NIPSA Reports
NIPSA Reports 2013 February 13/03/2013 10:55 Page 1
NEWSPAPER OF NORTHERN IRELAND’S LEADING PUBLIC SERVICE TRADE UNION
FEBRUARY 2013 Tel: 028 90661831 www.nipsa.org.uk
NIPSA conference first for Enniskillen
NIPSA will be holding its series of annual conferences in Enniskillen this year for the first time. The Public Officers’
NIPSA pledges to support Colombian trade unionists fighting for democracy – See page 7 for story
Northgate sell-off ‘a warning to all’
Group Conference will be held in the Westville Hotel on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 28. Meanwhile, the Killyhevlin Hotel will host the Civil Service Group Conference, also on May 28. The Killyhevlin will also stage the main NIPSA Conference, which will run from Wednesday, May 29 until lunchtime on Friday, May 31. Branches will have already received the 2012
Annual Report and the first tranche of documentation covering the 2013 conferences from NIPSA Headquarters. The key dates to keep in mind for the 2013 NIPSA Conferences are: n Friday, March 15 (2pm): Deadline for receipt of motions and nominations, n Thursday, April 25: Deadline for receipt of delegates/trainee delegates and crèche applications, n Tuesday, May 28: Group Conferences, and n Wednesday, May 29 to Friday, May 31: NIPSA Conference.
New look to union website
NIPSA has again flagged up the “anti-worker impact” of outsourcing to the private sector after Capita announced it had acquired education technology firm Northgate Managed Services.
complicated dealings surrounding privatisation and outsourcing with an apparent disregard for the workers affected by such transactions. Assistant Secretary Paddy Mackel said: “This is just one more example of the anti worker impact of outsourcing work Less than a year ago 17 C2K staff were transferred under to the private sector. When rumours started to circulate a TUPE legislation from the Western Education and Library few months ago, NIPSA sought assurances from Northgate Board to Northgate Managed Services. The transfer involved many months of discussion between about the possibility of the business being sold off. “At that time all the company would only state was ‘there C2K and WELB management and Northgate to ensure memwere no current plans to sell off any part of the business’. As bers’ terms and conditions of service were fully protected. can be seen by this announcement NIPSA and our members Agreement was also reached that the members would rewere not told the whole truth as clearly negotiations were onmain in the NILGOSC pension scheme with Northgate going with a view to selling this business.” agreeing to continue with the employer contribution levels. A meeting has now been sought with the Western EducaThis contract was worth £170 million, paid for by public tion and Library Board who retain overall responsibility for funds. However, it was reported on February 15 that Capita have ensuring the delivery of this multi-million pound project. Mr Mackel added: “NIPSA will do everything in its power to acquired Northgate Managed Services from its parent comensure that our members remain fully protected, particularly pany, Northgate Information Solutions, in a £65 million deal in respect of their pay and terms and conditions, but also – (www.educationinvestor.co.uk and www.channelweb.co.uk). importantly – their pension provision through NILGOSC. According to the union, the deal – involving £22 million in This should be a warning to all members about the dangers cash, with the rest made up by assumptions relating to pension deficit and finance leases for equipment – highlights the of privatising any public service.”
The union has given its website a major overhaul with a cleaner and fresher look we hope the members enjoy
Who scoops to conquer? – See story on page 6 to find out
Employers table options on NJC pay 2013
THE NJC Employers Side have underlined to NJC trade unions that they are committed to reaching a collective agreement on NJC pay for 2013.
However, both of the options put to TUS have been dubbed “derisory”, coming as they do after four years of no pay increases. These options are: Option 1 n 1.0% on all pay points from 1 April 2013 n NJC mileage rates to be replaced by HMRC Approved Mileage Rates (effec-
NEWS INDEX
tively 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles – no essential car user); n Unilateral arbitration clause replaced by bilateral reference – effectively the Employers Side would refuse to go to arbitration; n One day increase in basic annual leave from 21 days to 22 days; n Increase in continuous service entitlements for the purposes of annual leave, occupational maternity leave/pay and occupational sick pay. Option 2 n 1.0% on pay points 4 to 10. n 0.6% on all pay points 11 and above. The above offer will be considered by
FEARS OVER NICS COMP SCHEME
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all NJC trade unions. Describing it as “a deplorable offer by the employers”, NIPSA Deputy General Secretary Alison Millar said: “Many public sector workers such as school support staff, Local Government workers, Further Education administrative and support staff – many who are low paid workers have received no pay increases for the last four years, many rely on top up payments through the benefit system. “This derisory offer will do nothing for their morale nor will it make a difference to them in seeking to support their families.”
PSNI JUDICIAL REVIEW IS DELAYED
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FIGHT TO SAVE NIHE GOES ON Page
Picture: Kevin Cooper
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SHARED SERVICE FEARS FOR FE COLLEGES Page
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NIPSA Reports 2013 February 13/03/2013 10:55 Page 2
NEWS
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OPINION
UK rating downgrade will be used as another excuse for cuts
THE downgrading of the UK’s credit worthiness by the rating agency Moody’s has put the Chancellor George Osborne in a spot. Where previously he argued strongly that the cuts in public spending were critical to protect the credit rating and the ability to borrow at lower rates, he is now downplaying the significance of the credit rating for the economy.
growing up in poverty. Manchester Central recorded the highest levels of child poverty. According to the local director of Barnardos, this equates to 100,000 children living in poverty in Northern Ireland. This comes at a time when the Northern Ireland Assembly is considering the implementation of the UK Government’s welfare reform to Northern Ireland. Of all the devolved regions in the UK, Northern Ireland is Watch this space, however, as it is possible he will unique in that social security is devolved to the Assemuse the downgrading at some stage to justify further bly. cuts to public spending. NIPSA along with a number of community-based orThe March 2013 budget is expected to feature a plan ganisations has been leading the campaign of opposito switch expenditure from resource or running costs to tion to welfare reform and we have made the point that a capital spending. This will be warmly welcomed by the large percentage of citizens who stand to lose as a rebusiness sector as a growth initiative, especially for the sult of these changes to the welfare/social security sysconstruction sector, and may well be used by the Chan- tem are people in work, including many NIPSA cellor as a means of restoring the triple A credit rating. members. For public servants and for those reliant on public These so-called reforms will increase poverty in services, however, it doesn’t signal good news. Northern Ireland – especially child poverty. The Irish Any reduction in running costs budgets will further Congress of Trade Unions is calling upon all MLAs to readversely impact staffing levels and this will create even ject the Welfare Reform Bill which will be considered by greater pressures to cut back on public service jobs. the Assembly over the coming weeks. Any increase in jobs in the construction sector, thereFurther protests and lobbying on this issue are also fore, will be negated by reductions in public sector jobs being organised. In the light of the Barnardos’ research, and services. it is clear that, if our local politicians really want to make If this does happen it will coincide with the report from a difference – especially by tackling poverty – they can the children’s charity Barnardos which highlighted that, do so by voting against this Bill. of all local authority areas in the UK, Derry and Belfast The cuts resulting from the Welfare Reform Bill will City Council areas were placed fourth and fifth respecnot only affect the individuals and their families who retively with rates of child poverty at 35% and 34%. ceive support from the state. In Northern Ireland it is esOut of the 650 parliamentary constituencies, West timated that the changes to the benefits system will Belfast was the second highest with 43% of children remove in the region of £500m a year from the economy.
