Shay CodyGeneral Secretary

IMPACT

A heroic failure..... A failure of negotiations. A failure for the workers in the battle. A failure for the employers in the war. (Commenced in August 1913 and was still

underway by this time in 1914.)

In contrast.....

2009 – 2013. Agitation and conflict was designed to

create a negotiation. Not an alternative to a negotiation.

No further cuts in pay or pensions No compulsory redundancies Continued downsizing of public sector

(320,000 282,500) Extensive cooperation with change,

flexibility and redeployment Speedy and binding Dispute Resolution. An enabler for change and savings. Savings of €3.3bn delivered

Government sought early renegotiation of CPA to save an extra €1bn per annum

Threatened to achieve €1bn saving in any event

Set of Bilateral Agreements Savings achieved through further cuts in high

pay (over €65k), some incremental deferral (middle earners), some further downsizing and extra working time for most (those on 35 or less 37 hours; over 35 39 hours)

General CPA terms apply but more specific in delivering savings through cuts/overtime changes/ utilisation of hours.

In the four years to Q3 2013 public sector earnings fell by €47.88 (-5.0%) compared with a decrease of €2.41 (-0.4%) in private sector average weekly earnings. 

All earnings are gross amounts but ignores 2009 pension levy (average 7%).

Adjustment in private sector mostly through compulsory downsizing rather than pay cuts.

CPA/HRA expression of our agenda to protect jobs security. Private sector took a different hit.

July 2013 2011

<€40K 117,800 40% 35% 112,695

€40-60K 118,700 41% 38% 112,954

€60-80K 42,100 15% 18% 52,600

€80-100K 6,400 2.2% 5% 14,960

€100K+ 5,000 1.7% 2.3% 6,791

Total 290,000 300,000

PS Numbers down by 10% (since 2008) and gross voted spending by 13.5% (2009-2013)

260,000 more people in receipt of social protection payments (18%) 2008-2012.

630,000 more medical card holders than in 2007.

49,000 (6%) more children in our schools than in 2008/2009.

13% more people at pensionable age since 2008.

350,000 more people living in Ireland in 2011 than in 2006.

27 separate agreements was a ad hoc solution.

Impossible format for the future. How can we return to a single agreement

format, with individual unions willing to accept the majority view?

More difficult with ‘concession’ bargaining if the employer demands are seen to have varying implications for different groups.

Need for an ‘Employer Labour Conference’. Worked before Social Partnership. Social partnership had the National

Implementation Body. (Public Service has an Oversight Body)

Ad hoc group established to deal with Dublin Bus dispute when all other options were exhausted.

Need for a place to deal with wage rounds in the context of the single currency and comparative competitiveness.

NESC discussion on elder care. A whole of society discussion with the whole

of Government. Requires a restoration of some form of

Social partnership. Exists across Northern Europe. We had/have no place to address changes

to Social Protection Pension age. Too late to address pay rounds when they

are underway!

Pay movements commencing-modest increases.

Base pay and variable elements. Some sectors first into recession, first out. Most negotiated but some instances of

industrial action threatened. Modest increases can be bettered if move

away from traditional pay and reward systems.