FIGHTING BACK RETAIL WORKERS
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SHOPFLOOR
MANDATE TRADE UNION JULY 2018
RETAIL WORKERS
FIGHTING BACK
l Minister supports striking LloydsPharmacy workers
l Customers in their thousands back the stoppages
l Trade union movement rolls in behind brave strikers
FULL COVERAGE – PAGES 2,3,4,5 & 7
NEWS
STRAIGHT TALKING
John Douglas General Secretary
Mandate Trade Union
Lloyds
We must punish bad workers in
employer behaviour
battle for
IT’S proving to be a long hot summer for Mandate
members as they attempt to vindicate their basic
human rights to have a voice at work through a
hour contracts (they did not); they even went as far
as setting up their own in-house “yellow union” – and
all of this because they feared the collective strength
decent work
union of their choosing. of workers with a voice in an independent union.
Given the recent reactions of employers, such as TK Their first bribe to employees failed miserably and
Maxx, Tesco, LloydsPharmacy and others, one would they have promised that they will further increase
have to ask why should decent, hard-working employ- pay and improve conditions again – all within the
ees have to endure taking to the streets so that they space of 10 weeks when they did nothing for the
can have a voice at work through their union? Why previous 10 years. It just goes to prove that the
should workers – the majority of whom are lower paid surest way to improve your wages and conditions is
and trade
– be forced by large corporations to lose wages in order to join and be active in your union – solidarity and
to be heard? collectivism pays dividends for workers.
The same corporations have a plethora of employer TK Maxx followed a similar pattern of behaviour.
organisations to which they belong to represent their Despite the Labour Court advising them to engage
best interests – from IBEC, Chambers of Commerce and with the employees’ union, Mandate, they instead
a battery of high-powered legal firms and consultants. choose to try and buy the loyalty of workers at local
Deep pockets can buy you a voice as an employer and, level – why??? Because they know workers united will
union rights
at the same time, be used to stop and intimidate work- make a positive difference to terms and conditions.
ers having any say whatsoever. Again, our members are smarter and wiser than to fall
One would have to ask themselves what are em- for the short-termism of money today, but employer
ployers afraid of when workers combine and join payback down the road.
unions – what are they trying to hide? Sadly, this is the approach Tesco Ireland is exploring
There can be only one answer to the above question following the recent strike. Regardless of the rights
– that is that workers combining and joining unions or wrongs of the strike – and there were many
tips the power balance relationship away from the em- rights/wrongs on both sides – the recent behaviour
ployer and towards the workers, and in doing so gives of Tesco is a clear indication that they are choosing a By David Gibney just wish it could be sorted as quickly
workers a very real chance of improving their wages path of closing down free and independent workers’ Mandate communications officer as possible.”
and other terms and conditions of employment. voice at work. MORE than 250 workers in Ireland’s Mandate highlighted the hypocrisy
The LloydsPharmacy example is a case in point. For This is regrettable because Mandate has in the past largest pharmacy chain, Lloyds Phar- of the company who are happy to ac-
years the employer simply ignored the predicament of always held Tesco up as being an employer of high macy, have now gone on strike five cept very beneficial financial con-
their employees, who were on low wages, zero-hour standing and while at this moment their terms and times for their basic human right to tracts from the State through the HSE,
contracts, no sick pay or pension scheme etc., etc. Fi- conditions are among the leaders in retail, Tesco be represented by a trade union of but refuse to accept a recommenda-
their choice. tion from the State’s industrial rela-
As Shopfloor is going to print, the
nally a sizable group of workers decided to stand up to workers would have to ask themselves as to why the
company is spending so much time and effort in try- tions body, the Labour Court.
this exploitation and join Mandate and collectively workers are preparing for their sixth
fight for better wages and condi- ing to snuff out a free and independent workers’ voice Mandate has apologised for any in-
action on Friday, 20th July 2018. convenience caused to the public but
tions. As soon as they did this, via their unions (Mandate/SIPTU)?
The strikes relate to a claim by insists any blame for the action must
there was an immediate re- It is difficult to come to any conclusion other than Mandate on behalf of its more than be directed towards the company
sponse from LloydsPharmacy, Tesco is prepared to invest large sums of money and 250 members employed by Lloyd- who have forced their workers into
their employer. They started effort in the short term to buy its employees with the sPharmacy including: taking industrial action.
throwing money at the long-term aim of removing employees’ future ability l A pay increase and incremental Supportive
workers to buy them off: to independently improve their own terms and con- pay scales;
l The introduction of a sick pay
Assistant General Secretary Gerry
Light told Shopfloor: “The public have
they improved wage rates ditions, by collective means.
(but not nearly enough); In other words, tipping the power balance rela- scheme;
l Security of hours and the elimi-
been very suportive. They under-
they introduced a sick pay tionship at work fully in favour of the employer. If stand what this dispute is about.
scheme (substandard); they this happens workers need to ask themselves are nation of zero-hour contracts; and LloydsPharmacy is part of a highly
said they would end zero- they prepared to settle for the crumbs off the rich l Improvements in annual leave profitable multi-national corporation
man’s table into the future? entitlements and public holiday pre- who can easily afford to pay their
miums. workers a decent wage with fair con-
Our members and this union – indeed, the whole
Earlier this year, the Labour Court ditions of employment, including the
trade union movement in Ireland – are not prepared issued a recommendation stating: elimination of zero hour contracts
to stand idly by and allow employers to do this. We “the Court recommends that the par- and an adequate sick pay scheme.
are prepared to engage in genuine and good faith ties engage in order to seek agree- “These workers look after their
bargaining with any employer, but for those employ- ment in relation to the matters raised communities and, in turn, their com-
ers who set out to deny or remove workers’ voices in by the Trade Union.” pany should look after them and re-
independent and free trade unions, then we must all Lloyds management have refused spect their right to representation.”
stand united together and fight back by all means at to accept this recommendation, leav- McKesson Corporation is the
our disposal. ing the workers with no alternative largest pharmaceutical company in
We, the 700,000 union members and our families, but to go on strike. the world with revenues of €177 bil-
must vote with our feet. We must only spend our June Kelly, a Lloyds Pharmacy lion for 2017/2018.
