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THIS WEEK WE saw members of the country’s largest public sector union Impact voting to accept the proposed Lansdowne Road Agreement.
Some 75% of Impact members voted to accept the new public pay deal, putting it firmly on course for majority approval by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
Most public servants under the new deal will receive an increase in their earnings of around €2,000 between January next year and September 2017. This includes small pay rises and a reduction in the pension levy.
The agreement will also provide for the restoration of pay to those earning more than €65,000.
These changes will be across the board but there have been a number of reports of so-called ‘side deals’ in the last few weeks with workers in certain sectors securing extra commitments on smaller issues. Unions have also begun balloting members revealing a number of divisions within sectors.
Here’s what we know so far…
Health
The Irish Medical Organisation has voted overwhelmingly to reject the proposals. A whopping 93% of doctors said No.
This is despite the organisation’s reportedly securing a deal to limit re-deployment for consultants within hospital groups.
Elsewhere in the health sector, the Irish Nurses and Midwives’ Organisation (INMO) has recommended acceptance of the agreement. Nurses will see their annual registration fee frozen until 2018 and the deal includes commitments on discussing certain industrial relations issues.
A pilot to measure additional (unpaid) hours worked by nurses will also take place to discuss the possibility of offsetting them.
Provision has been made to regularise 1,300 interns in the health service whose jobs will be made permanent over an agreed period.
Education
Teachers are divided on the agreement. The INTO which represents primary school teachers was the first public sector union to return a ballot result on the deal, with 64.7% voting in favour of it. It had recommended approval of it, it said, in order to begin to recover the income lost through pay cuts and the public service pension levy.
One positive for them is the restoration of salary scales of a supervision and substitution payment which had been abolished under Haddington Road
However the other two teachers’ unions, the ASTI and TUI, have both recommended their members reject the deal. TUI President Gerry Quinn said teachers at second level are “frustrated and disillusioned” by the extra hours of bureaucracy and administration required under the two previous agreements.
He also said the additional ‘flex’ hours for lecturers were causing high levels of work-related stress.
The delivery of these two hours of lecturing requires a multiple of hours in terms of preparation and associated work. This imposition is disproportionate, unfair and unsustainable.
Quinn said it is “unacceptable” that neither of these issues are addressed under the new deal.
Gardaí
This year’s Garda Representative Association’s (GRA) annual conference had the theme ‘Pay Back Now’ with speakers saying some officers were worse off than people on the dole.
The association’s president Dermot O’Brien said some members were sleeping in their cars overnight because the only accommodation they could afford was miles from their station and the shift work would only leave them with a couple of hours in their beds.
To a small degree, they are getting some of their pay back as they will receive the overall pay bump of €2,000 over the three years that other public servants will be entitled to. One other gain for gardaí if they accept the agreement will be access to the dispute resolution process under the agreement and where necessary the Labour Court to ensure it is properly implemented.
It is unclear at present whether the association’s central executive committee will recommend acceptance or rejection of the deal.
Other sectors
SIPTU which represents various public sector workers including community welfare officers, firefighters, ambulance service workers and local authority staff has recommended acceptance of the proposals. It said the agreement “achieves the essential objective of fairness, while at the same time offering greater benefit to lower paid public servants by using a flat rate pay adjustment”.
Meanwhile the union representing higher-grade public servants, the AHCPS, rejected the proposals saying they “actively discriminate” against members in terms of the final outcome.
The Civil Public and Services Union which represents lower-paid administrative workers endorsed the deal last month, though it admitted pay rises were not sufficient. For members of the civil service there was some movement on flexi carry-over with a six month pilot which will allow staff to take 1.5 days flexi leave per period.
As discussions within unions continue, further declarations in favour or against the deal are expected in the coming months, with ballots for some already planned for the autumn.
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I’m not too pushed one way or another but I wonder how women would rate a sex in the city movie with 4 guys sleeping with everything that moves while they search for a new pair of trainers.
Ain’t no-one wanna see that
This premise is familiar… You’ve described Geordie Shore: The Movie.
If that’s what you want, just watch Entourage.
If we didn’t like it we just wouldn’t go and see it! Simples.
oh shut up Deborah! feminist yoke
Remove the trainers & that’s been television in a nutshell since forever.
My thoughts exactly!
Just common sense KM.
Have you seen it yet?
Oh boy!! Batchelor’s Walk The Movie? Where do I start queueing?
Yes.
@Daisy do us all a favour and queue in the departure lounge of Terminal 2.
Yep, definitely Entourage. Both that and SATC were rubbish anyway.
I actually remember a time when people would go to the cinema and make up their own mind on what a film was like and not listen to what the Internet tells them to like/hate
No you don’t, stop being so silly Jay.
@ Jay, But then they started charging an arm and a leg to see them so people became more discerning and investigate what they are going to spend their money on.
Arm and a Leg? Come on! The popcorn and drinks costs more than the movie these days.
