Unions press for pay increases as economy shows signs of recovery

Idbatterim

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/unions-press-for-pay-increases-as-economy-shows-signs-of-recovery-30179546.html

David Begg, leader of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, has backed calls for post-troika wage rises, as two unions push for pay increases.

The Civil, Public and Services Union, representing lower paid civil servants, is to mount a campaign for restoration of pay lost under the last two cost-cutting deals with the Government.

And the National Bus and Railworkers Union, representing staff at Bus Eireann and Dublin Bus, has already submitted a claim for pay increases of over 6pc at both com- panies.

Companies who could afford it should pay up, he said.

"It would be very foolish of anybody to force a pay increase on an industry that would put them out of business, or where jobs would be lost," he said at the ICTU conference 'A New Course for Better Times'.

"The economy is mixed, and there are sectors which can afford a pay rise and I think where they can be afforded, they should be pursued."

He said about 40pc of private sector firms had already negotiated pay increases over the last couple of years.

Mr Begg added that there was a need for some social partnership-type model to ensure the long-term stability of the country, but said there were "mixed signals" from Government.

Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton, who spoke at the same conference, refused to say if she backed Mr Begg's call for pay rises. When asked if she supported his view, she said the critical thing was to get people back to work and ensure they could survive.

"I've spoken about a living wage, and a fair wage, and I think that's critical in terms of the people who are still, if you like, locked out in terms of employment," said the minister, whose department runs the Jobbridge scheme. "That's my first priority".

However, she hinted that she was open to renewed talks between unions and the Government.

She said unions would be "central" in the battle for a "new social democratic settlement".

IMPROVE

Mr Begg's comments come as unions representing most public servants – SIPTU and IMPACT – indicated they will seek pay rises if the government finances improve during the Haddington Road deal.

IMPACT leader Shay Cody said it was a "certainty" that pay rises would be sought for the country's 287,780 public servants if the state finances improved. Mr Cody, who represents over 63,500 staff, said "income recovery" would be top of his union's agenda at its annual conference next month.

"It will be a certainty that unions will be submitting a claim if the government situation improves, but that improvement has to manifest itself first," he said.

Sources said the trigger for a public sector pay claim would be a fall in the government deficit below 3pc of GDP, although that is unlikely to happen this year. They said it might be expected during the second half of next year.

Meanwhile, the NBRU has asked Bus Eireann and Dublin Bus for a pay rise due to "the first green shoots of recovery after five years of recession".

It includes 6pc due under previous social partnership deals, and a percentage – to be negotiated – to reflect the cost of living.

They are at it again! I am employed, I post in the jobbridge thread on here the off time, trying to be balanced on it, saying available money should go towards job creation. But this is taking the piss, hundreds of thousands out of work and he thinks priority number one is back to endless payrises for those in secure jobs, some of whom might be struggling, but are nowhere near as urgent as those that lost everything? give it to one sector and it will be like a collapsing house of cards with calls for wage rises left right and centre! Reduce the vat rate and marginal rate rate of PAYE. But only after sorting out the jobs crisis. Look at Irish rail and their steadfast refusal to countenance pay cuts and how long they kick that down the road for, yet as soon as they get a sense things are on the up, they are like the starving at a soup kitchen!!!

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/irish-rail-staff-to-vote-on-new-pay-reduction-plan-30179540.html

mikemac1

Idbatterim wrote: »

They are at it again!

They are paid to represent their members

There are not there to look after everyone else

If you paid subs wouldn't you want your reps pushing for you? You seem a bit surprised OP at union reps doing some lobbying. IBEC do plenty of lobbying too

Idbatterim

They are paid to represent their members

There are not there to look after everyone else

If you paid subs wouldn't you want your reps pushing for you? You seem a bit surprised OP at union reps doing some lobbying. IBEC do plenty of lobbying too

yeah that fairly obvious to me, extort as much as possible for as little work as possible, just hope they get told where to go! Might be a bit much though expecting the government to act as a referee in society given the hundreds of thousands that have been shown the emigration or the dole scrap heap though!

dodderangler

Anyone else first read the title as onions?
I was like wtf are those onions up to now!!

ted1

Unions are idiots.

twowheelsgood

mikemac1 wrote: »

They are paid to represent their members

There are not there to look after everyone else

If you paid subs wouldn't you want your reps pushing for you? You seem a bit surprised OP at union reps doing some lobbying. IBEC do plenty of lobbying too

That's in in a nutshell. It would be a more remarkable story if unions did not respond in this way to news of an improving economy.