union euros where workers count. We must punish worker from Ballyfermot, said: “It’s In a letter to Mandate, Heather
heartbreaking. None of us want to be Humphreys TD, Minister for Busi-
bad employer behaviour. on strike. We don’t want to let our ness, Enterprise, and Innovation has
Stronger together, united in solidarity. customers down. Our customers are called on the company, “in line with
Shopfloor is published bi-monthly by Mandate Trade Union. very important to us because we the Court’s recommendation”, to
Mandate Head Office, O'Lehane House, 9 Cavendish Row, Dublin 1 T: 01-8746321/2/3 F: 01-8729581 W: www.mandate.ie work within the community and we
Design & Editing: Brazier Media E: braziermedia@btinternet.com. Shopfloor is edited, produced and printed by trade union labour
“proactively and constructively en-
know them on a first name basis. I gage in order to find an acceptable
2 SHOPFLOOR y July 2018
NEWS
LloydsPharmacy workers at Nutgrove on
the picket line during the first stoppage
US-style union busting must be defeated
Brian
THE damage LloydsPharmacy are doing to capital we are all merely a number and a an important dispute in terms of union
their reputation in Ireland by prolonging an piece of labour property they believe they recognition and the human right of workers
Forbes
unnecessary industrial dispute is immeasur- own. to be represented by their union in their
able. Their dominant ideology is to avoid LloydsPharmacy by their anti-union and workplace.
dealing with unions ‘at all costs’ even if it anti-worker behavior are exhibiting all The entire union movement must roll in
impacts on their business, reputation and Mandate the characteristics of a typical American behind this dispute and collectively flex its
once loyal customer base. National union-busting corporation which is clearly industrial and political muscle or we continue
This approach by LloydsPharmacy is Coordinator not the ‘Irish way’ and is a tactic which could to fail the memory of Connolly and Larkin.
replicated by other anti-union employers for unions and getting colder, which in- very well backfire on them over time. Failure to secure a successful and satisfactory
across retail including Tesco, Dunnes, Aldi, evitably will see even more frequent attacks LloydsPharmacy customers have a high re- outcome to the LloydsPharmacy dispute for
Lidl, IKEA, Paddy Power and a host of others. on workers’ pay and conditions by the em- gard for striking workers which has been striking workers will be a failure for every sin-
It is long past time for robust and effective ployer class and their right-wing political al- manifested publicly in many different ways gle union member in both the public and pri-
union recognition, collective bargaining and lies. over the past four weeks. There is no nuance vate sectors.
access legislation in Ireland. Workers in Ireland are wage slaves, in eter- or subtlety to LloydsPharmacy’s attacks on LloydsPharmacy can and will be brought to
Ireland remains one of the shittiest nations nal debt and controlled by those who have no workers or their ham-fisted attempts to the negotiation table by workers, unions and
in Europe for workers exercising their collec- interest nor regard for working people or ‘bribe’ them back to work. our collective strength! Together we must win
tive voice in the workplace. It’s a cold place anyone for that matter. To employers and The LloydsPharmacy dispute has become this!
resolution to the matters at issue.” Irish Congress of Trade Union is cur- Mr Light continued: “This is a well Colm Kinsella,
Treasurer of
Mr Light said this was a significant rently preparing members in other known and sophisticated US-style, Unite 102
boost to the workers. trade unions who deliver to Lloyd- union-busting tactic. Branch, Dublin,
“Since the beginning of this dis- sPharmacy for an all-out picket. This “The company admitted to the presents General
Secretary John
pute, the public have been very sup- is a highly unusual action and, if suc- Labour Court that they funded the Douglas with a
portive of the striking workers, but cessful, will mean their members CRC to the tune of €10,000. There is generous soli-
darity cheque of
now they have the backing of the would not pass any of our members’ a phrase often used, ‘Those who pay €500 for the
Labour Court, the Minister for Busi- pickets.” the piper calls the tune’, and it LloydsPharmacy
ness and politicians from every polit- The company argues that it allows couldn’t be more apt. dispute. Sincere
thanks to the
ical party in the Oireachtas. The its workers representation through a “What our members want is inde- 40,000 Unite
Seanad also unanimously passed a management established and com- pendent and professional represen- members on the
motion tabled by Sinn Fein’s Senator pany-funded ‘CRC’. Mandate say the tation, and nothing less will do. This island of Ireland
for their solidar-
Máire Devine in support of the work- CRC is a “creature of the company” is their right, and they are fighting to ity and support.
ers a number of weeks ago.” used in order to avoid allowing their obtain that right and Mandate will Together we are
“Furthermore,” he added, “The workers independent representation. support them to the hilt.” stronger!
July 2018 y SHOPFLOOR 3
LLOYDSPHARMACY STRIKE
Stoneybatter
Blanchardstown
Wicklow Town Killester
Tallaght
Neilstown
Omni Santry
Rowlagh
Tonlagee Road
Bray Shankill
4 SHOPFLOOR y July 2018
LLOYDSPHARMACY STRIKE
Baltinglass
Stoneybatter Clondalkin
Kilbarrack
Lucan Blanchardstown Main St
Ballyfermot
Artane
Coolock Village
Castleknock
Wellington Bridge
Sligo Drumcondra Killester
July 2018 y SHOPFLOOR 5
NEWS
EMPLOYMENT LEGISLATION
Key changes benefit members
Successes on lookback period, banded hours contracts and working hours
By David Gibney A 3 hours or more Less than 6 hours
Mandate communications officer B 6 hours or more Less than 11 hours
FOR the past three years Mandate members, C 11 hours or more Less than 16 hours
particularly those employed in Dunnes Stores,
D 16 hours or more Less than 21 hours
have been highlighting the plight of low hour
contract workers with insecure work. E 21 hours or more Less than 26 hours
In recent months, their activities have inten- F 26 hours or more Less than 31 hours
sified with local lobbying meetings taking place G 31 hours or more Less than 36 hours
all across the country where members called on
politicians of all hues to support the Secure
H 36 hours or more
Hours = Better Future charter. As you can see, the above bands are much
The charter sets out the minimum terms nec- tighter and provide for much more security of
essary from any Bill enacted by the Oireachtas income for workers. The next amendment rein-
to ensure workers have secure hours and se- forces and strengthens the above provisions.
cure incomes.