It is a well-known fact that people on benefits spend virtually all their income on basic necessities and they spend it in local shops. The reduction in £500m spending every year will damage the local economy. The hardest hit won’t be the multi-national food or clothing stores, such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s and the like. It will be the locally-owned and run shops, pubs and small outlets located on main roads and streets. The large corporations will manage but the small business will suffer. This takes us back to the bigger economic and political picture. Across Europe it is evident austerity isn’t working. It certainly isn’t working for ordinary working people. It isn’t working for young people with 50% youth unemployment in Greece and Spain, while levels of youth unemployment in Northern Ireland are distorted by emigration. It is working, however, for those who are its champions. Austerity is resulting in a consolidation of wealth in the hands of the rich and the big corporations. It is resulting in more inequality, more poverty and more stress for ordinary people. Whatever the pronouncements of Chancellors such as Osborne or the proclamations from outfits like Moody’s, the only alternative, in the interests of NIPSA members, their families and our communities, is to ditch austerity and utilise all the resources in our society to build an economy and public sector that serves the needs of all our society rather than the self-interest of the corporations and their wealthy shareholders. Brian Campfield, General Secretary
Procurement Services NI Welfare Reform continues its for ESA to move to DFP steady process through Assembly THE Education Department’s permanent secretary has informed Trade Union Side that the Department has decided that when – or if? – ESA is set up procurement services for goods and services will transfer to the Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) within DFP.
as well as 1,200 schools is likely to have a significant impact on the capacity of local schools to react quickly to purchasing requirements. “In addition, as many local small businesses rely on these current procurement arrangements, there will be a very real concern in local communities, particularly in rural areas, that small businesses of Assistant Secretary Paddy local suppliers will go to the wall as Mackel told NIPSA Reports: “This is CPD will undoubtedly move towards a further example of the Department deciding policy, which has the larger, more cumbersome tender contracts with longer delays for potential to impact on significant schools and others. numbers of staff, without due regard “This has all the hallmarks of a to normal consultation arrangeUK Treasury decision, being repliments. cated by the Assembly without “While it is the case that we do proper debate about the ramificanot know the full impact of this announcement the fact that there has tions on local communities of such been no discussion whatsoever with a significant change in practices.” Given the lack of consultation with TUS increases the anxiety experiNIPSA to date, a meeting is being enced by members in this area of sought with the Department to diswork. cuss the full impact of any changes “On top of this the centralisation to be introduced if the decision canof procurement of goods and services for Education Boards (or ESA) not be reversed.
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NIPSA Reports
NIPSA Harkin House, 54 Wellington Park, Belfast BT9 6DP, Tel: 028 90661831 Fax 028 90665847 or email: alison.millar@nipsa.org.uk Editorial contact details: Bob Miller email: bob.miller@nipsa.org.uk Correspondence should be sent to the above address. Unless otherwise stated, the views contained in NIPSA Reports do not necessarily reflect the policy of trade union NIPSA.
THE NI Welfare Reform Bill continues to make its way through the legislative process.
Bill. This decision was reached by a majority vote.” NIPSA expressed disappointment at the outFollowing pressure from NIPSA, ICTU and a number of community and voluntary groups, an come. The union pointed out that the 656-page Ad Hoc Committee on Conformity with Equality report raised many concerns of experts who had Requirement was set up in November last year to given evidence to the Committee. consider whether the provisions of the Welfare Following the Ad Hoc Committee report the Bill Reform Bill are in line with equality requirements returned to the Scrutiny Committee and its work and the observance of human rights. finished on February 19. NIPSA, through the ICTU and the Equality The next stage in the legislative process is for Coalition, made a written submission to the Ad the Bill to go back to the Assembly for consideraHoc Committee. tion stages. NIPSA working along with ICTU and The Committee’s findings were published on other groups are pressing MLAs not to pass the January 22 and – unsurprisingly – there was a Welfare Reform Bill. This is because of the imsplit in how MLAs viewed the evidence presented pact it will have on both in-work and out-of-work and voted mainly on party political lines. In reaching its decision it stated: “The Commit- families already struggling to make ends meet, tee believed that its scrutiny had revealed a num- with low or no pay increases, caps on benefit increases at 1% (which is below the rate of inflaber of areas of concern and accordingly it made tion) and the lack of jobs and the threat of a triple recommendations which it considers will prodip recession. mote the continued monitoring of equality and NIPSA would encourage all members to write human rights considerations in the on-going into their MLA encouraging them to oppose the troduction of the Welfare Reform. Welfare Reform Bill. “The Committee, however, concluded that it A sample letter is available on the NIPSA webcannot identify any specific breaches of equality or human rights aspects of the Welfare Reform site.
‘Fears realised’ over NICS Compo Scheme changes
NIPSA has warned that the amendments to the Superannuation Bill on changes to the NICS Redundancy Compensation Scheme – removing the need for Trade Union Side agreement for any detrimental changes – would also remove any incentive on the part of management to negotiate in any serious way. It is now clear that these concerns highlighted by NIPSA have being realised. General Secretary Brian Campfield made the claim in letter, dated January 21, to a senior official in Corporate HR Pensions Division at the Department of Finance and Personnel. In a subsequent circular to officials, he added: “Management now intend to introduce the terms of the scheme which have applied to the Home Civil Service since December 2010.” The December 2010 legislation contained in the Superannuation Act meant that the UK Government did not have to reach agreement with unions before worsening the redundancy compensation provisions.. Management claims that it is seeking to standardise arrangements to “ensure equality of treatment for all civil servants working across the UK” and to “continue to adopt the approach taken to date concerning pension provision for civil servants and indeed the public sector schemes generally, of aligning the schemes in Northern Ireland with those in Great Britain.” Management have also claimed that alternative arrangements proposed by the TUS for NICS would be “significantly better” than other public service schemes in Northern Ireland “which
have been aligned with their counterparts in GB some time ago”. Furthermore, management insist that negotiations and local variations to the UK Civil Service Compensation Scheme could only be on margins or on minor elements. The changes if implemented will result in significant detriment to staff who are being made redundant either or a voluntary or compulsory basis. NIPSA had previously met with the Assembly Finance and Personnel Committee to oppose the Superannuation Bill which gave effect to the removal of the need for trade union agreement on any detrimental changes. Brian Campfield stated:“ We warned the Assembly Committee that if the legislation was adopted the incentive for the Management Side to enter into meaningful consultation and negotiation would be removed. “This is exactly what has happened. A report on the progress of these consultations will now have to be presented to the Assembly Finance and Personnel Committee and we will be seeking a further opportunity to address the Committee so that we can highlight our concerns and objections to the drastic reductions in the redundancy compensation terms available to civil servants and staff in related NDPBs. “We also continue to press the Department of Finance and Personnel to respond to the Trade Union Side proposals with a realistic alternative set of proposals.” n Vow to fight ‘pay more, work longer, receive less’ pension —See story page 3
Public service pensions – work starts on NI legislation
NIPSA Reports 2013 February 13/03/2013 10:55 Page 3
NEWS
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AS PREVIOUSLY reported in NIPSA Reports, DFP Minister Sammy Wilson had aimed to apply the Westminster Public Service Pensions Bill to Northern Ireland through the legislative consent mechanism.
