Latest news with #SusanFitzgerald
Belfast Telegraph
04-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Plan to overhaul Northern Ireland employment law ‘does not go far enough'
Susan Fitzgerald said the Good Jobs Bill was 'far from a revolutionary document' and the implementation of the legislation involves a long transitional period. Last week, Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald said the 'ambitious' proposals in the Bill included tackling zero-hour contracts, improvements to family-related leave and strengthened rights for trade unions. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. The proposals also aimed to enhance protections for agency workers, ensure tips were passed on to staff in full and introduce easier access to flexible working arrangements. Ms Fitzgerald, Unite Ireland regional secretary, said the union is discussing the minister's proposals with union representatives and activists. 'We will be guided by the discussions we have with workers, who will be on the receiving end or otherwise of the proposals,' she told BBC NI's Sunday Politics show. 'I suppose our point is it's far from a revolutionary document, to be fair, where it doesn't go far enough from a trading perspective, or hasn't addressed at all. 'But there's no question that, you just take a sample of some of the items – tips, flexible working opportunities, neonatal leave and pay for pregnant workers, protections against unfair redundancy for pregnant workers, movement on zero hour contracts, movement on fire and rehire – I actually don't know how anyone can disagree with any of those areas. 'I think one of the key things for us now is what are – in some cases mostly just headlines – is getting behind the detail of what we need to see implemented. 'But I have to say an area of concern is – maybe it's an attempt to reassure people – but it's the proposal to have what feels like a long transition period, and presumably that would only commence after the process has gone through Stormont. That's not good enough. 'It's actually unconscionable to say to someone, we know your rights are not currently protected, we know you're not currently being treated with respect, You're currently very vulnerable, but bear with, we don't want to scare the horses.' Suzanne Wylie, chief executive of NI Chamber, said that a 'very complex' set of regulations of codes of practice are being proposed. 'It is, as the minister has said, the biggest overhaul in employment law in decades, and so our businesses across Northern Ireland really need to be prepared for that,' she said. 'There's a lot in these, and this is really about putting right these proposals. There's a lot more to the creation of good jobs than just aspect of employee rights.' Ms Wylie said that similar legislation is going through Westminster, which is estimated to cost businesses some £5 billion. 'If we think about the challenges that businesses here are facing at this point with increases in tax, increases in minimum wage, living wage, etc, AI, that's disrupting how we work our days, the cost of energy, etc. Really, really challenging time for business. 'We really do have to think about how these proposals are going to be implemented, and how that balance will be achieved between ensuring that we have viable businesses that can grow and a growing economy that we can really create good jobs for the future.'
BreakingNews.ie
04-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Plan to overhaul Northern Ireland employment law ‘does not go far enough'
A trade unionist has said that aspects of the plan to update employment law in Northern Ireland 'doesn't go far enough'. Susan Fitzgerald said the Good Jobs Bill was 'far from a revolutionary document' and the implementation of the legislation involves a long transitional period. Advertisement Last week, Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald said the 'ambitious' proposals in the Bill included tackling zero-hour contracts, improvements to family-related leave and strengthened rights for trade unions. I set out my Good Jobs proposals this week - the biggest upgrade to our employment legislation since the GFA. Good to have the chance to talk to @MarkCarruthers7 on @bbctheview yesterday about how the ambitious proposals will benefit both workers and employers. Catch up👇🏻 — Caoimhe Archibald MLA (@CArchibald_SF) May 2, 2025 The proposals also aimed to enhance protections for agency workers, ensure tips were passed on to staff in full and introduce easier access to flexible working arrangements. Ms Fitzgerald, Unite Ireland regional secretary, said the union is discussing the minister's proposals with union representatives and activists. 'We will be guided by the discussions we have with workers, who will be on the receiving end or otherwise of the proposals,' she told BBC NI's Sunday Politics show. Advertisement 'I suppose our point is it's far from a revolutionary document, to be fair, where it doesn't go far enough from a trading perspective, or hasn't addressed at all. 'But there's no question that, you just take a sample of some of the items – tips, flexible working opportunities, neonatal leave and pay for pregnant workers, protections against unfair redundancy for pregnant workers, movement on zero hour contracts, movement on fire and rehire – I actually don't know how anyone can disagree with any of those areas. 'I think one of the key things for us now is what are – in some cases mostly just headlines – is getting behind the detail of what we need to see implemented. 'But I have to say an area of concern is – maybe it's an attempt to reassure people – but it's the proposal to have what feels like a long transition period, and presumably that would only commence after the process has gone through Stormont. That's not good enough. Advertisement 'It's actually unconscionable to say to someone, we know your rights are not currently protected, we know you're not currently being treated with respect, You're currently very vulnerable, but bear with, we don't want to scare the horses.' Suzanne Wylie, chief executive of NI Chamber, said that a 'very complex' set of regulations of codes of practice are being proposed. 'It is, as the minister has said, the biggest overhaul in employment law in decades, and so our businesses across Northern Ireland really need to be prepared for that,' she said. 'There's a lot in these, and this is really about putting right these proposals. There's a lot more to the creation of good jobs than just aspect of employee rights.' Advertisement Ms Wylie said that similar legislation is going through Westminster, which is estimated to cost businesses some £5 billion. 'If we think about the challenges that businesses here are facing at this point with increases in tax, increases in minimum wage, living wage, etc, AI, that's disrupting how we work our days, the cost of energy, etc. Really, really challenging time for business. 'We really do have to think about how these proposals are going to be implemented, and how that balance will be achieved between ensuring that we have viable businesses that can grow and a growing economy that we can really create good jobs for the future.'
