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Demand for Redress Promises to be FulfilledIn 2013 the Magdalene redress scheme was placed into action under the former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, and the Department of Justice. Today, several of the important parts of the redress scheme still have not be implemented. The lack of action on promised redress commitments betrays the Magdalene women and makes a mockery of the State apology. The Magdalene redress scheme included a dedicated unit, which would assist the women to meet each other and facilitate the 'acquisition, maintenance and administration of any garden, museum or other form of memorial.’ It was agreed upon by the government that any such memorial or archival center or project should be overseen by an advisory board or committee that includes Magdalene women. Unfortunately, the consultation of government officials with Magdalene laundry survivors on how they believe the institutionalized abuse they endured should be memorialized has yet to occur. With some of the institutions being up for sale for private ownership, the promises of consultation become bleaker each day. Along with the institutions being sold off, most survivors are older, and every delay increases the risk that they will not see justice done in their lifetime. We are calling for those in leadership roles such as the current Taoiseach, Tanaiste, and Minister for Justice to organize a consultation of Magdalene survivors immediately and to implement the women's proposals for active memorialisation. The Magdalene women have suffered enough and it is now time for those who promised justice to facilitate the reparation process. We want the government officials responsible for the implementation of the redress scheme to be held accountable, to guarantee the Magdalene women are never forgotten. Although the Ireland of the past allowed the abuse of Magdalene women to occur, the Ireland of the present can stand firm in its convictions to see that justice is given to whom it deserves.164 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Ashley Perry
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Justice for Fyffes Workers in Costa Rica and Honduras!Food workers and trade unions in the food export sector of Honduras and Costa Rica continue to be subjected to unsafe working conditions and not having their legal rights fulfilled. The estimated 25,000 people employed in the melon export sector in Honduras, of which 70% are women, regularly work 12-14 hour days, 7 days a week. The International Labour Rights Forum (2012) reports that 85% of workers earn less than the minimum wage [1]. Fyffes has been at the centre of several shocking scandals involving trade union violations and abuse of workers in Honduras and Costa Rica. A report by the US Department of Labor (2015) [2] detailed a litany of exploitative practices, ongoing labour code violations and ill-treatment of workers by the Fyffes subsidiary SurAgro in Honduras, including: That the company failed to pay the minimum wage, the 13th and 14th month bonuses, the seventh day bonus, and overtime; Failed to provide personal protective equipment and potable water; imposed a 300 HNL (US $14.40) penalty for missing a day of work (even with permission from a supervisor) in addition to that day’s salary; Threatened workers with dismissal for speaking with the Honduran Secretariat of Labor and Social Security (STSS) The general union in the United Kingdom, GMB, has called the actions of SurAgro one of the worst cases they have recorded, having documented “a shocking litany of abuse and exploitation on the part of Fyffes subsidiaries in Honduras” [3] and commented that “Fyffes... have no respect for domestic or international law governing workers’ rights and must be brought to book” [4]. In January 2016, workers at the Fyffes subsidiary became the first workers in the melon export sector to unionise and a local branch of the agriculture trade union STAS was formed. The following day, four trade union leaders were locked up in an office and threatened by the Chief of Security until they signed a document renouncing their union membership [5]. In an equally sinister occurrence, it was reported by the International Trade Union Confederation that on 13 April 2017, the trade unionist Moisés Sánchez (General Secretary of STAS’s sub-branch at Fyffes’ subsidiary in Honduras) was kidnapped, beaten and threatened with death if he continued his trade union work [6]. In May 2017 Fyffes was suspended from the Ethical Trading Initiative [ETI], an alliance of companies, trade unions and NGOs that promotes respect for workers' rights around the globe, finding that “the actions and approach taken by SurAgro [the Fyffes-owned Honduran melon plantation at the centre of the allegations] … contravene the open approach to legitimate trade union activities that ETI would expect within the supply chain to an ETI member” [7]. Despite the sale of Fyffes to the Japanese Sumitomo Corporation in early 2017, the Irish business news website Fora reported in June 2017 that David McCann and the “senior management team” based at the Fyffes head office in Dublin were handling the negotiations between the complainants, ETI and Fyffes [8]. Therefore, the Latin America Solidarity Centre is joining with other trade unions, NGOs and international Civil Society Organisations and demanding this actions from Fyffes.125 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Thais Mantovani
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Women Should Not Be Locked Up Because They Want An AbortionThe misuse of the mental health act as a means to deny women and young girls the medical care they need is not acceptable. It's time for real choice, it's time for a referendum on the eighth amendment that offers real choice to the Irish public.15,861 of 20,000 SignaturesCreated by Siobhan O'Donoghue
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Close the 15% Gender Pay Gap at Queen's University BelfastQueen's is now a leading UK university - but for all the wrong reasons. Figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show that in 2017 - QUB's female professors earn an average of almost almost 15% less than their male colleagues - an average gap totalling £11,798. To put this into some perspective - this is the highest pay gap among the 24 leading UK universities, known as the Russell Group. It's entirely unacceptable that in 2017 a leading publicly funded university pays men 15% more than women for the same job. Join with Uplift today and sign our petition to demand the Vice-Chancellor and Senate of Queen's University take meaningful action today to address and reverse this shameful pay gap.241 of 300 SignaturesCreated by Ciarnan Helferty
