8 November 2007 Edition

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Nuacht na nOibrithe

Work fears link to abortion

A SEMINAR held this week at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA) heard research that shows one in five Irish women between 25 and 34 have experienced a crisis pregnancy and that their job and work-life is a major factor in decisions on how to deal with pregnancy.
The lack of supports available for crisis pregnancy in the 26 Counties is still an issue for many women.
The CPA commissioned the research from the Centre for Gender and Women’s Studies at Trinity College Dublin. Caroline Spillane, director of the CPA, said:
“Workers need to be supported to allow them to combine employment with family and personal commitments. This is what underpins work-life balance. Moreover, this is an issue that affects workers across the full gamut of socio-economic groups and business sectors.”

 NIB to play mediation role

THE National Implementation Body is being given the role of mediating in the long-running Aer Lingus dispute between workers and management.
Aer Lingus is trying to impose a ‹20m cost-cutting programme that will see a reduction in overall workers’ pay alongside restrictions on overtime and fewer holidays. The company has initiated a freeze on a pay increase of 7.5 per cent due to workers under the social partnership agreement and will not allocate it unless employees agree to the cuts.
Aer Lingus Chief Executive Dermot Mannion has sent a letter to the unions threatening that all contract workers will be “released” unless the workers agree to proposals.
Unions and management meet later on this week to discuss the loss of 51 jobs at Shannon in its move to Belfast. The job losses have been attacked by Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris. A previous Labour Court ruling said that the move to Belfast would have no impact on existing employees.

New childcare rules could sound death-knell for community crèches

SIPTU’S Gerry Flanagan this week called on the Irish Government to rethink its proposed changes to the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme. These will have a detrimental effect on low-income workers because the subsidies will now only be available to those who are in receipt of social welfare benefits or Family Income Supplement.
The union believes that this will greatly restrict the ability of women to remain in or alternatively return to the workforce. Gerry Flanagan said:
“It also sounds the death-knell for community crèches which have often had a precarious existence, thanks to the uncertainty of funding.  That funding now looks even more uncertain and will certainly lead to job losses in the sector.
“The Government would be better off improving the quality of childcare by providing the up-skilling of the childcare workforce through standardised professional qualifications and the recognition of those qualifications through decent pay and conditions.
“Workers serving hamburgers receive more training and better pay and conditions than those taking care of our children,” he concluded.

Minimum wage inspections to be increased

THE National Employment Rights Authority, the state agency responsible for ensuring the enforcement of workers’ rights in the 26 Counties, is launching a new inspection programme targeted at guaranteeing workers the minimum wage (‹8.65 per hour).
NERA has responsibility for the Labour Inspectorate and Inspection Services. Media reports have shown that, of the 8,000 inspections carried out by the Labour Inspectorate, only 15 of these have resulted in prosecutions.

No strike this week for classroom assistants

CLASSROOM assistants in the Six Counties have not gone on strike this week although NIPSA has said it may still strike next week.
NIPSA represents almost half of the assistants. A ballot resulted in them voting to take further action in the industrial row over pay and conditions. NIPSA General Secretary John Corey said:
“There is now the opportunity in the next week to avoid further disruption to schools by the employers engaging in serious negotiations.”


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