THE REPUBLIC’S largest public service trade union, Impact, has delayed its ballot on the new public service pay and reform deal until it receives clarification on some issues.
Following a meeting yesterday, the central executive committee of Impact restated its position that it could not recommend the proposals as set out in the deal negotiated at Croke Park a fortnight ago as they did not provide the level of certainty that members had sought on pay, pensions and job security.
It is understood the union is likely to seek clarification on the mechanism under the deal that would provide for money being returned to staff on foot of the implementation of the proposed new reform programme.
It is understood there is considerable fear among some members that the Government could put in place the work practice changes set out in the agreement and then argue that a deteriorating economic situation did not allow for the restoration of pay levels.
On Wednesday the Government issued a statement saying it would operate the deal, including the scheduled pay reviews, in a bona fide manner.
Impact said it would be contacting the chief executive of the Labour Relations Commission, Kieran Mulvey, who was one of the main brokers of the Croke Park deal, “to explore the best way to seek clarification”.
The union said its executive had decided that members should have the maximum information and clarity before being asked to vote on the package.
In the meantime industrial action by Impact will continue.
Last week senior management in the Health Service Executive (HSE) expressed strong concern at the implications of this industrial action – which includes a ban on the provision of financial information – on the administration of the health service.
An Impact spokesman said last night that the union’s central executive remained “committed to a negotiated settlement”.
“But the lack of clarity over certain aspects of the proposed deal remains problematic.
“The experience of last December, when the Government walked away from an agreement, has damaged confidence in the industrial relations process.
“Union officials will now seek certain clarifications and, if they are forthcoming, will bring them back to the Impact executive before the proposals are put to ballot.”
There had been speculation that the union’s executive could modify its stance at the meeting yesterday and adopt a neutral position on the Croke Park deal. The union’s health division had on Wednesday urged the central executive not to make any recommendation to members in the ballot.
Meanwhile, the executive of the craft union TEEU last night voted to recommend that its 1,200 members in the public service reject the pay deal in its forthcoming ballot. This means eight unions affiliated to Ictu have recommended rejection of the deal.
