With public sector pay talks now underway, it’s likely that a ballot of members on any new pay deal will take place in June, so IMPACT is cleaning up its membership database to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.

Contact details change when you move jobs or change address and, understandably, updating contact details with your trade union can be easily overlooked.

For this reason, IMPACT has been carefully checking the union’s entire membership database and liaising with branches and individual members to ensure that contact details, including personal email and home address, are fully up to date.

We are currently sending emails to members asking them to review their contact details (including mobile number and e-mail) and to make any necessary changes. Approximately 10% of those contacted have requested amendments to their data.

The union has also set up a dedicated email account updatemydetails@impact.ie for members to respond. Members can contact this address at any time in the future to inform the union about changes to their contact details.

If you’ve changed address in the last 12 months, please drop us a line at updatemydetails@impact.ie. If you’ve received an email from IMPACT about updating your details, please respond as soon as possible so that we can make sure we’ve got your details up to date.

IMPACT is running a survey of everyone working in social care in order to generate a picture of what it’s like to practise as a care professional in Ireland today.

So far we’ve received almost 2,000 responses which is hugely encouraging. There’s still time to take part in the survey before it closes on 2^nd June.

We want to hear from everyone who practises social care work, including project workers, access workers, outreach workers, childcare workers, community workers, and others with similar job titles.

This survey is open to both IMPACT members and non-members working in these areas.

We need your views in order to find out more about how the sector could change following statutory registration under CORU, the national regulatory body for health and social care professionals.

It takes about five minutes to complete and covers issues like promotional opportunities, professional supervision, physical assaults and complaint procedures.

Click here to take part in the survey.

A dispute between IMPACT and Roscommon County Council over changes to flexi-leave is set to go to the Labour Court following consultations at the WRC in mid-May.

A Labour Court recommendation last year outlined new measures on opening times and flexi-time, which included extending opening hours. A clarification issued by the Labour Court last November stated the Council can restrict access to flexi-time arrangements in line with its business needs.

IMPACT assistant general secretary Padraig Mulligan explained that Council management then cut the amount of the flexi-leave Council staff could accrue. “Management cut the number of available days from 13 to two, reducing the amount of worked-up time that can be carried over from month to month, and took control of the scheme away from line managers who understand local service needs.”

IMPACT members at the Council took part in limited industrial action from 9^th May. 150 staff refused to answer phones at certain times and ceased work outside of working hours.

On 10^th May, the Labour Court issued a clarification to all parties. It said the Court had made no recommendation on flexi-leave or its accrual. The Court’s recommendation and subsequent clarification deals only with the flexi-time bandwidths to apply in the context of certain opening times of business. The clarification said here was no dispute before the Court a regards accrual of flexi-leave.

Padraig said management has refused to fully implement the original Labour Court recommendation. “Management has taken the autonomy away from local line managers, selectively interpreted a Labour Court recommendation and has done so in a way that seems specifically designed to alienate loyal and hardworking staff. It’s set now for an early hearing at the Labour Court, which we hope will resolve the matter."

The Minister for Social Protection, and candidate for the leadership of Fine Gael, Leo Varadkar, has drawn criticism from trade unions, political opponents and commentators over his remarks last week concerning industrial disputes.

At a press briefing on his policies last Monday (22^nd May), Mr Varadkar said he would introduce legislation banning public sector workers from striking in essential services if elected Taoiseach. He said this would only apply where a legally binding Labour Court recommendation had been made.

Mr Varadkar mentioned air traffic control and Luas services as examples of services that could be precluded from strike action under his proposals.

His comments drew criticism from a number of trade unions. Responding to reporters as public sector pay talks got underway last week, IMPACT’s head of communications Bernard Harbor described the pledge as ‘disproportionate’ given the relatively few days lost through industrial action, and unions’ responsible provision of emergency and essential cover on the rare occasions that strikes do occur.

“Our economic recovery was aided by responsible trade unions collectively bargaining with employers to ensure our public services weathered the worst economic storm in the history of the state. Any legislative attempt to shut that down would be disproportionate and ultimately damaging to good industrial relations practice,” he said.

He noted that, in the context of a threatened strike by ESB workers in 2013, then Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar said the right to strike was a “pretty basic human right in most democracies.” (Industrial Relations News, November 2013).

