IMPACT members in the state forestry company, Coillte, are currently balloting on a series of restructuring and pay proposals following talks with the company toward the end of 2016.
The meetings, which took place in November and December last year, were independently mediated by former rights commissioner Janet Hughes, when earlier meetings with the company were inconclusive.
The latest proposals include pay increases of 1.5%, and once-off lump sum payments ranging between €2,250 and €4,500 and the introduction of an internal dispute resolution process.
IMPACT official Johnny Fox said a crucial feature of the proposals was the return to collective bargaining in June to negotiate pay increases each year up to 2020.
“These proposals include a commitment to current salary scales being subject to upward-only movement, benchmarked against market rates for similar roles. The return to collective bargaining this year is a crucial feature, as this will allow us to prepare the ground for pay increases each year up to 2020, and give us time to prepare for independently facilitated discussions on measures to secure the pension scheme,” he said.
The ballot concludes this Thursday, 26th January.
