Bord na Móna workers vote for industrial action

MadsL

Seems Bord na Mona workers will be striking for a 3.5% pay increase? Will anyone notice or care? Are they taking the mick in striking?

Incidentally did Bord na Mona ever close their 52 million euro pension deficit?

gandalf

Given the current atmosphere and the fact so many are on the dole queues they should be fired. There won't be a problem filling the positions.

Padraig Mor

Would this be the Bord na Mona workers who have no pay cuts or pension levy imposed and were looking for the taxpayer to "bail out" the pension fund deficit mentioned above?

Max Powers

who are these idiots, best course of action is to Sell off bord na mona in full immediately, its not a strategic asset. working in the private sector might educate these dreamers

Nody

Max Powers wrote: »

who are these idiots, best course of action is to Sell off bord na mona in full immediately, its not a strategic asset. working in the private sector might educate these dreamers

I'd say lock out instead; it's not like it is a critical function of society and that will force the unions to pay their wages (want to take a guess how long the unions are going to want to do that?)

Sleepy

Who'd buy a company with that workforce?

You'd get a better price liquidating the company tbh.

Catastrophically stupid move by the unions imho, there'll be zero public support for such semi-state workers with such good pay and conditions striking for a payrise in this climate.

deandean

Bord na Who?

I was in Lidl the other day, they sell imported bales of briquettes.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

AlekSmart

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

Mind you,I await any evidence of Humble Pie crumbs being hoovered from the floors of Sir John Rogersons Quay,where this august body continues to thrive....;)

http://www.esri.ie/#/

The BNM staff may well be deluded and offer themselves up for public riducle,but I would recommend keeping some fruit n veg in reserve for other targets too.

fliball123

AlekSmart wrote: »

Mind you,I await any evidence of Humble Pie crumbs being hoovered from the floors of Sir John Rogersons Quay,where this august body continues to thrive....;)

http://www.esri.ie/#/

The BNM staff may well be deluded and offer themselves up for public riducle,but I would recommend keeping some fruit n veg in reserve for other targets too.

the gov have an ideal oppertunity here to test the water..I would let these jokers strike and leave them to it...Its an absolute joke to ask for a pay rise in these circumstanaces..the l'oreal attitude needs to be given a swift kick in the barnies...leave them on the picket line ..see how long they last and let it be a warning to all PS and semi states when the real cuts kick in after the CPA is torn up or completed

amacachi

Sooner the state stops sponsorship of burning chunks of the state itself for heat the better. An eco-friendly idea us right-wing nuts can get behind.

AlmightyCushion

Even though things are bad it's nice to see us Irish have still kept our sense of humour. Wait, you mean this isn't a joke????? Seriously though, what the hell are these guys smoking. Pay rises with the way the economy is and the government finances in the state they are, these guys have to be batshít crazy.

fliball123 wrote: »

the gov have an ideal oppertunity here to test the water..I would let these jokers strike and leave them to it...Its an absolute joke to ask for a pay rise in these circumstanaces..the l'oreal attitude needs to be given a swift kick in the barnies...leave them on the picket line ..see how long they last and let it be a warning to all PS and semi states when the real cuts kick in after the CPA is torn up or completed

Completely agree. The government needs to play hard ball here. If the government stands up to the unions here it will leave them in a better position when dealing with other PS unions and will look good in the eyes of the public as well.

MadsL

Ronald Reagan (not that I was a fan) in slightly different circumstances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5JSToyiyr8

However, given that these employees were promised a payrise and the semi-state is in profit, does the economy matter? Or can the Govt renege on contracts at will given the state of the country?
Does the fact we have just given BnM 6m in grants to dig their way out of an unsustainable business model influence that.

It also appears the deficit is still in place...with any future buyer able to walk from this deficit, this may be part of the motivation for the strike.

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Pat Rabbitte): wrote:

The operation of the Bord na Móna General Employees Superannuation Scheme (GESS) is a matter for the Trustees of the GESS and the Board of Bord na Móna, and not one in which I have a direct function.

I have been advised by Bord na Móna that the Trustees of the GESS are in consultation with Bord na Móna, the Bord na Móna Group of Unions and GESS members regarding a framework for discussions to resolve issues surrounding the current deficit on the GESS. It is hoped that a successful conclusion can be arrived at through this dialogue.

http://debates.oireachtas.ie/dail/2012/01/31/00278.asp

Slightly OT but I note the following JobBridge vacancies at BnM;

• Marketing/Trade Internship – (JobBridge Reference Number: INTE-643459)
• HR Internship – (JobBridge Reference Number: INTE-643045)
• Accounting Technician Internship – (JobBridge Reference Number: INTE-643475)
• Procurement Specialist Internship – (JobBridge Reference Number: INTE-643458)
• General Support Internship – (JobBridge Reference Number: INTE-643325)
http://www.bordnamona.ie/careers/careers/

How the hell is a Procurement Specialist and Accounting Technician roles suitable for advertising for interns?

In my view of BnM as a whole. Bin it, close it. Absolute waste of money.

antoobrien

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

I take it then you'd support changes made to the minimum wage agreed in this report?

