The Indo reports today that the HSE has rolled back on plans to offer frontline health workers a minimum Covid ­recognition bonus of €200: "The lowest payment would now be €600 and the full €1,000 bonus would be paid to most workers under revised draft plans following talks last Friday."

Protests took place at Dublin Port and a number of UK ports on Saturday morning over the sacking of hundreds of seafarers, as calls grew for a P&O Ferries’ boss to quit. Fórsa was there. The INMO has said that due to soaring Covid-19 cases, the health service is no longer a safe environment for healthcare workers or vulnerable patients. 

Elsewhere, the Sindo reported that the Dáil Ceann Comhairle has been urged to intervene in the ongoing dispute over a pay claim by Leinster House staff who are paid less than the living wage, while Fine Gael has welcomed the creation of a working group of the Civil Service Employee Assistance Service (CSEAS) to examine how to improve support for civil service employees going through menopause.

In cost of living news, the latest Global Output report from Barclays says real wages across most of Europe are likely to decline “significantly” in 2022. Siptu's biennial delegate conference gets underway in Sligo today. President Michael D will address the conference, and demands for pay increases in both the public and private sector to reflect the rising cost of living are likely to feature prominently throughout the conference. 

Zen

Your Zen moment this morning is this lovely photo (above) of Shane and Audrey Lambert and family at the #StandWithUkraine rally last Thursday evening.

Have a great week

Niall