Madam, – Richard Bruton’s proposals for the reform of the joint labour committee (JLC) system have the potential to damage workers’ incomes and workers’ rights, as well as the whole system of labour regulation (Home News, May 27th).
He seems to have joined those among employers and our international economic masters who would like to transform the entire JLC sector into a countrywide Irish Ferries in which vulnerable workers’ terms and conditions can be asset-stripped. Collective bargaining not only manages economic and industrial conflict, it gives workers a democratic voice in the economic life of the State. The JLC system may be an attenuated form of bargaining, but it does something to protect the labour market from a race to the bottom led by unscrupulous employers.
If its protections are to be radically reduced it will undermine the position of employers who do make a reasonable attempt to agree terms and conditions with trade unions. Relying on legislation rather than agreements reached through the JLC system to determine important aspects of contracts and pay will debase what was designed as a floor of rights into an “iron ceiling” to keep workers down. – Is mise,
COLIN WHITSTON,
National College of Ireland,
Mayor Square, Dublin 1.
As the debate continues regarding the payment of Sunday premiums would it not be more prudent to revue the status of Sunday working across all sectors and importantly all government departments? A case in point is the Department of social protection where Sunday working simply is not recognised and crucially for which no Social Protection payments are made. Conversely, if someone on job benefit or assistance works on a given day Monday to Saturday, a day’s benefit is deducted. If said person works on a Sunday, a deduction is not made.
For those who regularly work Sundays it will be well known that if they fall ill on a Sunday this too will not be recognised. Any claim for illness benefit will not start until the next working day. As no claim is paid for the first three days, if a person is working in “certain sectors” actually no payment is made until the fourth day of certifiable illness. Another curiosity of this is where those earning a Sunday premium pay proportionally more PRSI on this day and yet are precluded from claiming for Sundays.
If reform is needed, let it be across the board. – Yours, etc,
CLODAGH HYLAND,
Foxborough Avenue,
Lucan, Co Dublin.
Madam, – Cutting Sunday and overtime pay will do nothing to improve competitiveness. Any savings that might accrue will be swallowed by upward-only rent reviews, rising interest payments and rising energy costs. The landlords get the money while the low paid workers get shafted. – Yours, etc,
EUGENE JORDAN,
Bearna,
Co Galway.
Madam, – It is with interest I heard Richard Bruton comment that in certain sectors Sunday is considered a normal working day.