Connect october 2015

AUTUMN 2015 VOL: 17

PAY & MATERNITY

NO. 3

MEMBER POWER Wins the Day in Vodafone

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Editorial

Dear Colleague, Contents Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-3

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

4-6

IO, IO, it’s off to Dispute we go!! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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An Post Employees’ Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Livint Wage Rises to €11.50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Amendments to the Annual Leave Provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act . . . . . . . . . .

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Irish Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19 Donation to the Camino Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Health & Safety Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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UNI’s Work-Life Management Fortnight, 2015 . . . . . . . 22-23 CSTWF Annual Report 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-27 Vodafone Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-29 Congress: Repeal of 8th Amendment: Abortion . . . . . .

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ESCCU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Standing up for Palestine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-33 I.R. Changes: your questions answered . . . . . . . . . . . . 34-35 When dealing with corruption in Ireland, there’s little to report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-37 How Unequal is Ireland? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38-41 FM Downes & Co Insurance & Mortgage Brokers . . . . .

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CWU People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43-50 Halligan Home Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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CWU Humanitarian Aid Convoy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52-53 Book Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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CWU Membership Application Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55-56

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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The Irish media has been full of stories over the past number of months highlighting two significant events, namely the ever escalating refugee crisis and the national homeless crisis. Both crises are events of a different magnitude of human misery and suffering which has arisen as a result of international and national political choices. Those political choices, are choices that are now generally taken nationally and internationally by the people and corporations who are generally immune from the consequences.

The scale of the refugee crisis is unprecedented.

The toll in human life is rapidly increasing as the images of beleaguered men, women and children appear before us on a daily basis. The response from the international community has been appallingly slow as countries turn on each other, rather than deal with this massive human tragedy.

One thing which is absolutely clear is that that the refugee crisis is a direct result of the foreign policy decisions taken by the United States and its allies.

Military interventions in the Middle East have left what was a bad situation infinitely worse, with millions of people displaced and hundreds of thousands killed through wars instigated mainly on the basis of ownership of oil. It is ironic that the two biggest so-called Islamic armies on the planet can be traced back to military interventions by Western powers. Indeed, both the Taliban and ISIS received most of its early training and weaponry from socalled Western democracies. It is stomach churning to hear those countries pontificating about these humanitarian crises, while at the same time making billions from arms dealing on both sides of the wars that caused the crises in the first place. Given the present scale of the problem, it is difficult to understand how ultimately the issue will be dealt with, but based on the number of calls to the CWU Head Office, there seems to be an overwhelming view within the membership, that we as a country, should do our part and that the government falls way behind the people in this respect.

Of course, the refugee crisis also brings to the fore the worst elements in society. The rise of racism in countries throughout Europe is particularly worrying. Every excuse that can be used or invented to blacken the name of people in such dire circumstances is taken and gleefully used by far right groups and some red-top newspapers to create division. It is particularly galling to see those types of attitudes being expressed in this country in circumstances where the present government has

helped export 300,000 of our youngest and brightest to countries on every part of the globe over the last four years. Ireland’s history is littered with stories of migration, sometimes economic, other times political, with the result that there are more people of Irish descent living around the planet than on our small island. It is important though to draw the distinction between a migrant and a refugee. We have hundreds of people who are presently deemed as migrants, almost imprisoned in direct provision centres throughout the country. Their treatment is, I believe, a stain on the nation of Ireland and bringing in thousands of refugees to add to that problem, is not a solution. Of course, normally refugees do not have to go through direct provision, as refugee status would allow those people to live and work here, if it were granted on their arrival. Whatever about the international response to this horrific problem, we as a people and a nation, should be responsible for our efforts and if the views expressed to this Union are anything to go by, we need to see our government step up to the plate and take its fair share of refugees, but in doing so, ensuring them an opportunity to integrate and work in this country. It is also way beyond time that we dismantled the present direct provision programme.

On the homefront, we are facing a growing problem with homelessness, which has seen the new phenomenon of young families sleeping on the street, in cars, hotels and B&Bs. This of course adds a new dimension to a problem where the political establishment now view the deaths of homeless people as one of the acceptable prices of their austerity agenda. All of the charities working in this area continue to report a rise in the level of homelessness, which they have never experienced before and in particular, the growth in the number of people who become homeless following evictions.

The homeless situation has been caused by a number of factors namely, the response to the economic collapse by our government i.e. “Austerity”, which has led to house repossession and evictions at a scale not seen since the famine. It seems it is always an easier option for government to sacrifice people than the financial institutions. In addition to the foregoing, there is insufficient house building. Since the economic collapse, there has been almost a halt to house building. Most civilised societies build a certain amount of housing each year in order just to keep up with population growth, but given the haste of this government to bail out the banks, there was nothing left in the coffers for provision of housing and in particular, social housing.

A further example is the absence of rent control or rent certainty. Many families and individuals find themselves with no accommodation, due to the continuing increases in rental costs, as landlords waste no opportunity to profit from the housing shortage. One would be forgiven for drawing the conclusion that the continuing refusal by the government to introduce rent controls probably reflects the number of landlords that sit in the Dáil. The outright refusal to increase rent allowance however has forced

people from their rented accommodation, as those allowances are no longer sufficient to cover the increased rents.

Another factor is a lack of student accommodation. This is often seen as a less important part of the housing crisis, but the reality is that thousands of students have been priced Steve Fitzpatrick, out of the rental market and as a result, will not General Secretary, CWU be able to take part in third level education. Of course, this is not usually an issue for the wealthier in society and the outcome is likely to be less and less children from working class areas being able to attend college.

As we approach the upcoming Budget, the newspapers and media are full of stories about promises that will be delivered through tax cuts etc., by various parties during the upcoming election campaign. It seems such promises will be put way ahead of dealing with this homeless crisis. This approach is a great example of short-sightedness because lack of accommodation reasonably priced will drive people out of this country and will make it less attractive for inward investment. In addition, the sights of hundreds of people sleeping, begging and injecting on the streets will damage our reputation as an caring people and will put potential visitors off seeing Ireland as a tourist destination. Of course, this problem could be relatively easily tackled with the right political choices, but it is difficult to see any of the mainstream parties choosing a solution to this problem over distribution of further tax cuts to its own constituencies. This is an issue that can be relatively easily fixed with the right political will. The refusal to deal directly with the crisis has also unfortunately led to the arguments made, in particular, by far right and racist groups that we cannot deal with the refugee crisis because of our manufactured homeless crisis. This is utter nonsense and once again we see the establishment helped by its compliant media sow the seeds of division among the victims of their crimes.

So as we get bombarded with stories of the great recovery in this country, we will be asked to deny the fact that the last four Budgets, according to all financial experts, have taken money from the poorer in society to give to the rich, or have taken less from the rich when they were taking from the poor.

The outcome of increased homelessness, drug addiction, suicide and migration added to the proliferation of zero hour contracts etc., will be ignored in the hope that we will all be foolish enough to vote for more of the same and if you believe the polls that comrades is now a distinct possibility!

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Education Update

Chairperson Training - June 2015

The Union held the Chairperson training course between June 3rd and June 5th and it was very well attended by various Branches from the Postal and Telecoms Sector.

In attendance were: Michael Brophy Castlebar Postal, Martin Conlon eircom Carrick on Shannon, Rita Clifford Tralee Tels, Brian Deegan Dublin Postal Clerks, Martin Doyle Enniscorthy Postal, Tom Kavanagh Thurles Postal, John Kilcullen eircom Letterkenny, Frank Lyons Dublin No 3, Liam Masterson Westport Postal, Michael McKenzie eircom Ballina, Malachy Mills eircom Drogheda, Mary Reilly Cavan Postal and Philip Stewart Dublin C&A.

Longford Committee Training

Pictured l to r: Joe Feeney, Louis Mullooly, Anthony Heavey, Pauline Sheerin, Tony Sheils, Brendan King, Sean Donnelly Jnr, Brendan Fitzgerald, John Tansey and Pat Kenny.

The Union delivered training to the Longford Postal Branch on May 22nd. The course was well attended and various union topics were covered such as ASMP, Grievance and Disciplinary Issues and the Role of the Branch Officers and Committee. Our thanks to all those who attended on behalf of the Branch.

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Education Update

Castlerea and District Committee Training June 2015 The union received a very warm welcome from the Castlerea and District Postal Committee when we delivered our training on the weekend of June 12th. The Union went through various representative issues with active participation from the Branch. Our thanks again to the local committee for making all the necessary arrangements for such a successful course.

In attendance were: John Bligh, Joseph Byrne, Mary Cahill, Martina Comer, Mike Connolly, Geraldine Flynn, Muriel Moran, Paul Rowntree, John Sharkey and Gerard Plunkett.

Committee Training Union HQ June 2015

The Union delivered a committee training courses to a various branches in union HQ on June 18th. Our thanks to all those who participated.

In attendance were: Stephen Browne Dublin Postal Drivers, Anthony Cuddihy PhoneWatch, Alan Cowzer Dublin C&A, Liam Dowling Portlaoise Mails Centre, Fiona Duff Dublin Postal Clerks, Deirdre Harte Carrick on Shannon Postal, Brendan Hughes Athlone Mails Centre, David Kelly Athlone Mails Centre, Donald Kiernan Athlone Mails Centre, Paul Maguire Dublin Postal Clerks, Claire O’Connor CWU HQ, Deirdre O’Hara Dublin No 2, Ciaran O’Neill Bray Postal and Conor Power Carlow Postal.

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Education Update

H.C.L. COMMITTEE TRAINING COURSE 22ND JULY. which would assist them in their roles as Committee members. The interaction and the feedback from the reps was excellent.

We wish the group well in their new roles and look forward to working with them.

The training course was well attended. We had committee reps from both Cork & Dublin in attendance.

It was the first training course attended by the reps, we covered their roles as branch reps, the structure of the Union, the benefits of the Union, and other modules

Back row l to r: Ciara O’Connor, Lori-Ann O’Connor, Sorcha Griffin and Louise Quinn.

Front Row l to r: Jason Lewington, Anthony McCarthy, Derek Harrington and Declan Moore.

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IO, IO, it’s off to Dispute we go!! mail. Can we now take it the Travel & Subs daily pilgrimage by GPO managers in pursuit of live mail on a rural bench will no longer apply?

Evident is the assistance and encouragement being afforded to IO Systems, from some quarters from within An Post. Documentation circulated smacks of failed policies of the infamous Irwig ( industrial relations working group). Although dispensed with in the 2005 ceasefire , full decommissioning obviously hasn't occurred. Such actions give credence to claims of improper business practices together with the requirement to have the circumstances surrounding the tendering process and subsequent awarding of the contract, independently examined.

The Union expects the Board of An Post will want to ensure highest standards are adhered to and will assist in any independent review.

The Union, in the face of extreme provocation by IO Systems, will continue its efforts not to impact An Posts staff or services. In doing so it recognises they have temporarily surrendered the maintenance of the sorting machinery to CWU. Given An Post and CWU share a common objective a more reliable and sustainable arrangement is required that dispenses with the now obvious unnecessary duplication of resources and outsourced interference.

Whatever about the rights and wrongs of how An Post – IO Systems arrived at their done deal, it won't be implemented without the consequential staff impact issues being fully and fairly addressed by the contract holders with the CWU. Neither party to the dodgy deal could realistically expect the CWU roll over and accept a 22% pay cut linked to a worsening attendance profile.

At the time of print, the CWU has issued, in accordance with the Company/Union Agreement, 14 days’ notice of intention to commence industrial action, up to and including strike action, as and from Friday 2nd October 2015, resulting from a dispute engineered by IO Systems’ management, which was underway in An Post’s Automation Mail Sorting Centres. Abandoning their contractual obligations to maintenance of the machinery IO Systems commenced unofficial industrial action, thereby giving wholly unnecessary threat to mail services at An Post. Members at the Dublin and Portlaoise mail sorting centres were made aware by way of a poorly constructed misleading public newsletter, they are considered to be removed from payroll.

Management’s justification is a requirement to honour contractual obligations with An Post. In doing so they abandoned contractual arrangements with staff and breach a binding Labour Court Determination.

This serious development was given urgent consideration by the National Executive Council, following which they unanimously endorsed solidarity and full support to our members at the centre of this dispute. They committed to mobilising the full resources of the Union necessary to protect our members’ interests, both at IO Systems and An Post.

Notwithstanding hostile provocation, including removal from payroll, IO System members continue to work normally in order to maintain services to customers and not impact on An Posts staff.

While the Union is accustomed to such unruly and reckless behaviour by IO Systems, it is most bizarre that An Post, their employer, has adopted a passive approach, and seems satisfied to tolerate their ongoing efforts to engineer widespread wilful delay of

“Requirement to honour contractual obligations with An Post”

“Neither An Post or IO Systems could expect CWU to roll over and accept 22% pay cut”

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Postal Update Thankfully, there’s one place where I can manage my money without feeling grumpy: my local post office.

I’m always popping in and out, organising my funds.

One day I’m depositing money towards large bills such as the life-insurance policy. The next day I’m taking out €20 to put in an envelope for a child’s birthday. This makes me a bank’s worst nightmare but the post office doesn’t mind.

