Accounts show trade union expenditure on salaries

Last week seven unions refused to disclose pay levels; below are details of overall salaries paid, writes COLM KEENA, Public Affairs Correspondent

ANNUAL ACCOUNTS filed by trade unions with the Register of Friendly Societies do not give salary levels for general secretaries but do give information on overall expenditures on salaries.

Seven trade unions as well as the employers' group Ibec – which is a registered trade union – refused to disclose figures to a survey last week by The Irish Timesof the salaries of general secretaries.

The following details for 2008 were taken from the filings at the Registry of Friendly Societies, and are listed in descending levels of members’ contributions:

Irish Nurses Organisation (General Secretary Liam Doran):

It had 39,980 members at the end of 2008 who had paid €10.2 million in members’ contributions. Salaries and wages were €4.17 million.

The union had 59 full-time and 10 part-time employees.

The Irish Business and Employers’ Confederation (Danny McCoy):

Ibec had 4,223 members at the end of 2008 and members’ contributions were €9.54 million. Salaries and wages were €5.3 million and the accounts do not give number of staff.

Total expenditure was €9 million and total assets were €9.1 million at year’s end.

Mandate (John Douglas):

It had 45,206 members and 50 employees in 2008. Salaries and wages were €3 million and members’ contributions were €5.98 million.

Total assets at year’s end were €12.44 million.

Communications Workers’ Union (Steve Fitzpatrick):

It had 17,587 members at the end of 2008. Income from members was €5.28 million, but losses of €1.56 million from “other income” left a net income for the year of €4.24 million.

Total expenditure for the year was €4.54 million, including salaries and wages of €1.37 million. The union had 17 employees and five officers on loan from Eircom and An Post.

At year’s end the union had investments of €17.99 million, including cash of €12.9 million. The union’s total assets were €20 million.

Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (Owen Wills):

It had 45,035 members at year’s end, who paid contributions totalling €3.5 million. Total income was €3.6 million. Salaries and wages were €2 million and the accounts state the union had eight officials, 20 staff and two pensionable employees.

The officials’ salaries and pensions totalled €1.11 million.

The union’s total assets at year’s end were €8.2 million.

The Public Service Executive Union (Tom Geraghty):

It had 10,211 members at the end of 2008. Salaries and wages were €913,416 and superannuation payments were €494,717. Executive expenses were €53,285.

Members’ contributions were €2.8 million and overall income was €3 million.

At year’s end total assets were €11.3 million.

Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants (Dave Thomas):

It had 3,464 members during the year and six employees. Total salaries and wages were €583,380. Members’ contributions were €1.45 million and other income brought total income to €1.47 million.

Irish Bank Officials’ Association (Larry Broderick):

It is not registered in Ireland. Data from the UK’s Certification Officer website (www.certoffice.org) shows that the Irish Bank Officials Association had 21,776 members at the end of 2008 and that members’ contributions were €4.95 million.

Total income was €5.48 million while administrative expenses were €8 million. Salaries and wages were €1.36 million and total staff remuneration and expenses was €1.63 million.

The union recorded a loss of €4.7 million that included impairment of investments (€2 million) and the realised loss on the sale of investments €1.63 million. Total assets were €34.6 million, including motor vehicles at €64,666.

The salary of the general secretary, Larry Broderick, was €133,518 while his total package was €200,206.