Sectoral bargaining work progresses
by Bernard Harbor
 
Once the ‘sectoral bargaining units’ are agreed with management, work will begin on how the additional 1% of pay will be distributed through sectoral bargaining.
Once the ‘sectoral bargaining units’ are agreed with management, work will begin on how the additional 1% of pay will be distributed through sectoral bargaining.

Fórsa is continuing internal consultations about the make-up of ‘bargaining units’ under the sectoral bargaining provisions of the new agreement, Building Momentum, which covers staff in non-commercial State agencies.

 

The agreement establishes a ‘sectoral bargaining fund’ worth 1% of basic pay, on top of two general round pay adjustments worth 1% each. It can be used to deal with outstanding adjudications, recommendations and claims relevant to specific groups of workers within the local authority sector. Or groups can opt to take the 1% as a straight pay increase.

 

The first step is to identify the different groups of grades and staff categories. Most Fórsa members in the sector are linked to civil service grades for pay purposes, and the union officials are liaising across the sectors.

 

The approach to clerical, administrative and executive grades will be common across all sectors, as large numbers of staff work in these grades in local authorities, health education, and the civil service, as well as the non-commercial State sector.

 

Once the ‘sectoral bargaining units’ are agreed with management, work will begin on how the additional 1% of pay will be distributed through sectoral bargaining.

 

Agreement on the shape of the sectoral bargaining groups is meant to be concluded by the end of next month. Payment of any sectoral awards is scheduled for 1st February 2022.

 

Discussions on the establishment of an independent body charged with addressing the so-called ‘Haddington Road hours’ are also underway. The body will take submissions from management and unions representing grades whose hours were increased under the 2013 Haddington Road deal.

 

It will make recommendations by the end of 2021. Rollout of these recommendations will begin within the lifetime of the agreement, with €150 million available to commence implementation during 2022.

 

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