Sustaining progress without pay increases

IT seems 3,200 prison officers are to be denied the basic pay increase due to us in accordance with the terms of Sustaining Progress, our most recent national pay agreement.

Why? Because my colleagues dared to exercise their democratic right to reject the “Proposal for Organisational Change”.

The Government also tried to deny prison officers basic pay increases due in January.

Were it not for the action instigated by our trade union, the Government would have reneged on our miniscule increase, due under the national pay agreement.

At a time when the social partners ( ie Government and ICTU) sit down to discuss the successor to Sustaining Progress, trade union members should reflect on the fact that Sustaining Progress was the first national pay agreement with strings attached. In short: do as the Government decrees, or suffer the consequences, namely forgo your pay increases, which are agreed to counter the effects of inflation.

Democracy? Only when it suits Bertie Ahern, Michael McDowell, et al.

I implore all trade union members to bear in mind that if the Government succeeds in denying us our pay increases, who is next?

Patrick Jordan

St Patrick’s Institution

North Circular Road

Dublin 7