We’re asking readers of the IMPACT ebulletin how they intend to vote in the marriage equality referendum on Friday 22^nd May. IMPACT is supporting the campaign for a ‘YES’ vote in the referendum, following a motion to IMPACT’s biennial delegate conference last year from the Sligo branch.

Taking part in the poll is anonymous and is hosted via the Survey Monkey website.

Vote HERE.

The latest CSO figures on pay show modest pay increases across a range of sectors. The main drivers behind the pay improvements are a slight increase in the hourly rate of pay and an increase in working hours.

Average weekly earnings were €704.34 in the last quarter of 2014. That’s a 2.3pc increase on the earnings in the same quarter in 2013 and the highest level since 2010. However, salaries in the third quarter of 2014 fell compared with the same period the year before. 

Average weekly paid hours were 31.9 in the final quarter of 2014, an increase of 0.6% on those recorded in the same period the previous year, while average hourly earnings increased by 1.7% to €22.11.

Nine of the 13 sectors tracked by the CSO experienced pay improvements. The largest percentage increase, +9.6pc, was recorded in the financial, insurance and real estate activities sector. Pay improvements in these sectors are partially driven by "irregular hourly earnings", as banks and other financial services companies began paying bonuses again. The largest annual percentage increase in 2014 was in construction, while smaller firms (employing fewer than 250 people) showed no pay improvements.

Weekly average earnings in the private sector showed an increase of 3pc to €643.44 but the public sector (which includes semi-states) only increased by 0.3pc to €910.87. Four of the seven public sector sub-sectors tracked by the CSO recorded falls in average weekly earnings in the same period, with the biggest decrease recorded in the defence sector.

These figures do not account for the effect of the public service ‘pension levy’ which cut public sector pay by an average of 7.5pc in 2009.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin TD, has indicated he wants to begin the process of an "orderly unwinding" of the emergency legislation (FEMPI) used to cut public sector pay. The minister has said he wants to open discussions with public sector unions this year on this issue.

In a joint letter to the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly TD, Phil McFadden of IMPACT and Gene Mealy of SIPTU highlight a number of concerns about proposed reductions to fire service crewing levels. Both unions say the reduction in firefighting crews will create unnecessary risks to their safety.

They said “We have sought to be provided with the relevant risk assessments and support documentation associated with the proposed reductions, however, these have not been forthcoming to date.

The letter states “Our members in both the retained and full-time fire services have also been actively engaged in an ongoing campaign in relation to the section 26 plans, where we have outlined our concerns regarding the dangerous elements contained within the ‘Keeping Communities Safe’ proposals.

“The current situation whereby the department is now seeking to implement the reductions in crewing levels and pre-determined attendances without providing the relevant risk assessments and support documentation leaves us with no choice but to take our concerns to the streets.”

Phil added “Fire fighters already carry out a dangerous and demanding job. It should be the task of the government to do everything in its power to keep fire fighters as safe as possible. Reducing crewing levels would create additional and unnecessary risks to their safety.”

Video:

Fire fighters rally to oppose reductions in crewing levels - Tuesday 24th February 2015

IMPACT members from the Early Childhood Care and Education sector joined a protest outside the Dáil last week, and called on the Government to increase investment in the sector. Hundreds of workers, and their supporters, joined the rally, organised by the Association of Childhood Professionals (ACP), calling for greater state investment in services and a Government-backed pay scale for the early years workforce.

Speakers at the event included Ciara Conway, TD for Waterford, Senator Katherine Zappone, founder of An Cosán, and Professor Noirín Hayes of Start Strong.

IMPACT represents hundreds of professionals in the sector and the number is growing. More services are needed and the costs for families are enormous. Yet the sector is largely overlooked by policymakers, and suffers from a lack of investment.

Una Faulkner, IMPACT organiser said “Front-line professionals in this sector are extremely important not only for the work they do but the wider value of their work to society. But these professionals earn barely more than the minimum wage, despite Fetac qualifications up to levels 7 and 8. For a professionally qualified job this is not acceptable.”

Una added “There are huge discrepancies across the country in relation to contracts and terms and conditions, which are not standardised. Many workers are employed under temporary, renewable contracts, meaning they have to sign on for social welfare during the summer months.”

Una pointed out that IMPACT has a proven track record of professionalising grades and securing standardised contracts, for example with special needs assistants (SNAs). “Childhood professionals need to join IMPACT so that they have a strong and cohesive voice to bring about change in this valuable sector.”

TASC’s report on inequality specifically cites the lack of affordable childcare provision as a contributing factor to growing inequality.

Una said that the time has come for the Government to stand up and recognise its responsibilities for investing in childcare, “It’s desperately needed. For children, their parents and workers, the situation is reaching crisis point” she said.

