New from IMPACT
IASS pension update, IMPACT Services and Enterprises Division special bulletin, 17th September 2014. Follows agreement with Aer Lingus on proposals to deal with aviation pension deficit.
Pay
Earnings and labour costs annual, Central Statistics Office, 15th September 2014. Average annual earnings fell 0.7% (or €249) to 35,830 in 2013. Statistical release shows varied pay movements across sectors.
Wage stagnation: The big freeze, The Economist, 6th September 2014. The international business journal discusses wage stagnation throughout advanced economies. ‘Widespread wage recovery needed says public service union leader,’ Industrial Relations News, IRN 33, 17th September 2014. Hard copy in library. Quotes Shay Cody from IMPACT website.
An economic analysis of the living wage in Northern Ireland, Oxford Economics/Centre for Economic Empowerment, research report 8 (undated: September 2014). Finds net employment and output gains and a boost to the Northern Ireland economy. Results summarised in Researching the macro-economic impact of the living wage, blog by NERI director Tom Healy, 12th September 2014. Bargaining for equality: How collective bargaining contributes to eliminating pay discrimination between men and women performing the same job or job of equal value, Jane Pillinger, European Trade Union Confederation, 2014, 88 pages. Includes examples from Ireland.
Consumer price index August 2014, Central Statistics Office, 11th September 2014. Prices rose just 0.4% in the year to August 2014. ‘Poverty pay isn’t inevitable. Look to the cleaners of New York,’ Aditya Chakrabortty, The Guardian, 8th September 2014. In the US, the workers are organised. Earnings in Britain are lower, and job insecurity worse, despite a higher statutory minimum wage. ‘Compliance a central issue for new REA in construction sector,’ Industrial Relations News, IRN 33, 17th September 2014. Hard copy in library. Pensions
The Pensions Authority to take action in respect of defined benefit schemes that fail to meet the statutory funding standard, Pensions Authority news release, The Pensions Authority to take action in respect of defined benefit schemes that fail to meet the statutory funding standard.
12th September 2014. Authority says it will soon act on 61 underfunded schemes. Includes a link to relevant regulations. See also ‘Pensions Authority threatens to use new powers against 61 underfunded schemes,’ Industrial Relations News, IRN 33, 17th September 2014. Hard copy in library.
‘Aviation pensions: Unions closer to balloting but retirees fire legal salvo,’ Industrial Relations News, IRN 33, 17th September 2014. See also ‘Burton to meet deferred pensions, trustee expresses disgust at treatment’ in same issue. Hard copy in library. Employment and economy
Base erosion and profit shifting priorities 2014, OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, 16th September 2014. OECD makes first recommendations for co-ordinated international approach to combat tax avoidance by multinational enterprises. Link is to summary with links to various documents. See also the OECD’s FAQ document.
Quarterly national accounts: Quarter two 2014, Central Statistics Office, 18th September 2014. Shows Ireland’s economy grew by 7.7% (GDP) or 9% (GNP) in year to June 2014, the fastest rate in seven years. Monitoring the distributive impact of indirect taxation changes in the Republic of Ireland, Micheál Collins, NERI Working Paper No.20, September 2014, 48 pages. See also IMPACT summary.
The earnings distribution: The bottom, the middle, the top and the very top, NERI blog by Micheál Collins, 9th September 2014, quantifies the oft-quoted ‘middle income’ earners.
Latest data from PRTB quarterly rent Index, Deirdre Adamson, Private Residential Tenancies Board, 18th September 2014. Shows Dublin private sector rents up 10.5% in the year to June 2014. Link is to summary with links to full Dublin and national data.
Definancialisation: A democratic reform of finance, Matthew Lawrence, Institute of Public Policy Research, 3rd September 2014. Makes proposals for rolling back the ‘socially useless’ aspects of the (UK) finance industry and advancing democratic control of finance. Link is to summary with link to PDF of full document.
Effects of restructuring at regional level and approaches to dealing with the consequences, Irene Mandl and John Hurley, Eurofound, 10th September 2014. Study of regional impact of corporate and other restructuring. Collective bargaining and trade union rights
The union advantage: How unions make work better and society fairer, Trade Union Congress (UK), 5th September 2014, 16 pages. Link is to summary with link to PDF of full document.
European trade unionism: From crisis to renewal? Magdalena Bernaciak et al, European Trade Union Institute, 2014, 89 pages. Outlines several trade union initiatives and innovations in organising, mergers, organisational restructuring, collective bargaining, social partnership and cross-border cooperation.
Individualisation of the work relationship: A challenge for trade unions, Philippe Davezies, European Trade Union Institute, 2014, 6 pages. Includes proposals for trade unions to deal with new work-relationship-based contradictions and risks. Link is to summary with link to PDF of full document. Working conditions and workers’ rights
‘Alleged Howlin u-turn over gardai raises wider issues,’ Industrial Relations News, IRN 32, 11th September, 2014. Report on AGSI accusations that IMPACT General Secretary ensured Gardai sick leave was cut. Hard copy in library.
