Public service unions have accepted the invitation by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin TD, into talks about unwinding the emergency legislation (Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act - FEMPI) used to cut public service pay during the economic crisis, and talks are set to get underway today (Tuesday 12th May).
The talks announcement was included in the Spring Economic Statement in April, which outlined the current budgetary position and the scope for public spending and tax reductions in the October budget.
IMPACT general secretary Shay Cody said that current conditions demonstrated that the economic emergency had passed, and that the beginnings of pay awards in the private sector and job growth are welcome signs of economic recovery.
“Pay recovery is a crucial element of economic recovery, and public sector pay recovery is just one element within that. It makes sense now to look at how the legislation used to cut pay can be dismantled and how pay improvements, that are in step with pay recovery elsewhere, can be achieved."
Shay said that Minister Howlin’s acknowledgment of continuing productivity in the public sector was also welcome. “Public services have delivered on the demands placed upon it by a growing population, which has increased by 350,000 since 2006. There are 30,000 fewer public servants in Ireland than there were when the crisis hit in 2008.
“In that time our public services have responded to the needs of an additional 260,000 people needing social protection services; more than 630,000 extra medical card holders; an increase of 50,000 children in schools and an increase of 13% in the number of people receiving state pensions. People who work in public services continue to respond to that demand, which demonstrates a deep commitment to public service delivery” he said.
Speaking to IMPACT delegates at last week's Health and Welfare divisional conference, division chair Tony Martin said that public service productivity must be recognised as unions and the Government prepare for talks on public sector pay restoration, and that members could not entertain any further alterations to terms and conditions of employment. “We’ve had enough of taking backward steps and this week, this conference, marks the point at which we should begin to move forward again and start talking about recovery."
IMPACT has said that pay recovery across all sectors of the Irish economy is vital if the Government is to achieve its target of full employment by 2018.
IMPACT will keep members up to date on the progress of talks via the ebulletin. The talks are expected to continue throughout May.
