ORGANISING INNOVATION Organising Workers in Ireland Access Your Potential! www.equalireland.com Eddie Higgins, Executive Director, EQUAL Ireland

Contents 1. Introductions: Self & Ireland 2. ICTU and SIPTU 3. Servicing Recruitment Organising 4. The Development of Strategic Organising 5. Some Conclusions & Food for Thought

Introductions: Self & Ireland EDDIE HIGGINS Started Work for Guinness Brewery Joined Trade Union Elected Shop Steward Elected Chief Steward Appointed Full Time Union Negotiator Appointed Strategic Development Co-Ordinator Author of ‘Finding Our Voice Making it Heard’ Appointed EU Affairs Co-ordinator Appointed Executive Director EQUAL Ireland

Introductions: Self & Ireland IRELAND Population 4.4 million approx. The Economy Government: Coalition Fine Gael Centre Right Labour Social Democrat Billions in Debt – IMF/ECB/EU Massive Foreign Inward Investment US/German/Japan/UK and China IT/Medical Devices/Pharmaceutoicals/eServices Workforce 2.2 million approx. Unemployment 2012 – 14.4% 2008 – 3.9% Trade Union Membership Densisty 38.3% and increasing Public Sector Very Strong Private Sector Weak Multi Nationals Very Weak

ICTU and SIPTU ICTU Irish Congress of Trade Unions Affiliations Almost All Unions Operating in Two Jurisdictions Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland Recognised by both Governments Involved SIPTU Services Industrial Professional Technical Union General Union Largest Trade Union on the Island Almost 25% of all organised workers

Servicing Recruitment Organising Servicing Main focus Representation Existing Members Organising Main Focus New Members Servicing Organising Representation of Members Recruitment of New Members Representative Training & Training of Organisers Education Research for Organising Research for Negotiations Recruitment more by Luck than design Resources aimed at Servicing Examples Telephone Poll of Negotiators Data Membership Records eMail Free Phone Never Asked Never Invited Visual Demonstration Liberty Hall

. The Development of Strategic Organising Union Structure Branches Regions Geographic Changes Required Leadership Resources Attitude Time Mind Set Servicing not Promising Phase One Small allocation of resources Materials Communications with Branches/Planning Phase Two Establishment of Organising Unit New Materials Planning

. The Development of Strategic Organising Union Structure Did not suit an Organising and Campaigning Union Changes Required Leadership Happening Resources Being allocated Attitude Changing Time Being given Structural Re-organisation Mind Set Moving from Servicing…slowly Phase Three Structure reorganised on a Sectoral Basis Organising Comes to the Centre Substantial Resources allocated Materials Updated Translated Strategic Thinking and Planning

. The Development of Strategic Organising Union Structure Sectoral Current Operation Strategic Organising Housekeeping Data Bank Communications Servicing Mind Set Organising Campaigning Servicing Strategic Organising Campaign Development Researchers Organisers Less than 2 Years in operation

. The Development of Strategic Organising Research Planning & Co-ordination Resources Staffing & Commitment Objective Framework - Research What’s the Dividend for the Union? Is the Industry or Sector Sustainable? What is the ‘Pay & Conditions’ environment like? Is there an Historical Aspect? What level of Difficulty in Organising will exist? Local National Politics? Community Activists? Relegion? Other Unions? Ethical Trade? Operational Plan Executive Decision to Execute or not ORGANISING FOR WINNING

. The Development of Strategic Organising Research Planning & Co-ordination Resources Staffing & Commitment The 6 Stage Campaign 1.Base Skills Identifying Leaders House Calls Community Activity 2.Base Consolidation Tasking and Testing Leaders House Meetings Social Meetings Engaging Family & Friends Building Data Bank Building Communications Network 3.Issues Identify and Consolidate the Campaign Issues – Polling via Data Bank 4.Actions Identify and Implement Decide Leadership of Actions Union or other? 5.Compression Pressure on the Employer(s) 6. Winning Justice & Fairness

. The Development of Strategic Organising Research Planning & Co-ordination Resources Staffing & Commitment Training Leadership Planning Organising Power Communications Not Industrial Law Not Grievance Procedures Not Negotiations House or Community Setting Delivery by Union Organisers

Some Conclusions & Food for Thought Research Planning & Co-ordination Resources Staffing & Commitment Still Early Days Number of Campaigns in place Membership is Strong in Difficult Times Still Learning Our Story Our Experience If Everyone is Responsible No One is Responsible Ledership Resources Time Like Recruits Like Technology Helps

Thank you!