IMPACT is continuing to pursue a number of pay claims in the private sector as the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) recommends that private sector unions pursue pay claims of 4% for 2017. The Congress Private Sector Committee said a 4% rise should mean increases of at least €1,000 a year for workers across the sector.
The chair of the committee, John Douglas, said that all relevant data showed that labour costs had fallen in recent years, while productivity had risen and profits had increased. Yet wages have remained flat. Douglas said wage increases represented the most effective manner in which to stimulate an increase in economic activity.
Stagnant
Meanwhile, the latest blog (published today), from the union-backed Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) sees Tom Healy address what he calls the Irish economy’s “dirty little secret.” Drawing on an EU survey of earnings, working hours and employers’ social insurance costs, he shows that average weekly earnings in Ireland have remained static since 2008.
The latest CSO figures show that average weekly earnings were €701.87 in the third quarter of 2016, a rise of 1.2% (up from €693.57) over the previous year. Average weekly earnings grew by 1.8% in the private sector and by 1% in the public service including semi-state companies.
Breakthrough
IMPACT and other unions made a significant breakthrough on pay restoration this month as the Shannon Airport Authority confirmed that full, permanent and early restoration of basic pay, due to be paid in December, will mark an end to the pay cuts applied under the employer’s ‘cost recovery agreement’. The payment will be backdated to 1st January 2016 to ensure a full year’s restoration in 2016.
Elsewhere, IMPACT and other unions are continuing to engage with Aer Lingus in formal discussions on pay restoration. The talks, aimed at achieving the resumption of normal pay movement from April 2017, concern all staff at the airline with the exception of pilots, who are covered by a separate pay agreement.