However, Mr Wilson failed to get legislative consent at a NI Executive meeting in late November, meaning the Bill will now be processed through the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Public Service Pensions Bill has just progressed through the House of Lords and it will be April before it passes its final House of Commons stage. One aspect of the Bill is that it provides the legal umbrella framework for secondary legislation in each of the public service pension schemes. It covers retirement age and – apart from some uniformed occupations – links it to the
PSNI Judicial Review is delayed
NIPSA members in the PSNI will have to wait longer than expected to hear whether the Chief Constable’s move to outsource 1,000 jobs is legal.
The union lodged papers at the High Court on October 1 last year seeking leave for a Judicial Review of the decision to award a £180m contract to Resource NI. Justice Treacy later granted leave to appeal but the hearing has been delayed twice. Assistant Secretary Ryan McKinney told NIPSA Reports: “Originally we were challenging Matt Baggott’s decision to outsource roles not specifically referred to within the Police Act but we have now added an additional ground for review as we don’t believe that the Chief Constable had the authority of the Policing Board when he awarded the contract on their behalf.” Highlighting the importance of the case to staff in the PSNI, he added: “This is a groundbreaking challenge which, if successful, will protect the negotiating position of NIPSA and therefore the terms and conditions of staff for years to come. “The case is also completely avoidable and is only possible because the PSNI decided to favour more temporary fixes rather than to develop current staff and to invest in new recruits.” The Judicial Review hearing is now set for June 19 and is expected to last for three days. NIPSA Reports will continue to update members in the run-up to the hearing.
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state pension age and the associated increases in that. It also covers the introduction of CARE (Career Average Re-Evaluated Earnings) as opposed to final salary, scheme governance provisions, cap and collar cost controls as well as Treasury control over the mechanics of cap and collar along with how the various schemes tri-ennial evaluations are to be conducted. DFP officials are in talks with NIC-ICTU on the arrangements for the Assembly Bill and NIPSA is playing the lead role in these negotiations. Assistant General Secretary Bumper Graham told NIPSA Reports: “At the first meeting we set out our position very clearly, that we do not accept the Westminster Bill or the DFP Minister’s position. That we expect there to be full, open and real negotiations on all aspects of the Bill.” The next meeting has been arranged for early March. The TUS will also be giving evidence to
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the Assembly’s DFP Committee in late February. The Committee will be pressed to look at the wider economic disadvantages to Northern Ireland of forcing people to work longer, including the adverse impact on youth/graduate unemployment, the loss of additional money to the local economy from the various adverse changes to public service pension schemes and the need to ensure that the Treasury in London does not have any control over Northern Ireland public service pension schemes. It is likely to be March or April before the Bill can be introduced into the Assembly. At that point NIPSA will be asking members to raise concerns over the issue with their MLAs and to apply pressure on them to have the Bill amended rather than Mr Wilson’s approach – which is to bring in a mirror piece of legislation that fully replicates the dangerous and flawed Finance Minister Sammy Wilson failed to Westminster Bill. get legislative consent at Stormont
NIPSA vows to fight ‘pay more, work longer, receive less’ pension plan NIPSA has vowed to continue highlighting the “flaws and factual inaccuracies” that lie behind the Government’s assault on pensions. It comes after the Department of Finance and Personnel’s response to the recent consultation of proposals to increase employee rates from this April was issued. General Secretary described its conclusions as “predictable” and pointed out that none of the criticisms levelled at the changes put forward by unions, including NIPSA, had been addressed. In an update to members, he said: “The response seeks to argue that the extra contributions – effectively a pay cut – are about ‘affordability’ and ‘fairness’. The assertion is made that ‘there needs to be a fairer balance between what employees pay and what other taxpayers contribute’. “There are selective and outdated quotes by Lord Hutton used to suggest that the cost of public service pensions is running out of control and becoming untenable. “No alternative means of raising the savings the document talks about are even considered. Instead, the Department relies on the tier of contribution rates.” He warned that adjustment to these rates would only result in “robbing Peter to pay Paul” because the DFP and, ultimately, HM Treasury, were “intent on recouping significant amounts of money from civil servants”. Mr Campfield pointed out that NIPSA had re-
peatedly rejected arguments put forward by Government on pensions. The facts were straightforward, he added: n Pensions are deferred pay. n Civil Service pensions are eminently affordable and sustainable over the long terms. n Lord Hutton is on record as admitting that scheme liabilities were already decreasing due to pensions reforms. n Increased contributions mean, in reality, a pay cut. n NIPSA and other trade unions have never agreed to the imposition of the increased contributions. n The level of increased contributions and the timescales involved were never recommended by Hutton but are an imposition by Government. Mr Campfield continued: “The future offered to civil servants and other public sector workers is one which takes no account of significant cost savings already generated by a wide range of factors, including pay freezes, the indexation switch from RPI to CPI, job losses, removal of the default retirement age and (in 2007) the introduction of the NUVOS pension scheme. “The future offered can be summed up in six words: pay more, work longer, receive less. He added: “NIPSA will continue to highlight the flaws and factual inaccuracies underpinning the Government assault on pensions and will continue to work with other unions to oppose this continued attack on members’ terms and conditions.”
LPS returns to Department LAND and Property Services (LPS) will cease to be an Executive Agency of the Department of Finance and Personnel from April 1.
Trade Union Side was told of the proposed change before members of staff were notified. LPS has been in operation for five years. It is understood a review of its workings concluded there were no real advantages to its Agency status. The core functions of LPS remain – the same services will be delivered but as a core business area within the Department rather than an Agency. NIPSA Official Noel Griffin told NIPSA Reports: “This is purely an administrative but
nonetheless important change and there will be no impact on the vast majority of members within LPS. “NIPSA have always opposed agentisation so we welcome the demise of yet another Executive Agency. “Indeed by becoming a core part of the Department, it removes the potential for delegation thereby protecting existing pay terms and conditions, grades etc. “It will also remove the necessity to publish separate Agency accounts and an Annual Report. “All in all, a proposed change which is welcomed by NIPSA and our members within LPS.”
NIPSA steps up drive against DSD privatisation NIPSA has stepped up its campaign against privatisation at the Department for Social Development.
It follows what the union described as the “disgraceful” decision by senior management at the Department to privatise soft services functions. The move means 150 messengers, reprographic staff and receptionists will see their jobs transferred to a private sector organisation from this August if management get their way. A source told NIPSA Reports: “NIPSA is doing everything possible to protect the interests of existing members and the union has expressed strong opposition to the privatisation of public sector functions to the private sector. “Apparently the private sector claim that they can do the job cheaper, but the reality is the only way they can do this is by cutting terms and conditions, salaries and job security.” Support grades are already among the lowest paid staff in the Northern Ireland Civil Service. The source added: “NIPSA has lobbied hard against the move and argued strongly with management that the decision is wrong. We have also engaged in political activity to protest this decision.” NIPSA has launched a special petition on the issue and has called on members to sign and return it to the union so that a strong unified protest can be made to management.