Video:

IMPACT has said that the statement on Tuesday by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, recognises that the issues of job losses and connectivity are significant barriers to IAG’s proposed takeover of the airline.

Speaking at a briefing meeting with Aer Lingus staff representatives on Tuesday, IMPACT national secretary Matt Staunton said that Aer Lingus’ statement this week on operating profits and passenger numbers showed that the airline remains in a strong position as an independent airline, and a crucial element in Ireland’s transport infrastructure. IMPACT represents 1,800 cabin crew, pilots and office staff at Aer Lingus.

Matt said that the job and connectivity issues, identified by the Minister, reflected the concerns raised by the union about potential job losses, and the long term vulnerability of Irish routes to Heathrow.

Matt said that it remained to be seen if IAG can address these issues, and that the union was doubtful that IAG would move to do so. He said that IAG CEO, Willie Walsh, had already confirmed that jobs would be lost through rationalisation if the takeover was successful when he spoke to the Oireachtas transport committee two weeks ago.

State should retain stake - CRC

In a statement issued to TDs yesterday (Thursday 26^th), the Central Representative Council (CRC) said the state should retain its 25.1% stake in Aer Lingus, and that the airline remains a “profitable, sustainable business as an independent airline.” The CRC, which is the democratic industrial body of unions within Aer Lingus, said it had “grave concerns” about the IAG bid.

IMPACT is participating in a new initiative by President Michael D Higgins on ethical workplaces. The initiative was officially launched last night by the president at the 2015 Edward Phelan Lecture, in the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin.

The project will run for the month of March and its aim is to provide a platform for workers to reflect and explore themes important to ethical work. These include having a voice at work, dignity, equality and respect in the workplace, fair wages and conditions of work, physical protection and well-being, enhancing skills and potential, and support coping with life events and caring responsibilities.

Speaking at the launch last night, President Higgins said “Our notion of work or what constitutes decent or good work has evolved dramatically over the past century. Given Ireland’s recent history, an exploration of the meaning of work and the definition of an ethical workplace is most timely. The question of ‘good work’ within the wider frame of ‘the good life’ remains one of the defining issues of our times. I wish to congratulate ICTU on opening up this conversation and invite as many people as possible across the island of Ireland to take part in this project.”

Take part in the campaign

As part of this initiative IMPACT will be inviting members to respond to the question “What Does An Ethical Workplace Mean to You?”

You can make your response via the campaign webpage; tweet what an ethical workplace means to you using the #ethicswork tag; send a photo or video via #ethicswork; or fill out one of the campaign postcards which will be circulating in workplaces.

Participation is open to everyone regardless of their employment situation or membership of a trade union.

Decent Work at Heart of Ethical Society - ILO

The director general of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Guy Ryder, is in Dublin today to address an event at the Institute of European and International Affairs. He has written a blog for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions website about the need for decent work, and its role at the heart of an ethical society.

Ryder says that, with 12 million of the more than 23 million unemployed Europeans looking for work for one year or more, many people do not have what some may consider the 'luxury' of a job.

“The financial crisis that began in 2008 is still causing pain for many people in the European Union, and its effects have hit the Irish economy and labour market particularly hard. 

“While Ireland’s GDP is now expected to grow at above the EU average and the situation may be moving in the right direction, the jobless rate in Ireland is still higher than the EU average. And a growing share of jobseekers are among those falling into long-term unemployment, rising from 27 per cent of the unemployed in 2007 to 62.3 per cent in 2014.”

Read the full blog HERE

Headed by former AIB senior executive Donal de Buitléir, the commission has been established to advise the Government on the appropriate rate of the national minimum wage on an annual basis. It will travel the country talking to workers and employers, gathering information.

Until now, the national minimum wage could be changed following a recommendation in a national agreement, a recommendation by the Labour Court or unilaterally by the Minister.

The members of the commission represent a variety of stakeholder interests, and includes the general secretary designate of the ICTU, Patricia King. The commission is expected to consider a range of issues in making their recommendation, including:

• Changes in earnings since the minimum wage was last increased in 2011
• Unemployment and employment rates generally
• Expected impact of a change to the minimum wage on employment, the cost of living and national competitiveness
• Changes in income distribution
• Currency exchange rates

It will be asked to consult with appropriate interest groups and people, including directly with workers who are on the minimum wage, and employers in sectors associated with low pay. It will also examine relevant data from organisations like the CSO and be able to commission research to fill in any data gaps.

The current rate of the National Minimum Wage is €8.65. It was last increased in July 2011, when the Fine Gael/Labour coalition reversed a €1 cut to the rate which was imposed by the previous Government.

Oireachtas hearings on low pay and the living wage

Dr Michael Collins of the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) told an Oireachtas hearing this week that a rise of €1 to the national minimum wage would mean a bump of €2,033 per annum for a full-time worker on the minimum wage.  Dr Collins contested a claim, made by Ibec economist Fergal O’Brien,  that the purchasing power of the minimum wage is now 20% greater than what it was in 2000.