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spirit workers urge UK government to secure jobs
Spirit Aerosystems workers and union officials met with Westminster politicians on Wednesday to try and secure the future of the aerospace sector in Northern Ireland. It comes days after Airbus finalised a deal to take over part of the Spirit AeroSystems operation in Belfast. The deal was first announced in July last year as part of a wider break up of the Spirit business. Spirit is Northern Ireland's most significant manufacturing employer, with about 3,500 staff but there is uncertainty for the non-Airbus parts of the Belfast business, with Spirit saying it will sell them separately. Susan Fitzgerald from Unite said that "clarity" is needed for all employees but especially those working in non-Airbus sections of the business. She accused the UK government of not having "done enough" to impact a different outcome and ensure the company isn't broken up. Fitzgerald rejected the government's response that the matter is "commercial" and therefore it can't interfere. Speaking outside the Houses of Parliament, Alan Perry from GMB union said it was "vital" politicians with influence within the British government "act upon the situation." "The aerospace industry in Northern Ireland is worth over £10 million to the Northern Ireland economy, over 3,500 workers work there, the factory has been there for over 135 years, this is clearly something we are not prepared to let go off without a fight," he added. Airbus confirms deal for Spirit operations in Belfast Airbus to take over some Spirit operations in Belfast
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Spirit Aerosystems workers urge UK government to secure jobs
Spirit Aerosystems workers and union officials will meet with Westminster politicians on Wednesday to try and secure the future of the aerospace sector in Northern comes days after Airbus finalised a deal to take over part of the Spirit AeroSystems operation in deal was first announced in July last year as part of a wider break up of the Spirit is Northern Ireland's most significant manufacturing employer, with about 3,500 staff but there is uncertainty for the non-Airbus parts of the Belfast business, with Spirit saying it will sell them separately. Susan Fitzgerald from Unite said that "clarity" is needed for all employees but especially those working in non-Airbus sections of the accused the UK government of not having "done enough" to impact a different outcome and ensure the company isn't broken rejected the government's response that the matter is "commercial" and therefore it can't interfere. Speaking outside the Houses of Parliament, Alan Perry from GMB union said it was "vital" politicians with influence within the British government "act upon the situation.""The aerospace industry in Northern Ireland is worth over £10 million to the Northern Ireland economy, over 3,500 workers work there, the factory has been there for over 135 years, this is clearly something we are not prepared to let go off without a fight," he added.
Dublin Live
28-04-2025
- Climate
- Dublin Live
Ireland weather: Heatwave concerns result in calls for paid days off and workplace shutdowns
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A statutory maximum working temperature is among extreme-weather proposals being put forward by an Irish union. Unite is seeking a meeting with Enterprise Minister Peter Burke to discuss its proposals, which also include four days' paid "climate leave" if conditions render travel hazardous or workers need to address pressing domestic needs resulting from extreme weather. The union says a maximum working temperature should be set depending on the type of work and the working environment. It wants obligations on employers to attempt to reduce high temperatures. It called for an action level of 24C where heat management controls/systems must be put in place and an absolute maximum temperature of 30C – or 27C for "strenuous jobs" – at which work should stop if these cannot be prevented by using engineering controls. The proposals also include an obligation on employers to conduct risk assessments during extreme weather events, the cessation of all routine outdoor work during orange weather alerts and cessation of all non-essential indoor and outdoor work during red alerts – with workers continuing to be paid during such closures. Unite's Irish secretary Susan Fitzgerald said: "Accelerating climate change means that the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events are set to increase. Workers must not be made to pay the price – in terms of their safety, health and livelihoods – for a climate crisis not of their making". Unite has released the results of a survey of its members to coincide with international workers' memorial day on Monday. The survey, carried out following Storm Eowyn, found 55% of respondents did not feel safe travelling to and from work during the storm Of those who had to work outdoors on the day of the storm, more than half of respondents did not feel their employer had taken all reasonable precautions to make work safe. Of those whose employer did not require them to work on the day of the storm, nearly a third had to take the day as annual leave, unpaid leave, flexitime, sick leave or time-off-in-lieu (TOIL). Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Our survey exposes that many workers felt unsafe working and travelling during Storm Eowyn while some employers even attempted to shift the financial cost of closure onto workers by insisting they take a day's leave. "On international workers' memorial day, we are demanding that the government climate-proof health and safety laws to ensure that workers' lives and incomes are protected during extreme weather." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .
