Voting on the proposed new pay deal, dubbed the ‘Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020,’ is now getting underway. The ballots are being organised by IMPACT branches, and members have until Friday 14th July to complete and return their ballot papers.
The elected IMPACT Central Executive Committee has recommended acceptance of the proposed deal, which was the outcome of over two weeks of negotiations that concluded earlier this month.
Secret ballots will be conducted over the next four weeks. Some branches conduct postal votes, while others ballot members in the workplace. In either case, each paid-up member who is eligible to vote gets an individual ballot paper and can cast a secret ballot. You can get details of local arrangements from your IMPACT branch.
Almost 50,000 ballot papers and accompanying material was despatched from head office to branches last Tuesday (20th June). And the union has set up a helpline (mail ballothelpdesk@impact.ie) for members and activists who have queries about their eligibility to vote or the ballot process. You can also get information from our website guide to the ballot.
The union is also organising local information meetings across the country. You can get details from our website.
Meanwhile our frequently asked questions document contains explanations of all the main aspects of the proposed agreement including pay restoration and pension levy adjustments, the new ‘additional superannuation contribution,’ outsourcing, working time, new entrant issues, and more.
All IMPACT members who are directly affected by the proposed deal are entitled to vote. If you work in the public service or a non-commercial semi-state organisation you are probably entitled to a ballot paper. Members in ‘section 38’ voluntary and community organisations are also eligible to vote.
Once the branch ballots are completed, the votes will be aggregated to determine the national outcome of the IMPACT poll. That will determine IMPACT’s vote at a meeting of the ICTU Public Services Committee which, in turn, will determine the overall public service union position on whether the proposals are accepted or rejected.
