CDP/JI/CE protest in Clondalkin , Dublin, Mon 23-11-09.

by sterical Thu Nov 19, 2009 22:59

Is this a Republican Sinn Fein protest ?

by Sharon. - Individual. Thu Nov 19, 2009 23:29

Hello Sterical !

"Just to be clear . Is this a Republican Sinn Fein protest ?"
No .
As stated - "The protest has been organised by Community Development Project groups..." , and will be the fourth such protest march that RSF has supported.
Not organised by RSF , but definitely supported by RSF.
Thanks!
Sharon.

by bpm Fri Nov 20, 2009 23:41

It should be noted that there has been some serious mismanagement of both CE and JI. Many very good individuals work in both and provide some very essential services however there are a small number who abuse the whole system. In my own experience this has included being off sick for months without it being officialy noted with FAS - being paid without permission, hours being doctored - not actually being worked - its funny at times though having CE and JI staff who are better paid with all their extra benefits than some poor idiot that takes on a regular job. In some areas JI staff get time and a half for working after 6pm making them not exactly low paid. As I say this is a minority however no one with the power to change it does - too many bloody vested interests up to and including FAS staff who turn a blind eye - all good union members Im sure - in fact on this one I dont blame the government I blame bad management of the schemes for the fact that they are under threat

by Sharon. - Individual. Sat Nov 21, 2009 18:54

Hi bpm !
The "serious mismanagement" with CE and JI can be attributed to , firstly , FAS , and secondly , to the sponsors involved (ie the actual location where the employee is placed) - it is within either or both of those institutions that the blame should be placed , and not on the employee him/herself.

" In my own experience this has included being off sick for months without it being officialy noted with FAS - being paid without permission, hours being doctored - not actually being worked"
That is simply not possible within the confines of the particular system which exists- the management in the sponsor company (creche,community centre etc) has to sign-off on the daily worksheet of the JI / CE employee and that timesheet is collected once a week by the area manager (JI / CE management / local 'Partnership' supervisor) so , unless they are all in on the 'scam' , it wouldn't work. Plus , the employee him/herself has to present themselves everyweek (usually on a Thursday) to sign for their wages , which are paid over on receipt of a properly-signed-off timesheet.

"its funny at times though having CE and JI staff who are better paid with all their extra benefits than some poor idiot that takes on a regular job."
Rubbish. If the "poor idiot" in question is paid the same wage (approximately €450 a week for a 39-hour week) then they , too, would be entitled to whatever extra State benefits that any other low-paid employee would be entitled to.

" In some areas JI staff get time and a half for working after 6pm making them not exactly low paid."
Not so , although it is an issue which has been raised at trade union level . The only 'incentive' for a JI / CE employee to work late / start early is 'TOIL' ie 'time off in lieu' . Any present or past JI / CE worker would know that to be the case. Overtime money is never paid by FAS to JI / CE employees.

"As I say this is a minority however no one with the power to change it does - too many bloody vested interests up to and including FAS staff who turn a blind eye"
Again , not the case : FAS management may indeed 'turn a blind eye' to its own wage and expenses issues , but they give no quarter whatsoever to JI / CE workers.

" I dont blame the government I blame bad management of the schemes for the fact that they are under threat."
Then do what should be done in any other job - punish those that mismanage , not those that are mismanaged.
Your agenda here is one of 'divide and conquer' - to try and present JI / CE programmes and employees as , in the main, 'lazy work-shy strokers on the fiddle' , possibly in the hope that they will lose the support of other workers , in their campaign to keep their jobs. Pick on someone your own size , and leave these poorly-paid workers alone.
Thanks!
Sharon.

by Sharon. - Individual. Mon Nov 23, 2009 22:34

Hi !
We held our Community Sector protest today in Clondalkin , in the icy-cold wind and the heavy drizzle , from 3.30 pm to 5.45pm - with a promise to John Curran that we will , once again (for the third time) repeat the exercise sometime within the next fortnight.
He wouldn't come out to listen to us but , eventually , three of our number managed to get in to his office - and came out in a more shocked state than when they entered. Curran informed the delegation that he doubted if the threatened Community Sector cuts will affect the proper functioning of the programmes involved...
More at the 'Related Link' below.
Thanks!
Sharon.