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Keep people working in libraries not machinesPeople are losing contact with people leading to poorer mental health. Libraries are ideal places to have a chat with someone. Also working there is a lovely satisfying job.69 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Sinead O Brien
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Equality for ROI Women's Soccer TeamOur international women's team is being treated very unfairly. The IFA are a wealthy organisation and have a duty to all players to treat them with respect and equality.725 of 800 Signatures
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Extend the remit of Mother and Baby Homes CommissionThe Mother and Baby Homes Commission has found that there is a 'culture of “institutionalisation and human trafficking” has existed amongst various religious orders and State-funded institutions.' In light of the horrific news of the mass grave in Tuam, all other Mother and Baby Homes now need to be investigated. Only 14 Mother and Baby Homes and 4 County Homes are included within the Commission's Terms of Reference, but numerous people and organisations, including the United Nations and women who spent time in these homes, believe that the scope of the Commission's investigations should be widened.254 of 300 SignaturesCreated by Siobhan O'Donoghue
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Panti Bliss to present Shamrock to TrumpIt is important to try and send a strong and crystal clear message from as many people worldwide to show defiance against the tyrannical regime that seems to be infecting the United States of America.877 of 1,000 SignaturesCreated by Make the world a nicer place
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Michael D for the White HouseEnda will not stand up to Trump. He will embarrass the nation. Michael D Higgins on the other hand will eloquently represent us and honor our human values.7 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Paudie Quirke
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Dont let Irish Airports be used to enforce Trumps banWe are not racist, dont let Trump make us look like we are.26 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Martin Malone
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The Irish Times should not legitimise racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia or fascismDear Mr. O' Sullivan, We the undersigned are asking that the Irish Times publish an apology for printing an article containing racist, transphobic and misogynistic slurs in an uncritical manner. It is abbhorent that an article would be published by a media outlet about a fascist movement without using the word fascist to describe that movement. Instead, the editorial team uncritically accepted and presented the language of the so called 'alt-right'. Thus far, instead of an apology for this failure in media responsibility, the editor of the opinion section, John MacManus, has attempted to justify his position by making a false comparison between fascism and the movement for reproductive rights in Ireland. This is unacceptable and shows a deep misunderstanding of the issue at hand and what the responsibilities of the media are in this instance. We are at a watershed moment when fascism is rising across Europe and the USA and the media has a responsibility to report this in an accurate and critical manner. Fascism thrives on stereotyping and scapegoating vulnerable groups in society. By publishing this piece the Irish Times is feeding into the normalisation of intolerance. We sign this petition to send a clear message to you and the editorial staff of the Irish Times. We do not want this paper to be a platform for fascism. We do not want people from vulnerable groups to be hurt by slurs against their personhood.We want you to apologise so as to make it clear that you agree that we do not want to see such failures in editorial responsibility becoming commonplace in the Irish media. Regards,576 of 600 SignaturesCreated by Lorna Bogue
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Include professional childminders in new childcare subsidies nowAt the moment, only 125 childminders are registered with TUSLA & included in the new childcare package in Budget 2017. However, up to 2000 more professional childminders are: -Registered members of Childminding Ireland or -Notified to County Childcare Committees, or -Registered with Revenue for Childcare Tax Relief Most of these professional childminders have insurance, garda vetting and training in childcare. Surveys indicate that over 50% have FETAC 5 in childcare. They are not registered with TUSLA because they are NOT ALLOWED TO, since they mind 3 or fewer children at any one time. Thousands of parents choose childminding because they feel it's the best for their children. Thousands more rural parents choose a childminder because there is no other option. Thousands more choose a childminder because they offer flexible, often very long hours, to parents, who may need childcare for over 12 hours a day. They should be able to avail of the childcare subsidies at their professional childminders. The Goodbody Report estimated that there were 19,000 childminders with as many as 57,000 children attending a 'hidden‘ childminding service in 2011. It is completely unacceptable that only 125 childminders (,0.1%) will be included in the new scheme. Ultimately all childminders should be included in some form of registration and all families who choose childminder care should be supported. In the meantime, at least include those who have spent considerable time and money in becoming professionals and engaging with professional and state agencies. IT IS UNFAIR TO EXCLUDE THEM WHEN THEY CANNOT REGISTER WITH TUSLA. IT IS UNFAIR TO THE THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES AND CHILDREN THEY SERVE. Minister, do the right thing, and include these professional childminders in the new childcare subsidy scheme.297 of 300 SignaturesCreated by M. A. O'Reilly