Dr Collins told the Oireachtas committee that a process to introduce a ‘living wage’ of €11.45 per hour would be gradual and voluntary. He recommended that sectors of the economy that can afford it should create ‘living wage’ zones, such as at the IFSC and in the local authority sector.

He told the committee that where the living wage has been introduced in other jurisdictions, the local authority sector has embraced the concept, as elected officials are in the best position to lead by paying their own employees the living wage rate. He said also that the living wage could be lowered, depending on other related circumstances, such as improvements in public services.

IMPACT’s campaign against proposed library amalgamations throughout the country continues to gather pace, Cork City senior management has written to IMPACT with concerns about the proposed amalgamation of Cork city and county library services. It is understood that Cork County management shares this view.

The proposed amalgamations would reduce the number of library services from 32 to 23. In a series of localised campaigns organised by individual union branches, IMPACT has focused on mobilising stakeholders to lobby and raise awareness of the issue. A number of public representatives and local authority managers are now supporting the campaign.

The local authority management body (LGMA) is currently in discussions with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and has said that the proposed amalgamation, as outlined, is not appropriate for a number of reasons.

Peter Nolan, national secretary with IMPACT trade union said “Our campaign in opposition to library amalgamations continues to gather momentum as more stakeholders engage with the process.

“IMPACT has been meeting with local representatives in the affected counties to date and received widespread cross-party support for the campaign.

“Cork city and county is a unique case because it is the only amalgamation which is happening within county lines. It is therefore quite significant that senior management in Cork are concerned” he said.

While there has been widespread support for the campaign locally, Peter pointed to a certain lack of interest at national level. He said “There has been unwillingness from the Department of Environment to get involved in what it deems to be a local issue. However, with a growing number of calls, from an extensive list of supporters, we at IMPACT believe that the Department must recognise the local opposition to their proposals.”

At its AGM this week, the Dun Laoghaire, Rathdown branch of IMPACT passed a motion to support and develop the campaign locally and nationally.

IMPACT national secretary Eamonn Donnelly, welcomed the introduction of the board. “Unions have pushed for accountability of performance for a long time. Apart from ensuring quality in the delivery of service, real accountability would dispel the often held, or default assumption, that the civil service under-performs. This is a view which simply has no basis” he said.

The accountability board will, for the first time, create a performance management system for secretaries general and create oversight on accountability and performance across the entire civil service.

The terms of reference approved by the Government include:

• Overall governance across the civil service; advice and support on the development of the capacity and capability of the civil service
• Provide oversight and review of proposals for a new performance management system for secretaries general and the effective implementation and operation of the system across the civil service
• Provide oversight and review of the new programme of organisational capability reviews, including implementation of recommendations arising from the review process
• Oversee civil service capability in implementing cross-cutting priorities set by Government or other system-wide issues; this may involve considering individual case studies to promote learning and highlight best practice.

The Board is to be chaired by the Taoiseach and balanced with ministerial, civil service and external members, according to the Department.

The AGM of the Irish Youth Justice Branch will take place on Friday 27^th February at 6pm in the Balbriggan Court hotel, all members are welcome.

An update on the current dispute regarding Oberstown, along with a report on all other matters, will be given at the meeting. Members of Oberstown campus staged a one-hour work stoppage this week, and IMPACT met with management after the action to negotiate resolving the dispute.

IMPACT assistant general secretary Christina Carney, has lead the negotiations with management. “There are a number of issues which remain unresolved in this dispute. Critical concerns, such as an agreed injury and assault scheme, remain to be resolved. However, we are committed to solving the matters at hand and members will be fully briefed of progress at the AGM.”

The report, Cherishing all Equally: Economic Inequality in Ireland, is the first detailed analysis of economic inequality in Ireland. TASC said it looks beyond income and wealth at a range of other issues including public services, taxation, family composition, people’s capacities and the cost of goods and services. TASC intends to publish an annual report analysing economic inequality.

The report reveals a number of key findings in relation to rising inequality in Ireland:

• According to Revenue data, the top 1% of income earners in Ireland averaged €373,300 compared to €27,400 for the bottom 90%;
• The top 10% hold somewhere between 42% to 58% of Ireland’s wealth compared to 12% for the bottom 50%;
• Workers’ share of national income fell from 65% in 1990 to less than 56% in 2009.

Dr Nat O’Connor, TASC’s Research Director and one of the report’s authors, said that such high levels of economic inequality in Ireland are not inevitable and stressed that the levels of economic inequality are not the same in every country – other European countries have much lower levels of economic inequality compared to Ireland due to different policy choices in relation to taxation and the provision of public services.

The full report is available HERE.