Because I live in the countryside, it can be hard to get my hands on cash. We used to have an ATM at the shop just down the road but the machine is long gone. My credit union is a wonderful organisation staffed by lovely neighbours, but has limited hours.

So, about a year ago, I opened a post office deposit account. The bliss! The convenience! I have a choice of two post offices a short drive from my home, both of them in shops. There is usually no queue. In return for this convenience, the post office actually pays a small amount of interest on my money. No fees, by the way.

The local post office offers a safe haven from the banking scandals

by Mary Feely Another banking scandal, Permanent TSB said sorry to the customers it had cheated. The bank had led people into paying higher rates than they had to on 1,372 mortgages. All the people who held those mortgages were cheated of money; some were also cheated of their credit histories, peace of mind, investments and homes.

The bank wasted money defending its indefensible conduct in court. Now it owes customers more than €35 million compensation, as well as Central Bank fines of up to €20 million. As the bank is mostly State-owned, the bill is on us, the eejit taxpayers. Again.

Banks. Is there anyone who doesn’t despise them?

I have bank accounts only because modern life forces me to do so. I need to receive electronic payments and pay direct debits, and only a bank can provide these services. Otherwise, I’d have nothing to do with a bank, ever.

Thanks to my bank failing to invest in its IT system, I’ve had accounts frozen. My bank somehow lost a cheque that was lodged in Dublin; more than a year later, it has yet to show up in our branch in Drogheda. The bank bugs me with phone calls from a computer, generally when I’m making dinner, to ask what I think of its customer service. (What I think is that if the bank really gave a toss it would pay for a proper customer survey.)

For this, my bank charges me a monthly fee on each account. Pay interest on the money swishing in and out?

Go away, child. Dream on.

Treated as a human being This is exactly what I want as a consumer: easy access to my money, interest paid on it, being treated as a human being. A decent level of service that’s beyond banks everywhere, it seems. Given that I’m so happy with my post office, I’m not a bit pleased that the Government seems determined to cut it off at the knees.

The Department of Social Welfare aims to makepay almost all social welfare payments electronically by 2018 – ie it wants to pay people through banks, not post offices.

Postmasters are furious because handling cash social welfare payments is now 30 per cent of their business.

Two are even standing in the next general election. Alan Kelly, postmaster in Cabra, will run in Dublin Central.

Seona O’Fegan, postmistress in Barna and Father Griffin Road post offices in Galway, will run in Galway West.

They want the Coalition to follow its policy, which is to strengthen the postal system, not strangle it.

Postmasters say they operate as unofficial social centres in rural Ireland, a view echoed in a 2012 report commissioned from Grant Thornton by the Irish Postmasters’ Union. The consensus from community bodies spoken to was that “the post office network plays an important role as a focal point for many communities and offers many intangible benefits to local communities”.

This is nothing new. In Angela’s Ashes, Frank McCourt’s terrifying memoir of 1930s poverty, a disabled neighbour can get her money only with the help of young Frank and an obliging post- office worker.

As for myself, I just want my post office to keep going – is that so scandalous?

Images of atrocities My bank doesn’t want me cluttering up its premises. It makes this clear by closing most of its teller windows, keeping the queue long and slow. If I still refuse to go away, a loud British news channel bombards me with images of the world’s latest atrocities.

Living through our latest recession, caused by the banks blowing up the economy, has had the same effect on me that the Great Depression had on a generation of Americans: I don’t trust banks. I want nothing to do with them.

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Postal Update

Attendance Management Update

Accommodation Update

The Company made a presentation to the Joint Working Group on the weekly Absence rate across An Post. It is currently standing at just over 5.6% which is slightly up on last year.

It is worth noting from the Company’s own statistics the highest absence was during the midterm break in February and its lowest was at the end of July.

The Union has suggested that term time should be extended to cover all school holidays.

Since the ASMP was introduced the following are the figures of “entrants”: Employees in ASMP since Commenced: 4,252 Employees Exited Process: 2,329 Employee’s who Exited and who re-entered: 882 Employees Currently in process: 2,384 The Union has raised the following issues as matters of concern:

C&D:

BUILDING STATUS

Ballyhaunis:

Complete.

Ballymote;

Agreement to acquire site for new building-Architects appointed.

Cavan:

Heating upgrade complete and new canopy installed.

Clifden:

Premises identified and terms agreed.

Fit out to be specked and tendered.

Clonakilty:

Design being amended to meet accommodation requirements.

Enniscorthy Extn:

Planning for extension received.

Tender document being prepared.

Fermoy:

Complete-seeking to acquire adjoining unit and enlarge DSU.

Kinsale:

Potential premises have been identified.

Premises identified and terms agreed.

Drawing for fit out signed off. Spec being prepared.

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Unavailability of some Official Doctors.

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Failure to roll out ‘local leave’ nationwide.

Portlaoise DSU:

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No appeal process for being included in the process, regardless of previous record or the nature of illness.

Roscommon; Completion mid September.

Difficulty with the Company facilitating a return-to-work rehabilitation programme.

Roscrea:

• •

Access to the Company’s Occupational Health Services.

Out to tender as part of framework.

Currently being evaluated.

Wexford Car Complete.

Park Extn:

Further statistics members may find interesting: An Post Average age in 2010 An Post average age in 2015 International postal worker in 2014

The most serious building issue at the moment is Castleblaney DSU. The Company is currently seeking a new premises, however our members are expected to work in totally unacceptable conditions. It was agreed at the September Executive meeting to ballot members for industrial action, should the Company fail to reveal the Union contrete proposals by the end of September.

The Union have also asked the Company as a matter of urgency to provide the Union with its programme of works for Retail Offices.

45 48 45

An Post current age profile: Up to age 49 50-59 60+

51.7% 38% 10.3%

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CREDIT UNION MEMBERSHIP EXTENDED!

an post employees’ credit union ltd.

Spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, brothers & sisters

Includes: An Post employees Former employees Pensioners Postmasters and their post office assistants Companies where An Post has a shareholding

www.anpostcu.ie 10

Postal Update

At SGM of An Post Employees Credit Union, Paddy Clarke and Ken Hughes

At SGM of An Post Employees Credit Union, Willie Spence and Noel Adamson

Great news from An Post Employees’ Credit Union!

Until now, membership of the credit union was open to current An Post employees/ pensioners and any family members living in the same house.

Following negotiations with the Central Bank and a Special General Meeting of the members on 19 July, membership is now open to a much wider group.

From now on, membership is open to those who have made their livelihood from the postal service and their wider families. This means current employees of An Post, former employees, An Post pensioners, and in relation to all three groups their spouses, sons, daughters, grandchildren, brothers, sisters and parents once they live on the island of Ireland.

Interestingly, it has also been clarified that membership is also available to Postmasters and their post office assistants and to employees of companies where An Post has a shareholding, including One Direct, PCI, Premier National Lotteries, Data Ireland and PrintPost.

The idea that the membership might be expanded was first raised at the Annual General Meeting in December 2014, where the members had a good discussion about its implications and were very positive about it. The Central Bank took a good look at the plan and were very supportive. The final say remained with the members who voted overwhelmingly to expand the membership (or the credit union “common bond” as it is known) at the Special General Meeting in July.

Expanding the membership is seen by the Board of the credit union as a good way to help ensure the long-term health and viability of the credit union. The credit union has been in existence since 1968 and has a very loyal membership but it is in the interests of everybody that its future is protected.

The credit union looks forward to welcoming many family members (and those linked with companies where An Post has a shareholding) over the coming months and years.

If you have any queries about joining the credit union, please do not hesitate to contact the credit union office on 01-6602000 or to check out our web site (anpostcu.ie).

Spouses, sons, daughters, grandchildren, brothers, sisters and parents.

Postmasters and their post office assistants, One Direct, PCI, Premier National Lotteries, Data Ireland and PrintPost 11

Postal Update

Regulatory Update – Postal

changes in the legislation ComReg can now review the terms and conditions to make sure they are fit for purpose.

The regulator proposed a number of changes and the CWU chose to a selection of those which gave rise to some concerns.

There were two significant regulatory submissions made by the CWU to ComReg in recent months. The first was in relation to a review of the Quality of Service standards and the second was in response to ComReg’s review of the Terms and Conditions of the Universal Postal Service.

Underpaid postage to be paid by addressee CWU expressed concern that the ComReg consultation document proposes that An Post's terms and conditions should be amended to remove the company's ability to refuse, detain, defer, withhold, return or dispose Postal Packets that have been underpaid. Alternatively, ComReg is stating that the company should 'levy charges for underpaid postal packets on the recipient of that postal packet.'

Quality of Service (QOS) Standards The CWU argued that the target of 94% should either remain unchanged or be reduced.

In doing so the union argued that the comparator countries as chosen by ComReg: Austria and Denmark are not appropriate and Ireland is achieving a very high standard at 94% already. The service levels being delivered by An Post are well above the accepted standards in other countries with similar population densities.

As has been done in the UK, the regulator should make an exception for December in the measurement system.

To include it is to skew the results and therefore undermine the integrity of the quality of service system as a whole. Including December in the measurement process when mail volumes increase by approximately 60% drives the result for the rest of the year down and this is not representative of the standard that is otherwise achieved.

The quality of service issue is one that is taken very seriously by both the CWU and An Post and significant progress to meet and exceed the already high standard of 94% has been made.

We have seen in the past, with the threat from ComReg of exorbitant fines against An Post, that not achieving the QoS standard can have very real implications for the financial stability of the company and its ability to provide the Universal Service Obligation (USO). It is in the best interest of the Irish postal market and all postal users that the QoS standards are fair and reasonable and accurately reflect the realities and challenges of the Irish postal network.

This is a significant and substantial change to the current arrangements and the CWU is opposed to this change for a number of reasons including: •

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•

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It would impose a substantial cost burden on the company given the practical implications of post persons collecting and processing underpayments at the point of delivery Among the practical implications that have to be considered is the requirement for the post person to carry cash and/or have credit card facilities available as well as the ability to issue receipts The requirement for post persons to carry cash does highlight a health and safety question and potentially poses a security risk which the CWU would take very seriously In addition to this, the proposal fundamentally shifts the burden of payment away from the sender which is a cornerstone of the current postal market and this could be open to abuse

Accessing Postal Services In its review ComReg proposed that rural post persons act as access points of the postal service. The CWU is concerned as to the practical implications arising from insisting that post persons be included as 'access points for postal service users' in the terms and conditions.

Terms and Conditions of the Universal Postal Service

Is it the case that post persons will be required to carry and sell stamps to customers on the delivery route? There are a number of issues arising from this:

In this instance ComReg issued a consultation document which sought to examine the terms and conditions of the universal postal service for the first time. Previously the terms and conditions had been only been the responsibility of An Post but arising from

•

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Post persons being required to carry cash and process transactions has obvious health and safety implications as well as the questions that arise in terms of the how the transactions might be processed

Postal Update •

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In general terms the CWU is very concerned at some of the ComReg proposals in circumstances where the proposals appear either to add a significant cost burden to the company or deny them potential revenues. Given the very finely balanced nature of the finances of An Post and the continued loss making burden of the USO, it makes no commercial sense to further inflate the losses the company has to endure in the USO area. To do so would run contrary to the best interests of postal users and indeed the obligations and statutory functions of ComReg to promote the development of the postal sector and the availability of the universal postal service.

It was the case in the past that post persons did sell stamps on route but this function ceased due to lack of demand and the introduction of alternative methods for customers to buy stamps Is it the case that the post person will be required to carry weighing scales and a measuring tape given that the postal cost is based on these factors?

Currently, as well as buying stamps in the traditional ways, postal users can purchase stamps online and given the extensive and growing availability of broadband throughout the country this is a legitimate and much more efficient alternative to selling stamps via the post person

HEALTH & SAFETY POSTAL UPDATE

Safety Representative Training Programme

Representatives of the agreed procedure for dealing with issues in the workplace and how to escalate problems not addressed. Again the Company has failed to allow this request.

The question has to be asked why is this happening?

The Union must question An Post’s commitment to Health and Safety Training, in particular the training of Safety Representatives. Over the past couple of years we have requested the Company to provide the Union in advance with details of the Safety Representative Training Programme. This is to ensure that the elected Safety Representatives receive the training they are entitled to. Notwithstanding such repeated requests and having raised this directly with the Health and Safety Manager, Principle Management Representative Health and Safety Committee, the Head of Training and the Head of Employee Relations the Company has to date failed to provide the Union with this information.

We should remind ourselves that the 2005 Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act provides for the selection of Safety Representatives. Section 25 of the 2005 Act entitles employees to decide on, select and appoint Safety Reps, or by agreement with their employer, more than one Safety Representative. Once elected Safety Representatives are entitled to time off to train as a Safety Representative.

In addition to the above the CWU has sought access to the Training Programme in order to advise the Safety

• • •

Is the Company afraid of trained Safety reps?

Is it a cost issue?

Are they afraid that inadequate conditions around the country will be highlighted?

In our view it is a mixture of all of the above. We believe that Operational Management within An Post do not wish to have trained Safety Reps in place and routinely block them from attending training courses.

The failure of the company to provide us with the details of the Training Programme is evidence of this.