Congress general secretary Patricia King said Ireland has a voluntarist system of industrial relations that has served us well.  “This proposal would bring that to an end. It would introduce an entirely new and negative dynamic to industrial relations and would represent a significant backward step.

“Given that the right to strike is so fundamental to democratic societies and is recognised as such at an international level, any attack on that could well see Ireland in breach of a range of international obligations and treaties governing such freedoms,” she said.

Responsible

Helen Sheridan of IMPACT’s Air Traffic Controllers’ branch wrote directly to Mr Varadkar in her capacity as general secretary of the Irish Air Traffic Controllers Association (IATCA). Helen criticised the minister for “singling out a responsible employee grouping with a history of engaging with the industrial relations mechanisms of the state.”

Helen said the ATC branch had voted in favour of an internal disputes resolution board in 2015 which is now in place in the Irish Aviation Authority. Helen added “This model is being held up as a showcase across European air navigation service providers.”

Helen added that strong unions that engage positively with employers are good for employment stability and growth. “This is the policy you should be advocating, not seeking to undermine workers' rights,” she said.

IMPACT’s School Completion Programme (SCP) branch has commenced a ballot for industrial action. The branch is seeking a mandate for industrial action in order to secure agreement on the treatment staff in any reorganisation of the programme.

The School Completion Programme was established in 2002 and provides strategic support to vulnerable children, enabling them to complete their second level education. The programme was devised by the then Department of Education and Science in 2002 and moved to the newly formed Department of Children and Youth Affairs in 2011. It was subsumed into Tusla in 2014.

The programme is made up of 124 local projects, which work in 470 primary schools and 224 secondary schools nationwide.

The branch is also seeking progress on commitments on the regularisation of terms and conditions for programme staff. The commitment was set out in a Labour Relations Commission note in May 2015.

In a letter to branch members assistant general secretary Stella Griffin explained the background to the ballot. “Two years ago it was agreed that IMPACT and the DCYA (Department of Children and Youth Affairs) would meet to consider issues, including the regularisation of terms and conditions, in respect of the employment status of those working in the SCP.

“When the union sought to initiate the process we were advised that it was necessary for TUSLA to complete an audit of the projects and staff concerned prior to meaningful engagement.

“Following completion of this exercise it emerged that TUSLA was considering the future role and structure of the SCP and it was argued that clarity was required on this before the agreed process could commence.

Stella advised that, despite repeated requests by the union, the department has again indicated that some further work is required before agreeing to meet the union.

Stella said the Education division’s executive has kept the matter under constant review. She said, “Members should be consulted in relation to a mandate for industrial action so that the union is best placed to achieve negotiations and a successful outcome.”

Value

A report by the Economic and Social Research Institute in 2015 highlighted the value of the programme, and stated that SCP has added a whole new dimension to the way schools operate. The ESRI study found that expenditure cuts have curtailed SCP provision at a time of growing need at school level, which was identified as a significant weakness.

Speaking at the union’s Education division conference in April, Michael Smyth said the SCP has been severely hit by cutbacks since 2009. "This has affected the programme's ability to deliver the full range of service to young people in need.

"Cutbacks have affected summer programmes, out of school clubs, in-school interventions and many other necessary interventions. A separate counselling budget has been cut altogether from next September by Tusla. The national budget for SCP has been cut from €32m to €24m since its foundation.

"The ESRI identified that SCP was targeting and looking after a cohort of pupils who aren't prioritised or targeted by other parts of the school system, nor indeed within the community or in other agencies. The ESRI identified that the SCP was contributing to better school retention and participation," he said.

The ballot closes at 5.00 pm on Thursday 8th June.

In its latest round of country-specific recommendations, the European Commission has advised Ireland to enhance social infrastructure, including quality childcare.

The emphasis Europe has placed on quality this year is significant, as it’s the first time the Commission has focused solely on quality. Previously its country-specific recommendations have focused exclusively on affordability, or affordability and quality.

Responding to the Commission’s recommendations, IMPACT’s interim Early Education campaign director Ciairín de Buis said, “Quality can be short-hand for professionalisation. And Ireland certainly needs to address the professionalisation of early education.

