Union wins €20m pay rises in just two years
However, in revealing the figure, Mandate trade union general secretary John Douglas also said that tax cuts being mooted by the Government are not in the interests of the mainly low paid among its 45,000 bar and retail worker members.
In an address to 300 delegates at the union’s biennial delegate conference in Killarney, Mr Douglas outlined which organisations had agreed to increases over the last 24 months:
- Argos — 3%
- Boots — 4%
- Brown Thomas — 2%
- Debenhams — 2%
- Dunnes Stores — 3%
- Marks & Spencer — 2.5%
- Penneys — 3%
- Superquinn (now SuperValu) — 2%
- Tesco — 4%
“Our members spend almost all of their income in local shops, restaurants, bars and other local businesses,” the union’s general secretary said: “By winning these pay increases, Mandate members have put an extra €20m spending power into the local economy, which in turn will protect existing jobs and hopefully create more decent jobs in every community across Ireland.
“While zero hour contracts and low hour contracts are becoming the norm in the Irish economy, the vast majority of our members have achieved ‘banded hour contracts’, ensuring they have certainty of hours of employment. This, combined with the pay increases they have won, will secure a decent wage for them and their families.”
However, Mandate has rejected arguments by both Government and employers’ bodies that tax cuts are the best way to increase domestic demand. Mr Douglas said such a policy is not in the best interests of its members or lower paid workers generally. “Low paid workers don’t earn enough money to pay income tax. They rely on social transfers like the Family Income Supplement (FIS) and they also rely on decent public services in health and in education. Cutting tax for the top 20% or 30% of earners will only starve our public services and widen the income inequality gap that is already far too wide.
“Winning pay increases in profitable enterprises will reduce poverty levels. It will increase revenue for Government through extra income tax, USC, PRSI and Vat receipts, meaning we can invest in better public services. It will also mean we have more ability to pay off the odious banking debt that was thrust on Irish workers illegitimately, meaning future generations won’t have to pay as much for the banking crisis created by Ireland’s elites.”