Given the above we can only assume that the Company is paying lip service to Health and Safety. The Postal / Courier Executive considered the above at its most recent meeting and has decided to advise the Company that unless a Collective Agreement is reached with the Company on Safety Reps by the 31st December 2015 then we will withdraw all cooperation from the Company with regard to its Health and Safety Management System. Hopefully common sense will prevail.

13

Postal Update Safety Audits

Members ar§e reminded that if they have any concerns about they level of low level letter boxes on their they should request a risk assessment be carried out on their post.

Following complaints from Safety Representatives the Union raised concerns with the Company regarding the lack of consultation with safety reps during safety audits.

In response the Company has acknowledged that the sharing of safety audit reports with Safety Reps has been patchy across locations where audits have previously been conducted. They also advised that it is the practice of safety auditors to engage with Safety Reps but there may have been occasions when this did not happen.

The Company plan to do a series of Safety Audits during September and the Auditors will be reminded of the importance of engaging with the Safety Reps and all Safety Reps will be provided with a copy of the audit report. It will be interesting to see if this actually happens and the Union would welcome any comments from Safety Reps in offices which are audited.

Sub Office Conditions Following the completion of the Sub Office Survey in 2012 the union continues to raise concerns about conditions in sub offices. As a result a number of offices have been consolidated. The Company has confirmed that the Retail Audit teams are now required to undertake some basic safety checks at DSOs in conjunction with their standard audits of Post Offices. We have highlighted a number of offices and the Company has confirmed that in addition to this they will carry out full safety audits by the end of the year in the offices the Union has highlighted.

Low level letterboxes

CMV Wheel Changes

The CWU has long campaigned against low level letterboxes and the unacceptable risks they pose to postpersons. In 2001 the building regulations were changed and all new houses must have a letterbox at least 42 inches from the ground. However these changes only related to new houses and Postpersons have been obliged to continue to deliver to houses with low level letterboxes although the number has reduced.

A debate on this issue took pace at our 2014 Conference following a motion from the North Kerry Postal Branch and as a result we raised our concerns with the Company at the JCC Health and Safety Sub Committee. The company has confirmed the following with us:

The Union has been contacted in recent times by members complaining about the placement of the spare wheel in CMVs where in many cases it is cradled under the vehicle. The Union has been concerned about this and the absence of any guidance to staff on how o deal with a puncture. The Company position is that you should only change a tyre when it was safe to do so and provided that the Postal Operative is competent to do so. We took issue with this as we felt that their response provided no guidance to staff and was designed to cover the Company in the event of an accident.

•

•

We subsequently met with the Company and we have agreed the following: •

The Company during the redesign process endeavour to keep the number of low level letterboxes to a minimum Of the approximately 3,500 routes nationally there are currently about 250 routes (7% of all routes) which contain more than 100 low level letterboxes.

•

The company has purchased 803 new CMVs and they will all have a cradle for the spare wheel in the load area of the van. The same will apply to 110 vans leased from Lease Plan.

The Union and the Company will agree a guidance document for all staff before the end of the year on the process to be followed when changing a wheel.

An Post Puncture Repair Manual 14

Postal Update

PAY (OR THE LACK OF IT) AN POST beal bocht claims in respect of its financial projections are correct. There is a further and influential complication in that Departmental Officials have been directing management not to concede any pay movement citing reductions in the same period for public servants with phased restoration only commencing now. However, this is a case of they wanting their cake and to eat it insofar as they expect An Post to operate as a commercial entity but ignore the reality of pay movement in the private sector. The reality is CWU has achieved pay movement in all other areas including in the Postal Industry at DPD and UPS. In respect of consolidating the change allowance the company's position is more trenchant. It is evident that even if they had the money they have a point of principal not to do this, to a point of a preference to concede a general increase if the worst came to the worst from, their perspective.

However, the CWU advances the continuing and increasing unfairness of this. It is a festering sore which we simply cannot afford to ignore. It has been possible to address as the Retail Clerk so why not for Postmen who along with Cleaners are the lowest paid. The spring seminar adopted a strategy with a clear objective of achieving progress in the short term with both claims.

This has culminated in the Labour Court having examined both claims and we should know the outcome well in advance of Xmas pressure period so we can then decide if what ever they recommend is acceptable or alternatively embark on industrial action at that stage.

The CWU is fighting for two pay rises for our members in An Post – but management continues to resist.

The Union has lodged claims for a 6% cost of living increase and the consolidation of the 12.5% change allowance. The pay claims are scheduled for final adjudication in the Labour Court on 22nd September. An Post has strongly opposed these claims, citing inability to pay and that the various Change Agreements stipulate the allowance is to be non consolidated.

In respect of the 6%, the Union has for its part outlined we have not had a pay increase since August 2008 and staff have in that period given every cooperation possible. In respect of the Change Allowance, the company has effectively consolidated the change, leaving over 25% of its employees without the Allowance. They are required to cooperate with the introduction of change while working for less pay, which is simply unfair.

The company says they don't have the money to fund an increase as they are in a loss making situation, mainly because of falling mail volumes.

Furthermore, the price increases are only helping to reduce the deficit and the cost of carrying the Universal Service Obligation (5 days nationwide delivery). The unions’ position is that its management’s responsibility, together with the obligation of the shareholder to ensure the business is viable and has sufficient resources to pay staff.

Nonetheless, the Labour Relations Commission has on a number of occasions confirmed An Post’s

15

In an NERI research paper published last year I detailed some of the impacts and challenges that the introduction of a Living Wage would have for Ireland (the paper is available on the NERI website).

Liberty Living Wage Article July 2015

Living Wage Rises to €11.50

•

By Micheál Collins Nevin Economic Research Institute This summer the Living Wage received its annual update – revising the figure to €11.50 per hour. The new 2015 figure represents an increase of 5c per hour over the 2014 rate (€11.45). The increase has been driven by changes in the cost of living and changes in the taxation system.

Since its emergence last year, the Republic of Ireland Living Wage has gained more and more attention. During the year Trade Unions, the ICTU, NGOs, political parties and some employers have embraced the concept, recognising a belief that individuals working full-time should be able to earn enough income to enjoy a decent standard of living. Indeed Ireland is now part of an international Living Wage movement, stretching from New Zealand to Canada reflecting a growing appreciation that societies consider low wage rates not just in the context of competitiveness and competition but also in the context of income adequacy and living standards.

The drivers of the higher 2015 figure are summarised in the table. During the year there were changes to both expenditure costs and the tax system which impact on the hourly amount.

Changes in the cost of health insurance had the largest impact on the expenditure costs, decreasing these by €2.30 per week. A restructuring of public transport maximum weekly fares and decreases in fuel costs lead to a decrease in transport costs of €2.21 per week.

Changes in energy and food costs decreased the cost of the weekly minimum expenditure by €2.13 and €1.49 respectively.

The Budget 2015 reduction in the Universal Social Charge (USC) paid by an employee on the Living Wage also impacted on the calculations as the amount of USC collected from these employees decreased by €3.21 per week.

However, the effects of these decreases in living costs and increases in post-tax income were outweighed by increases in some areas of expenditure. Most notable were increases in housing (rent) costs with higher rental costs in Dublin being the significant driver of the overall increased expenditure costs. Outside Dublin, housing costs moved by between €2.18 and €5.78 per week, but the increase in Dublin was €14.94 per week. There were also increases in the expenditure costs associated with household goods and services and car insurance – the latter only impacting on living wage workers outside the cities (those in cities are assumed to use public transport).

Overall, an employee on the Living Wage was found to need an extra 5 cent per hour to meet these higher living costs.

•

•

•

There are impacts on the individual or the employee both in terms of income gains and improvements in living standards for them and their family. This should not be underestimated, for example a €1 per hour increase in the pay of a full-time low waged worker is equivalent to a gross income gain of €2,033 per year – a multiple of any possible Budget change to tax and welfare.

There are impacts for employers whose wage bills will increase, something that the research literature shows is of limited consequence in sectors such as finance, banking and construction where there are few earners already below the living wage threshold and so any increase in costs is small. In sectors with a greater proportion of low paid employees (such as retail, food production, bars and restaurants) the wage bill impact is likely to be more pronounced and it would seem sensible that any move to a Living Wage in these sectors would be phased in.

The research literature also points towards impacts for employers in terms of cost savings and gains from increases in staff retention, reduced absenteeism and improvements in productivity and efficiency. While these may not fully offset the increased wage costs in the high labour sectors, the research literature points towards them making a significant contribution towards reducing these costs.

There are also impacts on the state which gains through increased taxation, particularly indirect taxation, reductions in social protection expenditure, and increases in both employers and employees social insurance contributions.

The implementation of a Living Wage is likely to be a gradual process. The experience elsewhere is that the idea of a Living Wage evolves from ‘impossible’ to ‘societally beneficial’; although that transition and its acceptance by employers, workers and society in general can take time.

The next Living Wage update will be in Summer 2016.

Dr Micheál Collins is Senior Research Officer at the NERI and a member of the Living Wage Technical Group. See www.livingwage.ie 16

Amendments to the Annual Leave Provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act

Background The European Court of Justice on the 20th January 2009 delivered its decision in respect of two references on the correct interpretation of the Working Time Directive. The cases referred to a British case (Stringer v HMRC) and a German case (Schultz – Hoff v Deutsche Rentenvericherung Bund). Both references dealt with the proper interpretation of the annual leave provisions in Article 7 of the Directive.

Article 7(1) requires the member states to ensure that every worker is entitled to be paid annual leave of at least four weeks “in accordance with the conditions of entitlement to and the granting of such leave laid down by national legislation and practice”.

As the Irish Government failed to implement the changes, the ICTU complained to the EU Commission about the this failure as contrary to EU law the Organisation of Working Time Act failed to secure an employee’s right to annual leave on foot of sick leave. Under Section 19 of the 1997 Act, employees only accrued annual leave in respect of hours actually worked.

As a result of the Trade Union campaign the Minister for Business and Employment, Mr. Ged Nash, announced amendments to the Organisation of Working Time Act 2015. These provisions contained within the Workplace Relations Act 2015 became effective on the 1st August 2015.

17

These amendments will bring the annual leave provision of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 into line with the annual leave provisions of the EU Working Time Directive as interpreted by the European Court of Justice in the cases referenced above.

The amendment to the legislation will have the following effects: • •

•

Statutory annual leave entitle to accrues during a period of certified sick leave An annual leave carryover period of 15 months after a leave year will apply to those employees who could not, due to illness, take annual leave during the relevant leave year or during the normal carryover period of 6 months On termination of employment, payment in lieu of intakes accrued annual leave will apply to leave which was untalented as a result of illness in circumstances where the employee leaves the employment within a period of 15 months following the end of leave year during which the statutory leave entitlement period

As a result the Union has contacted the various Companies seeking proposals to change policies and amend collective agreements to ensure early application of the new legislation.

IRISH WATER:

Our favourite disasters and U-turns From consultants and bonuses to protests and Eurostat, it’s been a torrent of crisis

File photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times

by Conor Pope, Irish times online

Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly speaking to the media with John Tierney and Elizabeth Arnett of Irish Water.

S

ince before Irish Water was an apple in Phil Hogan’s eye, it has struggled to keep itself out of hot water and barely a week has passed since the beginning of last year without it making headlines for the wrong reasons. Here’s just a few of our favourite Irish Water disasters and mistakes and U-turns.

In November 2010, the Fianna Fáil-led government published a memorandum of understanding on the conditions of the €85 billion EU-IMF bailout.

It said water charges would be introduced in 2012 or 2013 by which time metering would be installed across the State.

It said the responsibility for water would be transferred from local authorities to a new water utility. Only a bit of what it promised came to pass.

Irish Water was indeed set up but the metering programme was not quite as speedy as we had been led to believe. Without metering from the get-go the whole notion of water conservation was quietly shelved – despite what the ridiculously named “water conservation grant” might have you believe.

In May 2012, a spokeswoman for the minister for the environment Phil Hogan rubbished claims by the Opposition that the Government would introduce flat-rate water charges.

Flat-rate charges are now the norm – although it is possible to “beat the cap” and pay less than the flat rate – if you don’t shower and only flush the toilet every second day.

In April 2012, the contract to run Irish Water was won

by Bord Gáis Éireann, a company which is probably still

mourning its win. Phil Hogan promised that 95 per cent of all homes will have meters by the end of 2014. That didn’t work out either.

O’Rourke interview The chief executive of Irish Water John Tierney decided to do an interview on Today with Seán O’Rourke on RTÉ radio. This was not the best idea he ever had.

The interview was as robust as you might expect and O’Rourke was as masterful as he always is. Tierney was not quite so masterful.

In fact he tied himself up in knots and admitted that €50 million of Irish Water’s setup costs was spent on “consultants”. The C word has followed him ever since.

The hapless Tierney wasn’t done. He then appeared before an Oireachtas environment committee and estimated that Irish Water would spend €85 million on consultants by the end of the year. At the same hearing it emerged that Irish Water staff could receive bonuses of up to 10 per cent of their salary. The B word joined the C word in stalking Tierney.

The same year a planned standing-order charge of €50 had to be eliminated as it was seen to erode the benefit of allowances for households with children.

Almost exactly a year ago the Commission for Energy Regulation revealed details of water charges indicating the average cost for a household of two adults and two children would be €278. The news had already been widely leaked. Metered rates were to be set at €4.88 for 1,000 litres of water. That charge lasted fewer than three months before being dropped.

