IMPACT has challenged Irish Life on its continuing refusal to attend the Labour Court and the unilateral imposition of an inferior new pay model for its staff. Irish Life staff are represented by the Unite trade union. IMPACT is a longstanding customer of Irish Life and has pension funds invested through the company.

In a letter to the insurance provider, IMPACT general secretary Shay Cody said the new ‘median-based’ pay model - which breaks the link between profits and pay, and between inflation and pay - would deprive workers of security in respect of future pay progression. “Already, around 70 per cent of Unite members in Irish Life know that they cannot expect a wage increase in the foreseeable future.

“As one of Ireland’s leading pensions and life insurance providers, we understand that Irish Life prides itself on offering its customers security – while at the same time depriving its workers of security.

“We are advised that Irish Life is persistently refusing to attend the Labour Court in respect of all its workers, and has instead decided it will negotiate collectively with some categories of workers, and not with others. This intransigent stance from a former state enterprise to avoid the industrial mechanism of the state is not acceptable to us or our members” he said. 

Shay explained that IMPACT had concerns about the manner in which Irish Life was treating its staff and stressed the need for the company to attend the Labour Court in respect of all its employees. He said that in the absence of a positive response, IMPACT’s continuing relationship with Irish Life would have to be reviewed.