Chambers ‘nonchalance’ on public sector pay talks presents risk to economy
Chambers ‘nonchalance’ on public sector pay talks presents risk to economy - The Labour Party
- Minister must act now to avert public service industrial action
Labour finance spokesperson Ged Nash TD has called on the Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers to create the conditions for meaningful negotiations with trade unions on a potential new public service pay agreement.
He said that the Minister’s ‘nonchalance’ in the face of impending action across the public service presents a real risk to the economy, and is ‘fiscally reckless’.
Speaking on the Plinth ahead of the return of the Dáil today, he warned that Government’s failure to properly engage on a successor deal has brought the country to the brink of large scale industrial action, unprecedented since the last time Fianna Fáil were in government in the 2000s and when they lost control of the public finances.
Deputy Nash said:
“It is the Minister’s job to bring some certainty to the public finances at a time of global risk and where Ireland is especially exposed. One way of addressing this is to create the conditions around which meaningful discussions on a pay deal can take place.
“It is more than reasonable that the trade unions representing teachers, healthcare workers, Council staff and every other public sector worker in the State would have a clear line of sight from government on a broad landing zone on pay, in advance of detailed, meaningful talks. This has not been forthcoming to date and is central to the problem.
“It extraordinary that Minister Chambers has allowed the situation to reach this point. The previous public service agreement expired at the end of June. Government knew that a deadline was coming into view, yet almost three months later, public servants still have no new agreement and formal negotiations have not even begun. This is squarely on the government.
“This dispute did not come out of nowhere. Government had ample time to engage with the unions representing its own employees and establish a credible basis for negotiations.
“Instead, it delayed, prevaricated and dismissed, and allowed frustration to build across our public services.
“Now, public servants in health, education, local government and across the Civil Service are preparing for industrial action. They rightly feel taken for granted. Fórsa members will begin action on 30 September, with national actions planned for 14 October. SIPTU, the INMO and other unions have also delivered overwhelming mandates for action that they will engage in, too.
“Minister Chambers has described the prospect of strikes as unwarranted, but he must explain why this Government failed to secure a successor agreement before the previous deal expired.
“Public servants did not create this impasse. The responsibility rests with a Government that failed to engage seriously and on time.
“Nurses, teachers, SNAs, healthcare assistants, council workers and civil servants are keeping essential public services running while facing the same soaring housing, energy and grocery costs as every other household. They are also living with the consequences of FG’s failure to index PAYE last year. Public and civil servants deserve certainty. So do citizens and those of us who care about the public finances.
“Minister Chambers must start doing his job. He knows what’s required and he must immediately convene substantive talks and work to secure a fair new public service agreement. In doing so, he can also provide budgetary certainty on luck of sector pay costs for the next period of time.
“Government still has an opportunity to prevent widespread disruption, but the clock is running out.”