At a Select Oireachtas Committee Hearing on Ability to seek more hours
Thursday, 17th May, a number of key amend- Following the Government’s refusal to imple-
ments to the proposed Government ‘Employ- ment the Part-Time Worker Directive correctly
ment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017’ in 2004, Mandate had lobbied for a provision in
were voted on and adopted. law whereby workers would have the legal right
In total, there were 50 amendments pro- to seek more hours at work.
posed by the Government, Willie O’Dea (Fianna Currently a worker in Ireland can seek fewer
Fail), John Brady and David Cullinane (Sinn hours at work and transfer from full-time work
Fein), Willie Penrose (Labour Party), Roisin to part-time, but they cannot move from part- Briefing the politicians: Mandate organisers Moira Murphy, left, and Gerard Halligan with Denise Curran, centre, of Tesco Sligo
Our
Shortall (Social Democrats) and Joan Collins time work to full-time, even when an employer
and Clare Daly (Independents4Change). has the capacity to facilitate this.
Effectively, Mandate members had all of their This culminated in an amendment tabled by
key demands adopted. Clare Daly and Joan Collins from Independ-
special
ents4Change inserting the following: “In the
Lookback period event of hours becoming available an employer
The first major success on the day was in re- shall be required to offer any surplus hours to
lation to the lookback period. This is the period existing part-time employees first.”
thanks
within which an employee on a low-hour con- This key provision had the capacity to trans-
tract (for instance 10 hours), but working in ex- form the working lives of tens of thousands of
cess of their contractual hours (for instance 30), workers who want more hours at work but can-
may seek a review of their hours and is then is- not access them. These people are often re-
sued with a new contract that accurately re-
go to...
ferred to as “underemployed” or “involuntary
flects the hours they actually work. part-time workers”, and, according to recent fig-
The Government had proposed an 18-month ures, Ireland had the second highest rate of un-
lookback period. Mandate members had been deremployment in the EU15 behind Spain.
seeking a maximum lookback period of 12
While this amendment was passed at the John Brady TD Joan Collins TD
months. After some debate, it was agreed that
Committee stage, following intensive lobbying
12 months should be the lookback period.
from the employers’ groups including IBEC and
the Chamber of Commerce, Minister Regina Do-
Banded hour contracts herty tabled an amendment in the Dail to have
The Government had proposed a banded this provision removed.
hours structure as follows: On Wednesday 11th July, the Minister had her
A 1 hour 7 hours way. With a 54% turnout for the vote, 38 TDs,
B 8 hours 15 hours mostly from Fine Gael, voted to disallow work-
ers the right to seek more hours at work. Only
C 16 hours 24 hours
35 TDs voted to keep the provision.
D 25 hours 34 hours
What is so infuriating is that Tanaiste Joan
E 35 hours & over Burton, as the Minister responsible for the cuts
to lone-parents allowance, said back in 2015
Mandate had pointed out that the above that the Government was cutting the allowance
bands left too much flexibility for workers in order to “incentivise lone parents to seek
hours at the discretion of their employer. more hours.” Now the Government has pre-
For instance, Band B facilitates a total reduc- vented those same workers from seeking extra
tion in hours of almost 50% – which would con- hours at work and many of the TDs who cut the David Cullinane TD Clare Daly TD Brid Smith TD
stitute a corresponding reduction in income of allowance, including Joan Burton, didn’t bother
50%. Band C facilitates a reduction in hours and to turn up to vote. paign for decent work in Ireland. There is no those politicians who have signed up to the Se-
therefore income of 33%. Crucially, it was Fianna Fail’s decision to ab- doubt that the efforts by Mandate members cure Hours = Better Future charter.
And, as we know from our survey of mem- stain on this provision that helped the Minister across the country in recent months was the key Last, but not least, we want to thank all of our
bers in Dunnes Stores, unscrupulous employers to allow the employers’ lobby to have their way. reason these amendments were adopted. Unfor- members who lobbied TDs in recent months, all
use flexibility around hours and income to con- Also disappointing is the fact that some political tunately we have lost one key amendment, but the Dunnes Stores members of Mandate who
trol and discipline staff (85% of Dunnes work- parties, such as Sinn Fein and it is still a step forward for low-paid precarious
ers say allocation of hours is used as a control Independents4Change, imposed a whip on their took industrial action to highlight this issue in
workers.
mechanism). TDs and ensured they turned up to vote, 2015, and the delegation of Mandate members
Mandate would like to offer a special thank
A number of amendments to these bands whereas the Labour Party did not and only two you to the TDs and Senators in Dail Eireann who who attended the May 17th hearing.
were proposed but following Mandate mem- out of their seven TDs voted. have pushed this issue relentlessly in recent The legislation has now passed the Commit-
bers’ lobbying efforts, where we sought a max- years, including David Cullinane TD, John Brady tee and the Report stage in the Dail and has to
imum flexibility of five hours between bands, Conclusion TD, Clare Daly TD, Joan Collins TD and Brid now progress through the Seanad. Following
the following amendment from David Cullinane The May 17th hearing of the Select Oireachtas Smith TD. We would also like to thank all the that, the President will need to sign the Bill be-
and John Brady was adopted: Committee was a massive success in the cam- TDs who supported the amendments as well as fore it becomes legislation.
6 SHOPFLOOR y July 2018
NEWS
INTERNATIONAL
Christy Hoffman: ‘united front to meet challenges’
Christy Hoffman
TK Maxx workers Keogh told Shopfloor: “It’s very disap- elected to head
up UNI Global
in Arklow join pointing that it’s come to this. We
the picket line don’t want to strike. We’d much pre-
workers
on July 7th
fer to be at work, but we want that
work to to be with decent conditions
UNI Global Union’s new General Sec-
of employment.”
retary Christy Hoffman has ex-
He added: “We don’t understand
in Arklow
pressed her commitment to fighting
why we cannot have the same repre-
inequality and expanding collective
sentational rights as tens of thou-
bargaining across the world, follow-
sands of other workers in the retail
ing her election at the labour federa-
sector. We hope the public under-
strike
tion’s Fifth World Congress in
stand why we have to take this action Liverpool in June.
and we hope they’ll support us.” Hoffman, who started her union
Michael Meegan, Mandate’s Divi- career as a shop steward at a jet en-
sional Organiser for Wicklow, said:
over firm’s
gine factory in Connecticut in the
“Once again we have a highly prof- 1970s, vowed to take on the systemic
itable and very successful multina- problems caused by an economic
tional retailer refusing to engage model that works for the few, not the
with their workers through their rep-
Lab Court
many.
resentatives and ignoring the State’s She was an accomplished attorney
industrial relations processes. for the US Teamsters union and later
Regrettable headed up SEIU’s international or-
refusal
“This is regrettable and very frus- ganising department before becom-
trating for our members who have ing UNI deputy secretary in 2010.
very reasonable demands.” Hoffman said: “We must address
Explaining that TK Maxx workers our biggest challenges as a united
are low paid and have insecure work, front. No solitary worker, no single
MANDATE members working at TK Mr Meegan continued: “Many of the union, and no individual country can
Maxx in Arklow, Co Wicklow, went on workers on strike earn slightly over turn the tide in a world with multina-
strike on Saturday, July 7th after the €11 per hour after several years of tional corporations setting the rules
retailer refused to accept a Labour service. The company makes €125 of the game.”
