MANDATE ANNOUNCE APPOINTMENTS

Sunday 20 April 2008

MANDATE ANNOUNCE APPOINTMENT OF THREE SENIOR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS AT BIENNIAL CONFERENCE

Mandate trade union has announced the appointment of three senior management positions at their biennial conference in Limerick today, Sunday, 20 April 2008. The appointments are part of a long term strategic plan to transform Mandate into one of the most modern and progressive unions in the country.

Gerry Light has been promoted to the position of Assistant General Secretary while Brian Forbes has been appointed as National Coordinator for Organising, Campaigning and Recruitment and Aileen Morrissey has been appointed as National Coordinator for Training and Development.

Gerry Light has been involved in the trade union movement for over twenty years beginning his career with the Irish National Union of Vintners Grocer & Allied Trade Assistants as an Executive Committee Member. Gerry was part of the INUVGATA negotiating team which participated in the formation of Mandate trade union in 1994. He holds a BA in Industrial Relations & Personnel Management from the National College of Ireland and a Diploma in Trade Union Studies.

Having worked previously for Mandate as a Divisional Organiser in the Dublin area, Gerry has led national negotiations with some of the countries largest employers including Tesco and Superquinn. He led the union team which negotiated the introduction of the Tesco/Mandate “Working Together” consultation framework which is now recognised as one of the most significant arrangements within the context of the Employee Information and Consultation Directive.

Gerry’s new responsibilities will involve devising and implementing strategies for the development of the union as part of the implementation group for the current Mandate Strategic Plan. He will also construct and deliver the industrial relations agenda with a range of national companies and perform the role of Personnel/HR Manager for the union.

Brian Forbes and Aileen Morrissey have been appointed into new roles within the union. Brian will take up his position of National Coordinator for Organising, Campaigning and Recruitment. Brian is from Strabane in County Tyrone and joined Mandate as a Divisional Organiser in 2005 based in the Dublin area. Since 2005 he has worked as a trade union official servicing issues in the drapery division within Mandate including taking claims to the Rights Commissioners, Employment Appeal Tribunal and the Labour Court.

Brian is tasked with coordinating the shift within Mandate from that of a primarily servicing model of trade unionism to the activist based organising model. He will also have responsibility for coordinating new forms of activity within Mandate in relation to campaigns and generating activism amongst the wider union membership.

Having been involved in the trade union movement since 1987, Brian has been vocal on issues of social, economic and political interest to union members, their families and society in general. Prior to joining Mandate Brian was involved in the Anti Water Charges Campaigns and anti-racism initiatives in the North West.

Aileen Morrissey has been appointed as Mandates Coordinator for Training and Development. Aileen has been an active union member since she was employed at Arnotts in the mid 1970’s. While working full time in the retail industry and raising a family, Aileen studied Industrial Relations at third level in the National College of Ireland. On successfully completing her studies, Aileen was offered a full time position in Mandate in 1998 representing members in both grocery and drapery in the North east Division.

In her new role as Coordinator for Training and Development, Aileen will be heavily involved in the strategic shift of direction for Mandate from a servicing model to an organising model. Aileen will have responsibility for training activists and educating mandate members in basic and advanced representation skills along with training in information technology. This will be key for the union in order to help empower their own members.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT;
David Gibney, Montague Communications on 087-7992480 or 01-8303116
FOR RELEASE: 20 April 2008
Attention: Industrial Correspondents, Business Correspondents, News Editors

MANDATE ANNOUNCE APPOINTMENT OF THREE SENIOR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS AT BIENNIAL CONFERENCE

Mandate trade union has announced the appointment of three senior management positions at their biennial conference in Limerick today, Sunday, 20 April 2008. The appointments are part of a long term strategic plan to transform Mandate into one of the most modern and progressive unions in the country.

Gerry Light has been promoted to the position of Assistant General Secretary while Brian Forbes has been appointed as National Coordinator for Organising, Campaigning and Recruitment and Aileen Morrissey has been appointed as National Coordinator for Training and Development.

Gerry Light has been involved in the trade union movement for over twenty years beginning his career with the Irish National Union of Vintners Grocer & Allied Trade Assistants as an Executive Committee Member. Gerry was part of the INUVGATA negotiating team which participated in the formation of Mandate trade union in 1994. He holds a BA in Industrial Relations & Personnel Management from the National College of Ireland and a Diploma in Trade Union Studies.

Having worked previously for Mandate as a Divisional Organiser in the Dublin area, Gerry has led national negotiations with some of the countries largest employers including Tesco and Superquinn. He led the union team which negotiated the introduction of the Tesco/Mandate “Working Together” consultation framework which is now recognised as one of the most significant arrangements within the context of the Employee Information and Consultation Directive.

Gerry’s new responsibilities will involve devising and implementing strategies for the development of the union as part of the implementation group for the current Mandate Strategic Plan. He will also construct and deliver the industrial relations agenda with a range of national companies and perform the role of Personnel/HR Manager for the union.

Brian Forbes and Aileen Morrissey have been appointed into new roles within the union. Brian will take up his position of National Coordinator for Organising, Campaigning and Recruitment. Brian is from Strabane in County Tyrone and joined Mandate as a Divisional Organiser in 2005 based in the Dublin area. Since 2005 he has worked as a trade union official servicing issues in the drapery division within Mandate including taking claims to the Rights Commissioners, Employment Appeal Tribunal and the Labour Court.

Brian is tasked with coordinating the shift within Mandate from that of a primarily servicing model of trade unionism to the activist based organising model. He will also have responsibility for coordinating new forms of activity within Mandate in relation to campaigns and generating activism amongst the wider union membership.

Having been involved in the trade union movement since 1987, Brian has been vocal on issues of social, economic and political interest to union members, their families and society in general. Prior to joining Mandate Brian was involved in the Anti Water Charges Campaigns and anti-racism initiatives in the North West.

Aileen Morrissey has been appointed as Mandates Coordinator for Training and Development. Aileen has been an active union member since she was employed at Arnotts in the mid 1970’s. While working ful