18

Bonuses

PPS numbers

Things reached boiling point in October when it emerged that Irish Water staff would get bonuses even if their performance was classified as needing improvement.

Irish Water got tangled up trying to tell people its bonuses were not actually bonuses before announcing that its (not really bonus) payments for 2013 and 2014 would be suspended. The unions were less than delighted and the matter is currently before the Labour Relations Commission.

At the end of October the deadline for signing up to Irish Water came and went without there being a mad rush among the general population to register. The Commission for Energy Regulation had no choice but to grant a one-month extension to the sign-up period for Irish Water customers. A flood of new sign-ups did not materialise.

Plans Irish Water had hatched to harvest PPS numbers was also dropped. The utility said it wanted to match free allowances with children and it promised to comply with all data-protection legislation and treat the information well. No-one bought it.

Independent Catherine Murphy raised the issue in the Dáil and said people had “huge concerns about handing over PPS numbers to what is in effect a private company”. The PPS plan was dropped.

Irish Water’s contractors – including the almost as controversial Denis O’Brien-owned Siteserv – encountered difficulties installing meters with protesters blocking access. Burton marvelled at all the “expensive” phones and cameras the demonstrators had ignoring the fact that a phone with a camera can be had for less than 10 litres of water.

It emerged that fewer than half the 1.5 million people

Tens of thousands took to the streets in protest at the charges and on a quiet Saturday in November in Jobstown, Tánaiste Joan Burton was trapped in her car for more than two hours by anti-water charge protesters after attending a graduation ceremony.

An unedifying row broke out between the Government and Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul “Gandhi” Murphy who claimed trapping a person in their car for two hours while banging on the roof screaming “peaceful protest” was a peaceful protest.

Another deadline passed at the end of November and another U-turn was announced when Minister for Environment Alan Kelly – who had replaced Hogan after he fled to Europe – said a revised water-charges package with capped costs would now be imposed.

who were supposed to pay in the first round of billing actually did. Then it emerged that the company had messed up direct debits for 3,000 people who wanted to pay and failed to collect the payment. It also billed people who were dead for many years and that was just the start of an error-strewn billing cycle.

And now Eurostat has ruled that State funds spent on Irish Water must remain on the exchequer balance sheet until 2020. The ruling is a severe blow to the Government’s strategy on water investment, and means a hoped-for boost to the 2016 budget figures will not now emerge. ©Article first published by Irish Times Online 19

Donation of â‚Ź2,500.00 was made to the Camino Network from the CWU Charitable Fund

20

Health & Safety Update

Safety Representative Resource Book

Safety and health is a trade union issue and it is important that we are resourced to make sure we can deliver in this area for our members. We need to integrate it into our branch activity and understand how this presence in the workplace can enhance our organising strategies.

The Safety Representative Resource Book is well designed and is a must have for all Safety Representatives.

The book is divided into eight different Sections with 278 pages. Topics covered include:

A new resource for Safety Representatives was formally launched on Workers’ Memorial Day. This book which was published by the Health and Safety Authority was a collaboration between the HSA, ICTU and IBEC. This publication arose from the suggestion of Congress that the HSA publish such a resource and the author Herbert Mulligan, from Health & Safety Review, worked with an editorial team from Congress to prepare it.

This publication is part of a Trade Union strategy to try to re-energise the role of the safety rep and increase the number of active trade union safety representatives. In contrast with the situation of shop stewards and representatives/activists, the role of the safety rep is provided for in legislation with workers having a right to select someone to undertake this role. However, there has been a decline in nearly every sector in recent years.

As worrying is the trend, for which there is much anecdotal evidence, of safety reps effectively being appointed by management rather than being an independent voice for workers.

• • • • • • •

The Law Enforcement Consolation – Safety Representatives and Safety Committees OSH Roles The Hazards of the Workplace Vulnerable Workers The Workplace

ICTU has organised a number of regional workshops designed to encourage greater participation and to identify ways in which existing safety reps can be better supported.

The first of these workshops took place in Limerick on Monday June 29th at IMPACT’s offices. This workshop was well attended by CWU Representatives with eight members representing the CWU in attendance.

Donie Curran in full flight!

CWU Reps who attended the Safety Seminar in Limerick l to r: Tom Stack Listowel, Jer Daly Tralee, Pat Delany Nenagh, Donie Curran Limerick, Pat Byrne Nenagh, Trevor White Ennis, Patrick Lynch Kilmallock and Michael Murphy Limerick

THE SCHEDULE FOR FUTURE EVENTS IS: IBOA, IBOA HOUSE, STEPHEN STREET, DUBLIN 8 MONDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER SIPTU, UNITY HALL, CHRUCH ST., TULLAMORE MONDAY 12TH OCTOBER

The Programme includes:

CONGRESS CENTRE, 30 CLANBRASSIL ST., DUNDALK THURSDAY 15TH OCTOBER

• • •

SIPTU, HANSON’S RETAIL PK CLEVERAGH, SLIGO MONDAY 19TH OCTOBER SIPTU, CONNOLLY HALL, SUMMERHILL, WATERFORD THURSDAY 22ND OCTOBER

Irelands legislative framework and the role of the HSA The role of the Safety Rep and the Safety Committee Introduction to the Safety Representatives Resource Manual EU OSH Strategy and Refit Reclaiming the role of the Safety Rep Working Groups

IMPACT, U 23 SEAN MULVOY ROAD, GALWAY THURSDAY 5TH NOVEMBER

• • •

SIPTU, CONNOLLY HALL, LAPPS QUAY, CORK TUESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER

If any CWU Safety Reps wish to attend any of the Training Courses they should contact Pat Kenny in Head Office.

21

22

A G/S Circular will issue in the coming weeks with the CWU plans for UNI’s Work Life Management Fortnight.

23

COMBINED SERVICES THIRD WORLD FUND

(Civil ,Service, An Post and Other State Agencies)

“Scenes that are Brightest” is an aria from the Opera by William Wallace and summons up happy past memories. For many of us, though, the past few years of austerity do not have many bright scenes, particularly at home, where many people are still facing real poverty and hardship.

The Fund is fully cognisant of these changed financial times and is very grateful to all contributors for their continued financial support.

However, in the developing world, the situation can be much worse. We see, through the media, the continuous streams of migrants fleeing war situations in desperate efforts to reach a safe haven. Many children continue to be the targets of exploitation and are still denied the basic human right of primary education. The obligation on all of us to help those in extreme poverty has never been greater.

While 2014 was a successful year for the Fund, revenues, as will be seen from the financial accounts overleaf, unfortunately continued to fall.

We therefore need all the support possible in order to continue to play our part in helping some of the world’s most vulnerable in their struggle to obtain the basic necessities of life. Here are a few of the past year’s post funding comments: “The children have moved into their new classrooms – it was also possible to admit 14 extra children!” - St Josephs School for Hearing Impaired, Sierra Leone.

“A dream has come true, the children have sanitation facilities in proper condition. New toilets are built and a new way of healthier life begins now for the destitute children.” - Toilets for a school in India.

“In October, the contractors disappeared leaving the school building with the roof only half covered with sheets and it was the rainy season. Providence arrived from Dublin, and after Christmas the roofing of the three classrooms was completed. Thank you very much for rescuing us. It was a great joy to see so many children in the new classes. Millions of thanks.” - Completion of a school roof, Bangui, Central African Republic.

A full list of 2014 contributions and grants is on our website

www.cstwf.ie Combined Services Third World Fund 76/78 Harcourt Street Dublin 2 Ireland ☎ ++353 (0)1408 2473/75

annual report 2014

The Fund awarded 68 grants for Projects in 16 developing countries during the year under review. As can be seen from the pie chart, 172,900 of the total amount granted, went to educational projects. The Fund places a high value on education as it is central to development, enabling people to overcome poverty. It is the “helping hand” rather than the handout. Health projects were also high on the list of grant aid projects receiving 41,400 of awards made. Better health makes an important contribution as health facilities in many developing countries are, at best, very basic. Other sectors to benefit from grants made were Agriculture, Community Development, and the provision of water and sanitation. All of the grants made were aimed at meeting the basic needs of people. It is a firm belief of the Fund that if people can meet these needs they will develop themselves and their countries.

urgent - New members are always needed to help finance the work of the Fund

Agriculture Health Water Community Development Education

27.2 41.4 172.9

80.0

53.1

CSTWF grants made in 2014 ( 000’s)

There are two optional rates of contribution to the Fund of only 1 cent or 2 cents from every 10 of pay or pension.

Every Cent Counts!

The Fund operates on a completely voluntary basis through the Council and Trustees. The Management and Advisory Committees assess applications for funding.

Honorary Officers and other volunteers carry out the necessary office administration. Great care is always taken with contributors’ money and grants are only made directly to beneficiaries.

If you are not already a member of the fund or if you know someone who might be interested in joining, please contact us immediately or go to our website www.cstwf.ie for more information and application forms.

Photo: “Dry Season” Project Pissa Nigeria

@ thecstwf@hotmail.com

24

CSTWF ANNUAL REPORT 2014 A Typical CSTWF Project Women’s groups expressed the need to uplift their poor economic situation by contributing to the family income. They applied for 4,555 which was granted by CSTWF to purchase furniture for ten sewing centres in Faisalabad Pakistan. These women’s groups have been fully involved in the implementation of the project from the start. Sana Umar Hiat, aged 21, who lives in Uchan Muraba-Faisalabad, got 6 months training from a sewing centre on stitching clothes and selling them in a market. Now she has been trained further and works as a teacher in one of these centres to earn more money for her family.

Combined Services Third World Fund Receipts and Payments Account Year Ended 31st December 2014 Receipts

2014

Members Subscriptions Deposit Interest

2013

326,073 (Note 1) 112

TOTAL RECEIPTS

326,185

365,262 17 365,279

Payments Projects Office Expenses

374,708 (Note 2) 11,281

TOTAL PAYMENTS

385,989

Excess Receipts over Payments Opening Bank Balance

(59.804) 122,685

Closing Bank Balance

62,881

287,675 13,934 301,609 63,670 59,015 122,685

The above Receipts and Payments Account was prepared from the books and records of The Combined Services Third World Fund and I hereby report that it is in accordance therewith.

(Signed) Maurice D. Counihan FCPA

3rd April 2015

CDK & Associates, Accountants & Registered Auditors, Mounttown House, Mounttown Road Lower, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.

(*)A full list of the contributions received and grants made is available on the fund’s website:

www.cstwf.ie

25

CSTWF ANNUAL REPORT 2014 Note 1: Summary of Donations Lodged in 2014 Departments 1 Agriculture Food Marine 2 Arts Heritage Gaeltacht 3 Children & Youth‘s affairs 4 Communications Energy Natural Resources 5 Defence 6 Education & Skills 7 Environment, Community & Local Government 8 Foreign Affairs Trade 9 Health 10 Jobs Enterprise Innovation 11 Justice & Equality 12 Social Protection 13 Transport Tourism Sport 14 Taoiseach 15 Public Expenditure & Reform 16 Finance 17 Attorney General 18 Comptroller & Auditor General 19 Chief State Solicitor 20 Director of Public Prosecutions 21 Ombudsman 22 President 23 Public Appointments Service 24 State Lab 25/32 8 other misc sections of Dept of Finance 33 An Bord Pleanala 34 An Oireachtas/Leinster House 35 An Post 36 Central Statistics Office 37 Child & Family Agency

Amount 21,634.13 2,962.42 1,248.93 1,249.84 2,106.58 8,807.36 6,797.94 7,882.64 3,345.31 4,087.73 7,221.43 26,760.50 2,929.97 1,536.01 2,652.46 1,782.57 1,041.14 355.18 911.55 364.33 452.20 246.04 658.38 345.92 1,004.29 527.05 1208.26 34,916.08 3,574.20 182.97

38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66

Coillte Courts Service Eircom Eircom Pensioners Garda Civilian Health & Safety Authority Irish Aviation Authority National Museum National Library National Roads Authority Ombudsman for Children Office of Public Works Ordinance Survey PMG Pensions Prison Service Probation/Welfare Service Property Regulatory Authority Revenue Commissioners Road Safety Authority Solas SFPA Teagasc Waterways Valuation Office Bequest PSEU Unidentified (1) Vodafone M Bird

TOTAL

Amount 5,881.58 5,766.04 22,460.24 5,541.18 4,401.25 542.36 2,306.58 125.34 101.73 255.32 135.39 5,281.04 1,009.27 62,291.43 540.21 711.11 2,951.78 51,617.95 719.09 144.30 146.49 218.10 173.09 1,170.36 634.87 1,250.00 116.41 667.56 120.00

