Nash welcomes pay hike for almost 20,000 security workers
Labour spokesperson on Employment Affairs & Social Protection, Senator Ged Nash has welcomed the 30 cent an hour pay hike for close to 20,000 security workers across the country which will come into effect tomorrow, Friday, 1st June.
Senator Nash said:
“This new legal minimum rate of pay of €11.35 per hour in the security industry was made possible under the legislation the Labour Party introduced to re-establish Joint Labour Committees.
“This new rate will come into effect tomorrow, Friday, 1st June, and all security contractors are legally obliged to pay this legal minimum rate to their security operatives. The current Employment Regulation Order (ERO) rate is €11.05 per hour.
“The security sector is one that has been synonymous with low pay and poor working conditions.
“Thanks to the efforts of SIPTU and progressive employers in the sector, an Employment Regulation Order is now in place that not only increases the basic pay of security officers to a legal minimum of €11.35 per hour from tomorrow, but also provides for a guaranteed minimum of 24 hours work per week after six months service.
“Ireland is the only country in the world to have introduced progressive collective bargaining legislation of this nature over the last few years allowing low paid private sector workers to come together to bargain collectively through their trade union and win better pay and conditions.
“This is real and concrete action for people who work hard for a living.”