Unite seeks cost-of-living increase

UNITE the Union is seeking a 5 per cent cost-of-living pay increase from the Hibernian Insurance company and will also be seeking other wage rises in local bargaining for its members.
Unite has said that it will be seeking discussions with the company on holiday leave, maternity and paternity arrangements as well as job security after the collapse of the social partnership pay talks in the 26 Counties last week.
It is understood that trade unions in the private sector will seek basic increases of 5 per cent to match inflation for any employees earning the average industrial wage of €38,000.
Trade unions who are members of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions will also aim to secure increases of €30 a week for workers who earn less than the average industrial wage.

Pregnant employees win cases

TWO women who were made redundant while pregnant have been awarded €16,000 and €30,000 in cases against their former employers at the Equality Tribunal.
Karrie McGarvey took a case against a debt-collection agency, Interim Justia, after she was selected for redundancy when she was seven months pregnant. She informed the tribunal that negative comments had been made by her employers about her family commitments.
It was found that the employer had discriminated against her on the grounds of gender and family status under equality legislation.
In a separate case, Sinead Bermingham brought a case against her former employer, Colours Hair Team, after she was let go one month after she informed her employer she was pregnant. She had been working for the salon for almost a year at that stage.
Equality officer Hugh Lonsdale said that she had a case for her contention of discrimination and awarded her €16,000.

Students’ union rejects calls for college fees

Employer representative body IBEC this week welcomed Education Minister Batt O’Keefe’s call to discuss the reintroduction of third-level fees for students in the 26 Counties.
IBEC said that the “free fees policy was unsustainable for economic and social reasons”.
Union of Students in Ireland President Shane Kelly said that a reintroduction of fees would be disastrous for students.
Brendan Hayes of SIPTU said the proposals would adversely affect tens of thousands of low-and middle-income families.

Maternity care in North understaffed

Despite a recent increase in the number of births in the Six Counties, there has not been a corresponding increase in the number of medical staff.
This news came as the Royal College of Midwives revealed figures that show births rose last year to 24,000, an increase of 2,000 on the previous year.
A Royal College of Midwives spokesperson, Breda Hughes, said midwives are concerned about the quality of maternity care as well as staffing levels and pay.