IT has been a special year for Enniskillen Unite branch secretary Derek Parton who recently received a silver long-service medal from the union. The award, which was presented to him by Jim Quinn, was agreed by the Union’s national executive committee in recognition of Mr Parton’s decades of service as a workplace rep and branch officer. […]
Lisnaskea Credit Union celebrates 50 years
Premium
This year marks a major milestone for Lisnaskea Credit Union as it proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary. From its modest beginnings in 1975, when a small group of local visionaries came together with a shared goal of providing accessible financial services to the people of Lisnaskea, the Credit Union has grown into a trusted institution at […]
Royal Black holds annual Fermanagh parade
Premium
THE ROYAL Black Institution has commemorated the 1689 Battle of Newtownbutler at its annual demonstration on Saturday. More than 30 preceptories, accompanied by 36 marching bands, marked the event in the Lakeland village of Derrygonnelly. The village, which last played host to the event in August 1973, saw a procession of around 2,000 participants, including […]
Fermanagh Trade Unions Council gets first female chair
Premium
THE Fermanagh Council of Trade Unions (FCTU) recently appointed its first ever female chair. Already a familiar face to many local workers, the history-maker in question is UNISON’s Jill Weir. Ms Weir was unanimously elected to the position at the recent FCTU AGM. She becomes the first woman to hold the position in the 105 years […]
Trade union leader’s 50 year fight for better rights
TRADE unionist Jim Quinn has been fighting for better rights for local workers for nearly 50 years and his passion to make a difference saw him go head to head with the British Government. After what he describes as an ‘unsuccessful’ education, the Cornagrade man took on employment at ‘Peeters Picture Frames’ in Enniskillen in […]
Fermanagh teachers welcome pay deal agreement
FERMANAGH teachers could now have “a better quality life and workload balance” after they agreed a pay offer following a hard-fought campaign which helped avert the threat of strike action. The Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council agreed a deal which will see teachers receive a 5.5-per-cent pay rise which will be backdated to September 1 2024 […]
‘It’s about workload, not pay’ teacher reject pay offer
FERMANAGH teachers have said they are campaigning for a reduction in their workload, and pay is not currently their priority. On Thursday, the majority of teachers’ unions rejected a 5.5 percent pay rise and took action short of strike from Monday. Local teacher and member of both the NASUWT executive committee and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions […]
Shift of rationale around removing Israeli flags
RESPONSES around the removal of Israeli flags on lampposts in the Omagh area have left councillors disappointed, as the items in question aren’t illegal according to PSNI. This is something of a shift in position around the stance on contentious emblems whereby it was felt removal by a public agency would cause community tensions. The […]
Ulster Farmers’ Union to hold protest tractor rallies
FERMANAGH will host a tractor rally protest as part of a UK-wide day of action against the Inheritance Tax changes to Agricultural and Business Property Relief. The Ulster Farmers’ Union is holding six tractor runs, one in each county, on January 25. NFU, NFU Scotland and NFU Cymru will also be holding events in their […]
Fermanagh teachers could return to picket lines
A LOCAL teacher has called on political leaders and the Stormont Executive to “come to the table with an offer” of better pay as teaching professionals face a return to the picket lines. Some of the leading teaching unions in the North are considering holding a ballot on strike action after it was revealed that […]