So the most valid reason for the train drivers to get a pay increase is “Just because”
Assumr it was tip management salaries driving up the averages and thats why they kept shtum
I don’t want it both ways. If the cost of living in the country drops then so should wages, but if the cost of living keeps on increasing as it has done even during the recession then wages have to increase to pay for that rise. You cant expect people to go to work and not earn enough to live on.
This is what is happening at the moment, the cost of living is increasing with taxes, charges, housing and utilities all increasing and that is making people unhappy as the see they have barely enough to get through the month after these bills have been paid. So something has to give because you cant have wages decreasing and the cost of living increasing.
The cost of living dropped and wages at IE went up. They can go and get fucked now
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What happens when a sector is already paid over the norm for the job they’re doing, why should they get an increase in that case?
Where are they paid over the norm? you are comparing them with other countries and you comparing them to countries that have the same costs of living as this country. In 2015 Ireland had the third highest price per home for electricity in Europe, only Denmark and Germany were higher and but we had the lowest tax and Vat on Electricity prices.
Just out of interest, who pays for these wages to increase?
If it’s via ticket prices, then you increase the cost of living for everyone else.
It it’s via government subvention (i.e. from our tax pool), then you increase the cost of living for everyone else.
Are you hoping to ask the magic money tree ( ™ of Paul Murphy) to sort it all out
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Do we need to get into an argument about how overpaid ESB workers are as well?
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We had the second lowest electricity prices in Europe until the regulator was formed. They artificially increased the price to make renewables viable. It’s a fucking scam.
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You seem to be saying that one of the sectors in Ireland where workers are paid very well relative to other countries should get a rise because of the cost of living?
If they’re due a rise then everyone else is due a rise and if everyone else gets a rise then the cost of living keeps on rising up.
Train drivers are paid extremely well in this country, relatively speaking, so why should they get a rise? The Government needs to stand up to Unions holding the country to ransom. From the information I’ve seen, of public sector or semi-state bodies, only health workers such as doctors and nurses can have genuine grievance at their pay and conditions.
LOL ah the auld magic money tree. I am sure if the Management of Irish rail were to do an audit can cut out the waste in the company they could cover the wage demands. The best example is the rail line from Limerick to some place in Tipperary that is cost over €700 per passenger to run the service. The service should just be cut but management wont do it. I am sure there are more examples of this in the company.
Then if government weren’t wasting money on vanity projects such as Leo’s publicity unit or the money wasted on Irish Water the subvention paid to Irish rail could have been restored or increased.
In this country it is always hit the end user first before taking a closer look at home.
Every regulator has increased prices
Well that’s just untrue. The management have wanted to cut it for years but the Gubberment won’t let them.
Again, why should they cover the wage demands?
You realize that they can’t just cut things, because of you know, the Unions?
Much of the wastage comes directly from them refusing to do what they’re told to do by their employers. “Not in my T&Cs”.
Now you bring up some nonsensical gibberish about Varadkar’s PR and some other hobby horse that you don’t like. One of the reasons Irish Water was a mess was because they looked to avoid conflict with Unions. This stuff is all circular. Pigs in the trough. Where is the tax payers voice in this?
Well you just cant cut things, because you know, the government.
Here is the reason, it is what Irish Rail signed up to.
Ambrose has his tinfoil hat on again I see.
Looking at the P&L, well over 50% of the costs of the company are wages so I’d imagine to cut costs (including the likes of unprofitable services) to free enough cash for raises would require generating similar revenue from less staff i.e. productivity. However the unions have explicitly stated that they want wage increases without productivity benefits.
To your second point, government subvention in 2016 was €110m (about 25% of revenue) and that increases to almost half the revenue when the PSO obligations are included. Yes, Irish Rail received €222million from the government in one form or another in 2016. I think they’re doing alright on that front right now.
What?