MANDATE TRADE UNION VOTES IN FAVOUR OF WAGE DEAL
Friday 14 November 2008Mandate trade union confirmed today (Friday, 14 November 2008), that their members have voted in favour of the proposed national wage deal.
Mandate will now vote in favour of the pay deal at the ICTU special delegate conference due to take place on Tuesday, 17 November 2008. Mandate is one of the largest unions in
Mandate general secretary, John Douglas said, “This was a tough decision for Mandate members but they have taken a very mature stance regarding this pay deal and have put the economic recovery of the country ahead of their own personal desires.
“Acceptance of this deal is a bigger sacrifice for low paid workers than for most but I do expect that when the economy returns to growth, this will be remembered and the social partners will reward these workers for their patience and sacrifice.”
Mr Douglas went on to explain why his union has supported the new pay deal.
“The deal delivers a below inflation level pay increase, but in the current economic climate, it is difficult to imagine that it would be possible to achieve a better outcome from local collective bargaining with individual companies in the retail sector.
“If this deal is adopted by the ICTU, it will provide stability for workers and the Irish economy as a whole and may pave the way for national economic recovery during the period of the proposed deal,” concluded Mr Douglas.
During the past two weeks Mandate sent ballot papers to their members on the terms of the pay deal negotiated by the social partners in September of this year.
The union had given a recommendation for members to vote in favour of the deal following a Mandate special delegate conference in late October.
The pay deal will provide the majority of Mandate members with a six percent pay increase over 21 months including a pay pause for three months at the expiry of the current pay deal. Lower paid workers earning below €11 per hour will receive an extra half a percent increase.
