Patricia nobbles minister on welfare cuts

The latest issue of Union Post carries a pic of UNISON Northern Ireland regional secretary Patricia McKeown button-holing Stormont health minister Edwin Poots as he rushed back to work during the unions' June 25 protest against welfare cuts. See the story and more ICTU news at http://www.ictu.ie/publications/fulllist/union-post-august-2012/

UNISON's Iron Lady

The Belfast Telegraph published a profile of Patricia McKeown, UNISON Regional Secretary, following yesterday's successful 24 hour strike against the cuts. It claims she has a 'tenacity which has led some critics to characterise her as prone to being “hot-headed” - for her part Patricia says UNISON is “a trade union which is a real agent of social change, both at home and on [an] international basis.” http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/patricia-mckeown-tenacious-union-boss-who-called-the-action-16059765.html