Unite will be working to ensure agreement delivers for members

Union reiterates demand for repeal of FEMPI

February 12th: Unite today (Friday) announced that members working in the public sector have voted to accept the proposed public sector agreement, Building Momentum.  The vote was 75.2% in favour of the proposals, and Unite will therefore be casting its vote in favour of the agreement at the meeting of ICTU’s Public Services Committee on Monday 15 February.

A meeting of Unite public sector reps in January had decided not to issue any recommendation prior to balloting.

Commenting on the ballot result, Unite Regional Coordinating Officer Richie Browne said:

“Following the decision by Unite members to accept the proposals, the challenge now is to maximise the benefits for public sector workers, and Unite will be engaging fully in the processes provided for under Building Momentum in this regard.

“In particular, we will be closely monitoring implementation of the sectoral bargaining provision to ensure that it delivers for our members.  We will also be actively engaging with the independent body tasked with addressing the additional unpaid hours or so-called Haddington Road hours.

“Unite will also be keeping up pressure for the repeal of FEMPI, which now serves no purpose except to hold a coercive instrument over the heads of public sector workers.  If this legislation were repealed in the morning, all other industrial relations agreements, including Building Momentum, would still stand.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of a strong public sector.  The Government now needs to recognise the commitment of public sector workers across Ireland by giving a commitment that the FEMPI legislation will be repealed in full this year”, Richie Browne concluded.