Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Shout me down but I will continue to make my argument.

To Sinn Féin and anybody else who is listening to this debate, I wish to state that talk about unwinding FEMPI in one go, proceeding with a gentle unwinding of it or easing an item of emergency legislation out of existence is nonsense. FEMPI must be got rid of. I say this not just because it discriminates - it creates unequal pay and has kept public sector workers and pensioners in a low-paid prison. It also discriminates against trade unions from the point of view of negotiation. As a result of the penalties contained within FEMPI, unions have their hands tied behind their backs when they enter into negotiations with the Minister. The evidence of this lies in the history of the ASTI and its relationship with the Lansdowne Road agreement. The ASTI has been absolutely penalised and sent to Coventry because its members rejected the Lansdowne Road agreement. Unions will be voting on this deal over the next few months and I will encourage them publicly to reject it. It is unfair to their members, the pay rises are paltry and by the end of 2020, they will have achieved less than reckoned inflation. With this deal, we would be cementing austerity. Millions of working hours would be given for nothing - on a permanent basis - by workers in hospitals, schools, local authorities and so on. I reiterate - millions of hours for nothing.

Austerity is being made permanent with this deal. There is austerity in pensions because the pension levy is being made a permanent feature for public sector workers. Therefore, it is really important that unions think very carefully about this. I am surprised by some of the unions enthusiastically endorsing this deal but I am also delighted that some have enthusiastically asked members to reject it on foot of the permanent method of austerity enshrined in it. That is what I would say to Sinn Féin and the majority of workers. We should get rid of the FEMPI legislation so we are not tying workers' hands behind their backs in negotiations. Once it is eliminated, workers would be on a level playing field in negotiations and in a position to argue that highly-paid workers should not get full restoration.

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