Latest news with #ICTU
RTÉ News
23-07-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
ICTU calls proposed VAT cut 'economic vandalism'
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has urged the Government to drop proposals for a €1bn cut in the VAT rate for the hospitality sector, calling it "economic vandalism". Following the publication of the Summer Economic Statement yesterday, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said that the cost of the VAT cut would be almost €1bn, using the majority of the €1.5bn identified for tax measures. "The proposal to cut the VAT rate at a time of huge economic uncertainty flies in the face of all available evidence, and would amount to nothing less than economic vandalism," said General Secretary of ICTU Owen Reidy. "Hospitality is a sector rife with low paid employment and poor conditions, and all evidence suggests that the reduction in VAT will not be passed on to consumers or staff, but pocketed by employers," Mr Reidy said. SIPTU said private sector workers have been short-changed by a Government which has broken commitments on pensions, increased sick days and measures to offset the cost of living crisis while announcing tax breaks for business. "This morning on national radio, the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, stated that there was a prior commitment to the hospitality sector on a VAT reduction," said SIPTU Deputy General Secretary Greg Ennis. "However, what about the Government's prior commitments to workers with regard to increasing statutory occupational sick pay from five to seven days in 2025, progression towards a living wage in 2026, which has now been shelved until at least 2029, and the abolition of sub-minimum wages for young workers," Mr Ennis said.
Irish Independent
03-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Trade unionists back reopening of Western Rail Corridor at Belfast conference
Sligo Champion The Western Rail Corridor got the backing of trade unionists on the first day of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions' Biennial Conference attended by more than 600 delegates at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast. The motion by Castlebar Trades Council was unanimously agreed. Secretary Donna Hyland said: 'I was delighted with the support our motion on the Western Rail Corridor received at conference. This was the first time that ICTU had formally adopted a motion in relation to the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor. "After delegates had passed the motion, the General Secretary of SIPTU Joe Cunningham credited Castlebar Trades Council and the speakers from the various unions for one of the most interesting contributions' of the day.' 'The Western Rail Corridor will not only be an amenity for West of Ireland Tourism but it will be a key economic driver of our region. The social, environmental and economic value that the railway will bring will create stability for our region into the future.' 'If we are to meet our climate action targets and to address regional imbalance then we need to reopen the Western Rail Corridor as a vital piece of infrastructure for the people of the west and north-west of Ireland,' she added. Bernie Ní Fhlatharta of the National Union of Journalists, speaking on the motion, said 'this was not an issue about a novelty train but a vital piece of infrastructure that would connect no less than five counties in the West of Ireland.' She added that public transport was a necessary option if the Government expected people to reduce usage of private cars. Castlebar Trades Council speaks as a collective for Trades Unions in Mayo.
Irish Times
01-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Government ‘pandering to whims of employers' by choosing VAT cut over ending child poverty, Ictu conference told
A decision to cut VAT rates for the hospitality sector rather than use the money to address the issue of child poverty is the latest in a succession of major policy mistakes made by the current Government, delegates to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) biennial conference in Belfast heard on Tuesday. Outlining the details of ICTU's new economic policy, Dr Tom McDonnell of the union-backed Nevin Economic Research Institute said Ireland faced a looming fiscal crisis because the Government has become dependent on windfall corporate taxes receipts to fund day-to-day spending. 'If you have an economy that is in full employment, that has never performed better, you should not be running a deficit,' he said. The impact of the housing crisis on workers was repeatedly highlighted on the first day of the conference, with Mary Fogarty of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation citing the example of one newly qualified nurse living in Dublin who is paying 77 per cent of her take-home salary on rent. READ MORE There is 'very little prospect of a significant improvement in the housing crisis in the next two years,' said Dr McDonnell. The Government's commitment to cut the VAT back to 9 per cent for the hospitality sector was criticised by a succession of speakers, some of whom pointed to the estimated €770 million cost being almost identical to the likely bill for a proposed second-tier child benefit payment. 'We could be using that money to end child poverty forever,' said Dr McDonnell, 'but we're not going to do that.' The country's largest union, Siptu , said ending 'the scourge' of low wages was key to addressing poverty among families, with the union backing a motion that called for a renewed emphasis on increases to the national minimum wage and proportionately bigger pay increases for the lowest paid employees of private sector firms. 'There is a misconception that low pay is confined to the sectors we would traditionally view to be low paid,' said the union's deputy general secretary, John King, 'but the reality is that two-thirds of low-paid workers work outside of the hospitality, contracting services and retail sectors'. He said manufacturing, transport, private healthcare and 'even the high-income sectors of finance and IT have tens of thousands of low-paid workers' and the Government's response had been to 'pander to the whims of low-paying employers'. The morning session of the conference ended early, meanwhile, after organisers were informed on Friday that Northern Ireland First Minister, Michelle O'Neill would not be attending. Organisers were under the impression Ms O'Neill had had to attend a meeting of the Northern Ireland Executive instead but there was some annoyance when it emerged that meeting had taken place on Monday.
