General Secretary’s address to Conference
Monday 23 April 2018Over the last two years Mandate Trade Union has cemented our position as the foremost campaigning union in Ireland.
Our members have fearlessly fought to defend not only their rights, but injustice in society both here and abroad.
Our members continue to campaign and struggle for legislation which would outlaw zero hour contracts and precarious employment contracts – our members in Dunne’s Stores are spear heading this campaign bringing their message to every TD across the country and our message to these TDs from today’s conference is simple “No more delays – Just do the right thing and do it now!”
Our members continue to campaign against water charges and water privatisation and they are demanding the referendum on water ownership which was passed by the Dail.
Our members continue to fight for decency and respect at work including the right to be a member of and be represented by a union of their choice.
Struggles and campaigns are in our DNA, whether it was Apartheid South Africa or Apartheid Israel, whether it is Tesco workers or Dunne’s workers, Housing or Healthcare – our moto is “an injury to one is an injury to all.”
Our members will not be bullied or silenced by multi-nationals, our union will not turn our backs on our members, we will not take the path of least resistance, for it’s struggle that makes us stronger – our activists have cut their union teeth on adversaries.
So for those employers who believe they can brow beat Mandate and our members hey are sadly mistaken – their vindictive actions only make us stronger and more determined.
And, a warning to any employer wishing to inhabit the space recently vacated by Ryanair:
- We will not go away
- We are prepared to play the long game
- We will overcome
At this point I would like to pay a special tribute to the Tesco workers.
The workers in twenty two stores [over 2000] who stood in solidarity with their pre 96 colleagues who were being unfairly targeted by the company.
Those 2,000 union members stood on the picket line for eleven days, not for more money, not for better conditions, but in solidarity with their fellow union members and colleagues. They lived that moto “an injury to one is an injury to all.”
The bravery of these Tesco workers, young and old, was humbling. They endured a bullying and victimisation campaign by the company, but still they stood solid.
Even as we speak here today, many of those brave members are still being targeted and victimised.
The company is still attempting to damage and destroy this union, “Project Black has not gone away.”
Let Tesco hear this and hear it clearly, Mandate Trade Union can be reasonable when faced with reasonable employers and reasonable actions, but we will fight to the last member standing to defend workers’ rights and the rights of workers to be represented by this union – the workers in Ryanair played the long game and won, our Tesco members will do whatever it takes and for as long as it takes:
- We will not be defeated
- We will not surrender
- We will not tip the forelock
Now before we re-engage in a long war of attrition, we call on Tesco to cease Project Black and return to the negotiating table, there is but a short window of opportunity.
It has been my privilege over the last forty years to stand side by side, often on the line with Dunne’s workers, M&S workers, Tesco workers, bar workers and workers’ right across the retail sector.
I have witnessed incredible bravery and unselfish sacrifice, I have watched young men and women step up and become leaders.
This Union is in strong hands, it’s in the hands of the members.
Connolly and Larkin, and indeed Michael O Lehane, the ex-General Secretary of the IUDWC, understood the importance of and the relationship between the industrial struggle and the political struggle.
We are continuing their mission of building a strong industrial movement and a strong political movement for what good is a 3% pay increase if your members cannot afford to put a roof over their heads. Our political education programme and organising programme are the foundations for everything we do.
So whether it is decent wages, health care or housing, our members and their union will be on the front line.
Our recent struggles have shown us the importance of public support and the support and solidarity of other unions.
The Irish public can spot injustice a mile away, we don’t like bullies in Ireland, and we have a history of standing up against the odds.
The public get it, they voted with purses and feet and stood shoulder to shoulder with our members in recent disputes.
On behalf of Mandate I want to say a big thank you to the shopping public for their support and solidarity.
The support and solidarity from other unions was also amazing, they put their hands into their pockets, they stood on the line and they held the line.
Only a few times in the past have I witnessed such strong shows of solidarity from the public and other unions. One was the Dunne’s Stores Strike in the 80s and the second was the Miners in the UK when Margaret Thatcher tried to smash their union.
The challenges facing Mandate Trade Union are many and serious. Our sector is going through fundamental and radical change, self- scanning and internet retail technology are having a profound impact on the structure and delivery of retail. The jury is out as to the future of bricks and mortar stores.
But, change is inevitable, the retail sector in 5 or 10 years will be a totally different one than the one we know today.
Our union will have to adopt and evolve to meet these challenges, we have to consider all our options and take all opportunities.
There is no room for personal agenda’s or big egos. The next Mandate Conference in 2020 will be my last but I can assure you that it will not be the last retail workers’ union conference. It is vital that the incoming National Executive Council understand these challenges and do all in their power to ensure that when we meet again in 2020, we have an army of motivated activist in every town and city across Ireland.
So, that is our overall mission. But what should it mean to retail workers on the shop floor, there are some basic and fundamental rights which should be at the core of our mission and which we should fight for , in short “A Union Charter for Decency and Respect in Retail” to include:
- No retail worker in Ireland should earn less than the living wage (currently 11.70 per hour)
- The Union rate should be at least 30% above the living wage [i.e. an hourly rate of over 15 euro per hour] – we have already achieved this in some companies.
- Every worker should be treated with dignity and respect at work – this includes the right to be a member of and represented by a trade union.
- Contracts of employment should offer workers a certain and decent weekly wage, exploitative flexibility is replaced by fair and reasonable work / life balance agreements.
- Workers have access to a home, education and health care.
- All workers will have an adequate retirement income from the State/Employer.
This is the union’s vision of the future of work in retail. If workers share our vision, then they should organise and mobilise – this vision is achievable, but it must be won.
This mission and our vision for retail workers starts here today with you, each and every one of you must return to your shop, your town and organise. Together we must build a union network across Ireland, a voice for workers in every town (the farmers can do it, the employers can do it).
We must do it!
Our officials and staff are fully committed to working with you to create a national Mandate community across Ireland.
So thank you delegates, thank you National Executive Council and thank you staff.
Stronger together, Organise, Organise, Organise!!!
