Threat to community services as The Department of Education procrastinates.

As a direct failure of the Department of Education to honour its commitment to pay rent due to An Droichead in Belfast,  14 workers now face a bleak 2012, with serious consequences for the provision of childcare facilities for local children and parents from the South and East Belfast area. The lackadaisical approach of the Department also puts into question the preschool needs of the adjacent school.

An Droichead was founded in 1992 and provides  local playgroup, preschool and after schools service for the local area.  It has received numerous professional awards over the years for its innovative approach and added services to the local area. It has provided hundreds of thousands of pounds in investment to the local school which operates on its land, but now  faces pressure to moveas the Department of Education has refused to allow payment on the leases.

The organisation is owed the rent for the School for the previous 3 years, and have made on-going efforts to have the Departmentengage with them to resolve the matter.   The non payment of the rent due has resulted in the organisation being forced to consider  placing its employees on protective notice, and these jobs are now at a real risk of being lost.  This organisation also funds a bus service for the school , however it expects to be forced to cease this service before the end of March, due to the non payment of the rent.

Sean Hayes, a Spokesperson for the organisation stated ”we have attempted to resolve this issue by dialogue and agreement, but regrettably it would appear that the people we are engaging with are not prepared to protect the interests of the children in their care. While the jobs are obviously a concern what is of greater concern are the interests of local children’s educational needs which the Department is putting in serious jeopardy.  Our plans for the future include the provision of 50 jobs in the social economy, however this plan cannot go ahead unless we receive the long overdue payments.”

Niall McNally from SIPTU added “we are not prepared to allow the loss of 14 jobs and vital services to the Community.  We are calling upon the Sinn Fein Minister for Education, John O’Dowd to ensure this matter is resolved and these vital services are protected.  We have been in contact with and  are seeking an urgent meeting with the Department and will be insisting this issue be resolved to the satisfaction of the group and concerned parents.  We are not aware of any logical reason as to why this rent has not been paid, and it is not acceptable that vital services are now under threat.”

SIPTU responds to the draft PfG

The following response to the Draft Programme for Government 2011-15 submitted by SIPTU.  

http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/draft-pfg-2011-2015.pdf (Link to Draft PfG)

We will not comment upon each commitment, although the vast majority we welcome such as “invest in social enterprise growth to increase sustainability in the board community sector”  however another such as “press for the devolution of corporation tax and reduce it’s level” are not.  However we are limiting our response to one commitment in the PfG and one omission.

Priority 5: Delivering High Quality and Efficient Public Services.

Social Clause “Include Social Clauses in public procurement contracts for suppliers, services and construction”

SIPTU has welcomed the publication by the Northern Ireland Executive of the Draft Programme for Government 2011-15, and in particular its pledge to “include social clauses in public procurement contracts for supplies, services and construction”. While the term social contract covers a multitude of areas, all of which we also welcome, we are limiting our response to the clauses offering protection of people working for companies or organisations who are funded from the public purse.   In this regard we trust that the provision of a social clause into public procurement contracts will ensure these contracts contain ‘a threshold of decency clause’ in relation to terms and conditions of employment for any organisation employing staff and securing government funding. 

We are aware from contact with our membership and organisations in the Community and Voluntary of growing concerns that Government Departments are seeking ever increasing ‘efficiencies’ from the Sector in funding. Some organisations have regrettably addressed this conundrum by reducing the pay or hours of work of the staff they employ.  This, if not adequately addressed will result in a race to the bottom in the terms and conditions of employment in the sector.  It will also result in the loss of experienced, skilled and committed staff.  This will then lead to a reduction in the quality and level of community and voluntary services.

SIPTU believes the insertion of threshold of decency clauses as a Social Clause will provide organisations with a level playing field to compete for Government contracts based upon the solely upon the quality of service they provide.  We believe workers providing  key services deserve the inclusion of a social clause and the Northern Ireland Executive needs to be applauded for this commitment.  We hope that this commitment when implemented into policy will result in appropriate protection for workers and services provided to the public.

We also seek that these clauses be reviewed periodically by representatives of the Government Departments issuing public procurement contracts, the employers organisations and the trade union representatives.

Peace IV

SIPTU notes that policy makers have many competing demands for commitments to be included in the draft PFG.  We are nevertheless disappointed that a commitment to secure Peace 4 funding was not included in the draft PFG.  Noting the valuable work undertaken by Peace 1,2,and 3 Programmes and also aware that our society requires much more assistance as we attempt to resolve the legacy of the troubles.  We hope the Executive shares our understanding in this regard.

SIPTU Members Are Fighting Back

SIPTU members have hailed the support received from the public for the strike action taken by over 200,000 public sector workers in Northern Ireland today (30th November).

