Group

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Officer in Charge Tony Harmon Membership (Vincent Kilroy plus two nominees from Postal Management Group)

Heath & Safety (An Post) Officer in Charge Pat Kenny Membership Syl Curran, Ger O’Brien, Vincent Kilroy, Damien Tuohy This Group reviews the implementation of Safety Legislation as it applies to An Post as well as examining issues arising from

The Management Group reviews any issues relevant to Managers in An Post 38

reports presented by safety representatives if unresolved through the normal reporting procedures.

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Co-ordinators John Boner Bill Colfer Pat Compton Jarlath Heneghan John Whelan

■ ■ ■

Telecom SEC Sub-Committees ■

National officer postal – Seán McDonagh

TOPG Gerry Cuirc, Ivor Reynolds, John Egan

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■ An Post IR – Clerical Admin – Collection & Delivery – Mails Processing – Postal Management Group – Quality of Service – Uniform / Workwear – Partnership – JCC

Health & Safety Gerry Cuirc, Pascal Connolly, Kevin Donnelly

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Plenary Gerry Cuirc, Pascal Connolly, Ger Nolan, Fintan King

General Officers – Rule 7 ■ General Secretary – Steve Fitzpatrick ■ Deputy General Secretary – Terry Delany ■ Personal Assistant to the General Secretary – Charlie O’Neill ■ National Officers – Telecoms – Jim Browne and Jimmy O’Connor Postal - Sean McDonagh and Joe Guinan Education and Diversity - Carol Scheffer Organising and Regulation - Ian McArdle Financial Officer – Monica Hempenstall ■ Staff Side Secretaries – Pat Kenny and Brendan Moorhouse

National officer postal – Joe Guinan ■ An Post IR – Collection & Delivery – Ancillary Services – LAMP – Accommodation ■ UPS ■ An Post Subsidiaries ■ CWU IT

National Officer Telecoms – Jimmy O’Connor

General Secretary – Steve Fitzpatrick ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

– National Steering Group – JCC Sub Committees – ICTU Private Sector – Operator Services – UNI Postal, Telecom and Social Dialogue Committees Phonewatch IR Vodafone IR Meteor IR

■ Eircom – Group Technology – National Plenary Partnership Group – National Steering Group – Access Network – Transport Operations – JCC ■ External Communications Companies ■ Medisan ■ CWU Humanitarian Aid ■ City Bridges

Union strategy and planning Principal Staff Representative An Post ICTU Executive Council Overall responsibility for Union finances UNI Europa Committee – Social Dialogue and Postal Committee Union Organisation – Rules and Membership and benefits NEC Sub Committees –Union Rationalisation plus others as required Officer Training and Development The General Secretary is the Chief Executive Officer of the Union and shall deal with all administrative and secretarial matters relating to the Union, including the general supervision and control of all the business of the Union.

National Officer Telecoms – Jim Browne ■ Eircom – Group Technology – National Plenary Partnership Group – National Steering Group – Core Network – IT – Business Market (technical) – Facilities – JCC ■ Eircom Pension Fund Trustee

Deputy General Secretary – Terry Delany ■ Substitute for General Secretary in his absence ■ Principal Staff Representative eircom ■ Eircom – Retail Partnership – Operator Services – Central Services 39

Finance Officer – Monical Hempenstall

NAtional Officer – Ian McArdle

■ Preparation of Accounts for Audit ■ Management of Social Benefit Schemes – Sickness payments, Mortality grants, hardship cases ■ Global Appeals ■ CWU Charitable Fund ■ Humanitarian Aid Fund ■ Intellectual Disability Housing Fund ■ Monitor of expenditure/Investment Portfolio ■ Subcommittees ■ Finance Committee

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Regulatory Affairs – eircom Regulatory Affairs – An Post Employment Law Organising Recruitment Subcommittees – Organising, Youth Committee

Headquarters ■ Personal Assistant to GS – Charlie O’Neill ■ Office Manager – Imelda Wall – Supervises Office Staff – Co-ordinates Conferences & Seminars – Connect Magazine – Building Maintenance ■ Head Office Staff – Lorraine Newman – Sarah Vaughan – Adrienne Power – Ciara Melinn ■ Executive Assistant – Tony Harmon ■ Organisers – Gerry O Rourke and Fionnuala Ni Bhrogain ■ Staff Side Reps – Pat Kenny, An Post, Brendan Moorhouse, eircom

