Supporters at 2016 Election - Rosheen Callender

Supporters at 2016 Election - Rosheen Callender

 

• Rosheen Callender, B.A. (Econ.); former Researcher with ITGWU and then SIPTU (social and economic policy; employment and equality law; tax, social welfare and pensions); former National Equality Secretary with SIPTU; member of Pensions Board (1995-2010) and Public Service Pensions Commission (1997-2001); Fellow of Irish Institute of Pensions Managers; author. http://ivanabacik.com/about/supporters-2016.html 

A huge thanks to Rosheen Callender who many will know and remember as a leading equality and trade union activist here in Ireland. Her support for my Seanad 2016 campaign is not only important to me but dear to my heart. I have always been a member of, affiliated to or encouraged others to be members of a trade union, and I am currently a member of IFUT.

I have had the privilege and the opportunity to raise trade union issues and support workers rights throughout my nine years as a Senator aswell as  throughout my legal and academic life. I have stood on picket lines, carried the banners, taken the cuts, defended the right to be a member of a trade union  and promoted equality and justice for all in any workplace setting, including the home. I've picked a few recent highlights as you will see below, but ultimately it is my activisit passion, appreciation of the roots of trade unionism and my left wing politics that draw me to the movement of workers' collectives. 

• Signing the Congress Charter for 'Fair Conditions at Work' was a privilege and a priority! http://www.ictu.ie/press/2016/02/04/huge-support-for-fair-conditions-at-work-among-pol/
• In 2013 I first introduced the Employment Equality Amendment Bill and was very proud of its progression when it finally passed in 2015. Section 37.1 of the Employment Equality Act was an archaic and draconian piece of law that discriminated against teachers and healthcare workers who identified as LGBT. You can read more about my own work and involvement over the years, but I'm especially grateful to The INTO (Teachers' Union) for their lead on the pressing issues. http://www.ivanabacik.com/blog/2013/03/13/employment-equality-amendment-no-2-bill-2013-secon/
• I have often lectured on collective bargaining rights over the years and here is one example from the People's College of Ireland https://www.youtube.com/watchv=NSPHMyb5IZc&index=1&list=PLKISaf2Fh7ZnVShLa9pqze_GTK8TutF1j 
• In 2014 I delivered the keynote speech at the INMO (Irish Nurses Midwives Organisation) annual conference. http://www.ivanabacik.com/news/2014/10/16/press-release-senator-bacik-calls-for-review-of-ma/ 
• This year I was especially proud to get the Competition Amendment Bill 2016 over the line. The Bill rose from a long-standing Labour Party commitment to ensure protection of the right to collectively bargain for freelance workers, including journalists, actors and others, who perform their work on a self-employed or contract-for-services basis. It had first been introduced in 2002, I had raised again some years later but it was this year that the Government accepted my proposals.  http://www.ivanabacik.com/legislation/2016/01/20/competition-amendment-bill-2016/