The message being sounded is that the days of defined benefit schemes are coming to an end. Although many schemes continue to be fully functioning and viable, organisations interpret this message as an opportunity to strip employees of one of the most vital terms and conditions of their employment.
In St. Patrick’s University Hospital, many staff have committed their entire working lives to the service, having been assured of certain entitlements post retirement as per the conditions of their contract. Over the past decade, the organisation chipped away at these entitlements, until February 2017 when the defined benefit scheme was unilaterally taken from under them.
The response from the PNA and the local inter-union group was strong and fast. Well attended general meetings informed and empowered members to respond appropriately. Lunch time protests were held outside the hospital with a significant presence from the media. Meanwhile a ballot for industrial action was carried out simultaneously which resulted in an extraordinary turn out and an overwhelming mandate for industrial action up to and including strike action.
What the organisation feared the most came to fruition, all staff stood united in the face of “adversity”. Although the quantity of staff entering into the defined benefit scheme had filtered out throughout the past decade, all staff stood by one another regardless of age, pension scheme, department or union. The detrimental effect of such an attack on workers’ rights and the potential impact it would have on all staff was lost on nobody. Jim Larkin’s mantra was loud and clear throughout the halls of St Patrick’s University Hospital… “An injury to one, is the concern of all”.
The organisations hand was forced into negotiations. Failure to come to a conclusion at a local level subsequently required the intervention of the Workplace Relations Commission. Intense and challenging negotiations followed.
Through the perseverance and diligence of Mr. Seamus Murphy & Mr. Joe Byrne, a significantly favourable outcome was achieved which was accepted almost unanimously by members of the organisation.
The utmost thanks must be extended to Mr. Seamus Murphy, Mr. Joe Byrne and his associates, Mr. Peter Hughes, Mr. Michael Hayes, the inter-union group, the local PNA committee and all the staff of St Patrick’s University Hospital, particularly those who were not directly affected however stood in solidarity with their colleagues for what they believed in. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.
