THE PRISON Officers Association (POA) has joined other public sector unions in balloting its members on industrial action as the row over possible pay cuts intensifies between unions and the Government.
The POA said industrial action was being considered because the social partnership agreement had been breached by the imposition of levies and there were strong indications further breaches lay ahead. The association’s deputy general secretary, Eugene Dennehy, said his members had seen their remuneration reduced by an average of about €4,000.
To compound this financial hardship, the report by Colm McCarthy had recommended savings of €15 million annually by reducing prison officers’ pay and allowances. “It is of immense concern to prison officers and their families that this proposal seems to have the support of Government,” Mr Dennehy said.
“We can’t take such a threat lightly. Our members have paid a heavy price already by way of easing the economic burden.”
The POA supported the view of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions that a more equitable sharing of the economic burden was needed. It was unacceptable that frontline workers who provided a 24-hour service were being asked to pay more to help Ireland recover from a downturn for which others were responsible. The POA began its ballot over the weekend and has asked members to return their papers by November 12th.
The association is seeking a mandate to engage in industrial action in the event there is any attempt to reduce existing pay and allowance rates. It is also reserving the right to engage in industrial action over the measures already introduced that have reduced officers’ take home pay.
The POA is a member of the new Frontline Alliance, a coalition of representative associations and unions that represents frontline workers, including gardaí and nurses.
The leadership of the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) has urged members to vote in favour of industrial action in protest at proposed further pay cuts in the public sector.
In a message to members, it said it was reaffirming the call for a Yes vote in the ballot that is currently under way as a result of recent statements by Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan that the Government wanted to cut the public- sector pay bill by €1.3 billion next year.
INO general secretary Liam Doran said this would suggest a further 7 per cent cut in public sector salaries was on the agenda in addition to the 7.5 per cent cut arising from the pension levy imposed last April.
“In view of all of this, you are again asked to familiarise yourself with the voting arrangements, in your workplace, and to cast your vote in favour of industrial action. This will allow the INO, in partnership with other public sector unions, to oppose the Government’s proposals which are unfair, unjust and unwarranted,” he said.
Most public sector trade unions are currently conducting ballots for a mandate for industrial action to be used in any campaign against further pay cuts.