RSF on the Community Sector protest , Clondalkin , Dublin , Monday 23 November 2009.

by Sharon. - Individual. Tue Nov 24, 2009 23:43

Hi !
The next CDP/ JI/ CE-organised protest outside the office of John Curran will take place on Monday 30 November 2009.
Those attending will be meeting-up outside the County Council Offices in Clondalkin Village (facing the Mill shopping centre) at 3.30pm and will make their way to Curran's constituency office for 4.00pm.
As usual , Republican Sinn Féin members will be taking part.
All Welcome!
Thanks,
Sharon.

by larry Mon Nov 30, 2009 14:45

meself and a few others from clondalkin will be on this protest to currans office
they're gonna close down the work that we've been doing in this area for about 8 years now and put us back on the dole
its not right.

by Sharon. - Individual. Mon Nov 30, 2009 23:22

Hi Larry !
Great to see you and the lads on the protest today - we made a lot of noise , brought traffic to a stop , and got our point across , despite the fact that the good State Minister was 'too busy' to hear us out.
As mentioned at the protest today , we will be there again at 4pm next Monday , 7th December 2009 - loud , forceful and determined to do all that we can to fight back against the proposed destruction of the Community Sector programme in this State. The communities we live in will suffer greatly if those jobs are done away with.
A brief report and a few pics from the protest today can be viewed at the 'Related Link' below.
Thanks!
Sharon.

RSF on the Community Sector protest, Clondalkin , Monday 30 November 2009.

by Emma Thu Dec 03, 2009 14:03

For Sterical "Is this a Republican Sinn Fein protest ?" Does it matter who organised the protest? Just support the workers and stop bloody backbiting.

by Sharon. - Individual. Thu Dec 03, 2009 23:48

Hi Emma !
Thank You for that comment : I did state in the first post on this thread - "The protest has been organised by Community Development Project groups and will be supported by , amongst others , CDP's from outside Clondalkin, JI and CE workers..." , but some readers didn't read that part of the post , apparently.
Anyway - we will be outside Mr Curran's Clondalkin office once again on Monday next , 7th December 2009 , at 4pm . We will not be marching from outside the County Council offices this time , as we were losing at least half an hour 'protesting' time by doing so and, with these dark afternoons , it was decided to actually 'spend' that half hour on the picket , rather than using it to form-up and march to Mr Curran's office.
And , once again , 'Sterical' - RSF will be there!
Thanks,
Sharon.

by Sharon. - Individual. Sun Dec 06, 2009 22:42

Hi !
The threatened closure of Community Sector-based jobs will be felt in Clondalkin more so than in any other part of the State , as there are more than 50 JI employees alone based in over 30 community organisations in the area. The types of projects supported range from football clubs, community centres, educational services and caring organisations. JI employees provide relevant and essential supports to their sponsor organisations such as childcare, caretaking, maintenance, security and administration/clerical roles and, were it not for the input of JI and CE staff , those projects would not function as they now do , if at all.
A protest against State interference in relation to these jobs will be held on Monday 7th December 2009 at 4.00pm outside the Clondalkin constituency office of State Minister John Curran (2a Main Street) : supprt your community , support the protest.
Thanks!
Sharon.

by Sharon. - Individual. Wed Dec 09, 2009 20:25

Hi !
This protest against Community Sector cutbacks was held as stated , on Monday 7th December 2009 , outside the Clondalkin constituency office of Fianna Fail State Minister John Curran : a few days before that protest , Curran was asked to sign a 'Pledge' , offering support to those working in the Community Sector - but he refused to do so :

"Jobs Initiatives support a wide range of community based services including childcare, elder care, drug rehabilitation , youth projects and recycling to name but a few. Real and vital services are provided at a low cost to the state.
The McCarthy Report proposes that the Jobs Initiative scheme be abolished.
If implemented , this cut will have a major impact on workers , projects and communities . Many workers on these projects carry out extremely valuable work within their communities. Without the existence of J.I. many communities would not have the help and support they need. As an elected representative, if you wish to support J.I. workers in their campaign to save their jobs , please pledge your support below.
Your stance on this issue will be communicated to all our members in the Community Sector.
I ________________ support SIPTU's campaign to defend the Jobs Initiative scheme and the workers currently on the scheme."

