AGSI today joined the 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance press conference to announce details of their campaign opposing austerity cuts which they say “directly and unfairly targeting frontline workers”. The full list of cuts unfairly targeting frontline workers can be downloaded here. 12.02.13 247Alliance Information Sheet
AGSI will join forces with our frontline colleagues at a rally next Monday 18th February at 6pm in the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.
Please see below a press statement issued to all media this morning with regard to our next steps in this campaign.
24/7 FRONTLINE SERVICES ALLIANCE
Taking the Risk – Paying our Share
PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, 12th February 2013
24/7 ALLIANCE UNITE TO RESIST PAY CUTS
– Government Approach Targets Frontline Staff
The 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance, made up of Unions/Organisations representing Gardai, Nurses, Midwives, Prison Officers and other Health Service Frontline Staff, have come together again to unite in a campaign to defend their members, providing essential frontline services, from any further pay cuts.
The Alliance, in initiating this campaign, is also reaffirming its belief that the proposals tabled, to date by management, in the talks on a possible extension to the Croke Park Agreement have been totally disproportionate and would hit frontline workers to a wholly unacceptable extent.
The Alliance has undertaken an initial analysis, of the management proposals, and their practical impact upon the pay, of frontline workers, who are required to work around the clock. This has found that the management demands, if implemented, would result in a further 10.63% cut in pay for the average frontline worker. This is a totally unacceptable and unrealistic demand.
The 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance, in commencing this nationwide campaign, will also be undertaking the following:
1. A national meeting, of Alliance members from the Organisations in the 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance, will take place on Monday, 18th February, 2013, in the National Basketball Arena Tallaght. This will commence the process of a detailed consultation, with these key activists, on the impact of the measures currently forming the government’s agenda;
2. The Alliance is currently finalising a submission, which will be made before the end of this week, to Mr. Brendan Howlin TD, Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform. In this we will detail the impact of the measures, tabled by his department, on the income of frontline staff, who are obliged to work on a 24/7 – 365 day basis stressing they are totally unacceptable; and
3. A nationwide lobbying campaign, of all TDs and Senators, has commenced, and will intensify this weekend, again to present these public representatives with the reality behind the proposals, tabled by the government, and their totally disproportionate impact upon the pay of essential frontline staff.
Further additional initiatives under the campaign, will be determined, following feedback from members during this initial consultation phase.
The Alliance has noted the conditional guarantee, spoken of by the Minister, at the weekend, that subsequent to a further round of cuts, this government would not ask anything more from public servants until 2016. The Alliance feels obliged to state that this commitment would be cold comfort to frontline members, who earn very ordinary incomes, despite the very onerous nature of their jobs. The Alliance also wants to remind the Minister, and others who are demanding further cuts to the pay of public servants, that Frontline Alliance members, and all public servants, have already suffered pay cuts of between 14% and 24%. It is therefore a reality that, at this stage, frontline staff are struggling to meet their obligations, pay their bills and look after their families.
Therefore any attempt to further reduce the income of 24/7 staff, by an attack upon the pay they receive for working unsocial hours and providing essential services around the clock, will inevitably result in a collective campaign to protect the existing terms and conditions of the Alliances 70,000 plus members.