Across the North, workers on picket lines reported expressions of public support for their industrial action taken to protest attempts by the London government to cut workers pension entitlements and reduce public services.

Approximately 1,000 SIPTU members from Northern Ireland Railways, Belfast City Council, Newry and Mourne District Council, Southern and Belfast Education and Library Boards and Northern Ireland Water took part in the industrial action.

SIPTU picketed local government offices, railway stations, waste depots, community centres and schools.

Rallies were held in Newry, Omagh, Derry, Magherafelt, Downpatrick and Belfast city centre where public sector workers heard teachers, bin workers and health employees explain what cuts in services would mean to the public.

The main rally was held in Belfast centre, attended by an estimated 20,000 among them SIPTU President, Jack O’Connor.

Addressing the crowd ICTU Assistant General Secretary, Peter Bunting, said; “The real extremists in our society are those who evade and avoid tax, those who have gambled billions with other peoples’ money to sate their greed, and those politicians who have decreed that ordinary people, private sector workers, public sector workers and the most vulnerable of all, the unemployed, the sick, women and children, and senior citizens, will pay for the criminal conduct of the pampered elite.”

Peter Bunting concluded; “Let us fight on and build for the alternative – people, jobs and public services!”

SIPTU Calls for Fairness from DEL

SIPTU have written to the  Minister for responsibility for the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) to seek a reconsideration of the decision to declare funding applications from Derry community groups as late.  The groups had ensured their applications were received in good time.  However, due to a combination of an administrative error and IT problems, the vacancies were not registered by the Departments lead partner the North West Regional College before the closing date.

Sean McMonagle a SIPTU activist from the umbrella group Triax Neighbourhood Partnership stated: “The right and proper thing is for the minister to accept a mistake was made but it was not made by any of the community groups who had their application in on time.”

Step Ahead was introduced by the Department for Employment and Learning in direct response to the economic downturn, giving the voluntary and community sector and social economy businesses an opportunity to assist the long-term unemployed back into work.

The programme was utilised in creating exciting, genuine employment opportunities for those who were long-term unemployed and wished to take the first steps back into employment.   Around 175 people a month had been signing up for the programme, which was set up two years ago.

Overall during the life time of the scheme around 4,000 people were lifted out of social security dependency into temporary posts with voluntary or community sector groups, which improved the job prospects of participants by giving them a recent employment history.  In addition the vital work of the community and voluntary was enhanced.

However as a  cost saving measure the scheme was axed by DEL and a closing date for applications of the 21st October was imposed.  This decision was as a direct result of the reduction in the Block Grant received from Westminster.

SIPTU  have written directly to the Minister of DEL Steven Farry seeking an urgent review of the decision to deem the applications as late.  Martin O’Rourke Lead Organiser for SIPTU stated  “We trust the Minister will accept the groups acted in a professional manner ensuring the completed applications were received in good time by their lead partner, and the circumstances that led to the late receipt were entirely outside of their control”. 

The geographical are covered by these groups is one of the most deprived areas in the local economy and the services which these additional 30 workers could bring to the city are urgently required.

SIPTU Welcomes Commitments in DPG

SIPTU welcomes draft Programme for Government’s commitment to inclusion of social clauses

SIPTU has welcomed the publication by the Northern Ireland Executive of the Draft Programme for Government 2011-15, and in particular its pledge to “include social clauses in public procurement contracts for supplies, services and construction.” 

Social clauses in public procurement procedures refer to social and labour standards that contractors have to fulfil in order to tender for public contracts.  Such clauses require that all bidders respect certain locally established standards so that public contracts do not exert a downward pressure on wages and working conditions.

“We trust that the provision of a social clause into public procurement contracts will ensure they contain ‘a threshold of decency clause’ in relation to terms and conditions of employment for any organisation employing staff and securing a public procurement contract,” said the Chair of the SIPTU North West Community Sector Division, Karen Mullan.

“We are aware from contact with our membership and organisations of growing concerns that Government departments are seeking ever increasing ‘efficiencies’ from the Community and Voluntary Sector in funding applications. Some organisations have regrettably addressed this conundrum by reducing the pay or hours of work of the staff they employ.  This, if not adequately addressed will result in a race to the bottom in relation to terms and conditions of employment in the sector and will also result in the loss of experienced, skilled and committed staff.  This will then lead to a reduction in the quality and level of community and voluntary services,” Karen Mullan added.

Karen Mullan Chair of the North West District Committee

SIPTU believes the insertion of threshold of decency clauses will provide organisations with a level playing field to compete for Government contracts based upon the quality of service they provide.

Chair of the SIPTU Belfast Community District Committee, Pat McCauley, said; “We have written to the Northern Ireland Executive advising itof our position on this issue, and seeking a meeting to explore the introduction of the commitment together. Society relying upon, and the workers providing us with key services deserve the inclusion of a social clause and the Northern Ireland Executive needs to be applauded for this commitment. SIPTU will continue to monitor the situation.”