LGB&T Gr Group oup Meetings February - May 2013
elfast. 7 February, February, 4.30pm aat NIPSA, 54 Wellington Park, ark, BBelfast. 14 M Belfast. March, 4.30pm at NIPSA, 54 Wellington Park,, Belfast. elfast. 18 April, 4.30pm at NIPSA, 54 Wellington Park, Belfast. 9 May, 4.30pm at NIPSA, 54 Wellington Park, Belfast. For more details contact:
Email: lgb&t.group@nipsa.org.uk or Tel: 028 9068 6566 All LGB&T Members and Non-LGB&T Members Welcome
Keep up to date and visit: http://www.nipsa.org.uk/Home
Outsourcing of public services has created a shadow state
NIPSA Reports 2013 February 13/03/2013 10:55 Page 4
NEWS
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The winners are private equity and shareholders. The losers are the low-paid and the vulnerable. And in the end we all pay, writes Zoe Williams THE government has "finally woken up from its post-election slumber", notes Caroline de la Soujeole, from investment bank Seymour Pierce, "and is open for business … determined to find new, efficient ways of delivering services rather than cutting them".
welfare is ignored and market forces dominate. The Work Programme doesn't work at all on its own terms – though if, as I suspect, the true aim is to destroy the standing and the self-esteem of the unemployed, it is working quite well. That's worth between £3bn and £5bn over five years. Atos has £3bn worth of contracts, also over five years. The UK Border Huh. Who ever heard of a government that could cause Agency issued contracts this much damage while still worth £1.7bn, all to three companies and running for asleep? But that is by no five years. Probation servmeans the most wrong part ices are outsourcing 60% of of a short but entirely wrong their work, valued at about statement. By "open for business", the £600m a year. This is all based on the analyst means the governprinciple that the public secment is outsourcing public tor is inherently inefficient. services – at a huge rate. Hand it over to private comThe value of such contracts panies and they will swoop in has risen from £9.6bn in with their efficiency, their 2008 to £20.4bn in 2012. economies of scale, their inSeymour Pierce estimates that public sector outsourcing centives and their competitiveness, winnowing it down could hit (deep breath) into a dart of perfectly tar£101bn by 2014-15. geted public spending. You can see the existing In practice, when they say contracts wherever you look efficiency, that generally – helping unemployed peomeans lower wages. When ple find jobs has been entirely privatised. It's known as they say economies of scale, the "welfare market", a peer- that generally means constructing the contracts in less example of doublesuch a way as to leave only speak in which people's
the largest companies eligible to bid for them. When they say incentives, look closely and you will mainly see perverse incentives. And when they say competition, what you're actually left with is four or five – sometimes only three – companies, who barely compete with one another at all but instead operate as an unelected oligarchy. Most public services are not about producing microchips, they're about human relationships – care work, parole, job-seeking, even assessing whether or not a disabled person is really disabled; they are about one human being spending time with another. The economist Ha-Joon Chang's famous example of the pitfall of efficiency is that it mainly means making things faster – and yet if you played a minuet at three times the speed, would that improve it? A much less romantic example, but one that exists across the country, is being given a bath by a careworker. Your local authority has signed a contract for care work that's much lower than they were previously
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paying in-house. Now your bath has to be undertaken by someone who doesn't have time to take her coat off. You probably don't know her, because staff turnover averages 30% in this sector. Whoever she is, she's probably having to claim housing benefit and in-work benefits, so the public purse is paying one way or another anyway. Who wins from all this humiliation, the low-wage trap, and the isolation? Who wins when a waste management company takes over a contract and bin men are simply paid 25% less than the bin men three miles away? The shareholder, the private equity firm that bought out the waste management outfit and sold it on: not you, not us. However, it is wrong to suppose that outsourcing only erodes wages at the bottom. It is a classless foe, and attacks people right up the pay spine (except at the top). According to Harry Fletcher, of the National Association of Probation Officers, when Serco won the probation services contract in London it did so by massively underbidding the pub-
lic sector with a view to stripping out 100 of the 550 jobs. Not to worry, you might think – the others will be covered by Tupe legislation that protects employees when ownership is transferred; pay, terms and conditions will be unaffected. But possibly not – when Liberata won the education maintenance allowance and adult learning grant contract from a number of local authorities in 2007, scores of people were transferred from the public sector. It turned out their pensions weren't always protected. Then the company "restructured", a process that trumps Tupe, and the "scheme leader" tier was simply removed, which meant a pay cut for many of the most qualified staff. Then it turned out that Liberata couldn't handle the contract, but by this time it was so large that the only other company capable of taking it on was Capita. When the present government came in and canned EMA, citing "unaffordability", the galling thing was that private sector bungling had made it quite expensive. So a government scheme that
the data showed had a positive effect on young people's life-chances was trashed; skilled people were left unemployed; unskilled people, unemployable. And Capita probably walked away with a wedge because the coalition broke the contract. "Probably," I say, because this comes under the umbrella of so-called commercial confidentiality, so we will probably never know. What happens when these firms, with their inexorable expansionist logic, bite off more than they can chew? We pay anyway. We paid G4S; we will pay it again when its prisons catch fire. We will pay A4e when it finds no jobs, we will pay Serco when its probation services fail. We will pay because even when they're not delivered by the public sector, these are still public services, and the ones that aren't too big to fail are too important. What any government creates with massive-scale outsourcing is not "new efficiency", it is a shadow state; we can't pin it down any more than we can vote it out. All we can do is watch.
Coalition’s Benefits Bill A living wage alone won't really scrapes the barrel stop runaway inequality
THE UK Coalition Government’s Welfare Benefits up-rating Bill was passed by a majority in the House of Commons on January 8, 2013.
very authors of public sector pay freezes and cuts (the Government) now pretending to be on the side of their victims. The actual figures involved also show how This cynical piece of nonsensical this argulegislation capped workment is – attempting to ing age benefits at 1% set those on average and was preceded by a earnings (whose 1% pay wave of divisive proparise equates to £5.01 a ganda that sought to por- week) against an unemtray Government acting ployed person who beon behalf of the “strivers” cause of this 1% cap will as opposed to the see their JobSeekers Al“skivers”. lowance rise by 71p. Such political barrel Political commentator scrapping was summed Owen Jones summed up up in the Daily Express’ the Coalition’s anti-social front page the day after approach well when he the vote - “Party is over commented, “You have for the Benefit Skivers”. been mugged… therefore, One strand of the Govyour less deserving ernment’s justification for neighbour should be the benefits “cap” was mugged too”. that pay rises had neither As NIPSA has previbeen linked to nor been ously highlighted, the mahigher than inflation, jority of those in receipt therefore it would be unof what used to more fair for those in receipt of properly be called social benefit to receive more security (not welfare) are than the 1% uprating. in work but are eligible This is certainly from for tax credits and other the “brass neck” school benefits due to low pay, of reasoning, with the
are medically unfit to work or are looking for work in an economic environment when the Government’s own economic policies are worsening. In addition, the comparison of wages and benefits is a strange point of attack, given the failure of successive governments to link wages and benefits appropriately. NIPSA Policy and Research John McVey told NIPSA Reports: “The fall in unemployment benefit as a percentage of average wages has been striking. For example, in 1979 unemployment benefit was 21% of average wages – today it is 11%. “If, today, JobSeekers Allowance was 21% of average earnings, it would be £135 a week, not £71. Real ‘social security’ requires an appropriate link between wages and benefits, not a low wage economy subsidised by inadequate tax credits and an increasingly punitive welfare framework.”