Education and Diversity/ Equality Officer – Carol Scheffer ■ UNI europa Womens Committee ■ ICTU Committees – – Women’s Committee – Equality Committee – Anti Racism – Union Learning Reps – CWU Equality & Diversity Committee – CWU Education Commitee ■ Third party cases ■ Eircom, An Post, UPS, Interlink, Conduit & Meteor

YOUTH COMMITTEE HALLOWEEN FUNDRAISER The Youth Committee held an event in Murray’s Bar in Dublin on Friday 29th October to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society. Guests were asked to come in costume and a wide variety of characters arrived on the night to compete for the prize of best dressed.

The venue kindly provided a drinks

promotion and the function room was decorated with incredible Halloween creations by Funky Balloons. A live DJ and karaoke provided the music and a great night was had by all. The Youth Committee would like to thank everyone who contributed or came along on the night.

40

Humanitarian Aid Trip to Moldova/Transdniestria 2010 Submitted by Michael Gallagher, Anthony McGrave, Rory Duggan & John Wallace.

state in Eastern Moldova. When we read the needs list we were faced with the daunting task of fundraising and collecting Aid. Anthony and I put advertisements in our relevant local newspapers with the needs list included. We also helped each other by emails and sourcing Aid from different parts of the country. Once people in our localities realised what we were doing the phones started to ring with offers of help and Aid. Even in these recessionary times people can still be very generous.

How we found out about the CWUHA? We first heard about the Communications Workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union Humanitarian Aid (CWUHA) charity at a conference a couple of years ago. We were given a talk on basically what the CWUHA was about and what they did each year for under privileged children and adults in different parts of Eastern Europe namely Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova.

The talk was given by Alex Pearson with a DVD presentation with some graphic pictures of children living in terrible conditions. Alex is a long time member of the charity and was convoy leader on numerous trips. This year the baton was passed to new leaders. Alex still organised all the documentation for all convoy drivers and trucks from his home by numerous emails and phone calls.

How the Convoy went On the 3rd September 2010 both trucks from An Post and Eircom hooked up at around 6am that morning for an 8am sailing to Holyhead. The return journey to Holyhead we got at a reduced rate as John had a contact with the Managining Director of Celtic Horizon Tours in Maynooth Dave Buckley who with the help of a good contact in Irish Ferries securing a good deal for return journey across the Irish Sea. We all met at the ferry port in Newcastle at 3pm for a 5.30pm sailing. We all got introduced to each other at the port however it was over the course of the sailing and stopping for meal breaks over the next few days were you could get to know your convoy colleagues a lot better. We boarded the ferry for the 16hr overnight crossing to Ijmuiden, a port just outside Amsterdam. The following day we travelled right across Austria into Hungry and stayed in a small village just outside Budapest. The following two nights were spent in Baccu and Vaslaui both in Romania.

Thursday morning the 9th, day seven of the convoy we landed at the Moldovan Border. Thinking it would be a hassle free crossing into Moldova as it was an Aid convoy " how wrong we were " we were kept waiting for eleven hours while the Moldovan authorities dotted their Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and crossed

How we got involved?

We got involved in this years convoy to Moldova simply by putting our names forward as volunteers who would be interested in doing this worthwhile job, never thinking for one moment that we would be selected. We were notified by Union Headquarters that we were chosen as drivers along with two colleagues from Eircom, namely Rory Duggan and John Wallace.

How we went about collecting Aid? The next thing on the agenda was to fund raise and collect the Humanitarian Aid for the trip. We had no idea what this would involve until we received the needs list from the CWUHA. We would be delivering aid to a PsychoNeurological Hospital in Transdniestria, a small independent 41

Victors to unload the trucks. There was plenty of help available as the able bodied patients gave us a hand. You could see the smiles on their faces as they were unloading.

They seemed to know that they were doing something useful as if only for a brief moment their lives were as normal as any one else’s. After the An Post and Eircom trucks were unloaded we all sat down and played a few tunes and sang a few songs as we had a banjo and guitar with us. That morning the sun was shining like never before. When we were sitting there looking around us you could see the joy on every ones face. We knew then, more then any other time we had arrived, we knew our work was done and Irish eyes were smiling”. We stayed for a while, it was hard to leave these people who were genuinely glad to see us but we had to make our way back to Chisinau and get ready for the trip home.