“This is a sector where those teaching and caring for our youngest children are amongst the lowest paid, and where less than one in five of those working with young children are qualified to graduate level.

“The Irish government needs to act on the recommendation of the European commission and greatly increase its investment in early education. Along with increased investment, agreed salary scales need to form part of the government approach. If we value our young children, we need to value those who teach and care for our young children,” she said.

IMPACT has recently established an Early Education Campaign Branch. Early education professionals who wish to join the ranch should contact organiser Lisa Connell.

To keep up to date with our EarlyImpact campaign, follow us on twitter @Early_Impact or on Facebook at EarlyImpactTU.

IMPACT will host a series of upcoming graduate information days for health and social care professionals, which will take place across the country throughout the month of June.

The information days are designed specifically for graduates in the following disciplines:

• Occupational therapy
• Speech & language therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Dietetics
• Psychology
• Podiatry
• Orthoptics
• Clinical biochemistry
• Social work
• Social care work.

Graduates attending the information days will be guided through the recruitment and application process for the HSE and other health service providers in Ireland.

The information day also features a workshop on CVs and interview skills by Helen Hourican of H Training, and a workshop to explore how graduates can maximise social media as a tool to find the right job.

We’ll also be providing information about CORU, statutory registration requirements, continuing professional development, and fitness to practise. In addition, IMPACT will provide an overview of contract law designed to give you an insight into your rights and entitlements as you begin your career.

Each event is free of charge but places are limited. New graduates are advised to register as soon as possible using the links below.

• GALWAY – Wednesday 7th June at the Harbour Hotel, Dock Rd, Galway Register here
• CORK – Tuesday 13^th June at the IMPACT Offices, Fr Mathew Quay, Cork City Register here
• LIMERICK – Wednesday 14th June at the IMPACT Offices, Roxborough Road, Limerick Register here
• DUBLIN – Tuesday 20^th June at the IMPACT Offices, Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1 Register here

Details are also available on IMPACT’s Facebook page.

There have been only two occasions in recent memory – both in 2009 – when national pay talks collapsed. The current process isn’t expected to be the third, but there are some troubling straws in the wind.

Money minister Paschal Donohoe and his government colleagues have consistently said they value the stability and certainty that comes with public service agreements. They also say they value the contribution that public servants are making to a remarkable Irish economic recovery, and claim they want another deal that will see an ‘orderly’ end to income-cutting FEMPI legislation over time.

All good.

But, half-way through the two weeks initially set aside for these talks, three worrying factors have emerged.

First, the Government negotiators are saying they have hardly any money available, especially next year. This suggests a conflict between their restrictive approach to pay recovery and their stated aim of getting all (or most) public servants out of FEMPI over the course of an extension to the LRA.

Second, the management ‘productivity’ agenda seems designed to reduce incomes, rather than restore them. Their frankly unballotable outsourcing project, which would replace quality services and decent work with minimum wage and bottom-line worker protections, is just one of a number of examples to emerge over five days of talks.

Third, it’s just taking too long. Heading into week two, we’ve hardly got beyond DPER officials rehashing demands for stuff we didn’t concede at the height of the crisis (when pay was cut by an average of 14%, staff numbers were slashed, working time went up, paid leave went down, sick leave arrangements were halved, etc, etc).

We’re due to discuss pay and pensions today. If the bookies are factoring in last week’s DPER performance, it doesn’t bode well for the prospect of reaching a deal that IMPACT can put to ballot. What are the odds on them putting their money (albeit limited) on win-win instead?

Objective

The union side is led by IMPACT general secretary Shay Cody in his capacity as chair of the ICTU Public Services Committee. At the commencement of talks Shay said the union’s main objective will be to set a timetable for the quickest possible restoration of the pay cuts and pension levy imposed in 2009-2010. The union will also fight to maintain the existing value of public service pensions.

IMPACT will also put the 15 million additional public service working hours, which were introduced under the Haddington Road agreement, on the talks agenda. However the Government says it’s unwilling to budge on this point, which it has defined as a ‘red line’ issue. The Government has also said it will seek an increase in employee pension contributions as the so-called pension levy is phased out over time. It was supported in this objective by the report of the Public Service Pay Commission.