Curran didn't come out to speak to us , didn't send one of his staff or flunkys out to us and didn't ask us to step in to explain our case to him.
A few words and some pics from the Monday 7th December 2009 Clondalkin picket can be viewed at the 'Related Link' below.
Thanks!
Sharon.

A young protestor from Ronanstown , Clondalkin.

by Sharon. - Individual. Fri Dec 18, 2009 00:23

Hi!
Despite street protests , petitions and personal calls to the constituency offices of elected Fianna Fail and Green representatives , it was announced on Thursday 17 December 2009 by John Curran (FF) that 29 Community Development Projects will no longer receive State funding from Friday 18 December 2009 and will have to close.
The remaining CDP's will be "integrated" under/with the 'Local Development and Social Inclusion Programme' ; however , it was recently announced by Mr Curran and his colleagues that the budget for this operation has been cut by over €7 million (a 10% cut) .
Those CDP's that appeal this decision will be 'allowed' to continue in operation for at least the next four weeks while their case is being decided - meaning that we have approximately four weeks to seriously increase the pressure and get this unjust decision reversed.
As soon as I become aware of same , I will post the details here regarding any street protests , rally's , pickets etc that are organised with the aim of opposing these cutbacks .
We have lost one fight , not the battle.
Thanks!
Sharon.

by Sharon. - Individual. Fri Dec 18, 2009 19:28

Hi !
It now appears that , before the end of January 2010 , thirty-one CDP's throughout the State will have been wound-up , resulting in approximately 300 workers (including JI/CE employees) losing their jobs.
JI and CE workers elsewhere who manage to hold on to their jobs will only do so if they agree to take a five-and-a-half per cent cut in pay and on the understanding that their training and education facilities will be withdrawn.
There is still time to rally against these proposals , and they must be rallied against : the communities that are going to suffer as a result of same will find themselves in the same position they were in in the late 1970's and early 1980's. We can't go back there.
Thanks !
Sharon.

For shame : Cowen looks down on CDP / JI / CE workers.

by Sharon. - Individual. Wed Dec 23, 2009 16:05

Hi !
The day before I wrote the above (ie Thursday 17th December 2009) , three Community Sector projects in Clondalkin received notification from the relevant State Department informing them that , after 31st December this year , they will cease to exist.
The three CDP's in question are the North Clondalkin CDP (http://www.activelink.ie/irish/organisation.php?id=512) , the Dolcain Project (http://www.dolcainproject.org/) and Quarryvale House (http://www.mypois.ie/mpoi.php?n=quarryvale-community-ho...40415) .
Those that work(ed) there and those from the local community that availed of the services offered by those three centres are devastated.
Near-by centres in Tallaght (http://www.itmtrav.com/network.html#Dublin) , Ballyfermot (http://www.ideaonline.ie/content/ballyfermot-travellers...oject) and Crumlin (http://www.crumlincdp.com/index2.html) also received those letters , and will be gone by the end of this month.
Talks are on-going between the soon-to-be-unemployed workers and , hopefully , protests against the closures will be organised soon , details of which will be posted on this thread.
Thanks,
Sharon.

by Sharon. - Individual. Tue Jan 05, 2010 18:55

Hi !
On Thursday next (7th January 2010) - the first payday after the Christmas break - those still employed by Jobs Initiative throughout the State will find that their wages are €25 lighter than they were in December 2009.
Up to this week , those employees were paid €457 for a 39-hour week but , from this week on (for as long as their jobs last or until they their wages are cut again) they will be paid , 'on paper' , €432 for working the same hours in the same job : income tax and PRSI will be stopped out of that figue.
€25 a week taken from such a small income is the difference between being able to put food on the table or part-pay a bill and not being able to do so . The 'barely-paid' are paying for the mistakes of the 'over-paid' . For shame.
Thanks!
Sharon.