The journey home was another two nights in Romania, one in Hungry, one in Germany and on the 5th night we got as close to the ferry port as possible to allow us to get a sleep in, as every other morning was either a 7am to 8am start. That night we stayed in a small village called Breukelen in a hotel of the same name. All the 20 drivers that night went to a bar in the village to celebrate the end of the convoy and at last let our hair down. The journey was as good as over bar the sailing to Newcastle and a great night that was very much deserved was had by all. The next day it was an overnight sailing to Newcastle then a long journey to Holyhead for the ferry to Dublin. We arrived back in Dublin on the 20th September after travelling approximately 6750Kms. It was great to get home and to tell everyone about the convoy.

There’s not a day goes by that the convoy isn’t mentioned.

Jimmy O’Connor presents the minibus sponsored by Medisan their T’s. The wait could have been longer only for the intervention of a Moldovan politician. Finally when we crossed the border we were given a police escort to the capitol, a city called Chisinau. There the trucks were locked in a secure compound patrolled by armed soldiers and guard dogs. After an overnight stay in Chisinau, the following morning the convoy split, two trucks travelled to northern Moldova, two went south, one stayed around the capital and the other five made their way to Tiraspol, the capitol of Trandsniestria, which is the independent state within Moldova. We were also delayed there for around two hours while the customs sealed the five trucks.

We finally made our way to Tiraspol about a half hours drive from the border. The An Post truck and the Eircom truck were going to the Psycho-Neurological Hospital/Orphanage run by a man called Victor. On arrival at the Hospital we were informed that we would not be offloading until the following morning as the customs had to be present to break the seals on the trucks.

We were all introduced to Victor and some of his staff who gave us a tour of the facilities. You could see a lot of work was being done regarding the building and the grounds outside but there was a lot more to do. As for the patients in Victors whose ages ranged from 9 to 90 there were different degrees of mental and physical disabilities. Those who were able could walk about in the open space of the Hospital; others were closed in an area which we would describe as a compound, as they were considered as dangerous. We were then taken to the area of the hospital where the children who were very severely handicapped both mentally and physically. It was a terrible sight to see and some of us broke down as we went from room to room, each room was worse than the other. I don’t know how much Aid you would need to give these children and adults a quality of life, but I do know that if it wasn’t for the CWUHA their lives would be a lot worse if that is possible.

That night there was a hospitality dinner set out for us.

This was organised by Victor and his staff and the Moldovan Social Welfare authorities. They made us feel very welcome and we were all afforded the opportunity to speak on what we had witnessed in the Hospital.

The following morning Sat 10th Sept we arrived back at

The Eircom Crew, Rory Duggan & John Wallace The Eircom side of the convoy was fulfilled by myself John Wallace and Rory Duggan like our colleagues from An Post we got started with our fundraising Rory organising a number of different events while I concentrated on a Head and beard shave my eldest son Darren who is 30 years old

John, Jimmy, Anthony, Rory & Michael with patients, who will use the mini bus.

42

and had only one hair cut since his confirmation elected to also take part in the shave. CWU head office agreed to allow me the opportunity to fund raise at annual conference in May. Alex and Steve from the UK joined me while Rory, Anthony and Michael got on with the business of conference. This was a huge success as we collected over 1100 euro for our funds a huge thanks to all our colleagues who contributed to the collection over the few days. The lads from the CWU UK were totally amazed at the generosity of what they saw as a relatively small number of delegates attending conference. We went on to raise in excess of 9000 euro in total from the shave. For this I am very thankful to my extended family and my work colleagues in the Tullamore section for all the help in collecting sponsorship.

Rory secured the use of a van from Eircom transport section which he used to collect much of the items on the needs list. I collected the truck from Eircom transport section.

A week later the turbo blew a quick trip back to Renault and we were back rolling as good as new a good job it did not happen on the road to Moldova. Soon the day of departure loomed closer with all the requirements collected and the loading done we headed for Dublin and the ferry.

Michael, Anthony and Rory have covered in great detail the destitute we saw in Moldova and Tiraspol in particular and much of it was heart breaking to experience the closeness of it was unbearable at times. One of the things that struck me was the warmness and appreciation which was very evident even though we did not speak each others language could only be appreciated by been there in person.

