By Jamison Maeda
Every 12 hours, someone dies in a work related accident in the United States. In 2011, more than 4,600 people were killed in accidents at work in the U.S. Despite these figures, more than half of Americans surveyed are still in favor of smaller government and less corporate regulation. The idea being fewer taxes and less constraint on economic growth, but the cost is several thousand deaths annually and more than 4 million injuries. Read more
The No2CrokePark2 Campaign welcomes the rejection of Croke Park 2 by trade unionists across the public sector. Even in unions where a yes vote was recommended members have sent a clear message that they have had enough of cuts and austerity.It is now clear that many trade union leaders are out of touch with the reality of most members lives and do not clearly understand that members have nothing left to give.Rather than fight for the policies of the trade union movement which call for the implementation of taxes on the rich and the wealthy they sought to sell a vicious package of cuts to workers who have already given enough. They should now move aside.Croke Park 2 is dead. There can be no talks on an agenda of cuts. Threats to legislate for pay cuts should be met by determined action across the public sector.
SIPTU have joined their fellow workers, in UNITE and the CPSU today, in rejecting the terms of Croke Park II. SIPTU members, despite a recommendation to vote yes from their leadership, have rejected the agreement by 53.7% to 46.3%.Ten unions have so far rejected the deal, leaving it effectively defeated. Read more
It’s been a difficult week for the Labour Party who are reaping the rewards of their betrayal of the Irish people. The collapse of their vote to less than 5% in the Meath By-Election is an indication of what they can expect from the nation at the next General Election. To add further distress to the Party, the Teachers unions have given a hostile reception to education minister Ruairí Quinn at their annual conferences.
Clear rejection of Croke Park II and Labour
The Teachers Union of Ireland conference, being held in Galway this week, has called for its members to vote against Croke Park II and instructed its executive to withdraw from ICTU if it tries to impose the deal on its members. Over 80% of the TUI membership voted to reject the deal in a ballot held last month. They now say that they will take industrial action if the Croke Park deal is forced upon their members. Read more
Supporting 7 workers who manage corporate travel arrangements for the Kerry Group who are threatened with dismissal. Below is a copy of their press release from Monday.
Press Release
BCD Travel employees threatened with immediate dismissal
Date Released: 11 March 2013
SIPTU members employed by BCD Travel, which manages corporate travel arrangements for the Kerry Group, have been threatened with immediate dismissal and the non-payment of redundancy entitlements if they exercise their right to take industrial action.
The seven workers based in the Kerry Group head office in Tralee, Co. Kerry, were informed of the threat by the management of BCD Travel late last week following their unanimous vote to take industrial action on Wednesday, 6th March. Read more
The unveiling of a plaque to the Irish Women Workers Union in Liberty Hall today will mark the 
historic importance of women in the Irish Labour movement.
On launching the first and most durable women’s trade union in the country, Delia Larkin was critical of the poor pay and conditions women had to endure, insisting they were ‘weary of being white slaves who pass their lives away toiling to fill the pockets of unscrupulous employers’.
There was a wave of strikes in Ireland north and south in the run up to the foundation of the union and many of them involved large numbers of women workers. Mary Galway, Secretary of the Textiles Operatives Society in Belfast played a leading role in mobilising women workers in Belfast and in 1911 lead a very significant strike of over 3,000 mill workers in the city. Read more
Time the HSE were introduced to the LRC: their intransigence & abuse of industrial relations machinery is shocking.
TEEU PRESS RELEASE
February 28th, 2013 – TEEU refers dispute at St James’s Hospital to Labour Court as management threatens to dismiss all electricians. Read more
Supporting the seven striking electricians at St. James’s Hospital Dublin. Locked out after putting in place safety measures.
via TEEU union “Their only crime was to lock electrical panels to prevent unqualified personnel from accessing the panels and thus interfering with the electrical equipment, which was a potential danger to the electricians, other employees and patients at the Hospital”, TEEU General Secretary Eamon Devoy said today. “Our members took these safety measures to ensure that they had safe systems of work and their colleagues had a safe place of work consistent with Health and Safety legislation.”
full release from TEEU http://www.teeu.ie/news/showtest.asp?id=523
DALY PLEDGES SUPPORT TO DAA WORKERS
WELCOMES NOTICE OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION TO DEFEND PENSIONS
Local Dail Deputy for the United Left Alliance Clare Daly TD has today strongly welcomed the serving of notice by SIPTU workers in the Dublin Airport Authority to embark on a course of industrial action to defend their pensions. Read more