IT IS encouraging to see a growing number of businesses and local authorities adopting the living wage and an article written by Jeremy Warner, assistant editor of the Daily Telegraph, is proof that the movement has reached far and wide.
In his January article, Warner considers the adverse effects of low pay but, more importantly, identifies that pay levels are threatening to become more about PR than social justice. For example, some of the living wage’s most prominent private sector advocates (KPMG, Barclays, HSBC) are unlikely to have a significant number of low-paid staff who would benefit from the policy and many cleaning and catering jobs are still outsourced. Only when we see organisations with large numbers of low-paid staff implementing the living wage will we know that the movement has truly arrived. Warner also touches on a problem highlighted by the
We need to tackle excessive pay at the top
undoubtedly more stories of astronomical rewards in the financial sector to come. Meanwhile, at the other end of the income scale, the majority are feeling the effects of real-terms reductions in takehome pay (with 2012 seeing an increase in national average earnings of just 1.6 per cent on 2011). The conseTUC last year: that an increas- quent lack of demand does not bode well for the long term ing proportion of companies’ health of the economy and, as money is going to profits, an increasing number of acarather than wages. And it demics and commentators seems that the shift from have illustrated, it is in fact inwages to profits is hurting equality of income rather than those at the bottom of the inlow pay alone, that leads to so come scale much more than many of the economic and sothose at the top. cial ills we associate with We cannot ignore the fact poverty. that some Goldman Sachs It would be naïve, then, to staff (the subject of Warner’s think that we can negate the article) are still set to receive effects of income inequality average bonus payments of merely by promoting policies £250,000. like the living wage while turnThis reflects the findings of last year’s Incomes Data Serv- ing a blind eye to runaway high pay. In order to tackle the ices Directors’ Pay Report, negative effects of income inwhich showed that the averequality, the welcome enthusiage wage rise for FTSE 100 asm to promote the living directors was 27 per cent in wage must be met with a will2011. With bank bonus seaingness to tackle pay at the son nearly upon us, there are top.
NIPSA Reports 2013 February 13/03/2013 10:55 Page 5
The fight to save NIHE goes on NEWS
www.nipsa.org.uk
NIPSA has launched a campaign of opposition to proposals that will effectively abolish the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland claimed the current model was “simply not sustainable” during his announcement of the plan on January 9.
But according to NIPSA, there is no evidence to support this view. In his written statement, Mr McCausland claimed his proposals were “agreed” by the Northern Ireland Executive on December 13, 2012 – but it is not clear exactly what was “agreed” other than some high level proposals. NIPSA pointed out if the NI Executive had agreed to proceed in the way suggested – i.e. abolition – why did Mr McCausland in the closing paragraph of his statement indicate that both he and his department would work with the Social Development Committee to develop proposals that would maximise consensus and address any concerns held by other ministers. Deputy General Secretary Alison Millar said: “NIPSA’s policy is that the NIHE and the delivery of social housing should be provided and funded by the public sector and by one overarching body. “It is clear that this is the most efficient way of providing all of the functions and services currently provided by the NIHE. “Over the past 40 years there have been many reorganisations within the NIHE regarding the most effective and most efficient way to deliver social housing in Northern Ireland. “If any reform is needed, NIPSA firmly believe this reform should take place within the Housing Executive inside the public sector.”
Failure to invest
The current crisis in housing has been brought about because of the failure of government to sufficiently invest in the provision of social housing, particularly since 1995 when the power to build new homes was removed from the NIHE. Because of this legacy of under-investment, it has been claimed the only option remaining is to split the NIHE into a strategic body and a separate landlord function. This would mean that the landlord function would effectively be placed outside the public sector (through semi or full privatisation) and be able to borrow private finance. However, the union points out there are alternatives to this strategy. The NIHE has the legal power to borrow but requires approval from the Department of Finance and Personnel and ultimately HM Treasury to do so. The stumbling block appears to be that this would count towards public sector borrowing and contribute to Government debt. The Housing Executive is not permitted by Government policy to borrow funds. But the Housing Executive has the collateral to borrow as it can service any such loans from its
Page 5 NIPSA Reports
rental income. The Executive also has a significant asset base. On February 21, a NIPSA delegation met with the Social Development Committee to discuss the issue. The delegation pressed the Committee to challenge the Office of National Statistics and Westminster on how it classifies borrowing and pointed out the current approach was out of step with EU and international norms. A NIPSA spokesperson told NIPSA Reports: “The union firmly believes that social housing should be provided out of the public purse. Housing need in Northern Ireland is too important to be left to the private and voluntary sectors. “This proposal to effectively abolish the NIHE is the first step in the State distancing itself from being responsible for social housing and this is unacceptable. It would reintroduce the Victorian philosophy that voluntary effort and charity is the way to address social issues such as housing for the community.”
Housing Association rent is currently £81.69 a week with the average rent of a NIHE property just £52.76 a week. This is a significant difference particularly at a time of changes to Housing Benefit and the so called “bedroom tax”. In addition to the increase in rent, tenants also face a hike in rates as they are based on the rent level. With increased rents and with a high percentage of tenants on Housing Benefit this will lead to an increase of millions of pound being paid out of the public purse in Housing Benefit payments.