IMPACT publishes daily updates on the pay talks on the homepage of the union’s website, the dedicated link to the daily updates is available HERE. Links to the latest update are also posted on Twitter.

Pay talks daily update Monday 29th May 2017 https://t.co/HAxu8HPzHN #LRA2

— IMPACT Trade Union (@IMPACTTU) May 29, 2017

IMPACT and a number of agricultural representative bodies, including the IFA, have raised concerns that Ireland’s strong record of disease control and monitoring is at risk of compromise by the potential closure of regional veterinary laboratories in Sligo, Limerick and Kilkenny.

IMPACT national secretary Andy Pike said the union is seeking consultation with the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed TD, on the cost-benefit analysis of the proposed rationalisation of the labs. Andy explained, “There are five laboratories currently providing a disease diagnostic service to support the farming community and local private veterinary practitioners. These are at the forefront of minimising animal disease through various government and EU disease eradication schemes.

“The laboratories are strategically located - in Sligo, Athlone, Limerick, Kilkenny and Cork - in order to make them reasonably accessible to the farming sector nationwide, minimising the transport distance for lab samples and animals sent for post-mortem examination.”

A 2016 review by the Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine (DAFM) has proposed the closure of three of the regional laboratories, and expanding facilities in Athlone and Cork. Andy explained, “The proposed model is based on the system used in Belgium, which the Department’s review team wants to replicate.

“However, the centralised model in Belgium is facilitated by a much smaller geographical area, as well as a significant motorway infrastructure. IMPACT will be making the case to the DAFM that the transfer of work to the central lab in Backweston, in Kildare, will not solve the problems they've highlighted.

“Taking the northwest region as an example, if the Sligo lab were to close, it would increase the transport distances for farmers and vets in Sligo, Donegal and Mayo very significantly if they're to send samples and animals to Athlone. This would also extend the waiting period to complete effective post-mortem examinations. Ireland has a particularly strong reputation for disease control and containment, and this would be compromised by the proposed new system,” he said.

He said IMPACT will make the case for modest investment in the infrastructure of the regional labs. "We believe these can be brought up to standard for far less than the estimates put forward by the DAFM."

Brexit

Andy said that, in addition to the knock-on effect of significant regional job losses in the event of three lab closures, there are serious concerns throughout the agricultural sector about the effects of Brexit on the regulatory environment in Northern Ireland. “While Brexit has already been identified as a significant threat to the industry, the consequences of a reduced animal disease surveillance system and diagnostic service could be catastrophic.

“The post-Brexit regulatory environment that’s likely to apply in Northern Ireland is expected to be less rigorous than the existing EU regulatory environment. This exposes the Republic of Ireland to increased animal disease threats,” he said.

Political support for the retention and investment in the existing network has emerged. MEP Mairead McGuinness (FG) has said there’s a case to be made for further investment in Ireland's Regional Veterinary Laboratory (RVL) structure. “Instead of cutting services, more investment may be called for across the system of regional laboratories. These issues must be taken into account in the review, which cannot be about cold cost cutting and closure of laboratories.

Ms McGuinness added, “Given the extensive area which Sligo RVL currently provides services to, and impending Brexit negotiations on the horizon which may have implications for animal health, animal movements and disease control, it is very important that this local laboratory is maintained.”

Independent MEP Marian Harkin said,“The proposal to close Regional Veterinary Laboratories, and to centralise services elsewhere, is flying in the face of good animal health practice." Sinn Féin's spokesperson on agriculture Martin Kenny said the centralisation of lab services was contrary to the Government's own policies on rural economic development.

Andy said IMPACT has already raised the potential problems flowing from Brexit affecting the agri-food sector. "We will continue to highlight the need for more resources for local services to deal with the changed regulatory and economic environment when the UK leaves the EU, and we'll be briefing TDs on this issue over the coming months."

Denis Naughten TD, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, will launch IMPACT’S new report, Ensuring a Just Transition to a Low Carbon Economy, at 1pm tomorrow (Tuesday 30th May). The launch event takes place in the Dun Library, Royal College of Physicians, 6 Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

The report, which has been produced with the assistance of the Institute for International and European Affairs (IIEA), addresses the need for a just transition to a low carbon economy, to protect jobs and maximise economic and social opportunities for all.