Mardy Bum

Some people must have missed basic business studies at junior cert as they seem to be amazed by the basic functions of trade unions.

Guy:Incognito

mikemac1 wrote: »

They are paid to represent their members

There are not there to look after everyone else

If you paid subs wouldn't you want your reps pushing for you? You seem a bit surprised OP at union reps doing some lobbying. IBEC do plenty of lobbying too

Trying to up your wages as much as possible isn't always in your own best interests long term. Pricing yourself out of a job isn't going to help you beyond your redundancy payment.

Idbatterim

That's in in a nutshell. It would be a more remarkable story if unions did not respond in this way to news of an improving economy.

I agree, just thought I'd post my opinion on it and get others. There is a line of priorities, they are at the bottom of it AFAIC, thats mine...

Halloween Jack

I'm a lower paid civil servant, I've had pay cuts and any chance of career progression effectively curtailed for the last six years, it's been pretty frustrating, but I've plenty of mates and family members scraping around looking for anything they can get.

I'd rather see any surplus funds go toward job creation, preferably through some infrastructure projects that we can all benefit from.

twowheelsgood

Idbatterim wrote: »

I agree, just thought I'd post my opinion on it and get others. There is a line of priorities, they are at the bottom of it AFAIC, thats mine...

Yes, but they are one player who will try to steer things in a direction that suits who they represent. There are other players, like IBEC, who will pull in another direction. And invariably they all set out their opening position a tad unrealistically (but they know this of course, I don’t think the unions really expect to get anywhere with this).

It’s the net effect of all of these forces that needs to be looked as to assess how well the system as a whole works. And while arguably the unions have far more clout than is healthy or fair, it works moderately well, I think.

super_furry

Time perhaps to form an unemployed union to look after the interests of it's members?

Idbatterim

Time perhaps to form an unemployed union to look after the interests of it's members?

unfortunately politically wise, none of them are prepared to do anything to address the imbalance with any expediency. I dont know what SF propose, but certainly the other big three are for more of the same, carry on as you were... See when they themselves are feeding from the trough and they can ensure those immediately close to them do too. Maybe its hard for them to get perspective..

mikemac1

Seamus Healy topped the polls in Tipp South running for an unemployment action group

I've seen the independent TDs from Dublin South, Wicklow and Wexford in the news a lot

Can't recall ever seeing this TD in the news

teacherhead

super_furry wrote: »

Time perhaps to form an unemployed union to look after the interests of it's members?

What will they do if they dont get their way? Refuse to collect the dole? They have no bargaining chip unfortunately. The employed at least gave withdrawal of labour.

This country is made up of have's and have not's. They will always have, the rest never will.

SEPT 23 1989

we need to build more houses and give pay increases to the public sector

will we ever fcuking learn??:(

dxhound2005

super_furry wrote: »

Time perhaps to form an unemployed union to look after the interests of it's members?

There is one.

http://www.inou.ie/

MonstaMash

Unions used to be the last refuge for the working man/woman against exploitative employers.

These days unions are about as useful as a eunuch at a gang bang.

They are more than willing to takes their dues from a workers wage, but when it comes to actually supporting their members when conflict rears it's head between employer/employee, they 9 times out of 10 pacify the employer or wring their hands saying 'there's not an awful lot to be done about it'

Industrial fookn eunuchs expecting €'s for nothing IMHO

srsly78

super_furry wrote: »

Time perhaps to form an unemployed union to look after the interests of it's members?

Isn't this what Labour do?

No Pants

dxhound2005 wrote: »

There is one.

http://www.inou.ie/

Was just about to mention them. As has been said, they don't have many cards to play, but they could be extremely disruptive if they were more organised. I don't know where they get funding.