IMPACT people Amanda (second from right) pictured with IMPACT's youth committee in 2010.
Ready for take off
Amanda acknowledges that, for many activists, there is a reluctance or hesitation around the scale of change that’s being proposed. For some activists, being part of a smaller organisation has some appeal, in that the points of connection can be more easily established between individual union members, their branch representatives and officials. However, drawing on her experiences as an activist with both the PSEU and IMPACT, Amanda feels that service delivery will be a central strength of a newly formed union, as well as providing the structures to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard within a new organisation.
“It will lead to a more energised and dynamic union.” “I’m sure like any new thing there may well be some teething problems, but there’s a service delivery commitment with the New Union Project. That’s a very good reassurance to have. Our members should be aware of this too.
Amanda O’Hara.
Having reminisced about the past, Amanda got straight into talking about the future, namely the proposed amalgamation between the CPSU, IMPACT and the PSEU. The New Union Project has Amanda firing on all cylinders.
“I think the New Union Project is a very positive thing and a move in the right direction for the three unions. Trade unions need to evolve to remain relevant to Irish society. The New Union Project is a structured and coherent way for this to happen, rather than in a reactive way. I’m hugely in favour of it, it will lead to a more energised and dynamic union.” 6
AUTUMN-WINTER 2017
Photo: Michael Crean photography.
Amanda O’Hara is a training officer at the Department of Social Protection, a branch representative for the PSEU, and a member of the newly formed PSEU youth committee. Amanda previously worked at Ordnance Survey of Ireland (OSI) where she was an IMPACT activist for the OSI branch, and a founding member of IMPACT’s youth committee. As someone uniquely experienced as an activist with two of the unions involved in the proposed New Union Project, she talks to MARTINA O’LEARY about a possible future. AMANDA O’HARA remains as we all remember her from her days as an IMPACT activist. Energised, enthusiastic and hugely positive about...well pretty much everything. When we meet she recalls her time as an IMPACT activist, how much she enjoyed working with her OSI colleagues - and how much she had learned from them with the same enthusiasm and energy.
Concerns
For Amanda, it boils down to combined strength. “We will have three sets of experience, intellect, different levels of involvement and understanding of various types of campaigns. We can combine all of that to enhance our work into the future,” she says.
Membership development Amanda says that if the amalgamation is approved by the upcoming ballot, the new union will have three legs. “Number one you have to develop your membership. You have to recruit and retain members, train them up and organise the branches. The New Union Project will have greater capacity for membership development.”
Stronger voice “We will have 80,000 members, this gives us a much stronger hand. I also think bargaining, success and reward is huge. We will have a strong block of negotiators that will work on our behalf, with a very clear direction, and a consistent approach to their negotiations. We’ll become stronger, and we’ll have a stronger voice,” she adds. ‰
Relevant to society
“When you’re looking at close to 80,000 members, it’s a very strong negotiating power. I know that also brings a set of reservations members might have, in that their voice maybe lost. I’m thinking from a PSEU perspective. Our members have a very strong connection with head office and a strong reliance on them, and they might feel that they might lose this,” says Amanda. “I can only reassure them having read some of the proposals under the New Union Project that all of these structures have been very well thought out and nobody’s voice will be left unheard.”
Networking
Amanda believes that union involvement around civic participation is vital. “Trade unions need to remain relevant in Irish society. People need to know about us. If we want to recruit members, they have to have an understanding of what unions are for, and see that we’re relevant beyond the workplace. This is particularly important with young workers, as they are the future of the organisation.”
Amanda reminisces fondly about her time as an IMPACT member and representative. “I remember the biennial delegate conference, where the various sectors met – workers from health, civil services, local government, education, aviation. When I was working in OSI we used to meet with members working in various sectors from foresters in Coillte to cabin crew. We used to have some great conversations and we learned so much from each other as we had similar set of problems,” she said.
“I hope that they can discuss this and members can see exactly what is being done to make sure their voices will be heard.”
“The PSEU is the smallest of the three unions involved, and I know there are some reservations about being the smaller entity. All three unions will be communicating with their members over the coming months. I hope that they can discuss this and members can see exactly what is being done to make sure their voices will be heard and they’re not being subsumed into a bigger organisation. If it goes through we are all becoming the one organisation. It’s important to get that message across,” says Amanda.
“If members back the amalgamation in the ballot, the new Union Project enables this to happen in a very productive and useful way. People will be trained and developed as activists, and supported by greater resources, allowing more time to focus on workplace issues,” she says.
“We need to alleviate this fear. We need to talk to our members, be very clear about what this means, we can’t ignore it. At the end of the day the membership is the union. The strength lies with the membership, we need to make sure the message gets out there. If agreed by ballot, we’ll become one stronger and effective organisation. It will enhance how we will do our business.” l WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS
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