The programme includes a presentation, How to ensure a just transition to a low-carbon economy by Joseph Curtin, Senior Fellow (Climate Change), IIEA as well as perspectives from trade unions and the environmental pillar from researcher and consultant Sinéad Mercier, and Trócaire policy officer Niamh Garvey.

To register to attend this launch event, please contact IMPACT lead organiser Joe O’Connor.

Details of the event on Facebook.

On Wednesday, the Gender Pay Gap Information Bill was debated in the Seanad (24^th May) where it received cross-party support. The Bill has now passed second stage and will continue to committee stage.

Once made into law, the measure will require employers with more than 50 employees to publish details of their internal gender pay gaps.

IMPACT has been campaigning and lobbying in pursuit of this measure since February, and has won widespread support on the issue in a relatively short time.

Speaking about the Bill, Minister David Stanton (Fine Gael) said he welcomed the debate and said the Government is committed to acting on the gender pay gap.

Fianna Fáil Senator Robbie Gallagher said his party supported the Bill, describing it as “a sensible measure and solution.”

Sinn Féin’s Paul Gavan appealed to the Minister to ensure that the Bill moves swiftly through, “I don’t think the women of Ireland will thank Government for parking this Bill,” he said.

Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway described the Bill as very progressive. “The more information available, the better equipped we are to do the right thing,” he said.

Senator Catherine Noone (FG) quoted from IMPACT’s letter to Senators. “It has been argued by IMPACT,” she said, “that publishing these figures will incentivise employers to narrow the gap”.

She added, “If such information is public knowledge, it will allow people to negotiate for better pay. It will also allow organisations and firms to engage with suppliers and businesses that practice equality. The proposed Bill does embody meaningful change.”

Independent Senators Alice Mary Higgins and Michael McDowell also spoke in support of the Bill.

It was encouraging to see the Bill receive enthusiastic support from Senators across the political spectrum. It’s worth noting that some Senators expressed minor concerns around ensuring that the legislation is both of benefit to workers and fair and practicable for employers.

IMPACT is a trade union representing workers’ interests. It also happens to be an employer, so we have an interest in ensuring both objectives are met.

The Bill itself is a carrot rather than a stick. The emphasis is, and should be, on celebrating good practice where pay equality is concerned.

IMPACT has submitted its returns to the Lobby Register covering the period from 1st January to 30th April 2017. Lobbying organisations are required to publish their returns no later than 21 days after the end of the relevant reporting period.

IMPACT has made 13 returns for the most recent reporting period. In 2016, the first full year of the online register, the union made a total of 57 submissions.

The latest lobbying returns submitted by IMPACT cover the following matters:

• Modification of policy regarding treatment of public servants serving on state boards
• Modification of policy regarding treatment of public servants serving on state boards
• Gender pay gap reporting
• Seeking changes to a draft bill on gender pay gap reporting
• Rejection of proposals that may arise to open staffless libraries in Cork City and County Council library services
• Legislation to give workers a ‘right to disconnect’ from work email outside of working hours
• Cost rental housing model / vacant site tax proposals
• Early education
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities
• Future use of Bank of Ireland building in College Green, Dublin
• Appropriate sleepover duty rates for Galway Simon Community staff
• Education policies
• School Completion Programme (SCP)
• Implications of British exit from European Union

Failure to submit a return of lobbying activities carried out during period by the deadline is a contravention of the Regulation of Lobbying Act.

The Regulation of Lobbying Act was signed into law in 2015.

The purpose of the Act is to provide for a web-based Register of Lobbying  to make information available to the public on the identity of those communicating with designated public officials on specific policy, legislative matters or prospective decisions.

New enforcement provisions under the act came into effect on 1st January this year. These provisions give the Standards in Public Office Commission the authority to investigate and prosecute contraventions of the Act and to levy fixed payment notices for late filing of lobbying returns.

IMPACT members who undertake lobbying activity are not required to make a return unless they are lobbying under instruction from their union, such as in the event of a ‘grassroots’ campaign. All lobbying activity undertaken by IMPACT staff is reportable, apart from activity classified as ‘excepted communications’ under the legislation.

For more details about the legislation and the register, visit lobbying.ie.

See also: IMPACT trade union profile on Lobbying.ie.