Brought the kids, it’s not bad at all, totally enjoyed it. I’d recommend this film to anyone
‘Ghostbusters’ toys are already on the clearance rack in stores.
We must end the rampant misogyny among 8-year-olds
- Milo Yiannopoulos
Well done Ciaran, you just published ‘na na nana na internet!’ as an article.
The Journal’s editorial standards are in the gutter, publishing personal digs at nasty people on the Internet as news.
Why is the media so keen to convince us this is a good movie? From what I’ve head its the mediocre trashy unintelligent “comedy” basically any mellossa mcarthy movie.
Heard*
Mellissa*
Melissa*
McCarthy*
Fardle*
Get it together! Lol!
Sorry deborah i fell asleep after getting home from work and all i can say is i woke up 15 minutes ago and my brain is yet to kick back in fully :p
Moovie*
Fair enough Guy, you gave me a good laugh though! Plenty of coffee.
Dont know who Melissa MCarthy is but people tell me she has never been funny ever.
Maybe just go see it/download it rather than going by “what you heard” while simultaneously disregarding the reviews.
Oh Spy and heat are great Melissa McCarthy movies btw. But sure i’m feminazi SWJ looney left libertard.
Spy is funny
They already did an all-female reboot about 15 years ago, it was called ‘Busty Ghosts’ and it’s one of my favourite films, even though i’ve only seen the first 2 minutes 43 seconds of it.
Back in 2 minutes 43 seconds.
You’re about 30 minutes gone now ..
Had to put my Vigo costume on.
‘How is the internet handling the fact that they’re not that bad’…??? Emmmm the Internet outside the sphere of Twitter is telling us it’s a load of old sh*t the only ones who seem to approve is the feminazis on Twitter because women power or some such b*llocks when the reality is that nothing (bar the obvious plotline of an ultra sexy ghosts involved in an orgy) will ever live up to the original. Come on, since when has Twitter ever been the voice of reason?
People hate this movie for its all female cast/lead female
Characters?
Wow i forgot how much all us guys really hated Laura Croft, Ellen Ripley etc oh wait no guy had a problem with that and they are regarded as classics because they are actually good and place quality over making most things about their gender…
Sorry i think i posted that in the wrong thread.
Just back from seeing it with an eleven year old. We loved it! :-) It’s light, entertaining and some great cameos. Dear world, take a chill pill it’s not Beckett it’s a kids movie
Unless he represents the threat of the patriarchy, why wasn’t Mr Stay Puft recast as a woman?
Maybe he identifies as a Woman
# StayPuffLivesMatter
A Giant White Male villain is too on the nose to change.
I brought my daughter yesterday, being a huge fan of the originals I wasn’t too pushed on seeing it. But gotta say I thoroughly enjoyed it, very good writing, great cast and brilliant cameos
I’m sure it’s a grand film Jay. I just disliked the way that everyone who thought the trailer looked rubbish was automatically dismissed as sexist. Even this article stinks of bias.
Exactly. I like Melissa Mccarthy and the second main ghost buster (dunno her name). I don’t know the other two at all. I didn’t think the trailer was that funny. Apparently that means I’m a misogynistic pig rather than just thinking it was a poor trailer.
Who knew?
It can’t be any worse than Independence Day Resurgence. That was awful. Beyond cringe. But nevertheless I will be staying away from this one as well… Hollywood Blockbusters are getting worse.
Definitely not a good film. But I wouldn’t say dreadful either. It strikes me though as being so politically correct that it could easily pass for a parody of the real thing.
My friends said it was good fun but obviously they were paid off by the film studio.
They probably just liked the film. Appears not liking it is unacceptable though. My soggy knees!
Well Joanah you are a feminist, which you have said many times. Feminists have lobed this movie since the start purely because of the all female cast. I can only imagine your
Friends are of a similar mind set.
Of course Guy with a Rant! Everything’s a feminist conspiracy! =D
TAN I think it is a bit remarkable the amount of negativity directed towards the film before it had even been released, and death threats don’t usually accompany a bad film even if it is awful. I agree people are free to like dislike without being called sexist but considering the death threats issued there was some sexism going on regarding this film.
No Joanah but for logics sake dedicated feminists tend to like the movie, and moat feminists tend to have feminists for friends due to humans having natural in group preferences , its logic, psychology and just common sense really
@demise grad- ive heard there were death threats but didnt see any myself. And thats no excuse for dismissing the legitimate criticism. The trailer had a joke about slime getting EVERYWHERE (wink wink) and the black character shouting AW HELL NO! in the most stereotypical way possible. It was awful, by the numbers comedy that wouldn’t look out of place in Big Bang Theory. That’s what a lot of people were angry about. I love bridesmaids but this looked bad in the trailers.
Lol Guy, get a hobby or something.
Asian Nightmare, I don’t think the legitimate criticism is being dismissed. I’ve seen a lot of “it’s fun but falls down in places” from a lot of reviews. And that’s fine. But I’ve also seen “it’s the worst thing that’s happened to humanity” and other such overly dramatic nonsense (and from people who haven’t seen it lol).