Court recommendation calling on the million in pre-tax profits per year and She succeeds UNI’s previous Gen-
multinational retailer to recognise can easily afford to not only pay their eral Secretary Philip Jennings, who
and engage with their union. led the organisation for 18 years.
staff more, but they can afford to
The union had taken the case to the Jennings predicted: “Under
bring in pay scales and ensure work-
Labour Court over banded hour con- Christy’s leadership the organisation
ers have certainty over their earnings
tracts, pay scales and advance notice will go from strength to strength and
by implementing secure hour con-
of rosters. But TK Maxx, through the continue on the path to breaking
shortest possible notice” to discuss as the representative of those em- tracts.”
employers’ organisation IBEC, in- through and organising.”
the issues in dispute in a bid to avert ployees who are in membership of Mr Meegan, speaking on the day of
formed the Court they would not be the July 7th stoppage but manage- the Union and should engage with it the strike, added: “We have been re-
attending or heeding the Labour ment refused to meet with the work- in dealing with employment related ceiving supportive phone calls and UK
Court process because they had “di-
Usdaw Gen Sec
ers’ representatives. matters…” Mandate claimed the emails from other TK Maxx workers
rect employee engagement processes In February, the Labour Court is- company’s refusal to allow their across the country and we are hope-
in place.” sued a recommendation that stated: workers representation had left them ful that those workers will join their
Hannett retires
Mandate had previously written to “…the Court recommends that the with no alternative but to strike. colleagues in the fight for decent con-
TK Maxx offering to meet “at the Employer should recognise the Union Arklow TK Maxx worker Cian ditions of employment in TK Maxx.”
LEADING trade unionist John Han-
nett retired in late June as General
Calling all Mandate Local Councils. Your union needs you! Secretary of UK shopworkers’ union
Usdaw to be succeeded by his deputy
Three very successful public events have recently taken place in Bray, Paddy Lillis.
It was under his 14-year steward-
Arklow and Athlone with an array of guest speakers on the theme of ship that Usdaw experienced an un-
Organise for €15. Local council activists have been to the forefront in precedented 50% increase in
membership when trade union
organising and participating in these local events and already local membership across Britain was gen-
activities in a number of these areas have been happening and led by erally in decline.
He said: “I am proud to have
Mandate activists as a direct consequence and follow-on from holding served the union in many roles dur-
a public event. Every Mandate local council is being encouraged and ing my 43 years’ membership.
Usdaw’s members, activists and reps
invited to begin preparations for having a local event in your area. not only gave me the opportunity to
So talk to your union official or organiser and let’s kick-start the lead the union, but enthusiastically
supported everything we are trying
Mandate fight back at local level for retail and bar workers in your area. to achieve. I am very proud of the
work our reps have done.”
July 2018 y SHOPFLOOR 7
NEWS
€15/hr campaign signals
they know that you’re going to stand
up for yourself.” She added: “ Our con-
tracts are flexi, they’re 15 to 38 hours,
so it’s a huge difference. When you
have the four week roster you can
plan financially, social engagements,
doctor’s appointments, holidays for
fight for decent hourly rate
the kids.”
For the chair of the local council,
Brian Fogarty, being in a union has
positive benefits across all aspects of
his life: “For someone who left school
at 16, with no Leaving Cert, it’s great
for me to be able to get qualifications
through the union, through training.
I’m actually a tutor for Mandate now.
It’s great to be able to train fellow
“
members now.”
By Roisin Ni Dhalaigh
IRELAND has the worst trade union
They’re Having brought workers out on
strike several times in recent years,
recognition in Europe and this is organised Mandate is not naive about the tactics
linked to growing inequality, a public
meeting in Bray has heard. and we need to get employers’ will use to undermine
trade unions.
Speaking at the ‘Organise for €15’ better organised “Tesco are engaging in very clear,
event in the Martello Hotel on Bray determined, considered and long-
seafront on June 18th, Dr Stevie if we’re going to term campaign of union busting,” said
Nolan of the Belfast-based social jus- fight back... Forbes. “This is a long-term objective
”
tice co-operative Trademark said that to take the union out of their com-
“there is a genuine crisis of inequality pany. And they’re not the only ones,
in Ireland, in Europe, in the world”. by the way. We’re ready for it. We’ve
Describing austerity as a redistrib- been used now to dealing with
ution of wealth, he highlighted that these types of employers.
Starbucks paid just €261 in tax in Dunnes have their own
2014 and €45 in 2015 – the equiva- specific type of union
lent of 13 grande lattes priced €3.45
‘It makes sense to pay people a decent living wage’, Brian Forbes told ‘Organise for €15’ meeting in Bray busting. And it’s not
each. dealing with outside
Nolan added that McKesson, the US up a strong union membership to half-decent local council can do in business.
companies; they’re
healthcare giant which owns Lloyd- fight on three fronts: their local community. And if we can “Any em-
l Industry: pay increases; security;
just bred to be union
sPharmacy, has yearly revenue which build Bray and make it stronger then ployer who is
busting in their DNA
is twice that of the Irish state. At the respect. the others will follow by their exam- calling for a re-
l Political: taxation policy; access
and they train their
same time, workers at LloydsPhar- ple.” duction is actu-
managers to be that type
macy have no sick pay and many are to workplaces by trade union ac- Forbes is clear about the positive ally calling against
of manager.
on zero hours contracts. tivists; collective bargaining. benefit this campaign could have on their own best inter-
l Challenge the market.