326,073.48

Note 2: Projects Funded in 2014 Project No. 2754

Country Tanzania

Type of Project Printers and ancillary equipment

2822

Uganda

Water harvesting

6,500

2826

Tanzania

Water supply and rain water harvesting

5,500

2848

Uganda

Latrines for school

6,000

2849

Pakistan

Set up of training sewing centres

4,500

2850

Tanzania

Installation of water storage tanks

5,000

2851

Uganda

Installation of water storage tanks

7,500

2852

Uganda

Construction of cement water storage tanks

5,280

2853

Uganda

Completion of school rooms

6,800

2854

Tanzania

Renovation of Vocational Training centre

3,200

2857

CAR

Provision of toilets

4,500

2858

Ghana

Upgrade of Classrooms

6,400

2859

South Sudan

Provision of Solar System

6,000

2860

Haiti

Rain water recycling plant

8,000

2861

Malawi

Construction of Community Centre

3,000

2862

Uganda

Grain Storage Facilities

4,000

2863

Kenya

Carpentry workshop

7,500

2864

Tanzania

Construction of Girls Hostel

5,200

2865

Kenya

Rain water harvesting

4,300

2866

Kenya

Prevention of child mortality

8,000

2867

India

Safe drinking water

4,000

2869

Uganda

Computers for a school

7,500

26

Amount 1,500

CSTWF ANNUAL REPORT 2014 2870

Pakistan

Income generation Goat scheme

6,500

2871

Peru

Assistance for people with disabilities

8,000

2872

Kenya

Water well and pump

4,500

2873

India

Toilet Block for Orphanage

6,000

2874

Kenya

Home craft training centre for girls

7,000

2875

Tanzania

Drinking Water supply

3,500

2876

Rwanda

Solar Energy

6,500

2877

Myanmar

Tree Planting

4,900

2878

India

Provision of Diesel generator

6,000

2879

Tanzania

Water for orphanage

1,900

2880

Uganda

Renovation of maternity ward

4,000

2881

Uganda

Lab equipment for health centre

5,300

2883

Kenya

Pit Latrine for school

6,000

2885

Uganda

Water tank at school

2,000

2886

TN India

Completion of School Building

8,000

2887

Kenya

Water reservoir

6,500

2889

Kenya

School desks

3,500

2891

Nepal

Construction of school

8,000

2892

Uganda

Water supply for school

6,500

2893

Kenya

Supply of Lab Equipment for girls’ sec school

7,500

2894

Uganda

Completion of classroom

7,900

2896

Tanzania

Resupply of Mwanza Sewing and training centre

5,000

2898

Uganda

School Rain water collection Tank

5,900

2899

Kenya

Support services

5,000

2900

Nepal

Skills development for post leprosy sufferers

4,600

2901

El Salvador

Walls of Hope/The School of Art

5,700

2902

Zambia

Conversion of Parish hall to classrooms

5,000

2903

South Sudan

Construction of a pit latrine

7,000

2904

Uganda

Fish Farming

4,200

2905

Uganda

Purchase of farm Equipment

6,000

2906

Pakistan

Poultry Farming Scheme

3,500

2907

Ethiopia

Provision of computers for 2 schools

6,000

2908

Zambia

Provision of pit latrines

7,200

2909

CAR

Roof for school building

4,000

2910

Malawi

Latrines for school

7,800

2911

Ghana

Bee keeping training

5,600

2913

Kenya

Beds Tables and lockers for Nursing School

7,000

2915

Tanzania

Updating communications in hospital

2,500

2916

Kenya

Generator for High School

8,000

2918

Ghana

Kindergarten School

6,800

2919

Uganda

Construction of a Dining Hall

5,000

2921

India

Provision of Montessori equipment

2,000

2922

India

Provision of School

7,000

2925

Uganda

Mill for manufacture of Smokeless Briquettes

4,000

2926

Sierra Leone

Ebola

2,128

Tanzania

Showers and Toilet Block

7,600

2847A

TOTAL

374,708 27

Vodafone Update Vodafone Retail:

Union Campaign Pays Off Following lengthy negotiations on the Union’s claim for an increase in basic pay and improvements in maternity leave arrangements, the Union has reached agreement with Vodafone.

The agreement provides for a 1.5% increase in pay retrospective to January 2013. The agreement also provides for the establishment of a new pay model for 2015/16 in which a performance based pay progression model that links salary increases to the individuals position in the salary range and performance. A budget of 1.5% has been agreed for 2015/16 and this will be distributed in June 2016 based on this criteria. This new pay model will be reviewed by the Union and the

Company in June 2016. The new pay model also provides for a restructuring of the current management structures.

Alongside the pay increases, new improved maternity benefits will be introduced for Retail employees which provide for 16 weeks paid maternity leave and following a return to work, 6 months full pay for 80% attendance.

A great deal of credit for the success in achieving pay increases and improved maternity benefits is attributable to our members in Vodafone Retail, who stuck by the Union during the lengthy negotiations and signed a petition demanding that Vodafone management treat them fairly.

UNION MEMBERS

CWU

Union secures Pay Increases for members in RigneyDolphin

✓

The Union has reached agreement with RigneyDolphin which provides for a 1.5% pay increase for members retrospective to 2013. It took a considerable amount of time to reach agreement with RigneyDolphin, as the Company refused to adhere to long-standing arrangements whereby increases in pay negotiated between the Union and Vodafone automatically applied to RigneyDolphin. It was only following the Union’s referral of the case to the Labour Relations Commission that agreement was reached and the Union has placed on record its appreciation of the Commission’s efforts.

✓

CWU Secures Pay Increases for Retail Staff members in Meteor & Brompton

Following discussions between CWU, Meteor and Brompton agreement has been reached on the application of pay increases for our members. 1.5% increase in basic pay backdated to 1st July 2015. Increases in commission payments which will come into effect on 1st October 2015. The net effect of the above will result in a 2.5% increase in pay for the majority of CWU members. The Union thanks the members for their support during the course of our discussions.

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Vodafone Update

Member Power Wins The Day! By standing together and taking action, members in Vodafone Retail have won their campaign for a pay rise and paid maternity leave.

As previously reported in Connect, the Vodafone Branch won a further 1.5% pay increase for Vodafone staff in 2014. However, the company refused point blank to apply that pay rise to retail staff.

CWU members in the retail stores were understandably unhappy with this decision. As a result, we visited every store in the country to give members the opportunity to sign a petition to Vodafone management.

The response was overwhelming, with the vast majority signing the petition calling on Vodafone management to reverse their decision.

Vodafone Branch Secretary Mick Farrell with members Aoife Ryan-Martinez and Darran Jackson handing in the petition The wins don’t stop there. During the store visits members made it clear that they were also unhappy with the Maternity Leave situation. That message was received loud and clear, and we are very happy to announce that Vodafone will now provide for 16 weeks fully paid Maternity Leave for retail staff and, following a return to work, six months full pay for 80% attendance.

This is a great step forward for retail members and the Branch will continue to seek the full six months Maternity benefit enjoyed by Leopardstown staff.

Members in the Waterford store after signing the petition The completed petition was handed in to Vodafone Head Office, leaving management in no doubt as to how their staff felt about their decision.

Aoife Ryan-Martinez and her son Adrian celebrate the win!

We only won these improvements with member support, so a big CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who got involved and who signed the petition. It was a great demonstration of unionised workers standing together for what is fair and right.

If there are non-members in your workplace who think that being in a union makes no difference, you can let them know that we won and that together we do make a difference!

Outside Vodafone Head Office Armed with those signatures, the Branch successfully won the pay rise! Not only that, but the pay rise will also be backdated two years (pro rata).

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Repeal of 8th Amendment: Abortion ICTU NEC have agreed to support the Trade Union Campaign to repeal the 8th amendment at its September meeting.

by Ruairí Creaney doctors that they wanted her taken off life support, the 8th amendment over ruled their wishes and they had to watch as her body slowly decomposed on a hospital bed.

The family’s solicitor described it as “akin to a horror movie”. Restricting women’s access to abortion is not “pro-life”; It’s about controlling what women do with their own bodies.

The first thing we can do to address this is to support the Trade Union Campaign for the Repeal of the 8TH Amendment, as the CWU Youth Committee has already done. By our very nature, we campaign for justice, equality and human rights, and safe access to abortion is about all three. Unions shouldn’t shy away from campaigning for human rights, even if the issue at hand is deemed to be “sensitive”. Human rights are inalienable and guaranteed to every person.

Abortion is not necessarily a workplace issue, but that shouldn’t mean unions should avoid discussing it. Most other European unions are staunchly pro-choice. Ireland lags behind, reluctant to confront our conservative members. For instance, the British TUC states that it “believes that access to safe, legal abortions is fundamental to women’s rights and to their employment and education prospects, incomes and opportunities.”

We have the opportunity to help improve the lives of half of Ireland’s population, and we need to step up to the mark. We can’t tolerate a medieval law that strips women of their bodily autonomy once they become pregnant, forcing them to become little more than biological incubators. Why should we tolerate a system that forces women to travel abroad to gain access to safe medically supervised abortions, with all the secrecy, loneliness and desperation involved, just to appease the sensitivities of religious people that refuse to accept the need for the separation of Church and State? Are we as trade unionists really ok to stay silent on an issue that has led to Ireland being condemned by Amnesty International and the United Nations?

Let’s take a stand against something that is shaming our country on the international stage. Support a woman’s right to choose. Support the Trade Union Campaign to Repeal the 8th Amendment.

For many people, the remit of trade unions lies solely in the workplace. We are there only to negotiate terms and conditions of work and represent people when things go wrong. Everything else, it’s often claimed, should be left up to political parties and single issue groups. However, this idea of trade unionism ignores the proud history our movement has of fighting for social progress outside the workplace, whether it’s opposing racism, helping to end conflict in the Six Counties or, most recently, opposing the privatisation of water.

If we are serious about growing our movement in the future, particularly among younger people, we have to embrace this proud history. In doing so, we need to have the courage to take positions on wider social and political issues and articulate a vision of the fairer society we want to live in. This has begun to grow out of the Right2Water campaign, which is encouraging to see. This type of trade unionism will occasionally lead to confrontation with more conservative elements of the working class, but that needn’t be a cause for alarm. Part of the job of a trade union is to lead workers and educate them politically.

One of the most important issues that unions in Ireland need to address is one that has traditionally been overlooked for fear of offending the religious right: reproductive rights. Ireland’s abortion law is so restrictive that both the UN Human Rights Committee and Amnesty International condemned it for violating international human rights law. For a situation like this to continue in our country should be unacceptable for trade unionists.

The root cause of this appalling state of affairs is the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution, which equates the life of a foetus with the life of a woman – an article that is dehumanising and sexist on so many levels. Even life-saving abortions are prohibited because of this amendment. This led to “pro-life” Ireland allowing Savita Halappanavar to die of septicaemia rather than abort a miscarrying foetus. “Pro-life” Ireland denied Miss Y, a rape victim, access to abortion. Instead, she was forced to undergo a caesarian section against her will. Last year, we also witnessed the horrifying case where a clinically dead woman was artificially kept alive in order to incubate her foetus. Although the woman’s family told

If any member would lke to submit an article on this topic, please email info@cwu.ie 30

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32

Standing up for Palestine

T

HE IRISH CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS launched its all-Ireland BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) campaign at the recent Biennial Delegate Conference in Ennis. It is Congress policy to work at a national and international level to force Israel to comply with international law.

ICTU will maintain pressure on the Irish government to seek action at EU and international level, and will continue to support the campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions. The Congress BDS campaign calls on trade union members to do the following: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Don’t purchase goods produced in the illegal Israeli settlements; educate yourself and colleagues, family and friends on what you are buying!

Learn more about the BDS Movement; a call

by Palestinian civil society for a campaign of boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel until it complies with international law (www.bdsmovement.net).

Ask your local shops if they stock goods from illegal Israeli settlements and, if so, request them to remove them from the shelves; followup with a letter to the HQ of the retailer.

Promote the Congress campaign within your union/ workplace!

More information on the ICTU campaign can be found at www.ictu.ie/palestine Following motions at a number of Congress Biennial Delegate Conferences, it is Congress policy to work at national and international level to defend human rights.

We call on Israel to end the occupation of Palestine, its construction of illegal settlements and annexation of Palestinian land.

We also call all trade union members to support our campaign and boycott Israeli goods produced in the Occupied Territories.

Supermarket Products from Occupied Palestinian Territories – check country of origin label: Oranges Avocados Grapefruits Potatoes Fresh Basil

Fresh Rosemary Fresh Chives Fresh Parsley Fresh Sage Bell Peppers

Dates Figs Sharon Fruits Golan Heights Wine Meat-Free Mince

For a full list of products to boycott please visit www.ipsc.ie/big 33

I.R. changes: your questions THE Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act was passed by both houses of the Oireachtas on 16th July.

It provides for the re-introduction of a mechanism for the registration of employment agreements between and employer or employers and trade unions governing remuneration and conditions of employment in individual enterprises.

It also provides for a new statutory framework for establishing minimum rates of remuneration and conditions of employment to replace the former sectorial Registered Employment Agreements.

The collective bargaining element of the Act at Part 3 allows for amendments to the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Acts 2001 -2004 to reform the current law on employees’ right to engage in collective bargaining. The following FAQ guide seeks to give an outline of the main provisions of the Act. Will union members have to identify themselves by declaring their membership?

No. A statutory declaration by the General Secretary will suffice.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING What’s the format for collective bargaining under the Act? The Act amends and extends the previous original Act (2001-2004) which was effectively decommissioned by the Supreme Court ruling in the “Ryanair” case in 2005. It includes a definition of collective bargaining, stricter guidelines on what constitutes independent “excepted bodies” (in-house staff associations), stronger protections against victimisation and injunctive relief to prevent dismissals for workers who use the Act. It ultimately allows the Court to set improved and legally-binding terms and conditions of employment for a specific groups of workers.

