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THE ARCHAEOLOGY FIRM at the centre of an industrial relations row with the trade union Unite has denied it is in dispute with its workers, or that they are unfairly paid.
There have been a number of strike days at sites in Dublin and Cork in recent weeks as workers demand an improvement in pay. The Irish Archaeological Consultancy (IAC) has rejected requests by Unite to engage in negotiations at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
The company said this is because it is already paying more than the union has negotiated in a recent deal with another company.
“IAC is not in dispute with its employees; it is in disagreement with a third-party, the trade union Unite – an organisation with its own interests which is endeavouring to disrupt the working lives of our employees and our company,” Rob Lynch, managing director of the company told TheJournal.ie.
“IAC have communicated this, as well as the fact the company is paying in excess of the Unite pay claim, on a number of occasions to the WRC.”
He claimed the firm is paying archaeologists 7% more than a pay claim by Unite in February this year and that its rates exceed those in an agreement reached between the union and another major commercial archaeology company.
On all new projects IAC are paying our archaeologists 10% more than the rate recently negotiated by Unite, on behalf their members, and this other company. On all new projects IAC are currently paying our archaeologists 5.3% more than Unite members will get paid by the end of 2020 under the rates recently negotiated between Unite and this other company.
‘Badly paid’
Unite has said its members’ contracts currently stipulate an hourly wage of €12.50 and that rates do not take into account the precarious nature of the job.
“I don’t think people realise – when you tell people you’re an archaeologist they say ‘oh wow, great job’. People just presume, they don’t know that it’s really badly paid, you’re out there in this weather,” Jean O’Dowd, Unite archaeology branch chair said last week.
The Portmarnock crowd are finishing today and they only found that out last week, so they had a week’s notice to find a new job. That’s constant and that’s not taken into consideration in pay.
O’Dowd said the industrial action will continue.
A clear pathway
Lynch said it introduced a new career development structure in August this year to offer “a clear pathway to employees to map their career progression”. This system, it said, will reward qualifications and experience accumulated by staff and will be phased across all projects by the end of November.
“IAC respects the rights of each employee and we give this effect by determining pay and conditions with employees directly.
“The company also respects the right of anyone to join a trade union. This is something that we have previously communicated with all our staff. The company and individual employees also have rights: these include the right not to be obliged to communicate with each other through a third party,” he added.
“This is the path which our company will continue to pursue.”
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#Jobs.
The 445 jobs are spread over 3 years which is 3 jobs per week. 1500 people went on live register in July alone.
And Mr Bruton sees this as ‘turning a corner’ for job creation? We’d need to turn a few corners to prevent jobs loss.
As an American I sometimes see things from a different perspective. I find some things confusing living in Ireland. Riots in England are taking up all the Irish radio waves, with Irish people getting very upset and voicing their opinions against the rioters on the airwaves daily. These riots in another country are making the front pages of the Irish newspapers, yet, your country was recently taken over by the EU and IMF but you don’t even raise a whimper about it! These kids in England are bored thugs from mostly disadvantaged areas, yet your entire country and future generations has been destroyed by the EU and your politicians but you do not seem to care! It must be something in the water or Irish mentality because I have not experienced such an indifferent meek tolerant people on all my travels….I find it fascinating
VERY VERY SAID Angela
I think it’s because we seem to copy everything that happens in Britain eventually, so people are wondering at what point will Dublin become the next city this breaks out in.
sorry that should have been very very well said :)
Angela its good you have a different perspective but a lot of Irish people are living and working in London/England and are from second generation emigrants, so our concern is well placed and genuine. As for out economic situation we are too busy trying to figure out where next weeks money will come from to pay bills and feed families not a situation unknown in the USA.
Reject the premise of “your country was recently taken over by the EU and IMF” as completely ludicrous clap-trap; they lent us money at a relatively low interest rate.
We are proud members of the EU, so why shouldn’t we accept their help?
Also, I have many close friends living in the areas affected.
There are thousands of Irish in the UK. It certainly doesn’t show any “meekness”, just concern for our loved ones & for our closest neighbours, the UK
I am sorry of I offended anyone, it certainly wasn’t my intention. I just find it strange that as a nation Ireland seems more upset and passionate about what happens across the water than what is happening on their doorstep. Whilst my prayers and sadness is with English people who have suffered recently, they will recover. Ireland on the other hand has lost an entire country, sovereignty and future yet the people seem to care less. It all makes me very sad, I deeply love Ireland and the Irish. I sometimes wonder what would your wonderful proud ancestors make of it all.
As an American, are you not more concerned at the drop in credit rating and the massive difference developing between the haves and have-nots, never mind the drought of the mid-west & south-west, your troops still in the middle east and the other various problems of your own home country, rather than being a “hurler on the ditch” re: Ireland and it’s people’s response to the state of emergency next door?
I have a daughter living in one of the affected cities in the UK as well as numerous cousins and friends in London and elsewhere: of course I’m bloody well concerned. It doesn’t mean I’m blind to our own economic circumstances, our future (or lack of it) and the effect it is having on us.
As for my proud ancestors, they too were intelligent beings and would be aware that what happens in the UK today has a direct impact on us – after all it is our largest export trade market, particularly from our largest industry, agriculture and therefore OUR ecomony IS affected by what happens there.
