North Korea Increases Aid to Russia, Mos... Tue Nov 19, 2024 12:29 | Marko Marjanovi?
Trump Assembles a War Cabinet Sat Nov 16, 2024 10:29 | Marko Marjanovi?
Slavgrinder Ramps Up Into Overdrive Tue Nov 12, 2024 10:29 | Marko Marjanovi?
?Existential? Culling to Continue on Com... Mon Nov 11, 2024 10:28 | Marko Marjanovi?
US to Deploy Military Contractors to Ukr... Sun Nov 10, 2024 02:37 | Field Empty
Anti-Empire >>
Indymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.
Army Sergeant Travis Decker Murdered His Three Children After Being Denied Mental Health Care at JBL... Sat Jun 07, 2025 04:52 | JBLM Whistleblowers
A corrupt military police force and incompetent Commander who denied emergency mental health care and crisis counseling to an American service member resulted in the murder of the sergeant's three young daughters
Gaza doctor grieves her nine children killed in Israeli strike Sun May 25, 2025 20:00 | imc
Israeli regime continues it's slaughter
'The children were completely charred'
Paediatrician Alaa al-Najjar was treating victims of Israeli attacks when her children were killed by an Israeli strike on their home
British doctors working in Gaza describe territory as a ?slaughterhouse? Sat May 24, 2025 00:23 | imc
There?s no food getting in so people are starving,? surgeon Tom Potokar says
British doctors working in Gaza have described the territory as a ?slaughterhouse,? where the patients they are treating are severely malnourished.
Plastic surgeons and orthopedic specialists from the UK are based at the Amal and Nasser hospitals in Khan Younis in the south of the territory.
Dr. Tom Potokar, a plastic surgeon specializing in burn injuries, has worked in Gaza 16 times but said this mission had revealed a level of destruction far greater than his last visit in 2023,
It is time to talk about the Out of Control Immigration. Mon Mar 31, 2025 22:12 | imc
For the last few years since the CV19 scamdemic undocumented immigration into Ireland has surged. No one is allowed discuss it because they do not want any rational debate about it. If you do you are labelled an extremist. However this out of control immigration is fully facilitated by the Irish government and the EU and the shady figure behind the Neo Con movement pushing for endless war, wokeism and globalist agenda.
[Dublin] National Demonstration for Palestine: End Israeli Apartheid & Genocide Thu Mar 06, 2025 22:35 | ipsc
Sat, 22 March 2025, 13:00 Assemble at the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, Dublin 1
The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, supported by over 150 Irish civil society organisations, has called another National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 22nd March.
The march will begin at the Garden of Remembrance at 1pm and finish outside the D?il on Molesworth Street/Kildare Street to bring our demands to the Irish government?s doorstep.
The Saker >>
How Left-Wing Activists are Recycled Wed Sep 17, 2025 07:00 | Charlotte Gill
If you've looked at pictures of Left-wing protests and think, 'Haven't I seen her before?' you'd be right! Charlotte Gill investigates the weird small world of Leftist activist recycling.
The post How Left-Wing Activists are Recycled appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
News Round-Up Wed Sep 17, 2025 01:15 | Richard Eldred
A summary of the most interesting stories in the past 24 hours that challenge the prevailing orthodoxy about the ?climate emergency?, public health ?crises? and the supposed moral defects of Western civilisation.
The post News Round-Up appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
German State Media Have Systematically Slandered Charlie Kirk in the Wake of his Assassination Tue Sep 16, 2025 19:00 | Eugyppius
German state media have systematically slandered Charlie Kirk in the wake of his assassination, says Eugyppius. They portray him as an unhinged and dangerous fascist, just stopping short of blaming him for his own death.
The post German State Media Have Systematically Slandered Charlie Kirk in the Wake of his Assassination appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
White House Announces Crackdown on ?Terrorist? Left Tue Sep 16, 2025 17:47 | Will Jones
The White House is cracking down on Left-wing "terrorist" organisations following?the killing of Charlie Kirk, with President Trump saying he will considered designating Antifa as a terror group.