Suppose the employer claims that there is collective bargaining with an “in-house” staff association?

Importantly, the Court must establish that there is in fact genuine collective bargaining taking place with the inhouse association (excepted body) and the employer will then have to be able to demonstrate to the Court by reference to strict guidelines that the body is fully independent of the employer.

How will the Labour Court be guided in setting the terms and conditions of employment?

Essentially, they will look at similar employments in a wide comparative net, both unionised and non-unionised, to determine the totality of remuneration. In addition, the Court shall have due regard to collective agreements which are commonplace in similar employments, and where not, to all evidence produced by the parties.

How is collective bargaining defined under the Act? It states: “Collective Bargaining comprises voluntary engagements or negotiations between any employer or employers’ organisation on the one hand and a trade union of workers or excepted body to which this Act applies on the other, with the object of reaching agreement regarding working conditions or terms of employment, or non-employment, of workers.”

How was the anti-victimisation provision strengthened?

A member of a trade union involved in the dispute can now have access to the Circuit Court to apply for injunctive relief to prevent dismissal in circumstances where an employer seeks to dismiss the union member for being involved in the investigation by the Labour Court.

Likewise the Unfair Dismissals Acts have been strengthened to protect those who have provided evidence, information or assistance to the union in the dispute.

Where does the Labour Court feature in this scenario?

As with the other parts of this Act, the Labour Court is pivotal to the process. The Labour Court will investigate a trade dispute in the absence of established collective bargaining upon an application of a trade union provided the membership is significant in relation to the grade, sector or category of workers or where the grade, sector or category is part of a larger group.

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answered ....

REGISTERED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS (REAs)

SECTORAL EMPLOYMENT ORDERS

How can an REA be constructed?

An REA, as allowed for under the Act, is basically where the trade union and an employer conclude an employment agreement and where both further agree to have it registered in the Labour Court where it will be binding on both parties to the Agreement. The terms and conditions of the REA become incorporated into every individual employee’s contract covered by the agreement.

What is a sectoral employment order and how does it differ from an REA? The REA starts off as an agreement and is registered as such. A Sectoral Employment Order (SEO), on the other hand, stems from an application by a trade union (or employer, but unlikely) to examine the remuneration, sick pay or pensions of workers in their economic sector e.g. the waste industry.

What criteria will the Court adopt before it can register the agreement?

Four fundamental conditions must be satisfied before the Court will register the agreement:

How would a union go about applying for a Sectoral Order?

The trade union asks the Labour Court to examine the pay, sick pay and pension entitlements of workers or employers of a particular class, type or group of workers in a particular economic sector. The Court in turn can then make a recommendation to the Minister to make an employment order for that sector.

1. That it is desirable or expedient to have a separate agreement for the class, type or group of workers covered by the agreement.

2. That the trade union is substantially representative of the workers.

3. That there is a robust disputes procedure that must be utilised before industrial action or a lockout takes place.

4. The registration is likely to lead to more harmonious industrial relations at the enterprise or organisation.

How is the Labour Court guided by the Act? Firstly the Labour Court has to be satisfied that the trade union is substantively representative of workers in the sector. The Court must also be happy that it is normal and desirable to have separate remuneration rates in the sector and that the imposition of such rates would lead to harmonious industrial relations.

Other factors to be taken into account include sustainability of the rates as well as ensuring high standards of training and qualifications.

The Act also allows the Labour Court to set a rate above the minimum wage and to introduce two extra rates of pay based on service or skills. It can also recommend special rates for apprentices and/or younger workers.

Can an REA be varied by the Court?

Yes, with the agreement of all the parties.

What if one party agrees to a variation but the other party doesn’t?

The disputes procedure then kicks in which should typically involve the route of local discussions, the Labour Relations and the Labour Court, who eventually may refuse or grant the variation, as the Court deems appropriate. If there is a clause allowing withdrawal from the agreement in the REA, then the relevant party may do so in such circumstances.

Are all workers then covered in that particular sector?

Yes, and the terms of the employer order become incorporated in the worker’s contract if he/she enjoys lesser terms at the time the order is in place.

Workers are also protected by anti-victimisation clauses should they bring a case under this section of the Act. An employer can apply for a temporary derogation from paying the rates if he/she can show the Court that he/she is experiencing genuine financial difficulties.

In what circumstances can the Court order cancellation of the REA? The Court can cancel the REA under the following circumstances: • • •

Where all the parties request it.

Where there is a finishing date in the REA and upon application of one of the parties after expiry of the date.

Where the trade union are no longer substantially representative of the workers.

The above FAQ format is not a definitive guide to the Act but instead has sought to address the broad issues that arise.

Union members should seek advice and clarification from their designated official for further, more detailed, advice.

35

When dealing with corruption in Ireland, there’s little to report The Sunday Times, Article, 17th May 2015

by Justine McCarthy

T

the personal fortune and influence it generated for him mean that nowadays he is ubiquitous in Ireland’s affairs, despite being tax resident in Malta. In 2000, he sold ESAT to BT for €2.4bn, netting himself €317m. Since then he has gone from strength to strength, striding the Davos superpower stage and hobnobbing with Clinton while becoming Ireland’s most powerful owner of news media.

Despite Moriarty’s findings, his reputation is untarnished in the eyes of the law. Two years ago, a High Court jury awarded him €150,000 in libel damages against the Daily Mail. Testifying at that trial, O’Brien said Moriarty made “60 findings” against him which were “all wrong”. He said it was untrue that the report was “devastating” for him. Apparently, the state thinks so too. In March last year, O’Brien hosted a two day meeting in Dublin of the UN Broadband Commission.

On Day 1, he hosted his fellow commissioners at a dinner in the state-owned Dublin Castle. On Day 2, Kenny met them in closed session in the Shelbourne Hotel and repeatedly thanked “Denis” for his work.

The state has never pursued Lowry or O’Brien over the substantive findings made by Moriarty, a High Court Judge and servant of the state whom O’Brien subjected to public attack. Contrary to Kenny’s assurance that the report would not languish on a shelf, the state has strengthened its ties with O’Brien. At times, the two seem as inseparable as Siamese twins. Even as Revenue is locked in a 15-year legal case with him over a €57m tax assessment arising from ESAT’s sale, the state is entwined with him as co-defendant in a multimillion-euro High Court compensation case being brought by losing bidders for the 1995 licence.

Last week, the state joined with O’Brien in a High Court injunction application to stop RTE reporting on his dealings with IBRC, the former Anglo Irish Bank.

Meanwhile, Lowry is still a TD and regards himself as sufficiently respected to lobby for a pal’s appointment to a state board. Hence, he passed a troglodyte note to Kenny in the Dail recommending his PR woman with the resounding endorsement that she was “not bad looking either”.

No action was taken against Charlie Haughey for the

HE final report of the Moriarty tribunal was published on March 22, 2011, after 15 years and a state bill exceeding €50m. It said it was “beyond doubt” that Michael Lowry, a TD for Tipperary North, “imparted substantive information” to Denis O’Brien which was “of significant value and assistance to him in securing the [second state mobile-phone] licence”. It said Lowry’s behaviour as Fine Gael Minister for Communications was a “cynical and venal abuse of office”. It said he had an “insidious and pervasive influence on the [licence] process”.

The report said O’Brien enriched Lowry by “clandestine” money transfers and loan support totalling more than €1m. It said O’Brien made the payments “during a period when Mr Lowry held public office, in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that the motive for making the payment was connected with the public office of minister”.

When it was published, Enda Kenny, the Taoiseach, told the Dail: “This report will not be allowed to gather dust.” Copies of Moriarty’s 2,000 page report were sent to Revenue, the Garda Commissioner and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The Criminal Assets Bureau commenced an investigation to establish if there was evidence of criminal wrongdoing. It focused on such issues as potential unjust enrichment and corruption. At the same time, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation conducted a review of the documented financial transactions.

The Garda review was completed in October 2011, seven months after the report was published. That same month, O’Brien sat prominently, behind a row of cabinet ministers at the Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin Castle for an address by the former US President Bill Clinton. The purpose of the invitation-only conference was to devise ways of raising Ireland out of the economic catastrophe it had been plunged into by, among other factors, inadequate state regulation.

Another five months later, O’Brien stood on the VIP platform in the New York Stock Exchange as Kenny rang the ceremonial bell for business to mark St Patrick’s Day. O’Brien was not a public figure in 1995 when his ESAT Digifone consortium won the phone licence, but 36

jail for tax evasion and Liam Lawlor was imprisoned three times for not co-operating with the tribunal but as far as the pursuit of corruption, the results were scant.

Even where there was a conviction, it didn’t stand up.

George Redmond, the former Dublin city manager, was jailed on two counts of corruption but the conviction was quashed by the Court of Criminal Appeal because, it said new evidence relating to bank accounts could have raised fresh doubts, thus rendering his conviction unsafe.

A year after the tribunal’s report was published, the annual profits of a company controlled by Michael Bailey, one of the developers about whom allegations were made, shot up by 300% from €14.8m to €69.2m.

When Ireland’s economy imploded, Bovale Developments’ loans were transferred to the State’s National Asset Management Agency. Bailey, his brother Tom and their company made the biggest tax settlement in the history of the State.

There is a reason why some of Ireland’s most powerful individuals behave as if they are entitled to automatic impunity. It’s because that has been their experience.

Consistent political responses to tribunals have effectively rendered the inquiries’ findings toothless.

In the final report of the planning tribunal, the judge Alan Mahon said corruption continued in public life “because nobody was prepared to do enough to stop it”.

In a properly run country, the buck would stop with the state, not end up in its pocket.

payments he took – amounting to 171 times his gross salary – in return for favours throughout his political career. No action was taken either against Ben Dunne, the supermarket chain heir who gave Haughey over €1m and who, Moriarty said, stood to benefit when Lowry increased a semi-state company’s rent for a building owned by Dunne.

The same fate befell the reports of the planning tribunal which cost a projected €159m and took 14 years to complete. It found that the former Justice Minister Ray Burke was given a house as a benefit to ensure he acted in the interests of a commercial company, Oakpark Developments. It said Burke operated secret bank accounts in the Isle of Man for the purpose of receiving and concealing corrupt payments.

The report also concluded that the former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern failed to explain “truthfully” the source of the money he had, and that the former EU Commissioner Pádraig Flynn “wrongly and corruptly” sought money from the developer Tom Gilmartin. The planning tribunal made findings of corruption against 11 councillors. Findings of corruption based on the evidence of James Gogarty against a number of individuals were subsequently withdrawn following a Supreme Court ruling.

The Planning Tribunal’s Report, too, was sent to the Garda Commissioner, the DPP, Revenue and the Standards in Public Office Commission. Burke went to

Brother, sister and sister-in-law.

All members of the CWU. Cormac Ó Dálaigh celebrates his appointment to National Officer of the Communications Workers’ Union in the Mansion House, Kildare Street, where his sister, Críona Ní Dhálaigh is current Lord Mayor of Dublin.

37

How Unequal is Ireland?

by Terry Delany

receiving various prison sentences totalling 11.5 years.

A cornerstone of the 1916 Proclamation is a quality of Justice Martin Nolan dealt with the four cases and treatment of all citizens, and as we prepare to celebrate produced below are comments made by Judge Nolan in the centenary of the 1916 Rising, we have a very two of the cases. unequal society where money and power determine “Mr Clarke told Judge Martin Nolan that his clients how people are treated when they commit crimes. relationship with her husband was physically A good example of inequality in Irish society violent and she has spent some time throughout concerns the treatment of people who steal from “Mother their marriage in a women’s refuge. the State through tax evasion and those who He said her four children are doing quite steal from the State by defrauding the social jailed for social welfare system. Published below are articles welfare fraud as well and asked the Court to accept she “is from the Irish Times concerning tax evaders she tried to pay off holding her hands up to the offence”.

Counsel said the money his client stole went and it is important to note the 108 cases referred to are from the Revenue husband’s debt. towards her husband’s drug debt and she is currently reimbursing the State at €20 per week.

Commissioner’s Report for the first quarter of Judge Nolan stated; “welfare fraud is a difficult 2015 and do not take into account hundreds of other situation and at times it can be pretty easily cases dealt with by Revenue, which results in settlements accomplished”. He said the Department’s only option in totalling millions of euro. such case is to send people to Court to deter others from One thing all of the people referred to in the report carrying out the same crime. have in common is they were never brought He described the defendant as “a good lady” before the Courts and will never spend a day in “Father of and said documents handed into the Court prison for their crimes. Tax evasion is not a four jailed for proved that her children are doing well and victimless crime, it deprives the State of that she also has a responsibility for her much needed revenue required to provide five years for parents. social services. If the people referred to in social welfare Judge Nolan said he had taken into account the report had been paying their taxes, as fraud.” the defendant’s relationship with her husband required by law, the money would have gone a had affected her mental health. He said a long way towards providing badly needed services substantial prison sentence was justified but took into such as Home Help, Special Needs Teachers etc. account the defendant’s personal circumstances and the For those tax evaders who are brought before the fact she has no previous convictions”.