Irish Examiner
27-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Extension of special sick pay scheme grants 'temporary relief' to nurses with long covid
Nurses affected by long covid have said they are grateful and relieved a special pay scheme has been extended for another six months with some now in their fifth year out of work. The Labour Court has recommended a final extension to December. It had been controversially due to expire this week. Fiona Walsh, a nurse living in Donnybrook, Cork, has been ill with long covid since January 2021. She has seen little change with time, saying: 'it's been very disheartening'. 'We are very grateful for the six month extension. It's a welcome relief,' she said. She and 158 other eligible staff had 'a very stressful day' on Thursday, waiting for the decision, she added. 'It's a temporary relief though, to be honest, as we all remain too unwell to return to work,' she said. She supports a call from health unions for covid and long covid to be recognised as an occupational illness. This could lead to better supports. Ms Walsh was one of a group of staff who met Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Friday. 'We presented to him the reality of living with long covid which we contracted while working on the frontline,' she said. 'He listened to what we presented him. He appreciates the work we did and is fully aware of the implications of long covid. He was very understanding and emphatic. We are so thankful he gave us his time.' The Labour Court decision means after December 31 eligible staff can only transfer to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme. The Department of Health said Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill supports the decision, and will ensure the extension happens. The ICTU Group of Healthcare Unions welcomed the decision and repeated its desire to see covid-19 and long covid recognized as occupational illness. ICTU chairman Albert Murphy said this would place Ireland in line with other EU countries. 'Healthcare workers with long covid went to work when everyone else was told to stay at home during covid and are still suffering the consequences that come with a huge physical and mental cost,' he said. Mr Murphy, also Irish Nurses and Midwives Director of Industrial Relations, called on the Government to take action. Other unions in ICTU who support the move are Siptu, Forsa and the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association. Labour health spokeswoman Marie Sherlock said Ireland is one of only two EU countries which does not recognise covid in this way. 'I have had many health workers express to me their enormous stress and anxiety about how they will pay their bills, mortgages, and look after their families,' she said. She added: 'It is appalling that high court costs are wracked up by a case that workers felt they needed to take and that time was spent by department officials fighting trade unions at the Labour court.' Read More Online hospital dashboard lets public view a wealth of current Irish health data
Irish Examiner
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
More than 1,000 march in Cork City to demand urgent action on housing crisis
More than 1,000 people marched in Cork City today, demanding that the government urgently address the housing crisis. The rally followed news that new home construction is at a 10-year low, while rental prices continue to climb beyond the reach of many. The 'Raise the Roof' protest was organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) along with left-wing political parties. Aileen Murphy, a pensioner from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, said she used her free travel pass to attend the march. 'I have the bus pass, so it didn't cost me anything, but I felt I had to be here because I'm worried about the younger generation ever having a home of their own. I'm lucky I have. But if I was stating out today it might be a very different story. We have to worry about the future generation,' she said. Raise the Roof protest macrh against government housing policy at Grand Parade Cork City. on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Larry Cummins Sean Norberd, from Freemount on the Cork/Limerick border, said he came to support young people struggling to find homes, including nurses. Theresa Mehegan from Kanturk said her son has saved a house deposit but can't buy a home due to lack of supply and high demand. He's currently renting shared accommodation in Cork City, but wants to live independently. However, she said he can't afford to do so with the sky-high rents currently being asked. 'Michael Martin would want to stop and think about the damage he's doing to those who can't get their own home,' Ms Mehegan said. Protestors highlight #DERELICT IRELAND at the Raise the Roof protest march against government housing policy at Grand Parade Cork City on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Larry Cummins Amy Lynch from Carrigaline said attendees were sending a message that the government 'can't turn a blind eye anymore' to the housing crisis. Her friend Sarah Murray-Fitzgerald from Bishopstown, attending her first protest, said the housing situation 'is making it hard for young people to survive.' Protesters gathered at the National Monument on Grand Parade at 2pm, but the event was delayed by 20 minutes as some attendees had also joined a separate rally in the city supporting Palestinians. Crowds attending the Raise the Roof protest march against government housing policy at Grand Parade Cork City on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Larry Cummins ICTU's Paul Gavin said many workers now face retiring without owning a home and paying high rents on a meagre pension. He criticised the consistent failure of successive governments to build public housing on public land. Mr Gavin proposed immediate solutions, including restoring the Tenant-In-Situ scheme and imposing an effective tax on owners of vacant or derelict properties to encourage refurbishment. 'There are tens of thousands of these properties across the country that could be brought back into use,' he said. Musician and activist Martin Leahy performs for the crowds at the 'Raise the Roof' protest march against government housing policy at Grand Parade Cork City on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Larry Cummins Fórsa trade union campaigns officer Kevin Donoghue called the housing crisis the 'number one social issue' for union members. He argued the only real solution is to give local authorities the funding and authority to build sufficient social, affordable, and cost-rental housing. Labour TD for Cork North Central Eoghan Kenny described the situation as 'completely unacceptable,' noting that 15,000 people — 5,000 of them children — are homeless. 'Governments have ignored the crisis for over a decade. What is needed now is a State-run construction company as private developers hold the monopoly on house-building,' Mr Kenny said. STOP BLAMING MIGRANTS poster at the Raise the Roof protest march against government housing policy at Grand Parade Cork City on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Larry Cummins Thomas Gould, Sinn Féin TD for the same constituency, said protestors were putting pressure on Taoiseach and "Corkman Micheál Martin" to act. 'There are too many boarded up houses all over the place. There are three generations living together in overcrowded houses because there are not enough being built. All the groups represented at this protest are here to highlight solutions,' he said. Currently, there are more than 300 vacant council houses in Cork City. Protesters later marched a short distance to Cornmarket Street, where more speakers addressed the crowd. The event also featured live music from legendary Cork singer-songwriter John Spillane.