I agree, and it wouldn’t be a film I’d like to see, but just pointing out that there was an element of sexism related to this movie. It’s unusual to see such a level of vitriol in relation to a film even before its release
Don’t waste your money.
It’s the worst movie Ever made.
Worse than Move 43? Cat woman? Anything with Adam Sandler? That movie about a boy that farts a lot? There have been some god awful movies made and I know this is disappointing to a lot of people but this isn’t one of them.
No need to drag Thunderpants into this
It’s not worse than Spiderman 3, or Batman Vs Superman, or both Sex in the City films (which ARE the worst movies ever made.)
I had mentally removed movie 43 from my brain until you mentioned it, the fecal waterslide of pain is returning!!
For me it’s not because it’s a female cast it’s because it isn’t the original cast. That’s what made the movie. The story after all wasn’t that great it was down to their chemistry. Oh and Melissa McCarthy she’s just dreadful in everything. The Chuck Lorre of actresses has 2 jokes and is sticking to them.
Another mental feminist article from the journal. Poor article, 1 of many unfortunately.
How is not hating a film you haven’t seen a feminist issue?
Expending energy actively hating a film you haven’t seen is stupidity on a grand scale.
I’ve seen the trailers and it looks shite.
It’ll have to be plenty shit to be worse than Ghostbusters 2.
It’s got a dancing toaster ffs, you take that back Sean!
Aw… Don’t be mean about Ghostbusters 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcyktkVGUBM
Love that joke! The honest trailer for it is hilarious https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0D3WZxYxWd8
While I am happy to FINALLY see an all female cast, I found the lack of black people in this film astonishing. I have only seen the trailer and I am not impressed. #blacklivesmatter
I found the ghost-on-woman violence disturbing in the extreme. Also the scene where the ghost flies THROUGH the woman without her consent. Penetration, supernatural or otherwise, without consent is RAPE. #blacklivesmatter
#girlpower
#ghostrape
#caspertherapeyghost
#thesexorcist
#GhostLivesMatter
You give the Internet’s humour detecting abilities way too much credit. Best to add “lol”in future.
#ghostssowhite
#ghostslivesmatter
#isntLeslieJonesblack
As if the original ones were some masterpiece, jeez some people are so precious. See it don’t see it, who cares..
I’ve never seen the original tbh, but I want to see this because I love Kate McKinnon and Kristen Wiig. Bad reviews don’t put me off, I’ll make up my own mind.
Everyone will love Kate McKinnon after this – She’s the real star of the film. And watch the original, it’s great.
So basically folks should actually see a movie before giving out about it. That’s groundbreaking I tells ya…!!!
The women or reboot thing doesn’t bother me. The ladies are collectively and individually brilliant by themselves….but the plot of the trailer looks so bloody cheesy. I’d be so surprised if it’s anyway decent
Was in the minority who actually didn’t hate the trailer when it came out, but I didn’t know at the time and can’t understand why they’d reboot it instead of having this as a continuation, with this new team picking up the mantle after all the years. Anyway, will go into it with an open mind, but its a reboot of one of my favourite films of all time.
I’m not planning on seeing not into the reboots might watch it if it’s on TV, but fecking hell spoiler alert!! Building up it up here and mentioning loads of cameos!
Just to point out that the rotten tomatoes score is only for critics. They haven’t published the audience scores.
I went to see this in 3D last night not expecting much but I really enjoyed it and , the cameos didn’t expect them at all
There’s a ghostbusters remake coming out??
For the hundredth time, it got hate from terrible marketing and a truly abysmal first trailer more than anything about women being cast. I was interested in the new casting choice and will probably see the movie on a Thursday offer price to see if it prove the internet wrong, worth the hate or just a silly blockbuster.
Unfortunately, we now live in the age of the troll. Trolls are usually talentless and bitter people who try and curry ‘acceptance’ from their supposed peers by becoming keyboard warriors on the lookout for the next thing to slaughter.
Saw it last night, not bad but not fantastic either, some good moments but overall suffers from not having a central villan character. Can’t compete with Aykroyd, Murray but Melissa Mccarthy and Chris Hemsworth do good jobs, to lesser degree wiig & mckinnon have good moments but are annoying in others; A little cgi heavy as well for my liking without delivering lunch cgi can deliver, overall not as good as original but entertaining
I’ll see it in a few months when a decent copy is available for download. Then I’ll judge it.
Bring back Barry Norman
The thing is that with Sony and Paul Fieg deleting negative reviews, and getting Rotten Tomatoes to delete them and or having one side not count. Of course it is going to look great. Just imaging if Best Buy did that to their review section on their products. You wont know your are buying a POS until you get it home and it fails. I believe there are reviews not being counted to the score of it. I still have no choice to watch it, and to eventually get a digital copy of it. Just FYI.
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