Right to Buy
The introduction of the Right to Buy scheme has meant that more than 120,000 properties that were previously available for social housing have been removed from the housing stock. This money was not reinvested in public sector housing which, in turn, has led to thousands of families being on the housing waiting list, many in severe housing stress. Lobby call Another important aspect is that the Housing Executive NIPSA has called on all political parties to campaign vigor- has also sought to provide tenants with an “affordable rent” not an “economic rent”. Again this is wider question of eqously and lobby the UK Government to allow the NIHE to uity and ‘society’ and one that goes to the heart of the proviborrow from the financial institutions in order to fund its prosion of social housing. grammes. There has been speculation that the landlord function of The union pointed out that local political parties had invested a great deal of effort in trying to secure the devolution the Housing Executive would be split between a number of Housing Associations. of the power to set a separate Corporation Tax rate for A NIPSA spokesperson added: “In our deliberations with Northern Ireland. the Minister it was stated that it was unlikely that the current NIPSA called on them to make a similar effort to protect Housing Associations operating in Northern Ireland would the Housing Executive. have the capacity to deliver on behalf of 90,000 tenants. A spokesperson said: “In short, NIPSA do not accept the “Is it therefore the Minister’s intention to break up the NIHE Minister’s view that there is really no choice other than to into significant smaller units which may address this capacity break up the Housing Executive.” issue or is it the intention of the Minister to register other UK NIPSA has started a campaign to highlight its alternative which has garnered support from residents’/tenants’ associa- Housing Associations to allow them to operate in Northern tions. local political representatives, tenants, academics and Ireland?” About 2,800 staff work at the Northern Ireland Housing Exothers. ecutive. Under these proposals it is unclear what will happen to these employees. Housing Associations Mr McCausland said in his January 17 statement to the Committee that “they [his proposals] do not herald large A number of commentators have suggested that Housing scale job losses”. Associations could deliver all the social housing in Northern However, when NIPSA met with the Mr McCausland on Ireland. January 22, he refused to give a commitment that no staff The growth of Housing Associations mainly came about would be made redundant because of his proposals. “It is, since 1995 when the Government withdrew the provision of therefore, very destabilising and creates further morale isnew build from the NIHE. sues for the staff who are currently delivering the full range Effectively this was to allow private sector money to be of services required by NIHE,” the spokesperson pointed used for social housing. out. However, the public sector still provides a significant NIPSA are engaging with a large number of groups as part amount of money in this model, administered by the NIHE, through a Housing Association Grant (HAG) which can be up of its campaign to Save the NIHE. Part of that drive will take the form of a letter-writing drive. to 45% of the new build funding. NIPSA would encourage all members to check out the But Housing Associations are an expensive option. The NIHE Campaign part of the NIPSA website where they can gap between the average rent of Housing Associations and download a copy of a letter they can send to their local MLA the Housing Executive continues to widen. The average
Union members join One Billion Rising violence against women dance demo
NIPSA members joined with activists around the world for ONE BILLION RISING, the largest day of action in the history of V-Day, the global activist movement to end violence against women and girls on Thursday, February 14.
To mark the day, hundreds of women, girls, and those who oppose violence against them took to the streets of Belfast to dance together, with a programme of events supported by Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland, Belfast Feminist Network, End Violence Against Women NI and NIPSA. The day kicked-off on the steps of Stormont at 12:30pm with a dance flash mob hosted by Junior Minister Jennifer McCann, OFMDFM. Dancers and activists alike took back the city of Belfast again at 7pm, with a dance flash mob at the gates of City Hall. Further secret flash mob events were planned across the province throughout the day and into the weekend. All women, men, and children were welcome to join in the fun. You didn’t need to be a dancer to take part – participants simply wore something red, stood together, and enjoyed the spectacle! In the wake of the horrific rape and murder of a young woman on a bus in the Indian city of Delhi, people around the world have been desperate to find ways to stand
against violence against women and girls in all of its forms. On Valentine’s Day in Belfast it was time to show the women in your life your love and respect, by standing up and saying NO to violence against women and girls.
Violence Against Women in Northern Ireland
One in three women on the planet is raped or beaten in her lifetime. That is one billion daughters, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, lovers and friends. In Northern Ireland last year, 26,390 domestic violence incidents were reported to the PSNI – one every 21 minutes. Research shows that it takes an average of 35 violent incidents before a woman will report abuse to police. 553 rapes, including attempted rapes, were reported to police in Northern Ireland last year, and that’s only the attacks that were reported. Rape and sexual offences are notoriously under reported crimes, due to the intimate nature of the crimes, the relationship between victim and perpetrator, and the fear that victims won’t be believed or that reporting won’t result in a conviction. This concern is not unjustified – last year, only 18.1% of rapes reported were ‘cleared’ by police. 19% of all murders in Northern Ireland last year were classed as having a domestic motivation.
According to Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland, 831 women and 586 children stayed at Women’s Aid refuges across Northern Ireland last year, and the 24 Hour Domestic Violence Helpline answered a total of 41,633 calls. A further 5,572 women accessed community-based outreach support from Women’s Aid. Women and girls also continue to suffer female genital mutilation (FGM), honourbased violence and human trafficking for the purposes of sexual slavery, domestic servitude and forced labour, right on our doorstep.
If you have been affected by domestic or sexual violence, call the 24 Hour Domestic Violence Helpline: 0800 917 1414 Email 24hrsupport@dvhelpline.org Text SUPPORT to 07797805839 Free phone from landline, call backs for mobiles Open to all women and men affected by domestic or sexual violence
About One Billion Rising
ONE BILLION RISING began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. On February 14th 2013, V-Day’s 15th anniversary, activists, writers, celebrities, women and men
across the world expressed outrage, demanded change, danced, and rose in defiance of the injustices women suffer. V-Day is a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls, founded by The Vagina Monologues playwright Eve Ensler. In 2012, more than 5,800 V-Day benefit events took place in the U.S. and around the world, and the VDay movement has raised more than $90 million and educated millions about the issue of violence against women. Those funds have reopened shelters, and funded over 14,000 community-based anti-violence programs and safe houses in Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Kenya, South Dakota, Egypt and Iraq. V-Day has received numerous acknowledgements including Worth Magazine's 100 Best Charities, Marie Claire Magazine's Top Ten Charities, one of the Top-Rated organizations on Philanthropedia/Guidestar and Great Nonprofits. V-Day's newest campaign is ONE BILLION RISING culminated on 14th February 2013 with a global action worldwide. www.vday.org
To learn more about One Billion Rising Belfast, call Louise Kennedy on 07739 348 347 or e-mail louise.kennedy@womensaidni.org. Like us on Facebook at One Billion Rising Dance Flashmob Belfast and follow us on Twitter @OBR_Belfast
NIPSA health and safety rep scoops top award
NIPSA Reports 2013 February 13/03/2013 10:55 Page 6
Page 6 NIPSA Reports
NEWS
www.nipsa.org.uk
NORMAN Gray of NIPSA has scooped the 2012 Health and Safety Representative Award for his “tireless” efforts on behalf of his fellow workers. Mr Gray, a health and safety rep for Branch 730 and ViceChairperson of the unions Health and Safety Committee, received the award at an event in the UNISON offices in Belfast on January 25. The award is run by the Health and Safety Executive NI in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NIC/ICTU). In presenting the award, Barbara Martin, who chairs the NIC/ICTU Health and Safety Committee, said: “The calibre of applicants was extremely impressive. Norman fought against stiff competition and we are delighted this award has gone to an extremely worthy winner. "Norman is one of the many reps who work tirelessly to protect his fellow workers and the public. It always makes me proud to hear the kinds of activities our safety reps get involved in. “He's worked hard at this and I'm very proud to present him with this year’s award."
