Page 13 - Signal Summer 2018

| RACO PSPC |

Defence Forces Industrial Relations should be to advocate on behalf of and ensure that
and “Representative Status” Defence Force personnel are not disadvantaged in the
In the 2017 Pay Talks, the Representative Associations Industrial Relations arena. Where our Members accept
were unable to secure comparable negotiation status in the limitations of our IR Status inherent in Military Service,
pursuit of claims equivalent in nature and quantum to what our Members do not accept is a Management that
“side deals” negotiated between Government and the is taking advantage of our “restricted status”.
unions affiliated to ICTU. The response by DPER and the In stark contrast to the Irish Government’s approach,
Department of Defence to the Defence Force Associations the UK Government demonstrate their recognition for
was a continual reinforcement that “no side deals” would those members of the Armed Forces who forego normal
be entered into as part of the pay talks. In direct contrast employee rights. The UK Government commit, in law, to
to the approach to RACO & PDFORRA was the post- a Military Covenant declaring their intent to ensure that
talks statement by the Chair of the WRC who confirmed those “in service” and their families will not be disadvan-
to RTE that “side deals” are a regular and accepted taged.
feature of such pay talks. RACO Members noted the “In putting the needs of the Nation, the Army and others
forums through which these additional “financial com- before their own, they forgo some of the rights enjoyed
mitments” were secured for the Public Service Unions. by those outside the Armed Forces. So, at the very least,
Members also noted that our Defence Force Conciliation British soldiers should always expect the Nation and their
& Arbitration (C&A) Scheme denies our members access commanders to treat them fairly, to value and respect
to these forums i.e. Labour Court or Workplace Relations them as individuals, and to sustain and reward them and
Commission. The result of this continued two tier indus- their families.”
trial relations structure unquestionably disadvantages our Ministry of Defence and UK Veterans
Members.
The Minister for State with responsibility for
What should be factored in any consideration of Public Defence, Mr Paul Kehoe TD, initiated a review of the
Service Industrial relations is that those serving in the Defence Forces C&A Scheme in 2018. This review
Defence Forces forfeit “normal employee status” while is ongoing, and it is the hope of our Association
subject to the following conditions of service; Members that the review recommendations will
• Subject to Military Law 24/7/365 both factor the unique demands and nature of
• Provisions of EU WTD Denied Military Service while addressing the glaring anom-
• Obligation for Duty 24/7/365 – Home and Overseas alies with respect to how “representation” and
• Posting “by order” anywhere/anytime/any duration engagement in National Level Pay negotiations will
• Mandatory Early Retirement- 54 for Captain and 58 be conducted in the future.
for Comdt The Defence Force Representative Associations were
• Military Standard Medical & Fitness Annual Testing required to make their submissions to the PSPC in
• Membership of Trade Union “prohibited” February 2018. The Association is not aware if the
• by extension Affiliation to ICTU “prohibited” Defence Sector Management has made a formal submis-
• Industrial Action “prohibited” sion yet.

In return for accepting these conditions of service, The Association will be engaging with the PSPC
Defence Management’s obligation to military personnel, 2 in Q3 and Q4 of 2018 and will keep Members
in recognition of service restrictions and IR limitations, informed.

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