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Gary

@glassandcopper.bsky.social
151 followers 251 following 58 posts

Fórsa Trade Union member. Community Action Tenants Union (CATU) member.

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Reposted by Gary
Fred Logue @fplogue.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
This is extraordinary
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Gary @glassandcopper.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Happy #Pride #dublinpride
....
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Emma Rogan 🇵🇸 @emmadragon.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Not great given the timing “…the Presidency of the Council of the European Union – a central leadership role at the heart of EU decision-making… #Ireland will guide negotiations, broker agreement between Member States, & help deliver EU laws & policies…” www.ireland.ie/en/eu/eu_pre... #spéirghorm
ireland.ie
Presidency of the Council of the European Union | Ireland.ie
Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2026.
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Andrew Watt @andrewwatteu.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
It is a huge relief that the European Court of Justice has rejected the demand by Denmark and Sweden to annul the Adequate Minimum Wage Directive. A resume of the judgement in FR is here: curia.europa.eu/juris/docume... 1/2
curia.europa.eu
CURIA - Documents
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Wendy Lyon @wendylyon.eurosky.social · 12/11/2025
Interpretation of African French speakers' testimony in criminal trial so bad it leads to a wrongful conviction ultimately overturned on appeal Interpreter goes on to work in at least 40 more trials The lack of regulation in this area is nothing short of scandalous. #speirghorm archive.ph/fP0vI
archive.ph
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Michael Taft @michael-taft.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
It is claimed that cutting VAT (cost: €700 million) will help restaurants and coffee shops. Yet, less than 20% of that tax cut will benefit those businesses. 60% will go to fast-food outlets and meals in hotels. This is highly wasteful and inefficient. tinyurl.com/mrkamxrh
tinyurl.com
Wasteful Spending, Irrational Policy
In order to assist restaurants, cafes and coffee shops, the Government intends to cut VAT in the upcoming budget at a cost of nearly €700 million. There’s one problem: restaurants, cafes and coffee sh...
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Fórsa trade union @forsatradeunion.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Want a way to support the School Secretaries and Caretakers Strike? Join them on their 1st day of strike outside the Dept of Public Expenditure for a HUGE rally. Thursday 28th August, 11am, Merrion Square. See you there! #PensionParity
Poster for Fórsa’s National Rally for Pension Parity. Large teal text reads: 'NATIONAL RALLY for Pension Parity.' Below in black and pink text: 'Join us in Dublin on Thursday 28th August at 11am outside the Department of Public Expenditure on Merrion Square.' At the bottom, a red banner states: 'PENSION PARITY NOW for School Secretaries and Caretakers.' The Fórsa logo is in the top right corner. A circular badge shows a stick figure holding balanced scales with the words 'Pension Parity in Schools' around the edge.
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Gary @glassandcopper.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
"We hear a lot about ‘accidental landlords’ making ‘pin money’... The data tells a very different story: in 2022, the average gross rental income from second properties was €133,800, or 85% higher than households without a rental income." From DCTU FB: www.facebook.com/share/p/179k...
Article from the Irish Times, "How much do landlords really earn?"
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Gary @glassandcopper.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
🤖Meme image showing a man hugging a woman from behind, both smiling. The photo is overexposed and appears candid. Text at the top reads: "Worried HR are a bit too close with your boss? Join a union." The meme references a situation involving the CEO of Astronomer at a Coldplay concert, who was involved in a personal relationship with the head of HR
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The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 03/07/2025
⚡️ In landmark ruling, same-sex couple recognized as family by Ukrainian court. Ukraine does not currently recognize same-sex marriages or partnerships, and this court ruling may serve as a legal milestone in expanding rights for LGBTQ families.
kyivindependent.com
In landmark ruling, same-sex couple recognized as family by Ukrainian court
Ukraine does not currently recognize same-sex marriages or partnerships, and this court ruling may serve as a critical legal milestone in expanding rights for LGBTQ families.
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Reposted by Gary
RTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 01/07/2025
A four-day working week, pay, remote working and artificial intelligence will be among the topics debated at the biennial conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions which begins in Belfast today
rte.ie
Union leaders to debate four-day working week
A four-day working week, pay, remote working and artificial intelligence will be among the topics debated at the biennial conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which begins in Belfast toda...
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Reposted by Gary
Fórsa trade union @forsatradeunion.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
Brighten up a Monday morning with a throwback to Dublin and (the banned) Budapest Pride over the weekend!
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Gary @glassandcopper.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
Happy #Pride
🤖 A large group of people are gathered at Dublin Pride 2025, smiling and holding colourful flags and banners. The central banner reads "Fórsa" with a rainbow background. Many participants are wearing rainbow accessories such as leis, face paint, and T-shirts supporting LGBTQ+ rights. Behind the group are additional pride flags and banners from other unions. The atmosphere is festive and supportive, taking place on a city street with historic buildings in the background.
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Reposted by Gary
RTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 26/06/2025
The Labour Court has recommended a final extension of the current special scheme for healthcare workers living with long Covid to run up to 31 December 2025, which the Government has now accepted
rte.ie
Long Covid scheme extended after court recommendation
The Labour Court has recommended a final extension of the current special scheme for healthcare workers living with long Covid to run up to 31 December 2025, which the Government has now accepted.
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Gary @glassandcopper.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Today is UN Public Services Day. A good reminder that public services don’t run themselves, we do! Decent pay, respect, and safe workplaces shouldn’t be too much to ask. #KeepPublicServicesPublic
🤖 A large group of delegates stands together at the 2025 Fórsa Civil Service Conference, holding a teal banner that reads “Celebrating UN Public Services Day – 23rd June.” The banner also features the Fórsa logo. The group is smiling and facing the camera, with many wearing lanyards. Behind them, other attendees are seated at tables in a large conference room, and a presentation screen is visible in the background.
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Gary @glassandcopper.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
✊
🤖 This image shows a group of people holding flags, likely at a public event or protest. The flags prominently display the Fórsa logo, a trade union in Ireland. The individuals are standing together outdoors, with some of them smiling or engaged in conversation. The scene is bathed in bright sunlight, suggesting a sunny day.
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Reposted by Gary
Gerard Cunningham @faduda.eurosky.social · 12/06/2025
Why Denmark is dumping Microsoft Office and Windows for #LibreOffice and #Linux www.zdnet.com/article/why-... Europe doesn't trust the US government or its tech powers, so its countries are looking elsewhere.
zdnet.com
Why Denmark is dumping Microsoft Office and Windows for LibreOffice and Linux
Before the Danish government announced its move, Denmark's largest cities, Copenhagen and Aarhus, had already announced plans to phase out Microsoft software and cloud services. Here's why.
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Reposted by Gary
Standplaats Kraków could really use some cash! @standplaatskrk.pl · 25/05/2025
A CAPCHA: "Verify that you're human"

