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What would you categorise as the greatest challenge that you faced during your period as Gen Sec of RACO?
As mentioned above, the most significant challenge we face is the fact that “Representative Status” places our members at a distinct disadvantage at National Level Pay Talks in contrast to Trade Unions affiliated to ICTU. Our associations have no negotiating or voting influence on whether the Public Service Committee (PSC) of ICTU accept or reject a National Pay deal, our position remains and will remain to be in the 2nd division. This divisive situation excludes our members, by design, from equivalent status at the negotiating table.
The recent review of the DF C&A Scheme noted the opinions of the Representative Associations in this context stating; ” there is a need to devise confidence building measures and specifically the modalities for their more effective participation in such processes”. Overcoming DPERs marginalisation of Representative Associations relative to the Trade Unions, ICTU and PSC who negotiate on their behalf, will continue to be the most significant challenge impacting on our members.
What achievements / milestones are you particularly proud of?
The Association has had successful and timely resolutions to all cases brought to 3rd Party arbitration. The access and impartiality to the arbitration process demonstrates both the inherent failures and deliberate delay in the DF C&A Scheme and, how DPER influence, has essentially neutered the potential of the Department of Defence to negotiate sectoral agreements.
One particularly significant case was the successful resolution, by 3rd Party Adjudication, of Fixed Period Promotion for our Special Service Officers. The attempt by the Department of Defence to withdraw this condition of service for existing members while removing the condition for new entrants has indisputably added to the shaping of the current retention crisis. Maintaining parity with rank grade equivalence of the DFA & T for Overseas Financial Support Packages and the exemption of Lifetime Community Rating for serving Members of the DF, were also significant achieving positive results on our Members.
In more general terms, we have striven to widen and deepen our relationships with key stakeholders in politics, the media, industrial relations and a variety of other professions. It is vital that the organisation continues to clearly and consistently articulate the concerns of RACO members and to demonstrate the necessity for a professional, well-equipped and expertly led Defence Forces to those sectors that may have influence to broadly support our objectives.
What message would you have for members in terms of how they can assist the organisation as you hand the baton over to Comdt Conor King as the new Gen Sec?
The greatest support is delivered by members through active participation on Formation/Service Committees. Continuity amongst representatives is difficult to maintain with the high turnover of our members through overseas rotations and the impact of understaffing of operational units. The timely and comprehensive feedback by these committees to the professional staff greatly assist in the organisation’s work and the engagement by delegates at this year’s Delegate Conference is testament to the greater awareness our members have in the business of the Association.
Are there any colleagues or counterparts you would particularly like to acknowledge?
Within the organisation, I wish to acknowledge the Dep Sec Gen, Lt Col Derek Priestly for his hard work and support during my term. Ms. Sophia Fitzsimons has been with the organisation since its early days and her encyclopaedic knowledge of, and devotion to, RACO are greatly appreciated. I wish to thank the members of the National Executive during my term for their guidance and assistance dealing with often complex and contentious issues and I would like to thank those staff in the Military C&A Section who are engaging with the Associations on a daily basis in a professional and dispassionate manner.
I would also like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to Martín Breathneach and Ruairi Kavanagh from Universal Media Agency who publish the SIGNAL Journal on behalf of RACO. This highly professional journal is a valuable tool for RACO to promote the work of our members through informative and wide ranging articles
| GENERAL SECRETARY INTERVIEW |
| WINTER ‘18 | | 23