WalterMitty

but guess what, "the labour court" will be used and the social partnership types on it will agree with workers claims to a large degree and order they get much of what they demand or a one off payment to "compensate" them. With Labour in government the destructive social partnership /trade union/ fake socialism/extortion racket will never be tackled willingly. It will take a greek style moment for the political wing of the public/semi state unions to make real reforms that benefit society as a whole and not just their financial backers.

Lumbo

WalterMitty wrote: »

but guess what, "the labour court" will be used and the social partnership a types on it will agree with workers claims to a large degree and order they get much of what they demand or a one off payment to "compensate" them. With Labour in government the destructive social partnership /trade union/ fake socialism/extortion racket will never be tackled willingly. It will take greek style moment for the political wing of the public/semi state unions to make real reforms that benefit society as a whole and not just their financial backers.

The Labour Court/LRC can also benefit employees/employers from the Private Sector.

woodoo

Sell up and let the staff fight with their new owners for a payrise

murphaph

Lumbo wrote: »

The Labour Court/LRC can also benefit employees/employers from the Private Sector.

If Bord na Mona was a private company, there wouldn't be sniff of running off to the labour court for this 3.5% rise. If BnM was a private company of course, it would have folded years ago.

swampgas

If Bórd na Móna actually went on strike, would anyone notice? I'm struggling to think of any way a strike would have any great impact.

Riskymove

murphaph wrote: »

If Bord na Mona was a private company, there wouldn't be sniff of running off to the labour court for this 3.5% rise.

Have you ever actually looked at the activites/recommendations of the Labour Court?

Brussels Sprout

Well they went through with it anyway. I can't imagine that they got much support outside their families.

jased10s

have piped gas finally, so they can fup off.

LOL piped gas just now and i had it 20 years ago in the UK.

n97 mini

MadsL wrote: »

However, given that these employees were promised a payrise and the semi-state is in profit, does the economy matter?

It does when you have things like social welfare fuel allowances paid by the state (aka tax-payer).

Keeping BnM costs down would help keep the social welfare bill down.

woodoo

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Would this be the Bord na Mona workers who have no pay cuts or pension levy imposed and were looking for the taxpayer to "bail out" the pension fund deficit mentioned above?

I'm a public servant and they make me very angry. They didn't get the paycut of 2010 or the pension levy.

AltAccount

Why not?

n97 mini

woodoo wrote: »

I'm a public servant and they make me very angry. They didn't get the paycut of 2010 or the pension levy.

Are those the only reasons?

Dannyboy83

Performance related pay rises at Bord Na Mona are fine by me.
There are bound to be some people there who deserve a pay rise.

Has Brendan Howlin commented?

Farmer Pudsey

Dannyboy83 wrote: »

Performance related pay rises at Bord Na Mona are fine by me.
There are bound to be some people there who deserve a pay rise.

Has Brendan Howlin commented?

Preformance related pay rises are usually an excuse for top management in companies to get a 10-15% pay rise by setting targets that can be artifically met.

This is what got us into the mess we are in now. Often by setting targets management will meet these targets take the banks during the boom. What is happening has been predicted as some economist have said that there is wage pressure are begining to start in Ireland.

Padraig Mor

AltAccount wrote: »

Why not?

Because they're not *actually* in the public service! Doesn't stop them wanting the taxpayer to throw massive amounts of money into their pension fund though (ESB too).

fliball123

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Because they're not *actually* in the public service! Doesn't stop them wanting the taxpayer to throw massive amounts of money into their pension fund though (ESB too).

Anyone any update on how this strike is going

Sleepy

LOL, since the only place I've heard of it has been in this thread I'm presuming it's having little or no impact.

the_syco

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

If the government stands up to the unions

You mean if the government stands up to Labour.

Oh, wait; Labour are the government. Can't see FG standing up to it's bunk buddies.

jased10s wrote: »

LOL piped gas just now and i had it 20 years ago in the UK.

Funny thought for the day; up until recently (and next to some houses you can still see) gas meters were next to every house. Seems that all houses were once supplied by gas in my estate, but then somewhere along the way (probably during the 80's), this stopped, and people went to electricity, and then to oil in the late 90's/early 00's, but now a lot of people are back to gas. Estate is about 35-40 years old.

Sleepy wrote: »

LOL, since the only place I've heard of it has been in this thread I'm presuming it's having little or no impact.

Until I read about it here, I didn't even know it happened. This was kept quite, but I'd say a few newspapers will probably attack them today.

creedp

This piece of Fianna Fáil–social partners concocted fiction should have been ripped up and thrown in the bin years ago.

And it has been for the vast majority of PS and private sector workers .. only the very priviledged few are able to envoke the terms of Towards 2016 to argue for pay increases these days. The only PS workers referring to Towards 2016 these days are the semi-state workers who apparently work in a 'profitable' environment and therefore, as happens in the private sector, the workers get a slice of the action. The problem is how is profitability defined? Propped up revenues by a regulator as is the case with the ESB? If these semi-states are so profitable they should be remitting this profit to the State who is its only shareholder to help get the State back on its feet or reinvesting these profits in the company (ESB world class company in terms of new grid/generator technology?) not dolling out pay increases. This just simply gives everyone else a bad name!