The post White House Announces Crackdown on “Terrorist” Left appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
We?re in a Post-Woke World Now Tue Sep 16, 2025 15:48 | Dr David McGrogan
Charlie Kirk's murder marks the shift to a post-woke world, says Dr David McGrogan. At least the woke wanted to return to Year Zero and build a 'better world'. The online, Bluesky Left of 2025 just hate conservatives.
The post We’re in a Post-Woke World Now appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Lockdown Skeptics >>
Voltaire, international edition
Will intergovernmental institutions withstand the end of the "American Empire"?,... Sat Apr 05, 2025 07:15 | en
Voltaire, International Newsletter N?127 Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:38 | en
Disintegration of Western democracy begins in France Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:00 | en
Voltaire, International Newsletter N?126 Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:39 | en
The International Conference on Combating Anti-Semitism by Amichai Chikli and Na... Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:31 | en
Voltaire Network >>
down |
worker & community struggles and protests |
news report
Wednesday December 05, 2007 08:22
by .
printable version
Digg this
del.icio.us
Furl
Reddit
Technorati
Facebook
Gab
Twitter
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (13 of 13)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13I heard that Nipsa are taking this to court which in my opinion is the best way forward, us fighting with other unions just makes us stoop to their level and the press love to see us fightng, I say hold our heads high and take em to the courts, Nipsa have been right all along and Im proud to be part of a fighting union full of experienced and well informed officials.
I agree with Jane,its a shame the unions couldnt stick together but we would be making a big mistake if we start rowing in public.The media would crucify us and the trade union community would be badly damaged.I joined nipsa to support the action and I have nothing but praise for the time and effort put in by John Corey in particular,but all his officials too,they kept us well informed and supported us on the picket lines when we were out.
I was heartened to see the following letter in Monday's Irish News, demonstrating Republican SF's continued support for the Classroom Assistants:
Striking classroom assistants 'are an inspiration to all exploited workers'
PAUL Butler (December 1) speaks with the forked tongue which has long been associated with the Provisionals.
Whilst claiming to support the classroom assistants and their right to strike, he subsequently condemns the format of their industrial action.
He argues that there is an "unacceptable impact" on children at special needs schools.
However, we in Republican Sinn Féin recognise that it is the refusal by management for some 12 years to treat them equitably which has affected the education of these children.
The Provos - both through Mr Butler and Stormont education minister Caitríona Ruane - seek to pressurise Nipsa into halting their strike action and accepting an entirely inadequate offer.
It is hardly surprising that they would wish to undermine the democratic processes of a union, given the fact that they represent a party which has systematically ignored the democratic processes within its own structures.
It is time that the Provos dropped all pretence of defending Republican and Socialist values, and ceased styling themselves as Sinn Féin - an organisation they departed from 21 years ago.
We in Sinn Féin (i.e. Republican Sinn Féin) will continue to support those seeking to protect their employment rights and believe that the striking classroom assistants are an inspiration to all exploited workers.
RISTEARD BREATHNACH
Sinn Féin Poblachtach
I agree with Jane and Katie that unions fighting among themselves is an unfortunate situation. They quite rightly say the press will have a "Field day". However what has to be wieghed up is what are the consequences of brushing thing under the carpet. It is a well known fact that "Behind the scenes" many trade union officials have differences of opinion and heated debate about tactics. This situation however is in a completely different league. When another union deliberatately and quite cynically undermines industrial action by a "Sister" union you have to ask the question "Whose side are they on"? Don't forget any benifits gained by NIPSA would have applied to their own members too. So what possible reason could they have to try and scupper NIPSA's action? They obviously have another agenda that not only goes against NIPSA's aims it puts their own members interests into second place, a situation that no union member can tolerate. This leaves those who have trade unions and more importantly trade union values at heart with no option but to expose the dirty and secret dealings, even though it may look bad for a time, if the result is unions getting back to basics then it will be worth it. It is worth noting that the attacks are not on the unions themselves, (the rank and file members are still our brothers and sisters) but the leaderships of these unions who seem to be embarking on some kind of unofficial social partnership with management/government.