Real challenges
In accepting the award, Mr Gray said: “I believe this award is for all health and safety reps across NIPSA for their continued hard work and dedication to both protecting their members and raising health and safety awareness in their places of work. “While NIPSA is moving in the right direction regarding health and safety, I believe that we face very real challenges ahead with the de-regulation agenda, along with all the other cuts, being driven by this Westminster Government and what looks like a rubberstamp of approval by Stormont. “I believe that we have to raise awareness and raise our game in showing the Stormont Executive that these cuts will affect workers and will do nothing to relieve the burden on business as the ConDem government would have everyone believe. “These cuts will allow employers to ignore obligations currently in place to protect employees from risk. In receiving this award I hope it will encourage more members to take up the role of health and safety rep within their branches. “I would also like to acknowledge the support I received from Branch 730 committee members. Without their support
Union’s Retired Members Group celebrates its silver jubilee
Margaret Dooley (Branch 733), Aidan McDonnell (NIPSA HQ), Jeanette McDaid (Branch 113), George Lucas (Chairman of HSENI), Norman Gray (Branch 730) award winner, Geraldine Alexander (NIPSA Asst Secretary), Philip Hull (Branch 511), Fergal McCann (PBNI) and John Calvert (AFBI). I don’t believe I could have received this award. Thank you.” Assistant Secretary Geraldine Alexander also spoke at the event. She said: “I am delighted and honoured to extend NIPSA’s congratulations to Norman on achieving this prestigious award. “NIPSA is exceptionally proud of Norman and this is a fitting tribute and recognition for all his hard work in advancing
Picture by Kevin Cooper
the health and safety agenda in the workplace and ensuring workplaces are safer and healthier. “Norman has worked tirelessly on behalf of not only NIPSA members but all workers, patients and visitors within Belfast City Hospital to ensure their lives are not put at risk. “His enthusiasm and dedication to health and safety is an inspiration to us all. So on behalf of NIPSA and all workers, thank you Norman and well done.”
NIPSA Retired Members Group (Branch 798) held a special silver jubilee AGM on January 23.
group, acknowledging the development of closer links within the NIPSA family and wished it well for the future. Mr Bannon spoke on outIn its 25 years, the group standing equal pay issues has grown from its original while Mr Wilson talked 15 members in 1988 to about the forging of future more than three hundred links with the group. today. In introducing the presAnd to celebrate this entation of a special comlandmark occasion the memorative plaque, the RMG held the event at the Chairperson outlined the Park Inn in Belfast city cen- history of the RMG and tre and delegates from spoke about its work and across Northern Ireland growth over 25 years. braved the bad weather to Mr Mulholland as Presiattend. dent was then invited to General Secretary Brian present the plaque and Campfield and Assistant bouquets of flowers to General Secretary Kieran Jean Fleming and Sheila Bannon along with union Dodds – the two remainPresident Padraig Mulholing active members of the land and NIPSA Youth original group. Chair Ryan Wilson were They spoke briefly of special guests at the event. their recollections of the Opening the AGM, Mr creation and development Mulholland praised the efof the RMG, thanked the forts of those activists who group and wished its memhad battled to see the bers future success. RMG take shape. It is hoped that the silver General Secretary Brian jubilee plaque will be disCampfield, in his address, played in the Council Chamber at Harkin House. applauded the work of the
At the podium addressing the NIPSA Retired Members Group silver jubilee AGM is chair Tony Cluskey. Smiling for the camera is President of NIPSA Patrick Mulholland who presented bouquets of flowers and a plaque to Jean Flwming and Sheila Dodds, the two remaining founder members of the group.
NIPSA Reports 2013 February 13/03/2013 10:55 Page 7
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Colombian trade unionists NEWS
www.nipsa.org.uk
NIPSA members hear how Northern Ireland is playing its part in peace process in South American state MORE than 50 NIPSA members and officials crammed into a meeting-room in Belfast on February 7 to hear how Northern Ireland is playing its part in trying to foster a fledgling peace process in Colombia. General Secretary Brian Campfield and NIPSA President Patrick Mulholland welcomed Mariela Kohon, the Director for the Justice for Colombia campaign, to speak to the gathering at the NIPSA offices in Wellington Park. Justice for Colombia (JFC) is a British NGO that campaigns for human rights, workers’ rights and
Shared services fears for FE colleges
NIPSA has urged members to support Fairtrade Fortnight which runs from February 25 to March 10.
the search for peace with social justice. Addressing the meeting, Mr Mulholland said: “No-one can remain neutral on the issue of Colombia. The continuing exploitation of its people is well documented and unfortunately for many trade unionists that have and are continuing to lose their lives in fighting for social justice by state and paramilitary forces, their voices must be heard beyond the country’s borders. “The civil strife and war are being used by the regime and its supporters to target trade unionists who are campaigning on behalf of the op-
THE Department of Employment and Learning has imposed requirements on FE colleges to consider a number of work areas for potential “shared services”. Just as in education, procurement services is the first area being worked up for major changes. Voicing his grave concern, Assistant Secretary Paddy Mackel
Director of JFC Mariela Kohon speaking to NIPSA members
pressed as ‘terrorists’. “These activists and their families have become easy targets for the death squads.” Mr Mulholland explained the General Secretary Brian Campfield had recently taken part in a fact-finding mission to the strife-torn country – made up of Northern Ireland trade union officials and a cross-party
Brainteaser... £50 TO BE WON
trade.org.uk) to tell David Cameron to go further and champion a better deal for the world’s smallholder farmers at this year’s G8 meeting.” Other ways that members could become involved could include: n Inviting a friend out for a Fairtrade coffee; n Organising a Fairtrade chocolate tasting at work; n Telling your friends on Facebook about your favourite Fairtrade product; n Buying Fairtrade tea/coffee when it’s your turn at work; n Asking your local shop to stock more Fairtrade choices.
Prize crossword by Casper
£50 prize on offer for cryptic crossword winner. Five runners-up will receive £10. All entries with names and addresses attached to be sent to Editor NIPSA Reports, Harkin House, 54 Wellington Park, Belfast BT9 6DP with name, Branch no and address clearly attached.
Winner of the January NIPSA Reports crossword £50 prize is: Dolores Kerr (Branch 60), Belfast. Runners-up: Margaret McAleer (Branch 303), Omagh; Muriel Callighan, Belfast; Mary B Proctor (Branch 509), Limavady; Kieran Girvan (Branch 35), Moy; and Andy Bailie (Branch 60), Belfast. Across 1 Comfortable yet thorny position? (3 2 5) 7 Call out the name of lad wanted to run errands (4) 9 Relate to woolly bear (8) 10 Quote me about a cause of being sick? (6) 11 Pater's cooked a meal (6) 13 Support Leeds and apt to be embarrassed (8) 14 Little scrawl displayed by outlaw (4 8) 17 Sadly Rebecca lost a novelty event (8 4) 20 Swift’s small folk penned in here? (8) 21 Acidic substance - pH1- sent back to head of lab (6) 22 Indian spiritual leader's consecutive letters? (6) 23 Leave by following career (3 5) 25 Kelly returns with some unknown refuse (4) 26 Cashier, say, displayed items of furniture (4 6)
“Given that Minister Farry has consistently refused to rule out privatisation or outsourcing, our members are right to be worried about what the future holds for them. “NIPSA will do everything possible to ensure that our members are protected, regardless of what decision is taken by the employers.”
told NIPSA Reports: “This agenda is being driven through, primarily by the Department which could lead to significant upheaval for members. “Members could face centralisation of services or transfer of their work to Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) in DFP or – worse still – privatisation or outsourcing of these services.