Checkmark in the box next to "I stand with Palestine"

"Ceasefire Now" as the little logo.
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Gary @glassandcopper.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
Hi all, We’re asking people to sign and share this petition ✍️ calling for: ✅ Emergency legislation to close the loophole on evictions for no reason ✅ A ban on corporate landlords who are making people homeless and profiting off the housing crisis. Link to sign: tinyurl.com/s458p3h8
tinyurl.com
Stop Evictions and Ban Corporate Landlords in Ireland
I've just signed this CATU petition calling for an end to evictions and a ban on corporate landlords. Will you sign too?
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Gary @glassandcopper.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
Support union school secretaries in their fight for pension parity! ✊
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Dublin City University @dublincityuni.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
DCU, Ireland’s first formally designated University of Sanctuary, has announced five new scholarships for postgraduate taught Master’s for refugees and international protection applicants who are not eligible for state support. Find out more here: launch.dcu.ie/42JvTDx
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Emma Rogan 🇵🇸 @emmadragon.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
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Zoe Gardner @zoejardiniere.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
You truly could not make it up. You could not.
Screenshot of Times article with headline: "Florida may loosen child labour laws to fill gap left by migrants"
The article explains a law has been proposed in Florida to allow children as young as 14 to work overnight shifts in agriculture & constraction to make up for lost migrant labour. Yes really.
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Miriam IRL @miriam.blacksky.app · 27/03/2025
This is disgraceful, but honestly not surprising. How many more women have to be harassed, abused, or killed before our institutions step up? It’s terrifying things are getting worse, and men are being enabled by a culture full of violent misogynistic role models
irishtimes.com
WhatsApp group of 200 young men created to target woman in her student accommodation, Dáil hears
University of Limerick student alleges shouting and bullying behaviour with no remedial action taken by accommodation provider when first contacted
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Carl Kinsella @carlkinsella.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Immigration is good! It's a good thing. Immigration is not at the root of any of our problems. I'm not prepared to cede that ground, to be honest.
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Reposted by Gary
Sarah Clancy @sarahmaintains.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
There is no migration crisis in Ireland. We do have a housing crisis and a political ideology crisis where the far right want to blame migration and the government is happy to let them. International protection applicants form less that 5% of migration to Ireland and usually much less than that.
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Carl Kinsella @carlkinsella.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
"If this is mission accomplished then what good was the mission? To go to the White House, laugh and joke with a man who’s taking political prisoners, threatening the annexation of Canada, and walk away face-first into the same tariffs we were always going to be hit with anyway?" Surrealing:
thejournal.ie
Surrealing in the Years: Plámás is far too kind a word for what we witnessed this week
Micheál Martin is lucky that there’s no direct translation for the Irish concept of plámás.
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Hazel Nolan @hazeljnolan.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
It’s hard to celebrate #IWD today when it feels like we are slipping backwards while being gaslit into thinking otherwise. As Rosa Luxumberg said though: “The most revolutionary thing one can do is always to proclaim loudly what is happening.” To women who speak out, happy #IWD25 🫡 💪🏻💜
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Liam Hogan @liamhogan.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Unions worldwide should be pointing to the U.S. as a cautionary tale to help increase their membership and to apply political pressure to further enshrine workers rights in legislation.
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Fórsa trade union @forsatradeunion.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
📣Ballot result for South Dublin County Council. Members came out in their droves to vote YES (92%) to industrial action over outsourcing in the legal dept Management refused to engage meaningfully on this issue & they’ve refused to staff the dept properly Members, check your emails for next steps
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Brendan @brenkinse.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
I don't think you can call this anything other than wage theft. No one in the community and voluntary sector are in it to get rich but that doesn't mean they don't have bills.
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Kate O'Sullivan @kateosully.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Roses are red Violets are blue I couldn't think of a good rhyme But you should still join a trade union
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Mike McGrath-Bryan @mikemcgb.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Join CATU. Yesterday. Even if you're a homeowner now. Solidarity is important, and they'll soon have their hands full in a way that will make the Rent Strike look like a picnic.
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Reposted by Gary
ifut.bsky.social @ifut.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
Tomorrow we strike!!!!!
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Gary @glassandcopper.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
A three-panel comic using a well-known "cyclist self-sabotage" meme format.

