‘Outrageous’ pay deal reflects badly on ICTU
The wage increases are insufficient: they won’t even match the rate of inflation, which is likely to run close to 6% this year.
There will be a six-month pay pause for the public service with no general round of increases until 2004.
In relation to benchmarking, other groups have gained considerably higher awards, specifically senior managers, and this process is questionable because there appears to have been no transparency or accountability.
The implementation of this agreement would lead to a further unacceptable widening of the public sector pay gap. It also fails to deliver on the statutory right to union recognition and it would preclude unions from industrial action on matters contained in the agreement. If disputes arose, the issues would be referred to the Labour Court or, in the case of civil servants, to the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme where the findings would be binding.
It appears that the ICTU has lost its focus. I have no doubt that there will be considerable debate in the aftermath of this agreement as to whether Congress remains a viable entity.
Finally, I would urge all members of the various unions to reject this agreement before irreparable damage is done to the trade union movement.
Gerry Wilson
Vice President,
Prisons Officers’ Association,
18, Merrion Square,
Dublin 2.