“But it’s clear now that
The ‘Organise for €15’ campaign is towns like Bray. He explained: “You est. It makes sense for
there’s a very significant number
Mandate’s fightback by and for bar Building trade union power will hear many employers saying ‘we us to pay people a decent,
of retailers in the Republic that are
and retail workers. Mandate will take place by re-energising Mandate’s need to cut wages’. All that does is living wage, moving towards €15 per
using very, very similar tactics to
campaign for all bar and retail work- local councils, which comprise work- drain the local community, drain the hour.”
what was used on the US unions.
ers to immediately receive the Living ers from different employment in a local businesses of that money that Muireann Dalton, secretary of Man-
These companies are using similar
Wage (currently €11.70 per hour), local area. One of the reasons Bray low paid workers use in their local date’s Bray local council, saw the
tactics to those used by American
moving to €15 per hour in time. was chosen as a starting point of the economy. changes that came with a strong
firms for decades to keep American
Mandate sees €15 per hour as both campaign is because it is “probably “So if you give pay rises to workers union, having gone out on strike as a
unions down and to keep them out.”
a fair wage and achievable; if the one of the best functioning local who are living and who are spending Dunnes worker three years ago: 3%
However, Forbes sees few other op-
unionised major retailers can afford councils that we have in the locality”, their money in the local domestic pay rise each year, a four week roster
tions available to anyone who be-
it, so can the non-unionised, ex- said Forbes. economy that’s going to help busi- rather than just getting it on a Tues-
lieves in equality: “They’re organised
plained National Coordinator Brian “I just felt that this was a good nesses as well. So it’s a no-brainer for day, monthly communications meet-
and we need to get better organised
Forbes. place to start because it shows and a lot of businesses to want people to ings, and the use of grievance
if we’re going to fight back”.
The campaign is not focused solely demonstrates to other local councils have more disposable income in their procedures “so the managers aren’t This article first appeared
on €15 per hour; it’s about building what a fully functioning and what a pocket so they can spend it in their bullying the staff as much because
INFODESK CHILDCARE
in LookLeft magazine
Key findings...
New Congress survey confirms l Childcare is one of the top
two out-of-pocket costs for over
two-thirds (71%) of all working
l For the other one-third
(39%) the amount spent out of
their family budget on childcare
childcare ‘like second mortgage’
families with a pre-school child. is second only to the amount
l Early-years childcare is the they spend on mortgage or rent.
biggest cost for one-third (32%) l For half (52%) of families
of all working parents. with two or more children in
childcare these costs are their
biggest expense each month.
l For another one-third (34%)
A NEW survey from the Irish Con- years education and childcare for childcare affordability for families.
gress of Trade Unions has confirmed working families, to allow us take a Removing this employment barrier
that childcare is one of the top two detailed look at the implications of for mothers who want to return to of such families, childcare costs
out-of-pocket costs for over two- what many parents describe as ‘a sec- work will increase the skills level and are the second biggest bill they
thirds (71%) of working families with ond mortgage.” face after mortgage or rent.
l Three in five (61%) working
size of the workforce.
young children. Commenting on the survey, Con- “This is vital for sustaining spend-
The national opinion poll of 1,000 gress General Secretary Patricia King ing on public services and payments, families are struggling to cover
trade union members on early-years said: “Our findings on high childcare their childcare costs. These fami-
such as the old age pension, into the
childcare costs was conducted online costs and the number of families lies have had to borrow or go
between June 10th and 23rd. future.
struggling to cover them will surprise without an essential item, such
The results informed discussions few working parents.” “However, while encouraging, this
support to parents will do nothing to as food and heating, in order to
on the issue during the Labour Em- The Oireachtas passed the Child- pay for childcare in the past year.
help professionalise the early-years
l Over half (56%) of working
ployer Economic Forum talks be- care Support Bill in June, providing
tween Government, union and for the first time a legal entitlement education and care sector with pay
employer representatives on July 5th. to financial support to all parents and conditions that make the work- families have worked fewer
Congress Social Policy Officer Dr with young children who use regis- force feel valued and attract and re- hours in the last year because
Laura Bambrick told Shopfloor: “This tered childcare services. tain qualified professionals. childcare costs are too expense
survey focused on the impact of gov- Ms King continued: “This legisla- “This other side of the childcare to make it affordable to work
ernment underinvestment in early- tion provides a vehicle for addressing coin needs urgent action,” she added. full-time or overtime.
8 SHOPFLOOR y July 2018
INTERNATIONAL
WORKERS RIGHTS
Updated
Accord
covers
2 million
garment
workers
By John Douglas sweat-shop and near slave-like condi- signed the first Accord, preferring to
Pictures: Clean Clothes Campaign (CC BY 2.0)
General Secretary tions that existed before. do their own thing – companies such
IN JUNE 2018, the Bangladesh Transi- But a safe working environment is as North Face, GAP, IKEA, Walmart. We
tion Accord took effect working to the least workers should be entitled call on all companies to join the Tran-
make garment factories in Bangladesh to. No-one should be killed producing sition Accord 2018.
safer for workers. throw-away fashion for western con- One of the new features of the Tran-
This Transition Accord follows on sumers. Workers also need a decent sition Accord is that it also covers the
from the original Bangladesh Accord living wage, a fear free working space, production of home textiles, fabric and
of 2013, agreed in the aftermath of the an end to sexual harassment, free knitted accessories – this extends pro-
deadly factory collapse that year in trade unions and a right to collective tection and safety to smaller craft and
Rana Plaza in which 1,134 garment bargaining. home producers in Bangladesh.
workers were killed and hundreds of The new 2018 Transition Accord The Accord offers any company
others injured. has now been signed by 175 garment sourcing garments an excellent oppor-
The old Accord put in place a safety and textile companies, including some tunity to guarantee factory safety
inspector regime which was inde- of the main companies sourcing in through a collective and transparent
pendent and verifiable; it closed un- Bangladesh, such as Primark, H&M, proven scheme.
safe factories; it monitored major C&A and Aldi.