The short musical session in the hospital grounds after we unloaded was pure magic to see the patients trying to match Anthony’s step dancing and watch with such interest the magic sound from Michael’s guitar just proves that music truly crosses all boundaries. Just imagine Irish ballads making such an impression on first hearing so many miles away by people who have little or no opportunity to enjoy the finer things of life some might not even understand what they were experiencing but they knew it was one of lives finer pleasures. The moment when I stepped into the room where the two truck loads of aid was stacked high was the proudest moment of the journey for me. A job well done I thought every single item down to the last pencil which we loaded in Dundalk and Tullamore was stacked high. I was not the only one in the room with camera in hand also present was the customs official who had watched us unload our trucks. When I asked Alex why all the fuss about two loads of badly wanted aid. It became plain that customs were just ensuring that all the items we had delivered would not appear on the black market and if they did the responsibility would fall back on Victor. This would ensure that our aid could never appear on the black market as it would mean that Victor could never avail of aid again that would bring his wonderful work to an end.

We would like to finish by saying that this was a fabulous experience and we would recommend that anyone with the appropriate licence should put their name forward for this very rewarding charity. There is plenty of help within the

CWU to help volunteers prepare for the convoy. On that note we would like to give the biggest thank you to Monica in Union Headquarters who did everything in her power to make our preparation as easy as possible. We would also like to thank Jimmy O’Connor for his guidance and Caroline Corcoran of Eircom for her fundraising and her help to source the Aid. We would also like to thank An Post for providing the fuel and transport and Rory Delany for organising same. We would also like to thank all individuals and branches who helped with fundraising. From the Eircom side of the house we would like to thank Renault Trucks Ireland Eircom transport section and Grainne O’Boyle who helped to organise our transport and fuel requirements. Dave Buckley managining director of Celtic Horizon Tours who helped with a super deal for the ferry to and from the U.K. Celtic horizon Tours are one of the top sport and group travel companies in Ireland. We could not finish our thanks without mentioning our families for their help, support and understanding to each one of us during the long hours of preparation and the time we spent away from home we could not have undertaken this wonderful job of help for the needy without their help and understanding Anyone wishing to contribute to the CWU HA Fund can do so by donating at any Bank of Ireland. All donations should be lodged to the following Bank Account.

Account Name: CWU Ireland Humanitarian Aid Fund.

Bank of Ireland 2 College Green Dublin 2 Account No. 17119681 Sort Code: 90-00-17 Anyone interested in joining the next convoy in September, 2011, should contact Jimmy O’Connor at Union HQ.

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CWU People

George Harvey Retires A presentation was made to George Harvey on his retirement from An Post after 37 years of loyal service to the Company and to the CWU. George’s last day of service was on 1st October.

George hails from Moville and has delivered the mail in that area for 37 years.

Moville is situated in north Donegal in that lovely area called the Inishowen peninsula.

On behalf of the Lifford/Inishowen Branch of the Communications Workers’ Union I would like to wish George a long a happy retirement.

Pictured l – r: Joe Mc Dermott (Moville), Seamus Mc Laughlin (Branch Chairman, Carndonagh), Michael Gallagher (Branch Secretary, Lifford), George Harvey (Moville), Seamus Moyne (Moville), and Michael Mc Laughlin (Moville) and John Canning (Moville).

Patrick Ellison Retires Patrick Ellison enjoyed a presentation held in his honour, following his retirement after twenty-two years’ service for Donegal SW Postal Service.

Pictured l to r: Paul Crawford Assistant Chairperson, Packie Ellison (Killybegs P.O.), Hugh Quinn, Branch Secretary, Donegal SW, and Martin O’Brien, Assistant Secretary, Donegal SW.

Pat Mc Colgan Retires A presentation was made to Pat Mc Colgan on the morning of his retirement. Pat was a Postal Operative based in Lifford DSU and has delivered mail to the people of Convoy and Raphoe, Co Donegal for the past 28 years. Pats last day of service was on 7th August 2010. A retirement function was held in McBrides,Castlefin attended by family and friends. On behalf of the Lifford/Inishowen Branch I wish Pat a long and happy retirement.

Pictured receiving his Union Scroll, from l to r: Michael Gallagher,Branch Secretary, Pat McColgan and Thomas Campbell.

