Splendid event in Belfast as mosaic is unveiled

Splendid event in Belfast

 

The Independent Workers Union presented a mosaic to Conway Mill in Belfast on Saturday 4th May 2013 to commemorate the centenary of the Dublin lockout. The event was presided over by IWU president Patricia Campbell and legendary Belfast trade unionist Joe Bowers unveiled the mosaic. Joe Quinn, one of the directors of Conway Mill, received the art work on behalf of the mill. The wonderful piece of art work was created and designed by Joan Casey of Waterford.

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Regret at decision by anti-union element in Newry

Noel Murphy, national secretary of the Independent Workers Union (IWU), has expressed his disappointment at the news that Newry and Mourne Cooperative has reversed its decision to accept a gift of a mosaic from the IWU commemorating the 100th anniversary of the great Dublin lockout.

Mr Murphy concluded his statement saying;

” Both of James Larkin’s parents were born and reared in the Newry area and I am astonished at the reactionary attitude of this group to a simple request to honour a son of the area. Paradoxically though, it is a massive tribute to the power of Larkin, the great champion Ireland’s working class, that after all these years, the business class of Newry still fear his voice.”

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IWU holds annual general meeting

The Independent Workers Union held its tenth annual conference in Cork on Saturday 9th March. Delegates from all four provinces attended the event which was an outstanding success.

The conference was opened by the union’s national secretary Noel Murphy who told delegates that the principal organisation of the working people are its trade unions but unfortunately over the past thirty years many unions have become part of the establishment. In spite of this we have seen signs of growing militancy among different sections of the working people and resistance to closures and austerity has been noticeable in several areas and sectors over the past year.

A report of keynote speeches and motions will be posted ASAP

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Wicklow branch protest beach closure

Members of the Wicklow branch of the Independent Workers Union joined protesters at a demonstration against the closure of a public beach by a local private business man. Branch secretary Brendan Doyle condemned the business man’s action as ‘a greedy land grab of the public’s property’.

 

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President and National secretary send New Year’s greetings

Patricia Campbell, president of the Independent Workers Union, has joined the union’s national secretary Noel Murphy in sending New Year’s greeting to all members of the union and to workers everywhere. The joint message included the following words:

‘May we thank all our members and officials for the work they have carried out over the past year and wish you success in our struggles in the New Year. 2012 was difficult for working people across this island and elsewhere but the IWU (and trade unionists of all countries) has endeavoured to support working people through this difficult period of austerity imposed on the working class by the inequalities of the prevailing economic system.

The IWU has, since its foundation, viewed its role as that of supporting the entire working class as distinct from any section of the class and in pursuit of this objective; the union has called for a general strike in opposition to austerity measures being imposed across both jurisdictions in Ireland. On behalf of the IWU, we reiterate this call and offer our support to all prepared to join us in this facet of struggle.

As always, we look forward with confidence.’

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Dublin branch launches Morley book

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The offices of the Independent Workers Union in Dublin was  the scene of a book launch on Friday 14 December. Irish Citizen Army – a descriptive history by IWU member Kevin Morley was launched by branch chairperson Mark Kavanagh. Branch chairperson Kavanagh pointed out in his address to the attendees that Kevin had put a very considerable amount of work into the work and that he had researched his subject and  the period very well. Mark congratulated the author on his work and urged the union’s membership to buy the book that highlights the actions of Dublin’s working people at a critical period in the history of Ireland. Union vice president Damian Keogh added his congratulations to the author before Kevin spoke to thank the speakers and the Dublin branch for its support. He concluded by reminding his listeners that the Citizen Army was a fine example of Irish working people organising in their own defence and that this lesson should inspire us all.

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IWU participate in Cork anti-austerity demo

Members of the Independent Workers Union (IWU) participated in the anti-austerity demonstration held in Cork on Saturday 8th December. IWU executive member Margaret Healy addressed the rally in Daunt square.

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IWU demands the Right to Work

At a recent meeting of the Independent Workers Union, the matter of escalating unemployment was discussed and the following statement was issued.

Government and Opposition are concentrating a lot of their resources at this time on cutting services and reducing wages. In the mist of this argument of accepting tweedledum or tweedledee, the question of offering real suggestions about creating employment has been lost.

Even the most right wing economists in the most capitalist of states recognise that employment can be used to increase government revenue and thus eliminating the need for cuts in wages and services.

Of course money needs to be invested in jobs but the Irish Government tends to concentrate on paying revenue gathered in order to bail out failed banks. e.g. €3.1 Billion per year to pay the debts incurred by the failed Anglo Irish Bank.

To demonstrate what could be done with this amount of money in terms of creating employment it would be worthwhile doing a simple exercise which emerged from an IWU conference. This is a basic exercise in simple and easy sums. Something even our coalition government ministers could understand.

1) Let’s give somebody who is presently on the dole a job, doing something useful in the community.

2) Let’s pay this person  €12 per hour for a 35 hour week

3) €12  x  35     =      €420 per week

4) Subtract dole which this person is receiving of …  €188 per week

5) Net extra cost to the State amounts to … €232 per week

6) Net extra cost for one person amounts to … €12,064  per year

7) Now let’s consider that €3.1 Billion bailout.    €3.1 Billion divided by €12,064  =  256,962 jobs per year.

With 256,962 people formerly out of work now employed, there will be increased revenue accrual and extra spending creating still more jobs. It’s simple and it’s effective and it’s good for ordinary people so why can’t it be done?

Ask your local TD why the IWU plan should not be put into operation and see them fib.

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Mayday in Belfast with the IWU

Great turnout for IWU contingent on the Belfast mayday parade. Congratulations to all who helped and thanks to all who participated

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Whistle blowing

IWU president Patricia Campbell participated in the launch of a branch of Patients First in Belfast on Monday 16th April. thedetail.tv carried the following report of the launch.

Blowing the whistle on health service secrecy

By Niall McCracken

A HEALTH service whistleblower’s group has set up in Northern Ireland at a time when concerns about safety in our health and social care system are rarely out of the news.

In recent months there has been extensive coverage on the role of whistleblowers within Northern Ireland’s health trusts following the leaking of documents to The Irish News which exposed allegations of years of abuse at two former children’s hospitals.

Dr. Kim Holt, one of the best-known health service whisteblowers in England, attended the launch of the NI branch of Patients First on Monday night and said the need for protection of people who flag concerns about patient safety has never been greater.

She was the consultant paediatrician who “blew the whistle” on the inadequacies of the department which failed “Baby P”. In an interview with The Detail she set out the ways health service management stifle whistleblowers and of the huge culture shift needed to establish transparency over safety.

Click to read more

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Annual Conference

The annual conference of the Independent Workers Union took place on Saturday 31 March 2012 in the Quay Co-Op – 18 Cove Street, Cork City. The event began at 9:30 a.m. and ended at 5:00 p.m. As normal, a number of motions were discussed, a national executive council was elected and the union’s financial position was reviewed.

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