Cheap fashion need not be stained
safety renovations; and it set up a More than 1,300 factories and two
with the blood of vulnerable workers.
compensation fund for those families million workers are covered. The orig-
It need not be tainted by poverty
that lost loved ones or who were in- inal accord was signed by more than
wages and unsafe working conditions.
jured. The Accord of 2013 heralded a 220 companies, so there are some no-
We, as consumers, have a responsi-
new beginning for workers in the gar- table companies that have refused to
ment industry in Bangladesh. It gave sign this time. bility to shop with our conscience.
them some hope of a safe and free These include Abercrombie and For more information go to
working environment rather than the Fitch and other companies that never Above: Bangladeshi garment workers at union demo; Top: cramped working conditions on factory floor www.cleanclothsecampaign.ie
INFODESK EMPLOYMENT
Revenue’s mean-spirited change on uniform expenses
By John Douglas cover the purchase and maintenance We understand that other groups icy mandarins in the Revenue Com- make a claim to be backdated for the
General Secretary of staff uniforms necessary for the of workers – hotel workers, bar staff missioners, it means a lot to lower allowance.
FOLLOWING a review of flat-rate performance of their retail duties. (€93), construction workers (€103 - paid workers. Mandate will continue From 2019, if you continue to
(employment) expenses by the Rev- So for workers earning more than €175), Rail/bus staff (€160) – have to lobby with other unions for a full spend money on either purchasing or
enue Commissioners, they have de- €16,500 per year this meant an an- also had their ‘flat rate’ expenses tar- restoration of this allowance.
maintaining your uniform, or any
cided to cease the current automatic nual net benefit of either €24 or €48 geted and withdrawn. In the meantime, if you do earn
more than €16,500 per annum (i.e. other expenses “wholly and exclu-
system which applies to shop assis- depending on their tax band and This is a clear case of those in pub-
tant grades with effect from the end earnings. the national minimum wage – below sively necessary in the performance
lic office not understanding the reali-
of the 2018 tax year. Mandate made a detailed submis- ties of working in the real world. Our which you pay no tax) and you have of your duties at work”, make sure
Essentially, all shop assistants were sion to the Revenue Commissioner members in Mandate are lower paid not got your €121 flat rate allowance you keep receipts and make a claim
entitled to an un-vouched income dis- seeking the retention of the old flat and while €24 or €48 per year might each year, contact Revenue Online with these receipts at the end of
regard allowance of €121 per year to rate expense system but to no avail. not seem too much to lose to the pol- Service (ROS) via ‘My Account’ and 2019.
July 2018 y SHOPFLOOR 9
VIEWPOINT 2018
SHOP STEWARDS TRAINING PROGRAMME
Course Title Course Dates Duration Location Closing date
Employment Law Level 2 Sept 3 1 day Dublin 23/07/2018
Communications & Personal Development QQI Level 5 Sept 11 - Dec 4 14 weeks 1 night p/w Dublin 23/07/2018
IT Skills QQI Level 5 Sept 11 - Dec 4 14 weeks 1 night p/w Dublin 23/07/2018
IT Skills Advanced Sept 12 - Dec 5 14 weeks 1 night p/w Dublin 23/07/2018
Union Representative Introductory Sept 10/11/12 3 days Limerick 23/07/2018
Union Representative Advanced Senior Sept 17/18/19 3 days Cork 23/07/2018
Union Representative Introductory Sept 24/25/26 3 days Dublin 23/07/2018
Training and Development Part 1 October 1/2/3/4/5 5 days Dublin 13/08/2018
Trade Union Representative QQI Level 5 October 8/9/10 3 days Dublin 13/08/2018
Health and Safety Level 5 October 15/16/17/18/19 5 days Dublin 13/08/2018
Union Representative Introductory October 22/23/24 3 days Galway 13/08/2018
Union Representative Advanced Senior November 5/6/7 3 days Dublin 13/08/2018
Negotiation Skills 3 November 12 1 day Dublin 13/08/2018
If you are interested in attending any of these courses, please contact your Mandate Union Official or Mandate Organising & Training Centre on 01-8369699 or email mandateotc@mandate.ie
l Dublin courses will take place in Mandate Organising & Training Centre l Please note venue/dates may vary l To secure your place book early to avoid disappointment
House Committee
training in progress
at Tesco Birr with
Mandate Midlands
Divisional Organiser
Mandy Kane, far left
Union Representatives Introductory Course
The Union Representative Introductory Training Course is for new shop stewards/union representatives. The course aims to provide
information, skills and knowledge to our shop tewards/union representatives to assist them in their role in the workplace.
COURSE CONTENT: • Background to Mandate • The role and responsibilities of a Shop Steward/Union Representative
• Examining disciplinary/grievance procedures • Developing negotiating skills • Representing members at local level
• Communication skills/solving members’ problems • Organising, Recruitment and Campaigns • Induction presentations.
CERTIFICATION AND PROGRESSION:
Members who successfully complete this course will obtain a Mandate certificate. They may progress to a Union Representative
Advanced Course and to other relevant training courses offered by Mandate.
If you are interested in this course, please contact your Mandate official or Mandate's Training Centre at 01-8369699. Email: mandateotc@mandate.ie
10 SHOPFLOOR y July 2018EYEWITNESS REPORT
Understanding Palestine’s terrible beauty
By Ruairí Creaney the terror these settlers inflict on old protester in Gaza during the Great
Communication Workers Union Palestinians. March of Return. A 17-year-old was
RECENTLY I visited Palestine to Literally every Palestinian city in murdered by a direct shot to the head
speak at the conference of the Pales- the West Bank is surrounded by at the same protest. The following
tinian Postal Service Workers’ Union these ever-growing metropolises. day, an 11-year-old boy was mur-
(PPSWU) in the West Bank city of The arterial routes between the main dered by an Israeli sniper. Israel’s
Jericho on behalf of my union, the Palestinian cities are intersected by strategy of murdering and crippling
CWU. settler-only roads which the natives young Palestinians is how they sow
My visit to the occupied country are banned from using as well as per- this hopelessness among the youth.
was easily one of the most powerful manent army checkpoints, making a However, I also found that the bru-
experiences of my life. Before I went, Palestinian state within the confines tal occupation and Israel’s attempt to
I thought I had a fairly extensive of the two-state solution totally im- humiliate an entire nation have led to
knowledge of what is happening in possible. an incredible resilience among Pales-
Palestine, but experiencing the occu- These injustices are compounded tinians and a desire to better them-
pation and Apartheid at first hand by the fact that these Jewish-only selves collectively.
was a massive shock for me. cities are built on what was, until They are obsessed with education.
