THE COUNTRY’S largest public sector trade union has warned members that there is an emerging threat to their pay, pensions and job security and that a campaign of resistance against unilateral changes to existing terms and conditions may be required.
In a circular issued yesterday, Impact general secretary Peter McLoone said the leadership had agreed to take steps to mobilise the union so that members were prepared “to deal swiftly and decisively” with potential attacks in these areas in the weeks and months ahead.
He said that inevitably, a campaign to protect core pay and conditions of employment would necessitate a ballot for industrial action.
Mr McLoone said the Government proposals for economic recovery presented to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions last week had contained “inadequate progress on measures to save jobs and pensions”.
“The situation is as bad – if not worse – from a public service point of view. The Government has not felt in a position to negotiate on the issues raised by Impact, which were: a guarantee of no further reductions in public service pay; a guarantee of no reduction in the value of public service pensions, including a commitment not to tax the lump sum; and the need for an agreed protocol on public service employment issues,” he said.
Impact had signalled that it was, in essence, prepared to offer a trade on public service reform and the Government’s change agenda in return for guarantees in relation to existing pay levels, pensions, including the current tax- free status of retirement lump sums, and a new framework on job security in the public sector.
Mr McLoone told members in the new circular: “This clearly represents a strong indication that the Government considers cuts in public service pay rates, the value of pensions, and employment tenure as ‘live’ options in the run-up to the budget later this year.
“In the meantime, related and equally strong threats to public service pay, pensions and jobs could well emerge from the current reviews being undertaken for the Government by the Taxation Commission, the Higher Remuneration Body and the so-called An Bord Snip, each of which will report between July and September.”
He said that Impact’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) had agreed to take steps to mobilise the union so that members were prepared to deal swiftly and decisively with potential attacks on members’ pay, pensions and tenure in the coming weeks and months.
“The union’s industrial staff has been asked to brief branch committees on the situation that is emerging and branches will be asked to immediately arrange the mobilisation of members through workplace meetings.
“This will allow maximum participation in the information- sharing process and ensure members can be fully involved in supporting this campaign of resistance against imposed cuts in pay, pensions and conditions of employment,” he said.
Impact’s workplace meetings will get under way this week.
Mr McLoone said that the union’s CEC would meet again on July 24th “to discuss the next steps in mobilising a campaign of resistance to any attempts to unilaterally alter terms and conditions of members’ employment”.
He said that the union intended for any ballot on industrial action to be conducted by individual branches rather than as a national postal ballot, unless it is requested by branches.