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CWU People

John Morris and JJ Cunningham Retire Pictured l to r: Derek Kavanagh (Treasurer), Terry Delany (Deputy General Secretary, CWU), John Morris (retired), JJ Cunningham (retired), Maurice Cassidy (Secretary) and Tony Hardiman (Chairman).

A retirement function was held recently by the Dublin Drivers’ Branch, in the North Star Hotel for two of their drivers, John Morris and JJ Cunningham, who retired recently. The function was well attended and included, amongs many, Terry Delany, Deputy General Secretary of the CWU.

Jim Sheerin Retires A presentation was made to Jim Sheerin on his last day of service in Lifford DSU. Jim retired from An Post on 7th October 2010 after 30 years of loyal service delivering mail to the people of Bridgend and Speenoge Co Donegal.

Jim started in Speenoge sub-office and then transferred to Newtowncunningham sub-office and then to Lifford DSU about 10 years ago.

On behalf of the Liffiord/Inishowen Branch of the Communications Workers’ Union I would like to wish Jim a long and happy retirement.

Jim is pictured receiving his Union Scroll and Cú Chulainn Statuette.

Pictured l to r: Mary Cullen (DSM Acting), Dan O’Kane , Jim Sheerin and Michael Gallagher (Branch Secretary).

Joe Hamilton Retires A presentation of service Badge, Scroll & Section Social Club memento was made to Joe Hamilton, who has retired recently in the Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town in September, 2010.

Joe is pictured in the centre, along with Social Committee members and work colleagues from the Donegal Section of the Sligo branch.

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CWU People

Galway Postal Branch members support The Meningitis Trust

The pictures show (pictured above) Noel's colleagues who fund raised and took part in the marathon and (pictured left - l to r) Damien Tuohy NEC C.W.U. presenting a sponsorship cheque from the Union to Noel Carroll.

Members of the Galway Postal Branch ran the Galway City Marathon in support of The Meningitis Trust. Their colleague, Noel Carroll, whose 4 year old daughter Aoibhe, was lost to the disease in 2008.

Pat O’Sullivan Retires On Friday October 29th a large group of work colleagues dealings with him could not but be impressed by his refined and friends gathered at the Ambassador Hotel, Cork to mark manner and total commitment to the well being of others. the retirement of Pat O’Sullivan, An Post welfare officer for This commitment found natural expression, first in his union the southern region . Many had travelled long distances to be involvement, later in his career as staff welfare officer for present. Also there were close on 20 years and also his wife, Kathleen, as a member of the daughters Deirdre and MediSan fund. His job was Jennifer and son, Frank. never a 9 to 5 one and, as a Pat was a member of the result, the quality of life of national executive council many staff members was of the P.T.W.U. from 1981 greatly enhanced, always to 1985 and branch against a background of chairman of the Cork absolute confidentiality.

Clerks branch of the union The speakers at the for many years. He was function reflected the also chairman of the Cork appreciation widely felt strike committee of the towards him, amongst POWU during the 1979 them being Martina dispute, being famous for, O’Connell, (NEC), Ray amongst other things, Lawlor (NEC and Pat O’Sullivan, Jerry Condon & Kathleen O’Sullivan. standing up at a Fianna Fáil MediSan fund) and Jerry election rally in Cork to Condon, worker director ask the then Taoiseach, and fellow Corkonian, Jack Lynch, An Post. In reply, Pat probably summed up his own beliefs if it was his policy to try to starve the strikers into defeat (the best when he said that he always regarded the glass as being strike was about 14 weeks old at that stage). This led to all half full and always urged others to adopt a similar approach. hell breaking loose in the hall, Garda reinforcements being As Pat, a proud native of Bantry, retires, he carries with called to restore order and the rally being abandoned. him the good wishes and gratitude of union members However, in less turbulent times, anybody who had any throughout the country.

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CWU People

Some Wonderful Memories!

Tom Clare is a postman in Gorey, Co. Wexford, who very kindly sent in a couple of memorable photos from the 1940s, showing his grandfather, Bill Clare from Coolgreany Gorey, during his time as a postman.

One great photo shows his grandfather delivering mail on a horse during the time of the great snow of 1947. He had got stuck up in the mountainous area of Coolgreany and a farmer gave him a horse to finish his delivery. If you look carefully, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll notice that he hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even got a saddle on the horse.