Pat McCauley Chair of SIPTU Belfast Community District Committee

SIPTU Organise Meeting for all C&V Organisations

SIPTU have organised a meeting for all community and voluntary Sector organisations within the city in the City Hotel, Derry, on Thursday 10^th November at 2.00 p.m. 

A large number of community and voluntary workers have already joined SIPTU and are uniting under SIPTU’s Communities against Cuts Campaign.  There are a range of issues that affect the community and voluntary sector with funding cuts been the most threatening to the sector at this time but other issues are also part of the SIPTU campaign are employment rights and recognition on issues such as long term contracts, pension rights and redundancy pay.

Martin O’Rourke,  Organiser for SIPTU stated “ We have become increasing concerned that organisations providing vital services to the most vulnerable in society who are already operating on a “shoestring” budget are being asked to make further “efficiencies.”   These essential services cannot be provided to our communities unless adequate funding is put in place.  Inflation is currently running at over 5% and even if funding was provided at last year’s level this would result in a reduction in real terms of over 5%.  This meeting is one of several across the local economy to ensure the community and voluntary sector can learn from the experiences of other organisations and speak and act with one collective voice.

According to SIPTU The Community and Voluntary Sector only receive 45% of its operating costs from Government funding and in return for every £1.00 invested delivers £4 to the local economy.  It delivers essential services at a lower cost than government agencies can, and despite this has already seen a 10% reduction in services and jobs over the last two years. 

Karen Mullan, Chairperson of the Western Organising Committee called upon all Community and Voluntary sector organisations whether members of the Union or not to come to the meeting to mobilise together against further cuts.  Karen Mullan added “The community sector is already at a major disadvantage in comparison to the public sector and even many private sector workers in terms of recognition around issues such as pensions, redundancy pay and long term contracts of employment. Over the course of the last two years upwards of 2,000 community development workers have lost their jobs in the delivery of vital services, if this occurs in any other sector there would be major outcry and there has been in the past, but loss in community development jobs, services, and its impact on the local economy as hardly received a mention in local or regional news. But as community development workers and projects we need to organise ourselves into strategic representation in the Union to protect this vital sector which has already received disproportionate cuts  resulting in the most disadvantaged in our society suffering.   It is time to reverse this trend, and to demand recognition from Government and other funding bodies in par with that of the public and private sectors workers, in terms of working conditions outlined. - the first step in doing so is the organisations attendance at this meeting.”

Trade Union Leader calls for workers to unite to fight attacks on pay and services

SIPTU's Jack O'Connor calls for workers to unite to fight attacks on pay and services

Speaking at an event to mark the unveiling of a portrait of Trade Union Leader James Connolly in Belfast City Council this evening SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor called on workers to unite to fight attacks on pay and services.

Thanking Mayor Niall O’Donnghaile and the City Council, he described the initiative as “acknowledging the role of the majority – i.e. Working people, in the history and civic life of the City”.  He said that while his union was founded in Dublin as it ITGWU in 1909 it was conceived in the great Belfast Dock Strike of 1907 when workers of all traditions across the city united to assert their rights.

He went on to cite the parallels between the circumstances at the end of the 19th and early 20th century to those prevailing today.  The economic collapse which precipitated the great London Dock Strike of 1889 and the wave of militancy among workers across Western Europe followed a global expansion of capital not unlike the 30 years before the implosion of 2008.  This has legitimised a new assault on pay,  which parallels the reaction of capital to the collapse that occurred in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Once again it is being done in the name of competitiveness. Once again we are learning that whatever differences exist between those at the top of society in different countries, they are unanimous when it comes to deciding on who is going to bear the lion’s share of the burden for the collapse of capitalism – working people as always.   “The austerity programme being promoted across Europe is mirrored by the approach of the UK government, which will jeopardise 40,000 jobs in this jurisdiction over the next four years.

“The outlook for working people, which only a few short years ago envisaged jobs and prosperity for the young, and reasonable pensions for the elderly increasingly begins to mirror that of an earlier, depressing era. Mass unemployment once again stalks the landscape. Casualisation, now in the form of agency working, mirrors the culture of the gangmaster, rendering the young subject to the volatilities of precarious working without rights.  The combination of public service cuts and collapsing private pension incomes are once again reducing the elderly to a status approaching penury.

“It’s time to apply the other lessons of history once again – working people must stand together and support each other.  Never have we faced a more urgent need to renew our commitment to the ideals of Connolly and Larkin and to their concept of building a fighting trade union movement capable of confronting the architects of austerity on the economic, social and political fronts. 

Ends