Panel 1: The cyclist rides happily and declares, "We generated record profits last year! Good work team!"
Panel 2: The cyclist deliberately sticks a stick into the front wheel, saying, "Sorry, we don't have budget for salary increase."
Panel 3: The cyclist falls to the ground, clutching their knee, and complains, "Employee retention is difficult in this economy!"
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God @thegodshow.com · 01/02/2025
The USA has had two major plane crashes in the last 4 days. The USA had previously not suffered a major plane crash for 16 years. ‘DEI’ programs have existed for decades. So what was it that changed in the last 14 days or so to suddenly cause so many crashes?
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Gary @glassandcopper.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
🚨🚨🚨
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Starbucks Workers United @sbworkersunited.org · 29/01/2025
Have you signed the pledge yet? It's a great day show support for union workers doing whatever it takes to get their contract - crm.broadstripes.com/ctf/SJID0H
crm.broadstripes.com
No Contract, No Coffee! Pledge To Act In Solidarity With Starbucks Workers United
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Gary @glassandcopper.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
The image contains text that reads:

"We are nothing without each other.

You think because you're privileged enough to be able to purchase your basic needs that you're somehow living independently.

But you didn't make the clothes you buy. You didn't package them and ship them and deliver them to your doorstep. You didn't grow the food you eat. You didn't harvest the grain that becomes the flour in your bread. You didn't mine the precious minerals from the earth that became the computer chips in your phone.

You can't provide your own treats. We need a community to do that. The difference is whether or not you believe the people who facilitated your treats deserve to have their own."
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Gary @glassandcopper.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
An important comparison dorseteye.com/tax-fraud-ve...
Bar chart illustrating the significant disparity between the costs of benefit fraud and tax avoidance to the British taxpayer. Benefit fraud, as estimated by the DWP, accounts for a minimal amount, dwarfed by the vast sums lost to tax avoidance, evasion, and uncollected taxes, which exceed £100 billion according to HMRC and the Tax Justice Network & PCS estimates.
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Gary @glassandcopper.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
@dublincityuni.bsky.social Please raise your standards
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Louth For Ever 🦋 @louthforever.bsky.social · 25/01/2025
Here’s a beautiful image from Berlin tonight. A city that knows how dark this will get. Do your part to maintain the light. You must do your part. #Spéirghorm #IrishBluesky #Ireland #Berlin
The Brandenburg Gate.
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onion person @junlper.beer · 24/01/2025
the ai sloppification of the world will only end if organizations stand up for artists like this. this is another great reason to unionize your workplace as you can include NO AI ART in your work contract
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Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 24/01/2025
Look, we tried to warn people. At this point, the only way out is through. Trump will precipitate a collapse and only then can we rebuild towards a better future. Our goal is to minimize the number of people we lose along the way. Build community, help others. Resilience is all we have.
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Gary @glassandcopper.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
Are millennials responsible for killing champagne too? More at 6
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 23/01/2025
What Trump didn’t say in his inauguration speech | Bernie Sanders
theguardian.com
What Trump didn’t say in his inauguration speech | Bernie Sanders
The simple truth is that Trump ignored almost every major issue facing this country’s working families in his first speech I was at the Trump inauguration on Monday, and needless to say, I disagree with almost everything he had to say. What really…
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Gary @glassandcopper.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
So we're all in agreement that this is a collective lie in for the country right? #StormEowyn
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Fórsa trade union @forsatradeunion.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Local bargaining update 📣This is about your pay! "Ask yourself what someone on €30,000 a year can achieve’ – 30,000 civil servants want pay boost to afford homes" www.independent.ie/irish-news/a...
independent.ie
‘Ask yourself what someone on €30,000 a year can achieve’ – 30,000 civil servants want pay boost to afford homes
A claim to boost the pay of 30,000 civil servants has been lodged with the Government as it was warned that many are struggling to cope with housing costs.
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