This is the very last IMPACT members’ ebulletin you’ll be able to read. With the formation of the new union Fórsa, you’ll be receiving an improve communications service from January, as we’ll be producing separate ebulletins tailored to members working in the civil service, education, health, local authorities and the services and enterprises sector. So you’ll be receiving stories specifically relevant to you.

The Government is to legislate to allow civil and public servants who are currently obliged to retire at age 65 to opt to stay in work longer. Once enacted, the law will give public servants recruited before 1^st April 2004 the option to retire at any time up to age 70.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions and employers’ body Ibec are exploring a common approach to tackling the gender pay gap, with efforts underway to agree a joint proposal on gender pay gap reporting.

New legislation that would improve security for workers on ‘zero-hour’ contracts has been broadly welcomed by unions. Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ (ICTU) general secretary, Patricia King said the Bill “marks some progress on these very important issues for workers.”

History was made this week when representatives of IMPACT, and its members in Ryanair, sat down to talks with company management at 5pm on Tuesday 19^th December. It was the first time that Ireland’s most high-profile anti-union company had ever sat around a table with representatives of organised labour. Less than a week before, Ryanair management was still saying it would never happen.