Craft union lines up biggest ever pay claim

AS THE Government tries to entice trade unions back into pay talks, the country’s biggest craft union has instructed its members to start seeking the biggest pay claim to date.

The Technical Electrical and Engineering Union (TEEU) wants a minimum of 10% over 18 months — some other unions have sought a similar amount but spread over 24 months.

Furthermore TEEU general secretary Owen Wills said it would be instructing its branches to also seek:

* Inflation-proofing of agreements, in case the rate of inflation continues to rise.

* Service-based increases in holiday leave.

* Paid study leave so members can avail of upskilling and development courses.

* Where companies are continuing to enjoy high levels of profitability, a share in those profits through higher pay increases, or other forms of remuneration.

“Top executives have not been slow to award themselves increases averaging 12% and ranging up to 30% in the past year, according to the Hewitt Associates survey published on Friday,” said Mr Wills.

“I see Hewitt’s expect executive salaries to rise by another 5-6% this year, so our demands are not unreasonable. They cannot seriously expect everybody else to accept a pay pause while they continue to wallow in the trough. Unlike these executives, who I understand earn anything from €496,000 a year in the lowest quartile to €2 million plus in the top quartile, our members cannot afford a pay freeze.

“What is all the more galling is that many elements of the present economic crisis such as the credit squeeze and the collapse of the housing sector are directly attributable to these so-called leaders of the business community. They have no shame and no sense of responsibility for their actions, only an exaggerated sense of their own entitlements,” he added.

The union said the decision on the claim was made before Government officials met with Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) general secretary David Begg to discuss the possibility of new talks on a national agreement.

After the meeting Mr Begg said it was merely an inquiry as to how ICTU would react if it were invited in for discussions.

“If the Taoiseach asks you to attend any set of discussions you are not going to refuse him,” he said. However, congress has said it does not believe there will be any such invitation unless there is a change in the IBEC stance.

“We have to deal with the reality that Towards 2016 is running out, or has already run out for many of our members and we urgently need to protect their living standards,” said Owen Wills. “The TEEU will participate in any talks that congress might be invited to, but we cannot base policy on hypothetical possibilities.”