Our thanks to Tom, for sharing some of these wonderful memories with us!

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CWU People

Dublin Postal Sports and Social Club â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Annual Sports Blitz Skimmers United from Rathmines Delivery Office pictured above were the winners of the 2nd Annual event of the Sports Blitz held in the Dublin Postal Sports and Social Club.

Sandra Malone and Kevin Keatinge organised the days entertainment and a huge turnout of participants and supporters enjoyed what was a great social occasion. It was very gratifying to see the Club full of postal workers enjoying the amenities the club has to offer.

Rathmines Delivery Office won a keenly fought competition which consisted of Football, Darts and Pool with Churchtown Delivery Office a very close second.

Rathmines DO are very much looking forward to coming back again next year to defend their title.

The Club hope to run this event bi-annual and hope many more offices will participate next year.

Details on becoming a member of the Dublin Postal Sports and Social Club are available on the website www.postalsportsclub.com or contact Phil on 01 4626323.

Rathmines D.O. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Skimmers Utd Winners of Sports Blitz, 2010.

CWU Dublin No 2 Branch Retirements

Pictured l to r: Peter Kelly, Matt Gannon, Gerry McNamara, and Vincent Arbuckle CWU Dublin No 2 Branch members Peter Kelly, Matt Gannon, Gerry McNamara, and Vincent Arbuckle recently retired.

All four members worked in the Plan and Design area in Telephone House, and had close to 160 years combined service between them. A presentation was made to the four members at a function in Telephone House, and later in the nearby Morans Hotel.

Senior Committee No 2 Branch member, Kieran O'Reilly, made the presentation of scrolls on behalf of the CWU. Kieran thanked Peter, Matt, Gerry and Vincent, for the loyal and dedicated service to the CWU over the years and wished them, and their families a long and happy retirement.

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CWU People

Clones DSU Delivery Staff take part in the Clones Canal Capers Festival

Pictured l to r: John Clerkin (driver), Eamonn O’Reilly, Dermott Rooney, Michael Quigley, Kevin Boylan (chief designer), Dessie O’Connor and, at front, Adam Quigley.

Pictured is the delivery staff of Clones DSU taking part in the Clones Canal Capers festival, which was held in September.

The highlight of the festival was the canal-themed soapbox race. In a great display of teamwork, the An Post staff spent many weeks designing and building their cart, named “Sailmail”. The driver on the day was John Clerkin, who negotiated the course with great skill, cheered on by very enthusiastic spectators!

The lads gained much praise and appreciation from the local community, for their patience and good humour on the day, as nearly every child (and a few parents!) wanted their photo taken in the “Postman Pat” soapbox.

I’m sure you will agree, that the soapbox, in the An Post colours, did the company proud on the day.

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CWU People

Mick and John have left the Building Two of the Communications Workers Union’s longest serving activists Mick Scully, and John Carney retired recently with over eighty years combined service in eircom between them. To mark the occasion Mick and John hosted a joint “ leaving “ party in the Gresham hotel Dublin which was attended by their families , and their many friends, comrades and colleagues in the CWU and eircom. CWU General Secretary Steve Fitzpatrick, thanked Mick and John for their dedicated service, “often during very trying times for trade unions”. Steve also thanked their families, who supported their trade union activism throughout the years, On behalf of the union, Deputy General Secretary, Terry Delany, presented Mick and John with union scrolls to mark their long and dedicated service to the CWU. Mick Scully attended his first Annual Delegate Conference (IPOEU) in 1972 at the Green Isle Hotel Dublin, where he was “mentored” by the late Sean Connolly. In his speech Mick recalled that as well as the serious conference debates, one of the most contentious issues, ( in the era of Archbishop John Charles McQuaid) surrounded the choice of Mr Pussy for the cabaret spot at the Presidential Dinner.

Reason prevailed however, and rising star of the Irish cabaret scene did his thing, much to the amusement of most of the delegates.

Undeterred Mick continued his trade union activities while a member of the fitting staff at Greenmount Lane, and later moving to the Telex area where he worked for many years. During this time he continued to serve the union on various branch committees and held branch officer roles as Treasurer, Chairman, and Secretary, (Dublin No 6) These were very trying times for all trade union activists, with new restructuring agreements (726 and later 482) the breakup of the P&T, and the establishment of two new semi – state companies, and industrial unrest leading to strike action in 19xx. Following the rationalisation of Dublin branches (1989/90) and Mick became the first Chairman of the Dublin No 1 branch.

