Trade Unions and the CPI
Part 3
Anyone expecting any changes in CPI attitudes towards the trade union movement really needs to look at the set-up within the Party.
One of the leading lights in the trade union movement in the Party is Jimmy Doran. According to his own publicity he was a member of the Connect Trade Union National Executive Committee, the chair of its National Transport Consultative Committee, and represented the union on the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ (ICTU) Health and Safety Committee and the ICTU Transport Group. He also credits himself as one of the founding members of the Trade Union Left Forum (TULF). He was appointed to the CIÉ Board in December 2021. More here
More on that later but, first let’s go to the top of the class – Jimmy Corcoran, the current General Secretary of the CPI. In 2021, Corcoran was appointed to lead a two-person investigation of a complaint of alleged bullying by one member against two others. The CPI did not have a complaints procedure of its own so the accused requested that the ICTU Guidelines be used in its place. That request was refused by Corcoran and the inquiry proceeded under terms similar to the ‘rules based international order’ – that is, under whatever terms the CPI decided and which would not be made known to the accused. The only concession would be that the inquiry would use the ICTU’s definition of bullying and harassment.
In the end, either the inquiry team or the National Executive Committee or both completely ignored the ICTU definitions and they put their own definition on the meanings – getting them completely wrong and as a consequence the accused was convicted of “harassment”. As the ICTU guidelines clearly state, trade union officials need to “…..understand the difference between bullying and harassment. They are legally distinct concepts and therefore a behaviour can be either bullying or harassment but not both.” ICTU guidelines here
In fact, the word harassment did not appear in the letter of complaint nor in the minutes of the interviews with both the accuser and the accused. Incredible!
Whatever power ‘Comrade’ Corcoran had at that time and what exact role he played in reaching such a vile and damaging (for all concerned) conclusion we cannot say. However, he is now the General Secretary and since his election he has been offered the opportunity to correct that grave error. He facilitated that injustice but so far, there has been no response.
While the National Executive Committee was obliged to investigate the complaint, if the intention of the inquiry was to conduct a fair hearing for both the accuser and the accused then it is reasonable to expect that the most stringent and professional terms of reference available would be engaged. However, Corcoran stated in writing that no such thing would happen. That being the case, it is also reasonable to assume that if a different outcome was desired then a different road would have to be travelled. And, a different road was travelled.
Subsequently, when a fully documented and supported complaint of bullying was lodged against the CPI itself, the complaint was never heard – despite the same requirement being in place and despite numerous requests that the complaint be processed.
Now to ‘Comrade’ Doran: he represented his union on the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ (ICTU) Health and Safety Committee. This committee drew up the ICTU Guidelines on Prevention of Bullying and Harassment for Trade Union Activists – yes, the same guidelines the CPI refused to employ within the Party itself.
While Doran can not be held solely to account for that action he was held to account for his actions as Chairperson of the (then) Southern Area Committee (SAC) of the CPI in dealing with another issue. Anything that needs to be said about that is contained in the correspondence below. He has had ample opportunity to clarify or correct the description of his role in the matter as Chairperson of the Southern Area Committee but has not taken the opportunity to do so. Draw your own conclusions.
If Doran was a little rusty on procedures or if there were no defined procedures within the SAC he could have consulted his own union rule book for guidance on how to handle disciplinary issues – see below.
Imagine a worker in CIE coming to Jimmy Doran and telling him that management has warned him about his behaviour on foot of a complaint he had not seen and having had no idea that any such complaint was being processed. In any event, he wants Doran to either have the complaints substantiated or withdrawn. Imagine Doran telling him that he is “in no position” to insist on anything. Imagine the worker then appeals that position to the executive committee of his union and the executive committee upholds Doran’s position. Doran and his trade union would be a laughing stock if he behaved that way but he had no problem with enforcing a similar travesty within the CPI.
One thing is for sure: anyone in difficulty, anyone either needing to make a complaint or anybody defending against a complaint would stand a much better chance of receiving a fair hearing within the trade union/employer guidelines than within the tyranny of the CPI setup. There is scarcely an employer in this country that would pull a stunt like that much less expect to get away with it.
That is quite a shocking and damaging situation. Is this the type of justice the workers could look forward to under a CPI administration? The CPI brings shame on the very concept of socialism and the perpetrators are not communists – we call them out for what they are – they are anti-communists. Anti-communists who, to cover expediencies, betray the principles of socialism and the very essence of what the Party should be. Anti-communists whose political and organisational negligence is in the same league as wilful destruction.
Extracts from letter sent to Eugene McCartan, (then General Secretary), the NEC, and Jimmy Doran, (then) Chairperson of the Southern Area Committee in response to written warnings sent to a member:
“Is the Jimmy Doran associated with the Trade Union Left Forum and also the Convenor of the trade union committee of the Party the same Jimmy Doran who is Chairperson of the Southern Area Committee of the Communist Party of Ireland?
“The same Jimmy Doran who signed his name to a letter from the Southern Area Committee threatening a member with disciplinary action?
“The same Jimmy Doran whose committee accepted an irregular and unauthorised complaint against that member?
“The same Jimmy Doran whose committee sat in judgement of that member when he knew that that person had not even seen the complaint against him? And whose committee did not furnish him with a copy of the complaint?
“The same Jimmy Doran whose committee did not offer any right of reply or defence?
“The same Jimmy Doran who a few days later, following a protest from the member insisting that the charges be substantiated or withdrawn, replied that the member was in “no position to insist on any such follow up….”?
“The same Jimmy Doran who represents his union on the ICTU Health & Safety Committee – the same committee that drew up the bullying and harassment guidelines?
“If a private company treated a worker in that fashion, trade unions and the Party would be protesting loudly about such tactics.
“Are these values that the CPI would promote? Are these tactics that the CPI would endorse?
“Or, is it a case of do as we say, not as we do?
“And, have you ever considered how any external entity – friend or foe – might perceive such an absurdity if it turns out that the answer to any of the questions above is yes?
“I require a response to these questions.
Named member
CPI response:
“The decisions taken where taken collectively. All member of the committee take full responsibility for all decisions. This is the final correspondence with you in regards this matter. The matter is closed.” Eugene McCartan
Jimmy Doran did not respond in writing.
This response confirms a yes answer to each and every question asked.
Full report here When it all goes wrong | Guerrilla Communists
Extracts from Connect Trade Union Rule Book
5. DISCIPLINARY/APPEAL PROCEDURE here
280. If a member is charged with an offence under these Rules the charges shall be laid against him/her in writing. The document containing the charges shall name the person or body by whom the charges are being brought. He/she shall be summoned with reasonable notice to attend the meeting which is to hear and determine his/her case, but if he/she fails to attend and to give a reason satisfactory to the meeting for his/her absence, the meeting may proceed to hear and determine the case as if he/she were present, and their decision shall in such case be as valid as if he/she had been in attendance at the meeting.
281. In the event of a member wishing to appeal against a decision of a Branch meeting he/she shall notify his/her intention to do so, within 6 weeks of the decision having been made, to the E.M.C. In the event of a member wishing to appeal against a decision of the E.M.C., he/she shall notify his/her intention to do so, within 6 weeks of the decision having been made, to the N.E.C., whose decision shall be final and binding on all parties.
Part 4 will look at the CPI openly boasting its sectarianism and exceptionalism