Unite, which represents members working for the National Ambulance Service (NAS), today (Sunday) announced that it will be balloting members nationwide for industrial action following the unilateral decision to outsource inter-hospital ambulance transfers in the Greater Dublin area to a private operator.
Earlier this week it emerged that NAS management had initiated a tendering process without consulting the relevant unions. This follows recent proposals, rejected by unions, to reduce minimum paramedic crewing levels in emergency ambulances.
By Jimmy Kelly former Irish Secretary Unite the Union
Pat pictured in 2004 in discussion with the Jack Jones, former general secretary of our union when Jack visited the factory. (Courtesy of Photographer John Power)
On behalf of the entire membership and leadership of the Union the former ATGWU, Unite the Union, all of the local Branches can I extend my condolences to all of Pat’s family on the tragic loss of Pat.
The Irish Secretary of our Union Susan Fitzgerald has asked me to convey her sincere condolences to Pat’s family and she will be in touch with the family at a time appropriate to do so.
I was honoured to have been invited by Pat’s Family to speak at his Funeral Mass.
First of all, can I give a mention to Maura, Pats Mother who was great friends with my own Mother Kitty.
Also, I would like to mention Kathleen, Pat’s wife, who always extended her famous hospitality to me whenever I called to their house.
Pat was one of ten children born to Maura and Jack Fitzgerald, six girls and four boys, he attended Mount Sion where he excelled in sport and studies.
In February 1970 like so many young men and women he joined Waterford Crystal as an apprentice blower to commence a five-year training programme, leading to becoming a qualified Blower Craftsman and in turn in 1970 Pat became a member of The Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union.
Having worked closely with Pat for decades I have some great memories of Pat and for sure a lot happened in Pat’s time across the Waterford Crystal factory, across our Union the ATGWU now Unite the Union, and the local trade union movement through the Waterford Council of Trade Unions. As the Chairman of the Union Branch and Joint Negotiating Committee, holding one of the two senior convenor elected positions Pat was centrally involved in all of those issues and events throughout those years.
Pat came through the Glass Blowing section having been a union representative for the Blowers. He then began working with myself, I having come through the Cutting section and we worked together in the full-time positions being continuously elected by the membership. The lay positions of Shop Stewards are the foundation on which the Union is built. Pat was committed as a lay member never interested in becoming an appointed union official.
Pat gave his working life to Waterford Crystal and also to the Union. Without fear of contradiction, it can be said that while Fitzy worked at the factory, he was a living legend. The history of Waterford Glass is Pat Fitzgerald’s history, Pat’s history is the history of Waterford Glass.
Getting to know Pat you knew a man who had an astute brain, was good at reading a situation and coming to a conclusion on the best way forward. When we did get agreement on a position the challenge for Pat as the chairman was then to bring all of the union reps in Waterford and Dungarvan Crystal to an agreed position which could then be brought as a recommendation to all of the members. This would be at regular monthly open branch meetings in the Union office in Keyser Street and then during those years of hugely important decisions affecting our future employment, these issues would be dealt with through mass meetings in local hotels, the Ardree, The Tower Hotel or the Woodlands. There was no hiding place when you were the Chairman and Pat had the industrial skills and the people skills to steer that ship through what he often described as “through shark infested waters”. Pat as those who knew him well was someone who on certain issues would be difficult to shift off a particular view such would be his determination but he was also committed to resolving matters through a consensus. It was never going to be easy to deliver that consensus across forty shop stewards and then through an entire workforce.
Branch Chairmen in other situations would sometimes take a view of only being on board for their own internal workplace issues. Fitzy was on board for issues and campaigns outside of Waterford Crystal – like support for the Kitui appeal where there was a basic need for clean water treatment in that part of Africa – the Fight for Sight campaign – Radiotherapy campaign – Cardiac Care campaign –Those campaigns would be supported and co-ordinated by others in the workplace but it was Pat’s job to bring them through meetings with the members and where appropriate get agreement for a wage deduction. The Liverpool Dock Strike being a good example. I can remember Pat going around putting union notices on union notice boards calling a meeting to support a weekly wage deduction for the striking dockers in Liverpool. The wage deduction started the first week of the strike and continued right through to the end. This support from the Crystal workers is marked with a special plaque mounted in the dockers club on Hope Street in Liverpool thanking the Branch – similar support for the 1984 Miners Strike. All of those issues are highlights of Fitzy’s time as our Chairman.
Chairing the JNC throughout our own 3 Month Strike in 1990 was another massive challenge – a defensive strike in itself was never going to bring gains – the task was to defend and maintain as much of our wages and conditions as possible. Eight weeks of meetings held daily in the Ardree was a strain on every shop steward and every member at the open meetings but it fell to Pat to hold the organisation together for the future.
And of course, after the disaster of the factory closure the fight for Pension Justice was thankfully in the end “Justice Delivered”. Reporting back to our members on the result of our successful efforts in the Woodlands Hotel I am reminded that this probably represents the last meeting that Fitzy had to Chair.
In conclusion – Today I am saying farewell to a lifelong friend and comrade.
Unite stands ready to deploy the full range of industrial actions needed to reverse threatened management changes
Unite has referred Canadian-owned company, Irving Oil Whitegate Refinery Ltd which operates an oil refinery in Whitegate, County Cork to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The union’s action follows a series of unilateral decisions by management to curtail flexible working policy arrangements in place since 2022.
Last May and without any prior consultation with the workforce, the employer announced a cut to the popular flexible work policy which included hybrid remote working provisions. In so doing, the employer failed to cite objective reasons for such changes as is provided for in the relevant legislation and by the WRC Guidelines. In recent days, management notified employees of its intention to impose further unilateral curtailments on hybrid remote work provisions and that flexible working arrangements, which allow for variable start and finish times, are also to be abolished.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Irving Oil is guilty of riding roughshod over employment rules and treating its workers with contempt.
“Unite will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that its members are properly treated and that the attacks on their working conditions are reversed.”
Decision by central bank leadership follows workers registering their opposition to Central Bank role
The Unite committee representing staff working in the Central Bank has issued a statement expressing “revulsion” at the position workers have been placed in through the Bank’s role in the approval of Israeli government bond prospectuses. The statement was issued in response to yesterday’s announcement by the Central Bank that it is no longer to be involved in the approval of Israeli government bond prospectuses, the function now transferring to Luxemburg.
Against the backdrop of the ongoing Israeli bombardment of Gaza, the workers statement notes that: “The Bank’s role in approving Israeli government bond prospectuses is an affront to our values as public servants and incompatible with the principles on which the Central Bank should stand.”
Unite deputy regional secretary Tom Fitzgerald, added: “No worker should ever be put in a position where they suffer a conflict of conscience due to their employer’s role. This is not a question of abstract politics. It is about ethical standards and public service values.”
Union calls for use of temporary engagement forms in Northen Ireland to be restricted and all school staff working temporary for four years to automatically made permanent
Unite has revealed statistics showing that 1,315 school transport and catering workers continue to be engaged on temporary forms by the education authority. Of that number, 267 have worked for more than four years in their roles despite Stormont’s own fixed-term workers’ regulations, which guarantee that after that a set period, workers are entitled to a permanent employment contract.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said, “Hundreds of school transport and catering staff are being denied basic employment rights and job security while being forced to work on temporary engagement forms .
“School support workers deserve better and this practice should be ended. As a first step those working more than four years on temporary forms must be automatically given permanent contracts and the rights that go with them.”
Unite the Union, Ireland Region 