In more recent time, he was involved in the CWU/ eircom partnership structures in the new privatised eircom (TE). Initially he acted as facilitator to the various partnership groups and for the past numbers of years he has been a National Partnership Co-ordinator. In 2001 he was appointed a Trustee of the eircom Defined Benefit Pension Fund, a position he continues in today.

John Carney joined the old P&T as a technician trainee in 1966. He worked initially in Ship Street telephone exchange before moving to the Trunks area in Exchequer St. John soon became involved in the Dublin No 4 Branch (IPOEU) serving on the branch committee, and since then has maintained his involvement as a trade union activist throughout his working life. On taking up a managers post in eircom (TE) he served as a committee member of the Post Office Managers Association (POMSA) and also the Communications Managers Branch (CMU) which later merged with the CWU. John has been Secretary of the CWU Managers Branch for the past number of years, and since 2004, he served on the National Executive Council until his retirement. As a member of the NEC he won many admirers with his steely determination to get to the core of issues. As General Secretary, Steve Fitzpatrick remarked on the night, “ he was like a dog with a bone when he became involved in difficult issues, and he has served the members well”.

On behalf of the CWU we take this opportunity to wish Mick and John and their families a Pictured l to r: Jimmy White, John Egan, Steve Fitzpatrick, Mick long and happy retirement.

Scully, Terry Delany, John Carney & Pat Ryan 50

Willie Megan presents the Union Scroll to George Smyth

John Egan presents the Union Scroll to Tommy Heffernan

Pat Ryan presents Jimmy White with Union Scroll

Imelda Wall and John Egan at the retirement function

Willie Megan presents the Union Scroll to Terry Curran

CWU People

Global Solidarity Champions Forum – 27th & 28th August

Ciara Ní Mhaoilfhinn, CWU A two day forum for Global Solidarity Champions was held in ASTI offices last August where almost 60 trade union activists met to discuss international solidarity issues. Sally Anne Kinahan of ICTU opened the conference by recapping on the work done by the Global Solidarity Committee to date and the need for continued support of this work by Irish trade unions, north and south of the border.

Jack O’Connor, President of ICTU, then gave a very moving speech on his experiences during his visit to Colombia earlier in the year.

Colombia is the most dangerous country in the world to be a trade unionist. Members are routinely labelled as subversives by military, paramilitary, and guerrilla forces, and are subjected to threats of violence, imprisonment, forced disappearance, and many are even killed.

Liam Craig Best then gave a presentation on the current work of Justice for Colombia, which is a British NGO that campaigns for human rights, workers’ rights and the search for peace with social justice in Colombia, and Ireland has its

own chapter dedicated to assisting with the work of JFC. Representatives from organisations involved in the Clean Clothes Campaign then gave a presentation on the work of the Swedish CCC and discussed the upcoming launch of Clean Clothes Campaign Ireland (which was formally launched on 7th October). The campaign is dedicated to supporting garment workers’ efforts worldwide to improve their working conditions, through awareness raising, information provision and encouraging international solidarity between workers and consumers.

A group of representatives involved in various Palestine groups gave presentations on the work of their organisations. Mags O’Brien, Chairperson of Trade Union Friends of Palestine, recounted on the trip to Occupied Palestine and the conditions of those living there. There followed a discussion on the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) campaign and how the trade unions could support the efforts made so far by other groups.

The following day there was a presentation

by Owen Tudor of TUC-UK on the outcomes of the ITUC World Conference and the implications these had on individual trade unions. Finally, there were two presentations about climate change and the role of trade unions in seeking to foster growth in “green jobs” in every sector of the labour force.

As always with the Global Solidarity courses, the forum was organised to the highest standard, brining together all the Global Solidarity Champions trained to date and providing an excellent opportunity to rejuvenate the work of the Global Solidarity Committee. For more information on all of these campaigns, please visit the CWU website.

Jack O’Connor, ICTU

Sally Anne Kinahan, ICTU

Ciara Ní Mhaoilfhinn, CWU

Mags O’Brien, Trade Union Friends of Palestine

Michael-Antony Walsh retires from Abbeleix Sub-Office From Abbeyleix, Co. Laois Sub-Office.