‘Principal of state severance formula upheld despite funding deficit,’ Industrial Relations News, IRN 32, 11th September, 2014. Hard copy in library. ‘Alzheimer Society called on to honour state-led severance ruling,’ Industrial Relations News, IRN 32, 11th September, 2014. Hard copy in library. Social dumping and the EU integration process, Magdalena Bernaciak, European Trade Union Institute, 2014, 30 pages. Argues that the creation of the EU internal market and EU enlargement have worsened social dumping. Link is to summary with link to PDF of full document. Public service
Expert group report on fixed-term and part-time employment in teaching, Joint Managerial Body, Secretariat of Secondary Schools, 17th September 2014. See also government news release. Link is to summary with link to news release and full report.
‘Varadkar’s briefing documents show scale of challenge in Health,’ Industrial Relations News, IRN 32, 11th September, 2014. Hard copy in library. ‘Latest job reduction target unrealistic this year: Varadkar,’Industrial Relations News, IRN 33, 17th September 2014. Hard copy in library.
The really good friends of transnational corporations agreement, Ellen Gould, Public Services International, 15th September 2014, 36 pages. Canadian academic outlines the threats to public services contained in proposed Trade in Services Agreement (TISA). Link is to summary with link to PDF of full document. See also IMPACT summary.
Austerity and public sector restructuring: local government in focus, Special issue of European Trade Union Institute’s Transfer magazine, August 2014. Includes case studies from various European countries.
The Scottish NHS: More financially secure outside the UK? Paul Johnson and David Phillips, Institute for Fiscal Studies, 11th September 2014. Rebuts Scottish Nationalist Party claims that the NHS is threatened unless Scotland gets independence.
Has the EU become more intrusive in shaping national welfare state reforms? Evidence from Greece and Portugal, Sotiria Theodoropoulou, European Trade Union Institute, 2014, 26 pages. Comparative analysis of the impact of memorandums of understanding in areas of old-age pensions and labour market policies shows increased interference, tighter surveillance and stricter enforcement. Link is to summary with link to PDF of full document. Health and Safety
‘Court backs two workers who were transferred for making safety complaint,’ Industrial Relations News, IRN 32, 11th September 2014. Hard copy in library.
Miscellaneous
‘David Begg to stand down, hunt for replacement begins,’ Industrial Relations News, IRN 33, 17th September 2014. Hard copy in library.
‘TEEU and UCATT agree in principle to a merger,’ Industrial Relations News, IRN 33, 17th September 2014. Hard copy in library.
TUC General Council report to Congress 2014, (UK) Trade Union Congress, September 2014. Report of TUC activities 2013-2014. Link is to summary with link to PDF of full report. See also other documentation, news and speeches from the TUC’s 2014 congress, which took place between 7th and 12th September 2014.
‘Mediation: new research shows that talking does work,’ Industrial Relations News, IRN 32, 11th September, 2014. Hard copy in library.
Climate change is a trade union issue, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), 12th September 2014, 6 pages. Forthcoming events
A roof is a right, IMPACT Boards and Voluntary Agencies’ branch public meeting on Dublin’s homelessness crisis. 10am, Saturday 20th September, Gresham hotel, Dublin 1. Speakers include Tánaiste Joan Burton, Father Peter McVerry and Dublin City Council assistant manager (housing) Dick Brady. Click for full details and registration.
Cost of disability conference, Inclusion Ireland, 25th September 2014, Hilton hotel, Kilmainham, Dublin 8. Minister Simon Harris is among confirmed speakers. Cost €40. Online booking essential.
Safety is a mindset, National Irish Safety Organisation/Health and Safety Authority, national conference, Mullingar Park hotel, 2nd-3rd October. Impressive list of senior health and safety experts among speakers. President Michael D Higgins opening. Pricing high and varied (see brochure).
Earlier discharge, better outcomes, lower cost? A new way to deliver health care in Ireland: The example of stroke rehabilitation, ESRI conference, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2, 8.30am-1pm, Monday 15th September. Registration essential. Managing bullying in the workplace, National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre (DCU) with Health and Safety Authority, Dublin, 9am-1.130pm, Tuesday 14th October. Costs €85.
Annual equality mainstreaming conference, Equality Authority, Tuesday 14th October 2014, Dublin Castle.
Austerity, the public sector and the threat to gender equality, ESRI Geary seminar, 4pm, Thursday 23rd October, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2. Professor Jill Rubery (University of Manchester Business School). Free but booking essential.
Contact us
- We welcome your suggestions for items to include in future issues.
- Contact Trish O’Mahony or another member of the communications staff for copies of the items in this bulletin.
- Please do not remove publications from the library without permission.
| 
