Unite ballots Translink bus workers in pay dispute

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Unite the union NI

Bus drivers and maintenance workers balloted with Unite recommending rejection of a pay freeze

Unite the union, which represents more than half the entire Translink workforce, is today commencing a five-day consultative ballot on pay.

The union’s ballot process follows Translink management informing the union that there was no funding to cover any pay increase for the 2023-2024 year. Management made clear that not only were they unable to offer a pay increase but no date was forthcoming for further pay negotiations.

Unite is balloting more than 2,000 members who work for Translink as bus drivers, engineering and conciliation staff on Ulsterbus, Metro and Glider services. The ballot will close on Friday 13 October and is the first stage in the process of moving to industrial action. 

The union is recommending its members vote ‘yes’ for a strike ballot and to reject the zero per cent pay offer. 

Two other representative trade unions at Translink, the GMB and SIPTU, are set to follow suit and conduct industrial action ballots.

General secretary of Unite Sharon Graham said: “It is nothing short of a disgrace that because of the failure to properly fund public transport in Northern Ireland, our members have been told that they can expect a pay freeze – in the worst cost of living squeeze in a generation. 

“This is not acceptable. Bus workers are essential workers. They deserve and demand better. I urge all members to send the strongest possible signal by coming out in large numbers to vote ‘YES’ for a strike ballot. They will have the full support of my union in their fight.”

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Merative workers organise in pushback against redundancies

Posted on October 5, 2023 by unitetheunion

Unite seeking extension of consultation period following company refusal to engage

Union writes to Minister Coveney outlining concerns at failure to abide by consultation rules

October 5th: Unite, which represents workers in medical technology company Merative, has called on the company to engage meaningfully with Unite in a bid to minimise the proposed redundancies announced in August.  The union is seeking an extension of the statutory consultation period to allow for such engagement.

Merative was formerly IBM Watson Health.  Merative is owned by the California-based private equity firm Francisco Partners and its headquarters are in Michigan. The company has recently opened ‘Global Capability Centres’ in three locations in India, and there are concerns that the Irish roles being made redundant may be moved to these centres.

The statutory 30 day consultation period relating to collective redundancies expires today (Thursday 5 October), but the company has failed to use the period to engage meaningfully and collectively with workers regarding ways in which the number of redundancies can be minimised, as well as an appropriate package of supports for those workers who are let go.

In contrast to the company’s failure to engage, Merative workers have used the past month to organise, with over a quarter of the workforce joining Unite.  In addition to an online petition presented to management earlier this week, workers have secured the support for a number of TDs for their demand that the company extend the consultation period and engage with Unite.

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Limerick politicians in public procurement pledge to support ‘Murphy 4’

Posted on October 2, 2023 by unitetheunion

Members of Sinn Fein, Fine Gael, Labour, Social Democrats, Greens and Independent sign pledge

October 2nd: Unite, which represents construction workers throughout Ireland, has welcomed the decision by 15 Limerick politicians to support the union’s campaign for reinstatement of the ‘Murphy 4’ and their decision to oppose the awarding of public contracts to the Murphy group of companies, which Unite believes is engaged in union-busting.

The workers, who were employed by Murphy’s Irish subsidiary Murphy International, were undertaking work at Aughinish in Co Limerick when they were dismissed after organising a meeting of 15 workers to discuss Murphy’s non-payment of travel and subsistence payments.

After a period of two months where the workers were suspended without pay, the four workers, including a shop steward, were singled out and dismissed, and the company has so far refused to reinstate the workers.

The following politicians have pledged to write to Murphy outlining concern at their actions and to write to Uisce Eireann / Irish Water calling on them not to engage the Murphy group, directly or indirectly, in any UI contracts; lobby within their parties for further support; and support or submit a motion to their local authority calling on it not to award contracts to the Murphy group:

Maurice Quinlivan TD (SF), Cllr Sharon Benson (SF), Cllr PJ Carey (SF), Cllr Tom Collopy (SF), Cllr John Egan (FG), Cllr Sarah Kiely (FG), Cllr Olivia O’Sullivan (FG), Cllr Tom Ruddle (FG), Cllr Elena Secas (LP), Cllr Conor Sheehan (LP), Cllr Joe Leddin (LP), Cllr Elisa O’Donovan (SD), Cllr Saša Novak Uí Chonchúir (GP), Cllr Sean Hartigan (GP), and Cllr Jerome Scanlan (Ind).

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Murphy union-busting: Unite launches whistleblowers’ hotline

Posted on September 28, 2023 by unitetheunion

September 28th: Unite, which represents construction workers throughout Ireland, today (Thursday) launched a hotline for anyone concerned about the employment practices of the Murphy group. The launch took place outside the Newbridge headquarters of Murphy International Ltd.

Today’s hotline launch forms part of Unite’s campaign against union-busting by the Murphy group of companies.  Their Irish subsidiary, Murphy International, wrongfully sacked four Unite members, including a shop steward, last year after they organised a meeting of workers to discuss Murphy’s non-payment of agreed travel and subsistence payments.

During Unite’s campaign for reinstatement of the ‘Murphy Four’, the union has became aware of other instances of poor practices on the part of the company.  The hotline being launched today will allow current and former workers, as well as members of the public, to report any concerns they may have.

The hotline number is: 1800 849 209

Commenting, Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said:

“Unite has become aware that the Murphy Group’s bad behaviour does not begin or end with union-busting attempts or its dismissal of our members.

“Unite has pledged to leave no stone unturned in its campaign to have the ‘Murphy Four’ reinstated.  Today’s hotline launch will help us shine a light on the Murphy group’s poor practices”.

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Living Wage: collective bargaining and union recognition needed to drive decent pay

Posted on September 27, 2023 by unitetheunion

New €14.80 rate highlights inadequacy of National Minimum Wage

27 September: Unite, which is affiliated to the Living Wage Technical Group, today (Wednesday) welcomed the group’s decision to increase the real Living Wage to €14.80.  The Living Wage is calculated as the minimum needed to provide a socially acceptable standard of living for an adult in full-time employment without dependents. The increase announced today was driven by rising living costs over the past year, especially in respect of energy, food and rent.

Today’s announcement that the real Living Wage is now €14.80 again highlights the gulf between the statutory Minimum Wage and the actual hourly rate needed to ensure a minimum acceptable standard of living for a full-time worker without dependents. In July, the Low Pay Commission recommended that the Minimum Wage be increased to €12.70 from January – €2.10 less than the new Living Wage.  

The new Living Wage calculation also highlights the inadequacy of the proposal for a “national living wage” of just 60 per cent of median earnings, which is estimated at €13.10 this year – again, significantly less than the real Living Wage calculated by the Living Wage Technical Group.

Commenting, Unite Regional Coordinating Officer Tom Fitzgerald said:

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