Degsy

gandalf wrote: »

Given the current atmosphere and the fact so many are on the dole queues they should be fired. There won't be a problem filling the positions.

Yet there seems to be plenty of problems filling positions in Spar and Centra...if irish layabouts dont want to work in a shop,what makes youthink they want to work in a bog?

Tora Bora

For peats sake, they should all be turfed out on their ears:cool:

Sleepy

Degsy wrote: »

Yet there seems to be plenty of problems filling positions in Spar and Centra...if irish layabouts dont want to work in a shop,what makes youthink they want to work in a bog?

The extremely generous wages that BNM staff already receive. Even with a 10% salary cut it'd still be a handsome reward for the work involved.

Bullseye1

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

It probably was but turf bogs have an excellent history in preserving.:p

Degsy

Sleepy wrote: »

The extremely generous wages that BNM staff already receive. Even with a 10% salary cut it'd still be a handsome reward for the work involved.

Sure...if its not It related nowadays(ie sitting on your arse) people dont want to know.

woodoo

The PS had negotiated a 3.5% payrise at the same time too. Instead we got a paycut and the pension levy. Now Bord na Mona want that payrise.

I think they should have their pay cut in line with what the PS had.

Degsy

woodoo wrote: »

The PS had negotiated a 3.5% payrise at the same time too. Instead we got a paycut and the pension levy. Now Bord na Mona want that payrise.

I think they should have their pay cut in line with what the PS had.

Likewise they private Sector should have an income tax increase in line with the PS paycut and pension levy.

Around 12% or so altogether.

Brussels Sprout

Degsy wrote: »

Likewise they private Sector should have an income tax increase in line with the PS paycut and pension levy.

Around 12% or so altogether.

lol, good one!

Degsy

Brussels Sprout wrote: »

lol, good one!

Yup..public services need to be paid for and the Private Sector should take thier share of the pain for a change.

Sleepy

I dare you to go down to the post office any morning and tell that to all those waiting for their dole...

AlmightyCushion

Degsy wrote: »

Yup..public services need to be paid for and the Private Sector should take thier share of the pain for a change.

I thought you were being facetious but I guess not. That would be disastrous. It would just increase emigration and cause wage inflation. Do you really think Intel would still upgrade Leixlip if they had their best people either leaving the country or demanding a pay increase to make up for the tax hike. Now apply that to any other multi-national who is here or considering coming here and any Irish company that is in a position to move abroad. It would cripple the country.

Degsy

Sleepy wrote: »

I dare you to go down to the post office any morning and tell that to all those waiting for their dole...

And who is staffingthe post offices these days? On greatly reduced wages for greatly increased workload.

Plenty of unskilled work out there,people would rather get the dole though..thats why we've so many foreigners in the private sector.

road_high

Degsy wrote: »

Yup..public services need to be paid for and the Private Sector should take thier share of the pain for a change.

This has to be the most stupid post on boards! Private sector workers/IMF PAY public sector wages through their taxes! Thus like any customer they deserve absolute best value for their money. Not end up paying even more to prop up shams like the Croke Park Agreement.

road_high

Degsy wrote: »

thats why we've so many foreigners in the private sector.

No that would be because they usually don't have a father or uncle twice removed working there (in public sector) already . The unions do a good job of keeping out foreigners that "might" undermine their cushy wages and conditions.

Degsy

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

I thought you were being facetious but I guess not. That would be disastrous. It would just increase emigration and cause wage inflation. Do you really think Intel would still upgrade Leixlip if they had their best people either leaving the country or demanding a pay increase to make up for the tax hike. Now apply that to any other multi-national who is here or considering coming here and any Irish company that is in a position to move abroad. It would cripple the country.

Intel this,multinationals that...everybody is obsessed with the multinational IT sector and nobody seems to be interested in indiginous irish companies that offer sustainable goods and services.

Foreign companies like that come and go,and when they go everybody whinges and wants further reductions to PS pay.

If you think Intel is going to be forever providing jobs think again..youtube the docu about irish unemployent in the 1970's..the big employer in those days was cinemas...where are they now? Ten years ago the big empoyers were construction and trades..where are they now?

Just a thought..

Sleepy

Degsy wrote: »

And who is staffingthe post offices these days? On greatly reduced wages for greatly increased workload.

Plenty of unskilled work out there,people would rather get the dole though..thats why we've so many foreigners in the private sector.

Please, please, tell me you're trolling?

If not, do you want to let us know which branch of the public sector you're a part of? I'm hoping it's not education based on the lack of logic you're demonstrating here...

Degsy

mfitzy wrote: »

No that would be because they usually don't have a father or uncle twice removed working there already . The unions do a good job of keeping out foreigners that "might" undermine their cushy wages and conditions.

Incorrect and very possibly libelous.

sarumite

woodoo wrote: »

I think they should have their pay cut in line with what the PS had.

Sounds a lot like begrudgery and Semi-P bashing to me. :P