The Croke Park Agreement

Dietsquirt

This is probably going to be a very stupid request.

Could someone in laymans terms (dumb it right down for me;)) explain to me what this croke park agreement thing is? I'm seeing a lot of it in the paper/news.

Appreciate it, no slaggings please :P

Kristopherus

Have a look at www.siptu.ie, www.impact.ie, www.lrc.ie(to download the actual text of the agreement)

Enjoy:)

Cookie_Monster

At the basic level its an agreement between the Government and the Unions that the Civil / Public sector will deliver cost savings and reforms to cut costs and in-efficiencies and increase flexibility in return for pay and conditions and job numbers being kept (reasonably) static and not cut wholesale.

Dietsquirt

Kristopherus wrote: »

Have a look at www.siptu.ie, www.impact.ie, www.lrc.ie(to download the actual text of the agreement)

Enjoy:)

Although i appreciate your help, i just looking for someone to put it in to laymans terms for me. Thanks:)

sparkling sea

Its an agreement between the government and various different unions and the Garda Representatives (they cant have a union in theory) to allow major reforms in the public sector. The unions agree not to take industrial action and the government agree to certain conditions.

So far it has allowed for over 3 billion in savings and cuts and a headcount reductions of around 28000 people.

Many people argue that the new agreement is not being applied fairly, with lower paid workers being targeted in a stealth like fashion.
Example - civil servants earning in the mid 20's are being asked to take on more responsibility and work extra hours with out being paid extra wage - that doesn't seem too bad. However if you take into account these people will have to work for 9 to 5.45 and may also have to work on Saturdays, which will mean say extra child care costs then its not as clear cut as its being presented.

Others argue they are lucky to have a job

ardmacha

Simple. The recent agreement is a corrupt political stunt designed to transfer a disproportionate burden of economic problems caused by everyone on to one seventh of the population. This is in the hope the politicos will get more votes from the other six sevenths that they have unfairly advantaged and to ensure that no pain is felt by the bankers etc really responsible.