News & Events

Archive for July 2010

ACT NOW on 2015

Posted on July 30, 2010

Dochas - Act Now - Act Now on 2015
Act Now on 2015

Keep the 0,7% development aid target!

Congress and 64 other organizations have joined the campaign "Act now on 2015". The campaign, which follows up last year's "We Do Care" campaign, calls on the government to deliver on its promise to reach the UN target of spending 0.7% of national income on overseas aid by 2015.

Ireland international reputation is built on its long held commitment to the world's poor. Even in tough economic times, aid is affordable. 0.7% is not just a number - it is trained teachers and doctors; t is more schools and hospitals; it is people living their lives with hope and dignity. Our aid promise is something to be proud of. Ireland must act now to keep it.

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Congress protests against Iraq

Posted on July 28, 2010

David Begg - Congress General Secretary
Congress General Secretary

Banning of trade unions in the electricity sector

 

In a letter of the 27th of July to the Prime Minster of Iraq Mr. Nori Al-Maliki, the General Secretary of Congress David Begg protests against the latest violation of trade union rights in Iraq.

On July 20, the Minister of Electricity on behalf of the government issued a Ministerial Order, which prohibits all trade union activities in the electricity sector. It orders the ministry in coordination with the police to close all trade union offices and take control of the trade unions' assets, properties, documents, furniture and computers. Finally, the Ministerial Order grants the police authority, under the terrorism act of 2005, to arrest any trade union activist who tries to protest against this unjust action.

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Jorge Gamboa: "Your solidarity gives us strength"

Posted on July 19, 2010

Jorge Gamboa and Jim Larkin - Jorge Gamboa at the SIPTU head office with Jim Larkin
Jorge Gamboa at the SIPTU head office with Jim Larkin

Colombian Trade Union leader visited Ireland.

The importance of the Irish trade union movements'solidarity work with Colombia was highlighted by Jorge Gamboa during his visit to Ireland 25 - 30 May.
- I can not enough emphasise how much the international trade union solidarity means to us. We are working under very difficult circumstances and the knowledge that people in other countries are waging solidarity campaigns for our movement, gives us strength to continue our struggle.

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Clean Clothes Campaign: Educate and Mobilise Consumers!

Posted on July 13, 2010

CCC Meeting 25.5 photo 1 - Silvana Cappuccio quoted Neil Kearney
Silvana Cappuccio quoted Neil Kearney "No garment worker should be paid so little that they can't feed themselves". Photo: John Chaney.

Improve working conditions of garment workers in the global south.

The Irish branch of Clean Clothes Campaign will be launched within some months. As part of the preparations a public meeting was held in Dublin on the 25th of May. More than 50, mostly young, people attended. Almost all of them signed a list declaring their interest to join the work of an Irish branch of the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC).

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