NIPSA backs Fairtrade Fortnight
their way out of poverty, through fair wages, safer conditions at work and This year’s theme is ‘Go Further a little extra – called the Fairtrade for Smallholder Farmers in 2013’. Premium – to invest in projects to Why do smallholder farmers need improve life for their whole commusupport? Because trade is not work- nities. ing for the world’s poorest. NIPSA Assistant Secretary GeralMillions of people in developing dine Alexander told NIPSA Reports: countries depend on farming. But “There is a lot of support all over they are trapped in poverty by the the world for Fairtrade, people in rules of world trade, keeping those their everyday lives doing what they at the start of supply chains powercan to put fairness first, at home, at less to earn enough to cover their school, or in their work life. costs and with nothing to save for “There are lots of ways for memtheir families. bers to get involved. One way is to Choosing Fairtrade offers farmers sign the petition on the Fairtrade and workers a better chance to work Foundation website (http://step.fair-
team of MLAs. Mr Campfield gave a short address and showed a series of slides from the visit. He said the trip was to demonstrate to the Colombian government how former adversaries in Northern Ireland could come together and work out a peace process after many years of conflict. “This certainly had a resonance among some of the political leaders we met,” he added. Ms Kohon gave a rundown of the history of the Colombian conflict, including harrowing accounts of how many social justice campaigners had paid the ultimate price for their activism. The union has agreed to help promote the JFC campaign with the aim of bringing a delegation of Colombian trade unionists to Northern Ireland on a speaking tour.
Down 2 Leader of experts goes to drunk man in private (8) 3 Love of French poem (3) 4 Pan for Sunday lunch? (5) 5 Rip Van Winkle's earring? (7) 6 Dispatch spring plant (9) 7 Digs pear tree up with Sid (5-1-5) 8 Instrument I found in boat returning on a run (6) 12 A concoction of salads you'll create on November 2nd? (3 5 3) 15 Ready to win? (4 5) 16 Glass ship (8) 18 Tears out after a new star (7) 19 Foolish talk about one robber (6) 21 Grass can make you experience extreme fear (5) 24 Rest sideways - finally dropping off in meadow (3)
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Ms Alexander added: “We are checking if there are local events being organised during Fairtrade Fortnight and will publish these on the NIPSA website. “Alternatively you can visit the Fairtrade Foundation’s website to find out about local events being organised in your area. “Fairtrade Fortnight provides a focus for people to think about the simple things that can be done to make a real difference to the lives of people in developing countries, such as buying Fairtrade products. “By doing so you will have played a vital role in alleviating poverty and supporting marginalised producers in a manner that promotes dignity and self-sufficiency.”
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ArtsEkta and Arts for All are looking for NIPSA members to take part in a project during which participants will create a textile panel telling the stories of the port and docks of Belfast and the communities around the Lough.
Those wishing to take part should have sewing, embroidery or other needlework skills, enjoy meeting new people and interesting conversations. They should also have some interest in the social and maritime history of Belfast – particularly in relation to the port and docks. During the project – which will run between February and July 2013 – participants will work with five artists to create a high quality textile panel depicting the rich heritage and working life of Belfast’s port and the docks between 1863 and 2013. The project will include walking tours, visits to tapestries in Dublin and Wexford, community relations and textile art workshops and talks on the history of Belfast’s docks and port communities. The textile panel will be exhibited at Belfast Mela, Arts for All Gallery, the Belfast Harbour Commissioner’s Office and will tour Dublin, Birmingham and London. To talk about the project further and/or register an interest in taking part, please contact Niamh Flanagan (ArtsEkta) at 028 90 231381 or Heather Floyd (Arts for All) at 028 90 752134.
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Page 7 NIPSA Reports
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Previous crossword answers: Across: 1 Tail-coat, 5 Broach, 9 Imposter, 10 Smears, 12 Belt up, 13 Pinafore, 15 Gender bender, 18 Test-tube baby, 23 Tortilla, 24 Koalas, 26 Ornate, 27 Beriberi, 28 Sashes, 29 Prospect. Down: 1 Trilby, 2 Impale, 3 Costume, 4 Abet, 6 Rampage, 7 Anaconda, 8 Hostelry, 11 Disrobe, 14 Oddball, 16 Stetsons, 17 G-strings, 19 Thistle, 20 Booties, 21 Fleece, 22 T-shirt, 25 Wear.
NIPSA Reports 2013 February 13/03/2013 10:55 Page 8
Register your Membership Plus card today
NEWS
Page 8 NIPSA Reports
Tommy Semple obituary
www.nipsa.org.uk
A resolute defender of the rights of NIPSA members
IT WAS with great sadness that the committee and members of NIPSA Branch 73 learned of the death of our esteemed colleague and friend Tommy Semple on December 12, 2012. Tommy worked in Civil Service Pensions in Waterside House for 20 years and was a member of the local NIPSA committee for most, if not all, of those years. In recent years, however, he became Chairperson and under his leadership, the committee became a more proactive and dynamic body in its dealings with both members and management. Possessed of a keen intellect and a resolute belief in protecting the rights of NIPSA members in Branch 73, he was a formidable force in his dealings with management. Tommy was a firm believer in fair and proper treatment for all members in Civil Service Pensions and never wavered in his commitment to those beliefs, no matter what was asked of him. He was not given to angry words or a raised voice but spoke with a quiet determination and confidence that never left those with whom he was dealing in any doubt about where he stood. Tommy, through his actions, had the respect of CSP management and of NIPSA staff at departmental and HQ level. For the members and committee of Branch 73 he was an inspiration although, modest as he was, he would have been embarrassed at the very thought. His loss to Branch 73 as a colleague and as a friend is immense and moving forward as we
MEMBERS should have received their 2013 Membership Plus card – opening a gateway to more than 1,300 great discounts – in the December 2012 issue of NIPSA Reports.
And just under 7,500 NIPSA members had either signed up for the first time or had updated their Membership Plus registrations by the end of January. A union source told NIPSA Reports: “While an encouraging start and a considerable increase over 2012, many thousands of NIPSA members are losing out not just on great discounts but also on new offers, time-limited opportunities, special one-off event-related offers (such as Valentine’s Day) and also competitions. The easiest way to register is to go to the updated NIPSA website – www.nipsa.org.uk – and hit the Membership Plus button on the home page, which will take members directly to the Membership Plus site. A competition ran through January for those members who registered or updated their registration. The prize was won by Stephen Fleming. Any queries over non-receipt of Membership Plus cards should be raised with MairĂŠad Donnelly, Executive Officer (Membership Services), at NIPSA Headquarters.
must, we owe it to Tommy’s legacy to continue to represent the members of Branch 73 by following his example and espousing his values. The General Secretary, officials and staff of NIPSA Headquarters wish to extend their sincere condolences to Tommy’s son, his mother, family members and all his colleagues in NIPSA Branch 73. May he rest in peace.
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Membership Application Form Part 1 Personal Details
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