Low-wage families must be put first

I AM a contract cleaner. I work in Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin.

I support my family on the minimum ERO (Employment Regulation order) rate of pay for contract cleaning which is €9.50ph.

Hundreds of thousands of other low income families will suffer a further reduction in our income if the ERO system of wage setting is destroyed; we will be forced to make choices for our families that we should not have to make — do I buy my child a new pair of shoes or do I buy fuel for the fire.

The review of EROs has been labelled by the government as necessary under the four-year recovery plan. However, Minister Mary Hanafin has said the review is being carried out at the request of IBEC and ISME.

I am calling on every worker in this country to hold our politicians accountable — they are looking for our vote, so we are looking for their support to ensure the ERO system of wage setting for over 300,000 workers is protected. Now is the time for low-wage families to be put first. The bosses will never have to make the choices that we are being forced to make for our families.

Martin Brennan

Drimnagh

Dublin 12