Minister Must to Intervene to Ensure Security Staff Achieve Pay Rise – Tóibín
Aontú Leader and Meath West TD has called on Junior Minister Damien English to initiate discussions in the Security sector immediately in order to ensure that a proposed pay increase goes ahead.
He stated; “Nearly 2 years ago Manguard Plus, a private company working in the sector, in consultation with their clients and SIPTU decided to increase the hourly rate for workers by 40 cents per hour. This increase reflected the ERO proposal. This was a progressive action taken in good faith in a sector where work is difficult and challenging. Minister English gave the go ahead for the ERO to come into effect on Monday 29th of August. It would have meant that minimum rates of pay for Security Officers would increase to €12.50 per hour and then to €12.90 per hour the following February. It must be remembered that these wages are not far off the Living Wage for what is a difficult and challenging job”.
“However it has emerged that a High Court Injunction has been taken in order to block the proposed pay increases for Security Officers by certain businesses. This is an extremely retrograde and regressive step especially during a cost of living crisis when families are finding it impossible to make ends meet. Many staff will have no option but to leave security work and this will lead to more difficulties in the sector. The Minister must step in at this stage and help avert the crisis. If the Minister sits on his hands it will be a disaster for workers and families and the sector as a whole. We in Aontú are calling for the Minister to invite all the stakeholders into a room immediately in order to prevent the impasse and ensure that workers receive their pay rise.
CRIOCH
