THE EXECUTIVE of Impact, the State’s largest public service union, has reversed its position and urged members to support the Croke Park agreement on public sector pay and reform. The move follows the issue of clarifications on the deal as well as a resolution to a dispute involving Impact members in the health sector.
Impact’s executive previously said it could not recommend the deal because of concerns about implications for existing agreements in the health sector and also because of the possibility that the Government could walk away from the proposals if there were unforeseen budgetary deterioration.
Impact general secretary designate Shay Cody said the union’s central executive changed its position on foot of clarifications in relation to the agreement and a Labour Court recommendation which resolved concerns that the Croke Park deal could dilute pre-existing guarantees on job security on a deal reached in 2004.
Mr Cody said clarifications on pay and on the Government “get out of jail” clause played a part in the change of position.
He said it had also been helpful to get clarification that savings generated from workplace reforms would be used to start a process of reimbursing staff for earlier pay cuts.
“The Labour Court recommendation effectively supported the union’s position on the relationship between existing agreements in the health service and the Croke Park proposals. This is a key issue for almost half our members.
“The fundamental issue of trust in the Government’s intentions over preventing further pay cuts, and the prospect of beginning to revoke last year’s pay cuts as public service reforms deliver savings, was also crucial,” he said.
Mr Cody said the LRC’s clarification that employment rights would be protected as public service reforms were introduced, and that staff would be involved in the change process, was also important. He also cited clarifications that new redeployment measures would be operated “in a reasonable manner and with due regard for the personal circumstances of public servants” with no “serial or multiple redeployments”.
“Public servants want to see our public services protected during the recession and they want to continue to contribute to stabilising the economy. All they ask is that this is accompanied by reasonable protections and safeguards over their pay and working conditions.”
Impact will start a ballot on the Croke Park proposals next week and conclude them in mid-June.
“It is now up to Impact members to consider the proposals and the clarifications in detail and make their democratic choice.”
The Impact move comes the day before the union representing higher civil servants is expected to back the Croke Park agreement in a ballot of its members.
The Health Service Executive yesterday accepted the terms of a Labour Court recommendation aimed at bringing to an end a dispute over the provision of key financial and activity data.