It forcefully brought home the utter very recently, Palestinian villages and Most of the Palestinians my age are
humiliation that is inflicted on the farmland that were ethnically able to speak two or three languages
Palestinian people by Israel. cleansed. and have Masters degrees in educa-
Established in 2012, the PPSWU is tion, computer science and finance.
a young union but already represents Checkpoint in The first question that got asked of
the majority of workers in Palestine Bethlehem me every time I met a young Palestin-
Post, and is one of many independent ian was about my university educa-
trade unions that have been formed tion.
in the past 10 years. The growth of I was also asked about Irish history
these unions is an impressive and literature, and their grasp of both
achievement, given the harsh social was impressive. One lad, Ishmael,
conditions under which they were was quoting lines of James Joyce and
built. Oscar Wilde and asking if I had read
The two things that had the most their books and was aware of the
profound effect on me throughout the quotes. To my embarrassment, I had
trip were the Israeli ‘settlements’ in to answer, “no”.
the West Bank and the abject hope- The youth of Palestine recognise
lessness of the youth of Palestine. that education is a weapon of the op-
Firstly, the ‘settlements’. I use in- pressed, and one day they will use
verted commas when talking about this education to smash the
them, as the term ‘settlements’ im- Apartheid system. The Palestinians
plies that they are small villages. Is- are a warm, beautiful, strong and de-
rael’s ‘settlements’ in the West Bank termined people. They ask us not for
are actually sprawling cities housing our charity, but our solidarity. They
tens of thousands of people, most of are not charity cases; they want to be
Secondly, the youth. From those I treated as equals with the rest of the
whom are actually from the United
spoke to, Palestinians in their 20s human race.
States.
and 30s have close to zero hope that The huge solidarity that Irish peo-
These are cities complete with
they will ever see justice and freedom ple continually express for their
shopping malls, universities, fire de-
for their country. Many of them, see- struggle does not go unnoticed in
partments, luxury apartment com-
ing no way of effectively resisting the Palestine. In times of abject hopeless-
plexes, hospitals, schools and
US-backed system of Apartheid, have ness, strong displays of international
factories. Around them is a fortifica-
given up hope of flourishing in their solidarity can lift spirits in the dark-
tion of heavily armed soldiers, mili-
own country and have now become est of situations, and many Palestini-
tary jeeps and electrified razor wire
resigned to the idea of eventually try- ans expressed their gratitude to me
designed to keep out the indigenous Top: Former
for Ireland’s role in giving them this
people. Palestinian homes in ing to emigrate.
East Jerusalem now They are rightly asking how people small bit of hope when much of the
The settlers, too, are heavily armed. occupied by Israeli rest of the world turns a blind eye.
When I was in Hebron, a gang of living in refugee camps can ever de-
settlers
feat a brutal Israeli army that is It has given me a much deeper re-
around 40 settlers passed us on the Above: Illegal
spect for the tireless solidarity ac-
street, many of them openly bran- settlement in the funded and armed by the most pow-
tivists in Ireland in the vital and often
dishing M-16 rifles, an obvious at- West Bank erful empire in human history, the
Left: The Apartheid thankless work that they do.
tempt to intimidate any Palestinian United States. They are asking what
Wall in Bethlehem Palestine is a beautiful country
that lives anywhere near them. they can do when the international
with a beautiful people. I hope, one
Being so close to such fanatically community allows Israel’s racist day, we can visit Palestine again when
supremacist people was a scary expe- regime to act with impunity. it is free, from the river to the sea.
rience even for a white Western Eu- On the day I landed in Palestine, Is- Ruairí Creaney is an organiser with the
INFODESK MANDATE TRADE UNION
ropean like me, so I can only imagine raeli tank fire murdered a 24-year- Communications Workers’ Union
Retired Workers’ Group – get involved!
A GROUP of Mandate Trade Union activists It is planned – subject to numbers – that care as well as a lack of access to some State
has decided to set up a Retired Workers’ the new group will arrange a half-day inau- services.
Group within the union. gural conference to agree and set out an So, if you have retired or are about to retire,
This group will be a national group com- agenda for the future as well as to elect a or know a colleague who is, or has, retired,
prising of retired Mandate members who will steering committee. please bring this notice to their attention.
advocate on behalf of retirees on issues, in- There can be no doubt that retired Man- You – or they – can express your/their inter-
cluding pensions, social welfare, healthcare date members and retired retail workers gen- est by emailing sbrowne@mandate.ie or by
etc, with the Government, the trade union erally have many pressing concerns such as contacting Mandate Head Office on 01
movement and local authorities. inadequate or no work pensions, poor health- 8746321 Picture: Public Domain
July 2018 y SHOPFLOOR 11NEWS
Mayo ROC committee meet up in Castlebar to plan campaign
By Ciaran Campbell
Divisional Organiser
THE Mayo ‘ROC’ Committee (Recruitment, Organ-
ising and Campaigning), right, which was formed
in early 2017, held a very successful meeting of all
the Mayo Local Councils on May 17th in the Breaffy
Hotel, Castlebar – a ‘Fair Hotel’.
Each of the Mayo Local Councils was repre-
sented at the meeting. There was discussion and
analysis of the Biennial Delegate Conference, and
– importantly – how best to implement subsequent
union policies and how they relate to the Mayo
ROC’s ‘Decency at Work’ campaign.
This campaign, which was successfully launched
in May last year, embraced and re-invigorated the
union’s ‘Respect for Retail Workers’ Campaign.
In October 2017, the Mayo ROC Committee also
hosted a trade union delegation from Germany set-
ting out for the visitors the hard economic facts for
workers and their families living in Ireland’s north-
ern and western regions.
The delegation was also informed of ongoing
workplace pressures faced by retail workers as
well as Mandate’s continuing struggles to combat
these in the face of hardening employers’ attitudes
and behaviours – not least the lack of legislative
collective bargaining rights.
While still in its formative stages, those attend-
ing the May 17th meeting agreed to press ahead
with the Mayo ‘Decency at Work’ campaign.
A further meeting was scheduled for June 7th
with a view to involving activists from across the
county in the implementation of the union’s full Alke Boessiger chosen as next UNI deputy general secretary
Alke, friend of
strategy on zero hour and banded hour contracts,
respect for retail workers, retail pay, and terms and
conditions.
Mandate, gets
HEALTH
Cervical Check
scandal flags up leading UNI role
need to reshape
A LONG-TIME friend of Mandate has just been
chosen as the next deputy general secretary of
UNI Global Union. Alke Boessiger will take up
her new position during the UNI World Con-
health service
gress in Liverpool in June.