Courts they can rest easy where prison sentences are He sentenced the defendant to two years in prison concerned. A recent examination highlights that out with the final fifteen months suspended. The of a total of 185 cases dealt with by the Courts, only 6 cases resulted in prison sentences, the “Three years’ amount of money involved in this case was €15,000. remainder had fines imposed on them. The jail for A second case dealt with by Judge Nolan treatment of tax evaders is in stark contrast concerned a 63 year old man who committed to the manner in which people involved in social welfare €25,000 worth of social welfare fraud. defrauding the social welfare system are fraud over six In this case Judge Nolan said “there is treated. An examination of four separate cases years.” always a risk of fraud in the social welfare dealt with by the Courts in the last two years system because the State has to serve those who which involved defrauding the social welfare need support”. system of €605,000 resulted in the people concerned 38

He described it as a serious offence but accepted the and powerful and you are caught stealing from the State defendant was “highly unlikely to do it again”. through tax evasion, the worst that can happen to you is “The Court must give a message to the general you will be required to pay the money you owe to population that you will pay a price if you are the State along with monetary penalties and have “Social caught committing social welfare fraud”, your name published as a tax evader. If on the Judge Nolan adding that he must impose a welfare fraudster other hand you steal from the State by prison sentence. caught by facial defrauding the social welfare system, you He acknowledged the defendant lives in will most likely go to prison because in the recognition “pretty poor conditions and lives a pretty words of the learned Judge “The Court must miserable life” that he only has minor software is give a message to the general population that previous convictions and had co-operated with jailed.” you will pay a price if you are caught committing the Garda investigation”. social welfare fraud”.

Judge Nolan sentenced the defendant to eighteen The leaders of the 1916 Rising must be turning in their months in prison. graves.

The message from the foregoing is clear, if you are rich

Former lobbyist and jockey named as tax defaulters Frank Dunlop and retired jockey and trainer Charlie Swan on latest tax defaulters list

F

ORMER lobbyist Frank Dunlop and retired jockey and trainer Charlie Swan are among 108 defaulters to be fined for failing to meet their tax obligations during the second quarter. The latest defaulters list shows Mr Dunlop, a former government press secretary with an address at Rathbeggan, Dunboyne, Co Meath, made a settlement totalling €429,198 for under declaration of income tax and VAT. Mr Swan, an ex-top National Hunt jockey of The Cobs, Modreeeny, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, made a settlement of €122,442, for under declaration of income tax and VAT, and for a case linked to Reveunue’s ongoing investigation into offshore assets and funds.

The latest lists shows settlements totalling €18.52 million were made during the second quarter. Of the 108 published cases, 51 were for amounts exceeding €100,000; of which eight exceeded €500,000, and three of which exceeded €1 million. The list includes five medical consultants who made settlements as part of Revenue’s ongoing inquiry into the profession.

In the biggest settlement in the current list, Humphrey Onome Ugbawa, a medical doctor and

company director with an address at 1 The Green, Ocean Links, Strandhill, Co Sligo paid €1.54 million to Revenue.

Other defaulters to have made settlements totalling over €1 million are Michael Raymond, a picture framing service provider from 47 Newpark Road, Hollypark, Blackrock, Co Dublin, who paid back €1.16 million, and Raymond Samuel Martin of Bellinter, Navan, a confectionary and ice cream vendor, who paid back €1.02 million.

Among the other big payers to settle with Revenue were auctioner Maurice Ahern, from Main Street, Middleton, Co Cork, who made a settlement of €952,606 for underdeclaration of income tax and VAT. Others to appear on the latest defaulters list include company directors, publicans, farmers, property developers and restaurateurs.

Approximately four of the 108 settlements published, yielding €600,000 relate to Revenue’s ongoing investigation into offshore assets and funds.

In addition to the settlement from Mr Swan, Revenue also received payments from Thomas Patrick Coughlan, a retired panel beater from Ballycarney, Ferns, Co Wexford; Brendan Harty, a retired company director from Ballyheigue, Co Kerry; and from Michael Horgan, a company director with an address at Knocknamuck, Mitchelstown, Co Cork.

The published settlements reflect a portion only of all Revenue audits and investigations concluded during the quarter. A total of 1,718 audit and investigations together with 22,305 risk management interventions were settled during the three-months under review, resulting in yield of €186 million. © 2015 irishtimes.com

39

companies” to maximise their incomes but which were found to be involved in aggressive tax planning and avoidance.

The bulk of cases investigated to date are focused in Dublin but the inquiry has since been expanded nationwide.

In the biggest settlement in the current list, Humphrey Onome Ugbawa, a medical doctor and company director with an address at 1 The Green, Ocean Links, Strandhill, Co Sligo paid €1.54 million to Revenue.

Cardiothoracic surgeon Michael Tolan, of Suite 38, Hermitage Medical Clinic in Lucan, settled for €411,180, while three other doctors made settlements ranging from €109,000-125,000. © 2015 irishtimes.com

Five doctors settle large tax bills after Revenue inquiry Paul Cullen Last Updated: Wednesday, September 9, 2015, 16:29 The latest tax defaulters list includes five medical consultants who made settlements as part of Revenue’s ongoing inquiry into the profession.

Twelve medical consultants have previously made settlements as a result of Revenue’s investigation, and more are expected to feature in future lists.

So far, the investigation into more than 500 medical consultants has netted more than €30 million in unpaid tax and penalties.

Officials found many had set up “controlled

Cuts unfairly hurt marginalised, says UN Committee Cuts imposed during the financial crisis disproportionately hurt the “disadvantaged and marginalised” and must be phased out, a United Nations committee has said.

The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR), which examined Ireland in Geneva, published its concluding observations.

The Government was represented at the hearings in Geneva by a team of 21 senior civil servants led by Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Seán Sherlock. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission led a group of 12 NGOs and members of civil society. It was the first time Ireland had appeared before the committee since 2002.

The committee said that notwithstanding the unprecedented economic crisis that faced Ireland, the response had been “disproportionately focused on instituting cuts to public expenditure in the areas of housing, social security, health care and education, without altering its tax regime”.

“The austerity measures, which continue to be applied, have had significant adverse impact on the entire population, particularly on disadvantaged and marginalised individuals and groups, in enjoying their economic, social and cultural rights.”

It said austerity measures must be “gradually phased out”, while consideration should be given to reviewing the tax regime “with a view to increasing revenues to restore the pre-crisis levels of public services and social benefits”.

The committee said it was “concerned at the increase in the number of people living in consistent poverty or at-risk-of-poverty”, particularly children, single-parent families, older people, people with disabilities, Travellers and migrants.

It called on the State to integrate a human rights-based approach into all poverty reduction strategies.

Zero-hour contracts It noted “disproportionately high rates of unemployment among Travellers, Roma, young people and persons with disabilities”, and called for legislation to strengthen collective bargaining and end low- and zero-hour contracts.

The committee made six recommendations on the housing crisis, including increasing rent supplement, strengthened rights for households in mortgage arrears and taking “all necessary measures to meet the critical needs” of the homeless.

On the situation of asylum seekers, the committee called for improved living conditions in direct provision centres “including through . . . making the private actors accountable for the actions and omissions and address the mental health issues of asylum seekers”.

It also called for an end to the right of schools to discriminate on the basis of religion in their admissions policies.

Discrimination The committee said policies applied during the crisis “must be temporary, covering only the period of the crisis, and they must be necessary and proportionate.

They must not result in discrimination and increased inequalities”.

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THE IRISH TIMES Here’s a hard choice for politicians with backbone How about free primary education instead of a cut in inheritance tax?

Fintan O'Toole – © irishtimes.com

I

because they can’t pay the inheritance tax – if the family home is the principal residence of the adult child, it can be inherited tax-free. We’re also not talking about vast numbers of people – last year, 5,133 estates were subject to the tax.

Besides, right-wingers are forever telling us that people rise to positions of wealth entirely through their own talents and efforts – the “self-made man” is their imagined hero.

So to be consistent they must surely be in favour of limiting the amount that people can inherit – money that is, after all, unearned and emphatically not self-made. And taxing inheritance is also effective: last year, it raised €328 million.

Without doing anything, the State could easily increase this – because of rising property prices, the take would increase automatically. All that’s needed is something the political system is often so good at – masterly inactivity.

Let’s take an extremely conservative view and assume that the successful lobbying will reduce the State’s income from the tax by €100 million a year. What could the State do with €100 million? A lot, of course, but let’s just take one outlandish suggestion. It could do what it’s constitutionally obliged to do and what almost every civilised country manages to do. It could provide for free primary education for all children.

One of the greatest disgraces in Ireland is that “free education” is very expensive – painfully so for middle- and lower-income families. We know that almost a third of parents have to borrow money just to get their kids back to school every year: books, uniforms, travel, “voluntary contributions”. In a recent study, Barnardo’s figured out exactly how much it would cost to make primary education genuinely free.

Doing this would have a hugely positive impact on the poorest families and children but it would also be a boost to families at every income level and in every part of Ireland. What’s the bill? €103 million a year.

So here’s a suggestion for Michael Noonan and Fianna Fáil and Renua and everyone else who aspires to govern us. Put your hands behind you and feel around for some vertebrae. When you’ve found your backbone, stand up straight and talk to the Irish public as if they are intelligent grown-ups. And offer them a real choice.

Tell them that you’re going to let the take from inheritance tax rise from €328 million to €431 million.

And you’re going to use that extra money to fund genuinely free primary education for every child in the country. It would do wonders for Irish families, and it might even do wonders for your own self- respect. You might even find, to your great surprise, that the public would respect you too.

’M SURE I’m not the only one who is sick of hearing about “hard choices” from people with great salaries, ample expenses and luxurious pensions. So let’s pose a genuinely hard choice. The Government, along with the Opposition parties, in the run-up to an election, has clear options. It can buy off vocal, active, well-connected middle-class voters.

Or it can use public money to make a huge long-term difference to the welfare of Irish families. The hard thing would be to say “no” to the lobbying and “yes” to serious investment in our society. On current form, the political establishment will be hard as jelly.

Consider the issue that is stirring the leaves of our more verdant suburbs – capital acquisition tax on inheritances.

Inheritance tax has become more onerous. In 2009, an adult could inherit up to €542,544 from a deceased parent taxfree and anything more than that was taxed at just 22 per cent. This was severely reduced in the austerity programme: now, a person can inherit only €225,000 taxfree and the balance is taxed at 33 per cent.

Lobbying As house prices (and thus the value of the estates that people are leaving to their grown-up children) have risen, urban middle-class constituents have been rending their hair over this. Lobbying of Michael Noonan, especially from Fine Gael TDs, has been fierce. But Fianna Fáil is also pushing hard for relief – Senator Mary White described inheritance tax as “extreme communism” – as is Renua.

The lobbying has, apparently, worked. Government sources have been briefing heavily to the effect that Noonan will drastically raise the threshold for tax-free inheritance, perhaps to as much as €400,000. He has form in this regard: in May 1999, when he was opposition spokesman on finance, he called on Charlie McCreevy to exempt family homes worth up to €1 million from capital acquisition tax.

But what’s wrong with taxing inherited wealth? It’s about the most progressive and least economically damaging kind of taxation there is. Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes last month described €225,000 as a “relatively small” estate – but “relatively” is surely the operative word. It’s a very big lump of money to get tax-free – especially in a country where very modestly paid workers can pay income tax at 40 per cent.

Why should tax on unearned income be so much lower than the tax on ordinary people’s wages? We’re not, after all, talking about people being thrown out of their homes

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42

CWU People

Paddy Doherty Retires Submitted by the Doherty family and the Lifford/Inishowen Branch a letter delivered with the friendly words “what’s the news today” That human contact can never be replaced.

Paddy would like to thank his wife Margaret for keeping the home fires burning when he was out and about. Both he and Margaret have reared 9 children and in turn have 15 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren now to keep them busy. He would also like to pay tribute to his work colleagues in Carndonagh DSO past and present. He also pays tribute to Paul Harkin (Cluster Manager) who tried to keep him on the straight and narrow over the years. Paddy would like to thank all the local people in the MalinHead area for their help over the years.

Paddy also wishes to thank Monica Goodison, retired postmistress, Malinhead PO with whom he worked with through good times and bad. The bad times included two armed robberies but they got through it with the support of An Post, their families and the local community.

To end, a new chapter has begun for Paddy. His family and colleagues wish him many years of happiness and good health. They envisage that he will be forever known as Paddy Mór the Postman and his sons and daughters will simply be known as the “Postmans son or the Postmans daughter”. His family are all proud of that.

It was clear by the large turnout at his retirement function of the respect in which he was held by the people of the Malinhead area.

On behalf of the Lifford/Inishowen Branch of the Communications Workers’ Union I would like to take this opportunity to wish Paddy a long and happy retirement.

Paddy Doherty receiving his Union Scroll from Seamus McLaughlin (Branch Chairman) and Michael Gallagher (Branch Secretary) On the 21st August last, Paddy Doherty or Paddy Mór as he was better known retired from An Post after 38 years of service to the Company and the CWU. He delivered the post on the most northerly route in Ireland. Paddy began working for An Post or P&T as it was then in 1973 and for the first 4 years delivered the mail by bicycle, not an easy feat, bearing in mind the costal terrain and weather he had to contend with over 27 miles covered each day. He then took up delivery in a van which made life somewhat easier but nevertheless he continuously made Trojan efforts to deliver the mail despite the winter storms and snow. Truth be told on a number of occasions both Paddy and the van didn’t fare too well, but both survived to tell the tale…. well at least Paddy did!!

