Monthly Archives: September 2016

CPSU News Update

015/16 News Update

To: Each Branch Secretary – Attention All Members
Date: 30th September 2016
News Update: 015/16

 

Colleagues,

Please circulate this News Update to members.

  1. Pay & Conditions:

The Executive Committee has called for an acceleration of pay and conditions restoration. The union voted to accept the Lansdowne Road Agreement on the basis that it prioritised lower paid workers and over €1000 is due back to public servants next year. However the Executive at its September Seminar instructed its Officials to work with other public sector unions to speed up the reversal of all pay cuts in particular to seek an end to the two lower entry points which were added to the Clerical Officer scale leaving new recruits on just over €400 a week. The Executive also targeted the unpaid additional hours which were imposed during the austerity era calling for their complete reversal. Head Office is currently preparing the union’s case for submission to the Public Service Pay Commission which is expected to issue a first report in late spring next year.

  1. SO/EO Integration

The Executive received a full update on progress to date in the high level negotiations on the integration of the SO grade with the EO grade (which is represented by the PSEU). A written summary of the DPER/management position was presented to the negotiators from both unions on Tuesday and the Executive considered it in detail. DPER have confirmed the integration is to happen in January 2017 and will apply to all staff officers. On foot of the Executive’s review of the DPER proposals the negotiators are to seek a number of improvements, changes and additions at the next meeting with management. The union has a range of issues to raise in the negotiations including seniority, working in situ, integration of exiting SO duties into those of the EO grade, clarification of pay assimilation, access to higher scales awards and an option for individuals to opt out. A meeting with DPER on the implications of the integration plan for COs is due to take place on Friday next week also.

  1. Special Rules Conference

Further to the agreement at ADC 2016 to hold a Special Rules Conference in advance of ADC 2017 the Executive has agreed to hold a one day delegate conference in Dublin on March 9th to address a range of technical rule amendments agreed by the Executive last year. These amendments have been drafted to bring greater clarity and structure to our existing rules which have been amended over the years and have led at times to uncertainty of meaning for the Executive in carrying out the day to day management of union affairs. Further details of the Conference will be circulated by circular shortly.

Eoin Ronayne

General Secretary

 

Press/Media Release

Pay and Conditions Restoration

CPSU Executive says Government must speed up pay and conditions restoration

The Executive Committee of the Civil Public & Services union which is the largest union in the Civil service representing lower paid workers has called for an acceleration of pay and conditions restoration. While the union voted to accept the Lansdowne Road Agreement on the basis that it prioritised lower paid workers the union says there is growing pressure from members to speed up pay recovery and to restore working conditions that were cut in the austerity years.

Meeting for its September Seminar the CPSU Executive instructed its Officials to work with other public sector unions to secure a faster reversal of all pay cuts and in particular to seek an end to the two lower entry points which were added to the Clerical Officer scale. New recruits to these posts start on just over €400 a week and have sought union action to restore the original CO pay scales. The Executive also targeted the unpaid additional hours which were imposed on them calling for their complete reversal.

The Executive also decided to press ahead with preparing the union’s case for submission to the Public Service Pay Commission which is expected to issue a first report in late spring next year.

Commenting on the debate at the Executive General Secretary Eoin Ronayne said the members noted the outcomes in the Luas and Dublin Bus cases as very welcome and positive developments which need to be reflected within the Public Service. “While the members are aware that there’s a further €1000 or more due back to them under the LRA next year”, Ronayne said “there is growing pressure for a faster restoration of pay and conditions”. He added that the lower entry points forced on new recruits were “a scandal which must be ended”. And he warned that the continued imposition of over 100 unpaid hours a year “was a deep sore within the membership of the union and that their tolerance was fast running out”

For information and comment: Eoin Ronayne General Secretary 087 2520603.

 

Other

CPSU supports the workers at Dublin Bus

Assemble at the Garden of Remembrance at 12 noon on Tuesday 27th September

March down O’Connell Street to Molesworth Street for a Rally outside Leinster House.

All are welcome. Support pay rises for workers.

siptu-nbru-tssa-unite-teeu-joint-union-notice-flyer

The five Trade Unions representing workers at Dublin Bus have organised at march on Tuesday 27th September 2016.

All workers, their families, supporters, political representatives and members of the public are welcome.

Workers at Dublin Bus have not received a pay rise since 2008. 6% from a previous pay deal which was not paid. In that time direct & indirect taxation has increased along with the cost of living.

Government subsidies to compensate for the operation of loss making routes have decreased by €27 million while massive productivity has been conceded in two separate cost cutting plans in 2009 and 2013.

Dublin Bus is now back in profit but Management, the Government, Department, NTA and CIE do not value bus workers. Send a message that workers mean business.

busstrike

CPSU Circular

093/16 Circular: Agriculture Dispute 2003

To:     Each Branch Secretary
Date: 9th September 2016
Re.      Agriculture Dispute 2003

Dear Colleagues,

Further to a decision of the CPSU Executive Committee in relation to the Agriculture Dispute Solidarity Fund I wish to advise the following.

The union will return Solidarity Fund payments to Branches subject to the following conditions being met. These conditions cover the normal required accounting practices to record the distribution of union funds.

  1. Branches must be in a position to identify the purpose for which they wish to use the funds.
  2. An appropriate use of the funds must be considered by a Branch Meeting and be recorded in the branch minutes and the annual financial report.
  3. If Branches are redistributing the money to original donors a record of these transactions must be kept.
  4. All requests for return of Solidarity Fund payments must be made to Head Office by close of business Friday 7th of October next.

If your Branch wish to receive the funds please indicate the amount of the original donation. The union will consider if the above conditions have been met and will then refund the money to the Branch account through the normal channels. Branches who have already contacted Head Office should re-submit their claims observing the conditions outlined above.

Yours fraternally

Des Fagan
Financial Secretary