She has had a long career at UNI Global Union
in a variety of different roles and sectors includ-
ing as Head of ICTS and UNI Commerce.
“I am incredibly happy to be chosen as the
next UNI deputy general secretary,” said Boes-
THE Irish Congress of Trade Unions has claimed siger. “I have been at UNI for much of my life as
the Cervical Check scandal highlights the “danger a trade unionist and have held many different
of outsourcing in essential services such as health” responsibilities in various departments and sec-
and reinforces the need to move to a publicly con- tors.
trolled and universally accessible single-tier na- “My trade union roots are in Germany, where
tional health service. I learned what our work is all about – making
General Secretary Patricia King said: “The scan- workers’ lives better. Fighting against inequality,
dal highlights the danger of outsourcing in essen- unfair treatment and striving for an equal soci-
tial services such as health, where direct control is ety that is inclusive and gives opportunities to
transferred to a private sector organisation abroad, all.”
as happened in this instance. Some women may Commenting on the appointment, Mandate
now have paid the ultimate price for this. It is com- General Secretary John Douglas told Shopfloor:
pletely unacceptable.” “Alke has shown over many years that she is a
Ms King said the Oireachtas Sláintecare Report wonderful advocate for workers – and I have no
recognised the need to move towards a universal, doubt that she will put that experience to great
fully integrated, single tier public health service
that guarantees access and quality care, regardless
of income. Veronica’s 25 years of service use in her new role at UNI. She has also been a
valued guest at our Mandate conferences in Ire-
land when she headed up UNI Commerce. We
Connect
“This will require very major additional invest- wish her every success in her new position.”
ment and Congress believes that a long-term target
with
of 10% of GDP should be set for health spending.” VERONICA Madden receives a well-de- down and thanks her for the many years
She added: “It is time to immediately end the served floral presentation from General of loyal service she has given to members
outsourcing of critical health services and to pro- Secretary John Douglas as a mark of ap- in Dunnes.”
Mandate
vide a road map towards the implementation of preciation on her retirement as a shop However, he pointed out that Veronica
the recommendations of the Slaintecare report. steward after 25 years serving colleagues “wasn’t going quietly”. Callan added: “She
“Only then will women and their families be in Dunnes Stores on Cardiffsbridge Road, has already plans in place to elect a new
Finglas, Dublin. shop steward in her store and has also
wholly confident that we have a health system ca-
Industrial Officer John Callan told promised whoever takes over that role her
www.mandate.ie
pable of providing the highest standards of care, Shopfloor: “Everyone at Mandate wishes continued support and guidance. Now
with respect to cancer prevention and overall Veronica all the very best as she steps that’s organising at its best!”
health care for women in Ireland.” Picture: Rodrigo Senna (CC BY 2.0)
12 SHOPFLOOR y July 2018IN FOCUS
Keyboard warriors: why there’s nothing wrong with click click click campaigning...
Revolutionary pyjama
Brian
Forbes
activists really matter
MORE THAN half the population of
the globe now has access to the in-
ternet. The use of social media to-
wards developing online support
for social justice campaigns has
risen dramatically over the past
number of years.
There are two differing opinions
on the actual value of social media
and in particular towards measur-
ing its effectiveness and value.
Some feel that it is merely a con- in 2017 he did successfully manage to and winnable. In 2011, researchers Furthermore, they found my so- ers in Ireland. Mandate will not
science cleanser for people who win significantly more seats for the in Georgetown University studied called “pyjama activists” to be a “crit- ignore the obvious advancements
feel the need to empathise with Labour Party and a 40% share of the what they termed “slacktivism” and ical periphery” towards mobilising in social media technology and will
others in struggle while others feel vote. Corbyn’s increased social net- which I term “pyjama activism” and action. By sharing a tweet their ac- always organise and mobilise our
it is a method of channelling anger work activity has also proved very found that contrary to popular belief tions help to double the reach of the members when required.
and discontent. popular with a younger demographic. the critics of “pyjama activism” were core protestors. Social media, like garlic bread, is
Whatever your feelings, one Mandate understands the increas- wrong. It is clear that boosting the overall part of the future as long as it is not
thing is clear, social media is here ing value of social media in speaking They found those who use social digital visibility of one of our union solely relied on for outreach to our
and it’s here to stay. directly to our members and we are media twice as likely to volunteer campaigns is important but the real members. It must and it will be
Political parties, always looking increasingly providing tailored mes- their time and concluded that pro- key to success for trade unions in util- used by Mandate as part of our ar-
for an edge over opponents, have sages for our members in our many moting causes on social media can in- ising petitions is combining the on- moury against bad employers.
fully embraced the concept of effec- different unionised employments. crease – and certainly does not line activity with a well organised On their own, a rally and an on-
tive digital media campaigning and As campaigners we must embrace decrease – offline engagement. network of core protestors. line petition separate from each
the influence it can bring to bear on the obvious potential in social media A more recent study on youth em- It is a well organised online digital other could be as useless as each
voters. messaging and outreach to members powerment through social networks platform with traditional trade union other. However, combine that on-
Demos research from late 2016 and also – critically – the outreach to in Spain found that 44.9% of young mobilising and organising that will line petition with a well-organised
found that 23% of UK adult social those future union members who people considered themselves regu- achieve success and a better working public rally and coordinated, ongo-
media users believe social media have yet to join us in struggle but who larly committed to social causes. A environment for retail and bar work- ing online and offline campaigning
platforms help them “understand definitely will if we are relevant and majority – 64% of those surveyed – and you create a savage beast of
parties’ policy positions” prior to reach them with a cause that is just stated they’d signed an online peti- worker power that will force any
election and 26% said it made tion, with 44% saying they’d at- and all bad employers to sit up
them more likely to vote. tended a demonstration and 39% and take notice or face the
It took Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour donating to an NGO. retail consequences.
Party until 2017 to really exploit
the massive potential of social
media by not only investing
capital but also through tacti-
cally pushing ads that were
highly targeted and positive
in nature in comparison to
the Tories who stayed nega-
tive and failed to engage
their audience.
Although Corbyn was-
n’t elected Prime Minister
Pictures: Zeyus Media (CC BY 2.0); monicasecas (CC BY 2.0); Public Domain
Email us at
DO YOU HAVE A MANDATE-THEMED STORY OR PIC? news@mandate.ie
July 2018 y SHOPFLOOR 13You can also read
