Military officers seek union affiliation for pay talks

RACO said its members have lost faith in the ability of any parallel process to recognise and compensate for the unique restrictions of Defence Forces service and this, coupled with the weakening of their Conciliation & Arbitration Scheme, "has resulted in its members seeking a new approach to pay negotiations.” 

In an unprecedented move, the country’s military officers have voted overwhelmingly to seek affiliation to the umbrella union group ICTU, in order to gain proper representation at national pay talks.

The 85% vote in favour of the move by RACO (Representative Organisation for Commissioned Officers) members will put further pressure on the Government to grant the country’s Defence Forces the right to union affiliation, which they have wavered over ever since PDForra, which represents enlisted personnel, won a European Court ruling in 2019 that this should be allowed.