Union business Unions back new public service pay deal
Temporary health staff need support
The Public Services Committee (PSC) of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) voted to approve the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA). The deal was approved by an aggregate ballot of the PSC at a meeting in September.
During the recession, hundreds of temporary clerical officers were hired to fill gaps caused by a huge reduction in permanent health service staffing. But the HSE and other health employers are now hiring permanent clerical and admin staff again, after a decade of cuts and recruitment restrictions.
Individual unions balloted their members on the terms of the agreement. The agreement was supported by a margin of over 80% when union votes are aggregated.
The upshot is that permanent positions for temporary clerical and admin staff who are successful in competitions are underpinned. Now the union is acting to protect temporary staff who are unsuccessful in the competitions. “Increased membership of temporary staff will give us the strength and credibility we need to convince management to do the right thing for temps and the people they serve” – national secretary Eamonn Donnelly.
IMPACT national secretary Eamonn Donnelly said: “The best way of ensuring success in this is for temporary staff to join the union. Increased membership of temporary staff will give us the strength and credibility we need to convince management to do the right thing for temps and the people they serve.”
For more on the PSSA, including a detailed Q&A document, see impact.ie.
IMPACT has also ensured that one fifth of the clerical and admin promotional posts (at grades IV to VII) now being filled are available to staff on fixed-term or specified-purpose contracts. The union also ensured that these staff would be exempt from online verbal and numeracy tests, because they have already demonstrated their skills and experience in their roles.
IMPACT’s latest lobbying returns published
Equality in the Workplace: A Reality? Photo: Picture It Photography
IMPACT’s Equal Opportunities committee hosted a special conference in September, bringing together policy experts, community activists and political representatives to explore the question of equality in today’s Irish workplace. The conference included two panel discussions facilitated by broadcaster and activist Dil Wickremasinghe. The keynote address was given by David Stanton TD, Minister of State for Justice.
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AUTUMN-WINTER 2017
IMPACT has submitted its returns to the Lobby Register covering the period from 1st May to 31st August 2017. Lobbying organisations are required to publish their returns no later than 21 days after the end of the relevant reporting period. IMPACT has so far made 11 returns for the most recent reporting period. Full details on each of the submissions are available on the IMPACT website.
IALPA welcomes ECJ Ryanair ruling IALPA, the pilots’ branch of IMPACT trade union, has welcomed the recent ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), stating air crew members, in disputes relating to their employment contracts, have the option of bringing proceedings before the courts of the place where they perform the essential part of their duties.
Pictured (L to R) IMPACT general secretary Shay Cody, organiser Lisa Connell, David Stanton TD, Minister of State for Justice and IMPACT equal opportunties officer Patricia Fanning at IMPACT’s equality conference in September.
Aer Lingus Labour Court win Pay increases of 8.5% over 39 months recommended
Photos: Picture It Photography
IMPACT IS currently in negotiations in a bid to ensure that temporary staff who are unsuccessful in forthcoming interviews for permanent posts keep their current jobs in the health service. And the union is urging temps to join in order to strengthen its hand in the talks.
Game of Thrones star visits IMPACT
THE LABOUR Court has recommended pay increases of 8.5% over 39 months (2017 to 2020) for 3,000 staff at Aer Lingus. The increases recommended by the Court – which are not conditional to any additional productivity – average just over 2.6% per annum, which is consistent with current average pay improvements in the private sector. The pay terms recommended by the Court provide for the following increases: l
3% from 1st April 2017
l
2.75% from 1st May 2018
l
2.75% from 1st June 2019
The Court has also recommended that the parties engage to explore the potential for an agreement on an appropriate ‘profit share’ scheme. IMPACT national secretary Angela Kirk said the pay improvements are welcome. “The Court took particular note of the fact that there have been no adjustments to basic pay since 2010, during which time the company has performed exceptionally well. There is no doubt that the success of Aer Lingus during that time is down to the exceptional efforts and hard work of its employees.”
IALPA president, Captain Evan Cullen, said “This is a great judgement for everyone who works in the aviation industry in Europe. Along with our colleagues in the European Cockpit Association (ECA), we see this as a very positive result. It helps to empower aviation workers in any dispute with their employer by giving them access to the courts in their country of residence.”
Progress on IoT fixed-term posts The Department of Education and Skills has advised institutes of technology to offer permanent contracts to non-teaching fixed-term staff who are currently in “posts which would be considered as permanent positions.” The advice, which was set out in guidance to IOTs and universities in September, emerged after IMPACT won a commitment to the regularisation of admin, technical, library, support and management posts during the May pay talks.
GAME OF Thrones star Liam Cunningham visited IMPACT’s Dublin office in September for a special young members’ event. Cunningham, who is an ambassador for World Vision Ireland, was presented with a cheque for €8,000 raised by the IMPACT Young Members group for the charity at their ‘Great IMPACT Quiz’ which took place in May. A screening of the Yann Arthus-Bertrand film, Human as part of the IMPACT Insights series, was followed by a discussion on the refugee crisis led by Cunningham. WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS
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