by Sharon. - Individual. Wed Jan 06, 2010 19:40

Hi !
Those employed on 'Community Employment' (CE) programmes (who earn even less than JI employees) will now see their wages cut by €12 a week.
A meeting is due to be held next Wednesday (20 January 2010) between trade union officials and the State Department of Finance at which the wage cuts for those still employed in the Community Sector will be discussed. I would suggest that at the very least if these savage wage cuts are not withdrawn then a reduction in the hours worked should be demanded.
Those workers deserve some justice.
Thanks!
Sharon.

by Sharon. - Individual. Fri Jan 08, 2010 21:45

Hi !
Today (Friday 8th January 2010) is the imposed State deadline for the receipt of appeals made by CDP management / staff against the decision to close them down. Depending on the amount of appeals received by Mr John Curran and his colleagues (hopefully , 31 such appeals were lodged ?) it could be two weeks or more before a judgement will be announced - and the chances are that most , if not all , of the appeals will be rejected.

There is some talk about a protest against these closures being organised for next Thursday , 14th January 2010 , but nothing concrete yet that I know of. I will post those details on this thread asap.
Thanks!
Sharon.

by Sharon. - Individual. Wed Jan 27, 2010 22:29

Hi !
The results of the so-called 'Appeals Board' in relation to whether or not to re-open the axed CDP's will be delivered this Friday , 29th January 2010 , to the management committees of those now-closed projects.
The word "irreversible" is expected to feature prominently.
Thanks!
Sharon.

by Sharon. - Individual. Fri Jan 29, 2010 20:10

Hi !
This afternoon (Friday 29 January 2010) the management and staff of North Clondalkin CDP ( http://www.activelink.ie/node/270 ) were officially notified that the appeal they had lodged against their closure had been rejected and , as such , they were told to cease operations.
The Chairperson of that CDP , Noreen Byrne ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-yJWNaT_dw ) received a strong verbal tongue-lashing from John Curran (Fianna Fail, Clondalkin) in Leinster House on Wednesday last (27 Jan) for being involved in the many CDP / JI / CE pickets which were held outside his Clondalkin constituency office last year.
Hopefully , now that the 'appeals' process has run its (predetermined) course , more pickets like that will be organised.
The man deserves it.
Thanks!
Sharon.

by Sharon. - Individual. Mon Feb 01, 2010 23:43

Hi !
A protest against the recent closures of CDP's will be held this Wednesday , 3rd February 2010 , at 11am , outside Leinster House , Kildare Street , Dublin.
It has been organised by the Eastern Region CDP Core Group and all supportive organisations and individuals are asked to attend. The organisers have requested that no political party banners etc be carried during the protest : those taking part are instead asked to carry and display pro-Community Sector banners etc only.
Hopefully , this will mark the continuation of the protests and pickets that were held last year in relation to this issue.
Thanks!
Sharon.

by Sharon. - Individual. Fri Feb 12, 2010 00:19

Hi !
One of the recently officially 'closed' Community Development Programmes is still managing to operate , thanks to the fantastic efforts put in by the local community itself and by the staff and Board of Management of that CDP.
North Clondalkin CDP , based in Christy Melia House ,24 Neilstown Park, Clondalkin ,Dublin 22
(phone 01-4571744 / Fax: 01-457-5325/ Email: nccdp1@yahoo.ie) has released the following statement -

" Christy Melia House REMAINS OPEN !
The Board of Management would like to inform the
community that North Clondalkin Community
Development Programme remains an active
organisation despite the decision of the Dept. of
Community, Rural & Gaelteacht Affairs to discontinue
our core funding.
The Christy Melia House is still operating as normal,
open 5 days a week to the general public providing the
same service to the community albeit on reduced
resources.
The project has a full complement of staff - Noreen, Aisling , Samantha , Margaret , Denise, Elaine , Carmel and Claudine.
NCCDP will be using the next edition of the BUZZ (magazine) to give
a more detailed account of the Department decision to
discontinue our funding.
THANKS TO ALL WHO SUPPORTED OUR APPEALS
PROCESS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
OUR WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL OF YOU ! "