As a result of his long service Paddy built up a vast local knowledge and the expression “ask the postman” was often heard. Despite the fact that Paddy was responsible for delivering written forms of communications, it was not unusual to see him leaning over a hedge shouting to a farmer in a field that his help was needed at the next farm. I don’t think An Post could beat that record for a fast and efficient delivery service.

There are many stories which Paddy can recount from the locality, some hilarious but equally some sad and tragic. In earlier times it was often the case that Paddy would be the first to bring this sad news to families whose loved ones had passed away. The letter he detested delivering were the ones edged in black. He always knew it meant a death and was prepared for the sadness that the news would bring.

Paddy stayed an extra year with An Post because he loved the job and the routine so much. Although people now have the assistance of technology through email etc., we hope that there will be that personal touch of having

Pictured left: Paddy Doherty receiving his Valedictory letter from Owen McGuinness Postmaster Carndonagh DSO

Pictured right: Paddy Doherty receives the Cu Chualainn Statuette from John Lafferty (Cluster Manager).

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CWU People

Brian O’Malley Retires

James O’Reilly Retires

Pictured from l to r: Barry Carr, Branch Secretary Mullingar. presents James O’Reilly with his Union Scroll.

Brian O’Malley (pictured on the right), who had 49 years’ service under his belt when he retired on Friday 4th July, is presented with the CWU Union Scroll by Willie Mooney.

James retired from Castlepollard Post Office on the 5th May 2015 after 37 years’ service. James took over the Finea post from his father all those years ago and carried on the family tradition. Best wishes James on your retirement from all your colleagues in Finea, Castlepollard and Mullingar!

Mick Lynch Retires

Mick Lynch (pictured on the left) is presented with the Union Scroll by Vincent Kilroy, following his recent retirement from DSM in Waterford.

Helping Mick to celebrate his retirement were (pictured from l to r): Derry Gaul, John Hanlon, Mick Lynch, Margaret Stanley, Vincent Kilroy and Francie Power.

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CWU People

An appeal to former Post & Telegraphs Staff Postal Worker, Eamonn Walsh, is appealing to former Post & Telegraphs Staff throughout the country who may have an old P&T Postman’s uniform. particularly a tunic. and P&T Bicycle to contact him on 087-2775317.

Eamonn was involved in RTÉ’s “Road to the Rising” last Easter Monday and will be heavily involved in the centenary of the Rising in 2016 as the Piping Postman.

Megahearts Fundraiser

Members of the Dundalk Postal Branch recently held their anuall charity football match in memory of the late Liam Cunningham. This year the Branch raised Funds for local youth club “Megahearts”, who support children with Autism. Presenting the cheque to Megahearts Youth Club are Branch members, Benny McDonald and Paul Smartt. The Branch wouldd also like to thank the CWU Head Office for their Support with this Charity.

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CWU People

Nicholas (Nick) Eogan Retires A fantastic night was had at the Martello Hotel in Bray, April 2015, on the occasion of the retirement of Nicholas (Nick) Eogan following 22 years’ of service with An Post, Bray.

Nick may have retired from An Post but you can still catch up with him on Garden County Radio, where he broadcasts daily, from 11am to Noon and every Sunday Morning from 10am to Noon.

Why not download the tune-in app from www.gardencountryradio.ie - IT’S FREE!

Presenting Nick with the Union Scroll is Eugene Doyle, Branch Secretary, Bray, (pictured left) and Geared Whelan, Chairman (pictured right).

Richard Barry Retires

Pictured l to r: George Reilly, Branch Secretary, Westport Postal Branch, presenting Richard Barry with his Union Scroll and Gold Badge.

Pictured l to r: Mary Barry, wife of recent retiree, Richard, is presented with a bouquet of flowers by Maria Clarke.

A great night was had in The Helm Bar And Restaurant, Westport, Co. Mayo, on the occasion of the retirement of Richard Barry, following 43 years’ service at Westport D.S.U. Richard was given a great send-off by family, friends and work colleagues from the D.S.U. and Westport retail

office.

George Reilly, Branch Secretary Westport Postal Branch, presented Richard with the Union Scroll and Gold Badge, while Maria Clarke presented a bouquet of flowers to Mary Barry, Richard’s wife.

We wish him a long and happy retirement.

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CWU People

Dublin Delivery Branch Retirements The Dublin Postal Delivery Branch would like to wish all the recent retirees the very best of luck for the future.

It was a very busy period with seven members retiring in the last couple of months. Between them all, they have given over 270 years’ service. The Branch would also like to thank Donal Cassidy for the many years he served as Branch Rep. in Swords DSU.

Donal Cassidy, Swords DSU

Paddy Corri, Ballsbridge DSU John Thompson, Whiteheather DSU

Jimmy Bell, Harmonstown DSU Danny Byrne, Rathmines DSU

Christy Mallin, Rutland PlaceDSU Frank Fagan, Harmonstown DSU 47

CWU People

The End of an Era Michael Gallagher (Mickey the Post) Retires O’Donnell.

Pat the Cope Gallagher also paid tribute to Michael saying that the turnout on the night is a clear indication of the respect in which Michael is held by the people in his own native area. He gave a tremendous social service to many people in the area, not alone delivering the mail, but also carrying messages, newspapers and the like. On twelve occasions he came across people who were seriously ill.

Fr. Eddie Gallagher, whose father also delivered the post for forty years in the area said that the postperson has a very important role in the community. He also said that “rural Ireland is being drained of services. These services are the veins of the community.” Fr. Lorcan O’Searcaigh said that it was “in many ways a sad occasion because we are losing one of the most dedicated members of the community of Glenfin.”

On behalf of the Lifford/Inishowen Branch of the Communications Workers’ Union I would like to take this opportunity to wish Michael a long and happy retirement.

To his wife Margaret, their children Martin, Marion and Michelle best wishes for the future.

Michael Gallagher or Mickey the Post as he is known has called it a day after 48 years’ service with An Post and the CWU. He delivered his last letter on the 14th August last. He is also well known as an amateur weatherman and has featured in various newspapers, has written books on the subject, appeared on television and has done several interviews on radio throughout Ireland.

Michael who hails from the parish of Glenfin outside Ballybofey in Donegal started with the P & T as it was known then on the 13th September 1967 at Marley’s Post Office in Cloghan. Michael started delivering the post on a second-hand bike his late father and mother bought him at a cost of three pounds and seven shillings. He later progressed to a Honda 50 which cost £119.00. He was later supplied with a van which made life a lot easier.

Michael had his retirement function in Harkin’s Bar in the village of Brockagh on the 29th August and coincidentally this was where he delivered his first letter back in 1967. You could say that it is an end of an era in the Glenfin area of Donegal by the large turnout on the night. Michael also received numerous letters from prominent figures including An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Gerry Adams TD, The President of FIFA, The President of the GAA and on the night a Phone call from Daniel

Submitted by the Lifford/Inishowen Branch.

Photo on the left: Margo Duffy and Barry Gallagher making a presentation to Michael Gallagher and his wife Margaret on behalf of his colleagues in Ballybofey DSO. Centre photo: Michael Gallagher receiving his Retirement Scroll from Michael Gallagher (Branch Secretary Lifford/Inishowen Branch).

Photo on the right: Michael Gallagher (centre) receiving his Cu Chulainn Statuette and Valedictory Letter from colleagues Margo Duffy and Gerry Marley.

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CWU People

Improve your Irish skills!

Joe Traynor CWU member and postman D.O 2 helps to run an Irish language course with a group of members in An Post every April in Carraroe, Co. Galway. The purpose of the course is to allow attendees the chance to practice and improve their Irish skills in a relaxed setting. The course focuses on spoken Irish and is suitable for all, no matter what standard of Irish. Social activities are organised each evening.

If you have any interest in Irish or want a chance to practice your cúpla focal without pressure then why not give this course a try and help keep our language alive.

“A country without a language is a country without a soul”.

For further information contact Joe Traynor on 085 2098815 or email joetraynor1981@gmail.com

KNIS National Committee - Inaugural Meeting The CWU/KNIS Committee met for the first time on September 17th to discuss a range of issues including; pay structures, health and safety and training. The committee agreed to launch a survey to all KN members to get their feedback on these important issues.

The existing committee members also welcomed John Furlong (Wexford) and Damien

Byrne (Cork) onto the committee as they had completed their training over the previous two days. With a good national structure in place the KN Committee will continue to build on the solid membership that is already there and looks forward engaging with management to protect and improve the terms and conditions of their colleagues.

Pictured l to r: Thomas Williams, Kevin Barry, John Furlong, Damien Byrne, Robbie Mangan and Gary Dorrian

RIP John Lennon grade of Overseer. During his time in CWU Headquarters, John played an integral part of the group that negotiated the ‘Transformation through Partnership Agreement’ with An Post.

The Union would like to extend its deepest condolences to John’s family, friends and former colleagues at this time.

The CWU is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of John Lennon (RIP), former Deputy General Secretary of the CUI and Executive Assistant in CWU Headquarters.

John began his career in the Post Office in 1966 as a Postal Clerk; however, his career in the trade union movement began in earnest when he was promoted to the

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CWU People

Claire Earley’s (Athlone Postal Branch)

Author Son, Josh, aged 14.

Josh Earley is a fourteen-year-old teenager from Monksland in Athlone, studying in the Marist College. It was his love for books and art that made him decide to write his first book. Josh is a funny, chatty and witty character. His first book was read by children and adults of all ages! He is contracted on a three-book deal with Book Hub Publishing, based in Galway. His first book was titled, ‘Shrunk!’ and sold out its first edition in three months. His second book is titled, ‘Shrunk!

The Wasp Kingdom’ and is scheduled for publication in early November.

For more information go to his facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJoshEarley

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CWU Humanitarian Aid Convoy heads off with the help of some very good friends!

Students from CBS, St James’s Street Secondary School

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Pupils give up confirmation money to send aid for orphans in Moldova Big­hearted pupils from St Clare’s primary school in Harold’s Cross have donated their confirmation money to orphans in Moldova.

Pictured below: Alex Grogan hands a parcel to her granddad, An Post worker, Paul O’Neill.

Pupils at St Claire’s Primary School, Harold’s Cross, Dublin, give the CWUHA convoy the thumbs up.

recently made their confirmation, came up with the idea after taking inspiration from her granddad.

An Post worker, Paul O’Neill volunteers as a driver with the Communications Workers’ Union Humanitarian Aid Convoy.

The class from St. Clare’s teamed up with students from the CBS on James’ Street and used their funds to purchase boxes of baby products and other gifts for the orphanage.

Alex Grogan, one of the sixth class pupils who

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Book Reviews by Adrienne Power GO SET A WATCHMAN

by Harper Lee Jean Louise Finch, “Scout”, arrives home to Maycomb, Alabama, to see her ailing father Atticus. Now in her twenties, she has lived in New York for a number of years.

After only a short time at home she finds she no longer fits in with family and acquaintances.

Unrest is beginning to come to the surface in their small Southern town - a place where

most people are like extended family and where they have lived with a certain degree of amiability. However, times are changing and it is evident that things are not equal within their population with the dawn of the civil rights movement.

Scout battles without and within to see beyond the black and white world to the shades in between.

It is wonderful once again to revisit the time, place and characters from the eternal classic “To Kill a Mockingbird”.

Isaiah 21:6 For thus hath the LORD said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.

A wonderful revisit of familiar characters!

DISCLAIMER

by Renee Knight

Catherine Ravenscroft picks up a book she finds on her nightstand to read and realises it is the story of an event in her own life that no one should know. So begins the mystery of the mystery book.

Buried secrets unfold. Vengeance lures its ugly head. You are so sure this story is heading one way when it is, in fact,

moving in a completely different direction.

With a terrific opening and and idea that tantalizes the reader about the truth right to the end, this book is a “must read”.

Twist in the Tale!

BURIAL RIGHTS Finalist in this year’s International Impac Dublin Literary Award.

As a teenager Australian Hannah Kent visits Iceland. She becomes fascinated by the story of Agnes Magnusdottir, the last person to be executed there in 1829 after murdering her

by Hannah Kent

employer/lover.

One of the best books I have ever read!

The storyline was not something that appealed to me but I had heard so much talk in book clubs about the book and once I started reading it I was surprised I could not put it down.

The characters just came to life on the page. You could see them immediately and the landscape. You wonder how anyone survives life under such harsh conditions.

One of the best books I have ever read!

LEFT FOR DEAD

by Dr Beth Weathers

I could not pass this title by. The story by one of the survivors of the 1996 Everest Disaster due to come out shortly in the cinema.

Why do people climb Everest? No one knows completely how altitude will affect the human body. No one knows if they will be susceptible to brain swelling. It will get to a point

in the climb when their body cannot accept food. They are going to be totally dehydrated. They will end up in that situation where their brain won’t be able to make the proper decisions.

How could anyone continue?

A thoroughly fascinating story of survival!

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