In my opinion that is utter nonsense from RSF. Classroom assistants have a legitimate demand which we don't need to be damged by associations with extremists like RSF.
I must disagree with the remarks made by "John - NIPSA'".
Republican Sinn Féin are not 'extremists' - but are simply those who continue to adhere to Republican principles. I think it is great that they have stated their support for the Classroom Assistants who were, until recently, on strike. Right-wing fascists in the Provos may have sought to undermine the industrial action, but RSF have continued to defend the interests of the Irish people.
Excellent letter from Mr. Breathnach of RSF, was also great to see the statement in support from ye as well a few days ago!
Does anyone else feel that that RSF letter is as much (jf not more) about bashing the Shinners as supporting the classroom assistants?
On another note, I realise this is only two-and-a-half months late but I've finally got the videos from the march and rally on 26 September 2007 uploaded. Good to see NIPSA have stuck to their guns since this began.
Alison Miller - http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=Go8tqnNBzcU
Cecilia Mullen - http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=PUZL8cl_dyo
John Corey - http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=5NGhAFFao5U
Peter Bunting - http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=aiC2lVJhReA
Janette Murdock - http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=e4BGC8i6zBw
Am Glad to hear from the mouth of Peter Bunting that he "will stand with us until this dispute is resolved"...Go peter...am so glad of your support and the support of ICTU...DONT LET US DOWN!!!!!!
I don't like the outcome of the dispute any more than anybody else,in fact I stand to lose badly out of it but I am still horrified as are many others at the undignified public name calling and squabbling between the unions that has sullied the whole thing.You shouldnt wash ur dirty linen in public and if a family has a quarrel it should be sorted out amongst the family.The management must be laughing,the unions are doing themselves more damage than they ever could and people will just walk away from the unions if this goes on.Talk about 'mutually assured destruction'! I admire John Corey and nipsa for doing their best for us but the nipsa genral counsel now needs to get a grip on this.
I totaly agree with you, now the offers of buy out are out among members and i know some of the classroom assistants I know will sign this, partly because they are sickened of the way certain branches of Nipsa have let us down by public name calling of other unions. I joined a Union becasue thats wat I thought it was..unity...wise up and sort this out in the courts before more members leave.
There has been much huff and puff, claim and counter claim, attacks and responses. Now the figures are out, Let's see how certain Unions try and justify their actions.
Some Unions made outragous claims. GMB balloted 1570 members and got a 4-1 vote in favour of acceptance. UNISON spoke for 2500 members, and then claimed after their ballot a Majority of classroom assistants had accepted the offer. NIPSA however simply claimed to represent the majority of classroom assistants.So here are the figures obtained from the Education and Library Boards under the freedom of information act (Not suprisingly they wouldn't issue the figures until this was invoked).
NIPSA.....2679
UNISON..920
GMB..........243
The figures speak for themselves, but it's worth noting. As the GMB balloted 1570 members and got a 4-1 yes vote, their NO vote was still 314, so every GMB classroom assistant could of voted against the deal, yet still had it forced upon them. UNISON claimed 80% in favour of the deal (they were carefull to avoid ballot figures) but the maths is simple, 736 voted in favour. Taking GMB's 4-1 vote but applying it to their actual CA figures =195 in favour. Grand total 931 in favour 2679 against. Deal accepted , R.I.P democracy.
This is without even going into the nature of the ballots. UNISON's, we'll bring you the ballot paper, we'll stand over you while you vote, we'll take the ballots away, we'll count the ballots. What kind of sham democracy is that?
What this shows is that half of all the classroom assistants are not in any union,so even if all the ones who are went out it wouldnt have been enough to do anything.Nipsa were the only ones who couldnt see that and they dragged some of their people out-not all of them,the ones in my school refused to go and so did others in other schools-for over a week for nothing.I am not a union member but if I was I would not join one that behaved that stupidly.