Monthly Archives: May 2012

CPSU News Update, Other

News Update N006/12

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News Update 10 May 2012

To: All Branch Secretaries, Executive Committee Members & Head Office

Date: May 10th 2012

News Update 06/12

Dear Colleagues,

Please forward this News Update to all CPSU members for their information.

  1. ADC Votes to Campaign for a NO Vote in EU Treaty

Following a good debate at ADC delegates voted almost unanimously for an OPW sponsored motion to oppose and campaign against the EU Fiscal Compact Treaty.

Motion No. 61 – ADC 2012

ADC instructs the incoming Executive Committee to call for and commit to campaign for a referendum on the EU treaty currently being negotiated and dubbed the “Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Monetary Union”, and in the event of such a referendum being held will campaign for a No vote. This campaign should include the distribution of material to all members and the facilitation of discussions at local level.

I am currently preparing a briefing document on the core issues at stake in this Referendum and will be circulating it after next week’s Executive Committee meeting.  However, it was clear from the debate that delegates are opposing the Treaty on the basis that it will embed the failed austerity policy into legislation and that the strict control on our deficit to 0.5% is far too restrictive and will only lead to further cuts in the incomes of lower paid workers. The debate heard calls for a loosening of pay restraint for lower paid workers in order to get money back into the economy. Of concern of course was the fear that a rejection of the Treaty could lead to a failure to secure funds from the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) in 2013/14 if further financial support for the State is needed leading to a public pay crisis but delegate after delegate argued that this was scaremongering and that alternative funding would be available in any case.

The CPSU in opposing the Treaty and urging a NO vote among its members is calling for a substantial growth and investment package rather than continued austerity. To that end the developments in France over the weekend may well put a greater emphasis in Europe on introducing a much needed Growth and Stimulus package.

  1. Social Protection – NEES

Members in the four Local Offices who will lead the reorganisation of services with the development of The National Entitlement and Employment Service, NEES have voted by a massive majority, 122 to 7, to not co-operate with new screenless reception areas, over health and safety concerns in the offices Tallaght, Arklow, Sligo and Kings Inn.  As a result of the ballot count on Tuesday, May 1st members were instructed that they should not operate the new reception areas, which are without security screens, this instruction to apply until there are further developments. A further meeting took place on May 9th with Management at which they proposed invoking the dispute clauses in the Croke Park Agreement and sending the matter to adjudication with a trial to begin in Kings Inn.  Given the depth of feeling on the issue it is not clear that this will be an acceptable solution but the matter will be considered by the Executive Committee next week. Management have been asked to defer implementation in the meantime.  Meetings will take place in all four offices before the Executive Committee meeting. Members have also been advised that there is no agreement on the management proposal for additional opening hours and that they should continue to operate current agreed opening hours.

  1. Social Protection – Public Service Card

Discussions are also underway on the processing of the new Public Service Card, with meetings taking place on 9th inst. Additional resources have to be in place to deliver this piece of work and further talks will take place next week.    We have asked the Department to prioritise redeployment over temporary employment and we have also sought the filling of Supervisor level positions.   It is intended that the Card will be processed at Local Offices and other centres being established in major urban centres, such as Gandon House, Dublin. Members will be kept posted on developments.

4. National Museum

CPSU reps are meeting management in the National Museum next week to finalise implementation of LRC Conciliation concerning Night time security and attendance arrangements.

 

Please note any queries relating to the above should be forwarded to the relevant Head Office Official

Beir Bua

Eoin Ronayne

General Secretary