As you may know, the Mandate Trade Union represents 45,000 workers in the retail and bar trades and many of our members have their wage rates set by Joint Labour Committees. In that context we are very concerned about the agenda for the forthcoming consultation on the reform of JLC as set out in a letter sent by Minister Bruton to congress.
Specifically, it is clear that the minister’s proposals go far beyond the recommendations proposed by the independent Duffy/Walsh Review. What was the point of going through the review process – in which the views of all parties were considered - if that then is to be put to one side and supplanted by a different set of proposals.
Mandate Trade Union has deep concerns about the consultative process the minister is proposing. Frankly the minister’s Outline Reform Agenda appears to very prescriptive and suggests that he has an outcome already in mind.
For example, he is proposing that the number of JLCs be cut in half and "that Employment Regulation Orders will no longer set a Sunday premium". Any genuine consultation process would start with the recommendations of the Duffy/Walsh Review and put that to the parties for their view rather than put what appears to be a pre-determined outcome in front of them.
The time-frame for considering the minister’s 14 agenda points – 10 working days – is very short and raises questions about how meaningful and real the consultation can be. The range of parties to the consultation appears to be very narrow too as only the trade union movement and employers have been invited to take part. Many organisations in the community and voluntary sector have something to contribute to this discussion and we believe they should be included.
We hope you share our concerns and that you will communicate them to Minister Bruton. We absolutely accept that reform of the JLC system is required, however the starting point for such reform has to be the independent Duffy/Walsh Review.
John Douglas
General secretary
Mandate Trade Union