Wake up woman. The apathy and perception of entitlement that is apparent in the youths involved in the so-called rioting is a global problem – would you like this happening on your street?
Go Gaybo!
Go! Gaybo.
Angela Torat…With all due respect, I’ve no wish to offend you, I think what you say is so very sweet & genuine. Though some might think you were trying to incite pple in this country to violence, not to mention unintensionaly sounding a little bit pationising.
In light of current events in England, some might wonder about the wisdom of this.
I think, as you say you’re American, mightn’t understand we in Ireland are not only an Irish nation but also European, as part of the European Union…..like America being a United States. We’ve always had close links with our neighbours England, so are naturally concerned for them and our own currently in England.
How nice you are very sad for us. I hope it comforts you to know, that America with its own problems, are in my thoughts and prayers too, like you with our ancestors, I often wonder what your wonderful, amazing forefathers make of it all.
Though, I’m a little suprized you don’t already know what our ancestors think. With having had your own online psychic & tarot service, one would imagine, surely a direct line to the afterworld & divine guidance would provide such insight. Have a nice day.
It takes more than a stranger on a screen to offend me Fiona. You are European now, you have no sovereignty or control over your own country or laws any more. the reason for that is because you voted them away in consecutive European treaties, believing the lies and propaganda of your European overlords. How sweet and adorable you are to be so concerned about me little one, but it would serve you better to educate yourself as to what exactly the Lisbon treaty et all meant for you. People like you are always in my prayers Fiona, for it is people like you that seem to follow blindly like sheep, swallowing lies and what nicely dressed politicians tell you to do. I am sure the European Union are very happy and proud to have you as a supporter little one, it saves on propaganda costs. How close and wonderful you are to Europe, so true. So close that you have got 57 billion from them in 37 years. yet you have lost 87% of your laws, all control over what was once your country. You lost your sovereignty, control over all future budgets, you lost an estimated 200 billions worth of fishing waters, gave away your gas fields for virtually nothing only to buy it back at inflated prices. You returned 36 billion to the EU in taxes, yet they still fight to take away the one small piece of freedom you have left remaining…your corporation tax. So my sweet lovely Fiona, have a nice day darling and keep me in your prayers
Considering I very clearly and repeatedly noted that I detest violence and referred to those in England as mindless ‘thugs’ I am not sure where you see I am trying to start riots. be very careful what you accuse people of sweety, in the 13% of what laws that are left in Ireland, slander and taking ones name is a crime.
I was delighted to see that Gay Byrne was considering putting his name forward, for the Presidential Election. However, The announcement by Micheal Martin, that he would have the full backing of the Fianna Fail party, leads me to think that Gay would be running as an Independent, but would Actually be a Fianna Fail Candidate (By the Back Door System).
Angela, so did the US not have a recession? Is every American rich, employed & happy with life? I really must visit this Utopia you come from.
America is still a sovereign country, you threw yours away . You seem to have misunderstood me. I said I cant understand why Irish people gave away their sovereignty and then are seemingly more worried about riots in the UK than protesting or making their voices heard in Ireland about their lives being destroyed by bankers, politicians and the EU. What exactly did you think I was writing about? You seem to have imagined a different conversation just so you could write what you want to.
#Jobs
Given that there is some where close to 450,000 people unemployed, and the government are claiming credit for 445 jobs created in 3 months, it will be over 250 years before were all back to work………Way to Go Lads!!!!…..thats if no one else looses their jobs in the mean time!!!! on the plus side……it is a start!!
Angela Torat:
Angela Dear,
If you believe I’ve committed a crime against you…sue me if you want……..(baaabaaa…sure as we say here in Ireland…where there’s muck there’s money)……but sincerely that was never ever ever never my intention.
You seemed to me like such a dear sweet lady, I only wanted to explain how things may be viewed from other perspectives..bless us…despite our problems….I think we still have our own minds and allowed form different opinions.
Thanks for your concern about my education on matters like Ireland and the EU….though you can rest easy, as I can assure you I’ve looked at these matters in detail…. and come to my own understanding of the related issues….indeed I could follow your lead on these matters….. but where would that leave me…baaaabaaa.
We could talk about propaganda…. but I suspect it could lead to a lenghty circular debate about semantics.
Nonetheless, it’s heartening to see your concern for us….at a time when America has so many problems of her own & could surely themselves utilise talents like yours.
Anyway, I must go now and pray to the Gods to save me from myself.
Much thanks for your generosity by also praying for my little soul. I can rest easy knowing with a direct line to the otherworld all my prayers will get a proper hearing.
If I could ask one little favour, can you pass on my sincerest apologies to any of the Gods offended at my inclusion of the E.U. in my prayers….but no worries if this would offend your ideologies…I still appreciate.. someone as worthy as you so kindly including someone like me in your prayers.
God Bless Dear.
That’s quare funny Angela…
I am sorry of I offended anyone, it certainly wasn’t my intention. I just find it strange that as a nation Ireland seems more upset and passionate about what happens across the water than what is happening on their doorstep. Whilst my prayers and sadness is with English people who have suffered recently, they will recover. Ireland on the other hand has lost an entire country, sovereignty and future yet the people seem to care less. It all makes me very sad, I deeply love Ireland and the Irish. I sometimes wonder what would your wonderful proud ancestors make of it all.
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