This development shows the strong support for , and in, the local community that this CDP has- and it's not alone in that regard , as testimonials published below on the 'Related Link' can testify to.
Full marks to all concerned with this development - once again , you put those that 'closed you down' to shame.
Thanks!
Sharon.

by Sharon. - Individual. Sun Feb 14, 2010 21:38

Hi !
As an active trade union member myself , I am more times than not left disappointed that the TU leadership seem to be reluctant to draw a line in the sand preferring , instead , to wait and see just how far the 'tide' will encroach. I prefer the 'stitch in time' approach , myself : however - this communication was released last Thursday , 11th February 2010 , by SIPTU :

" SIPTU and IMPACT have called on the Government to enter direct talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) in relation to the recent closure of 14 Community Development Projects (CDP'S).
The projects, all but one of which are based in Dublin, employ community workers and provide essential services to the most vulnerable sections of the population.
In 2009, following an internal review of community projects across the country the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCRGA) removed its funding of 29 projects forcing their closure and the loss of dozens of jobs.
While 10 projects successfully appealed the removal of funding 14 were informed in recent weeks that their appeals had been rejected by the DCRGA.
The trade unions representing community workers, SIPTU and IMPACT, have now called on the Department, as the employer of those who have lost their jobs, to enter immediate and direct discussions at the LRC.
According to SIPTU's Community Sector Branch Organiser, Gerry Flanagan, the review process which resulted in the closure of the 14 projects was "deeply flawed and biased".

"Since February 1st last the workers in these 14 CDP's have been left in limbo following the withdrawal by the Department of their primary funding. They face the loss of their livelihoods while the most vulnerable communities have lost vital services as the result of a deeply flawed and biased review process," he said.

SIPTU General President, Jack O'Connor, called on the Government to use the established industrial relations machinery of the State and engage with the representatives of the community sector workers.
"The Community Sector is seen by this Government as a soft touch when it comes to cutbacks. Those responsible for these decisions should take note that this slash and burn approach is unacceptable," said Jack O'Connor. "It is essential that the Department engages with the representatives of these community sector workers through the established industrial relations machinery of the State." "

The State department in question has already decided , apparently , that its local so-called 'Partnership' organisations will be used to engage with the Community Sector groupings in any given area , a situation which , in its almost three-year history in the Clondalkin area , is not only not favourable to the Community Sector workers involved in that area , but has proved to be detrimental to the terms and conditions of their employment. The failed Clondalkin 'project' should send warning signals out to all concerned but , as usual , it will take a 'lapping tide' before some take notice. Unfortunately.
Thanks!
Sharon.

by Sharon. - Individual Thu Feb 25, 2010 21:16

Hi !
Over the last two days , SIPTU made submissions to the State 'Labour Relations Commission' in regards to there being a need for an independent review into the recent closure of some CDP's and the 'LRC' has now agreed to refer the matter to the Labour Court .
The State 'Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs' (DCRGA) , which is , effectively, the 'employer' in this situation , has refused to attend the 'LRC' hearing , despite the obvious responsibility it has to those employees. However , whether the DCRGA is represented or not , the fact remains that the criteria used to measure the usefulness of the CDP's is suspect , to say the least , as not one CDP within the State was aware of how they were to be assessed.
This might yet prove to be a valuable development.
Thanks!
Sharon.

by Sharon. - Individual. Tue Mar 09, 2010 17:30

Hi !
Another possible (probable?) valuable development - albeit of no use to those who have already lost their jobs in the Community Sector - is the fact that the paperwork has been started to enable cases to be taken under the 'Payment Of Wages Act' as to the legitimacy of the recently imposed wage reductions.
This will involve thousands of separate cases and should be of benefit to those JI and CE employees who have not given explicit permission for their wages to be reduced and whose contracts of employment do not allow for such a reduction ie some JI employees are being asked (to put it mildly) to sign a new contract which , in the section dealing with pay , includes the clause - (or such rate as determined by the funder [FAS] from time to time). Such a clause , if accepted and signed-off on , could interfere with an attempted case under the 'Payment Of Wages Act' .
However - whatever the eventual outcome - it is only right that any and all avenues are pursued to try and keep this issue in the public domain.
Thanks!
Sharon.