Ice Scream
by Bernard Harbor

Limits on the length of probationary periods and increased certainty over shifts for those with 'unpredictable working schedules' are among new rights to be written into Irish labour law next year, in compliance with an EU directive on transparent and predictable working conditions. The Journal covers this well, adding that a public consultation has been opened.  

 

Meanwhile, industrial relations in Aer Lingus are back in the news after the airline sent threatening letters to its cabin crew yesterday. It comes after crew overwhelming rejected a package of further cuts earlier this week. Newstalk also runs with the story, which is picked up in the Indo, the Mirror, and the Journal.

 

Elsewhere, the OECD has ranked Ireland bottom of the class on education investment as a percentage of GDP, while the INTO is out on NPHET's fresh Covid advice for schools

 

Speaking of Covid, some of our European counterparts are coming down hard on unvaccinated workers, with France laying off 3,000 health staff and the Italian Government sanctioning a similar approach across the economy .

 

In other news, two more men have been charged with the 2019 murder of journalist Lyra McKee, hefty PRSI hikes may be on the way, and President Higgins has answered those criticising him for declining to celebrate partition.

 

Finally, Culture Night is back this evening and, while we're on the subject, Cork's Crawford Gallery is opening a new exhibition of 50 Rembrandt etchings. Definitely worth a look if you're in the vicinity. 

 

Writer, composer, scientist and philosopher Abbess Hildegard of Bingen died on this day in 1179. I'd wager she'd be higher up the famous composers' list if she'd been an Abbot. Anyway, here's her Ave Generosa performed by the UCLA Early Music Ensemble. That's yer Zen.

 

Now, seize the weekend.

 

Bernard

 

 

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