Michael-Antony Walsh, retired after twenty-nine years’ service.

Pictured Back Row l to r: Tom Bergin, Tony O’Dea, Paul McEvoy, Seán Tierney, Mick Delaney, Tony Reilly.

Front Row l to r: David Cole, Fint Breannan, Tony Walsh and Stephen Cole.

51

CWU People

Lifford Postman and Irish Army Reservist Remembered Alex Carolan, the Lifford Postman and Irish Army Reservist who died tragically on 14th September 2009 in a road traffic accident, was remembered on Saturday 2nd October 2010. The Alex Carolan Memorial

Cup was organised by family, friends, An Post and the 58th Infantry Battalion of the Reserve Force. The match was played at Lifford Athletic Track and An Post running out eventual winners.

Alex Carolans immediate family and friends were present, including his young son Alex who also played and scored.

After the match a presentation of the cup was made to Alex Jnr, and it was a very emotional moment for all concerned.

Hopefully this will become a yearly event.

Niall Guinan, R.I.P.

Pictured l to r: Niall Guinan, Christy Brannigan, Terry Delany, Dick Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Leray, Peter Fitzgerald and Ray Lawlor.

It is with deep regret and sadness that we have to report the death of Niall Guinan.

Niall was a member of the former Stores Branch [now Dublin No 3 Branch] for over 20 years. He was also a member of the Branch Committee for 12 years and was also elected to the National Executive Council.

In his own way, Niall was a very quiet man, but he was also somebody who could and would fight to the bitter end, in order to improve the pay and conditions of his members.

Around the time Niall got involved, the branch was going through a very difficult time. The conditions our members

were expected to work under were totally unacceptable, and it was Niall, along with other officers of the Branch, who set about improving these conditions and did so with great effect.

Some years ago, Niall decided to leave Telecom [as it was known then], but he will never be forgotten by the members of his Branch for all the tireless work and effort he put in on their behalf. We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Margaret and their two children May he rest in peace. Ar dheis de go raibh a anam dilis.

52

53

Books reviewed by Adrienne Power

ROOM

by Emma Donoghue I was apprehensive about reading this book but my curiosity won over and I picked it up in the end!

We have all come across terrible stories in the media about women and children being held captive in basements or garden shacks etc for years on end. Room is based on such a horror story!

The story is told by five year old Jack who I found eventually irritating. Another reader of the book remarked to me that she would have preferred if some of the story was told

by Ma. That would have been a welcome break from listening to a five year old, even an upbeat and intelligent one!

Room is a book of two parts. The first part of the book is toddler Jack and Ma’s life within Room – their daily routine existence which is an eye-opener of ordinariness. After a while you feel the walls closing in on you though reading about their life within the confines of Room. Little Jack does bring humour and light-heartedness to the story and there is no horrendous graphic scenes so the book could be read by a Young Adult upwards.

The scene of the escape from Room is the most edge –of- the- seat piece of writing I have ever read! It was as exhilarating as any scene from the greatest thriller!

Room’s second part is life Outside Room. Jack and Ma’s ordeal continues even though they have escaped Old Nick. They are under the eyes of the media and Ma has to come to terms with seven years of lost time with family and friends.

It is not a book I could read again but it was certainly a worthwhile experience.

“Disturbing! Emotive! Heart-wrenching! Thought-Provoking!”

THE BURNT-OUT TOWN OF MIRACLES

By Roy Jacobsen Set in Finland in 1939 during a winter known as the “White Hell”.

The 4,000 inhabitants of a small town leave before the Russian Soldiers come. But a lone woodcutter decides he will not leave his home. Is he brave or just crazy?

This is the skillfully written story of Timo, the Woodcutter, who stays behind and stands alone. His world has become surreal but he does not lose hope when his life is turned upside down by the ugliness of war.

I found myself going back and re-reading sentences because they were so mesmerizingly beautiful.

After the burning of the town before the Russians arrive, the Woodcutter finds an intact wall clock that he decides to borrow from a neighbour’s house. He describes its sound as “the heartbeat of a creature which has to be mankind’s last friend”.

Reading the novel you feel its strength but also a sense of abandonment throughout.

A wonderfully written tale of courage in a harsh landscape..

“Words to Savour” 54

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