Séamus Healy (Tipperary, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I am speaking in opposition to this section. There are significant punitive and draconian measures included in the Bill which are disproportionate and without precedent. They include the freezing of increments for three years and a nine-month delay in pay restoration.

There is also the unequal two-tier system of payment for public servants, which affects in particular those employed after 1 January 2011. This section is effectively punishing those public servants who disagree with the proposed pay agreement. It freezes increments for three years. Not only are dissenting unions and their members being denied the benefits of the agreement but the existing payscales of members from dissenting unions are being cut by law. This is being done through an increment freeze and it is the equivalent of denying entitlement to service pay and other measures.

As Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan states, these measures are not in the public service pay agreement. They have been introduced by the Government in this Bill and they will therefore be put into law. They are being imposed by the Government. They are effectively the equivalent of industrial relations punishment beatings. It is important as these punishments will become precedents for employers in commercial semi-State bodies and private industry. In effect, it will give the green light to private sector employers and those in semi-State bodies to punish employees in their respective companies. One can hear as we speak the argument will be that the Government was able to do it so surely they should be entitled to do the same. There is a significant precedent being set, not just for teachers, nurses and public servants but for the wider employment spheres. There will be clear precedents to allowing private sector and semi-State employers to punish their workers in the very same way as the Government proposes to do with this section. It is outrageous and should be withdrawn by the Minister.

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