Women’s outrage as Bruton refuses consultation on low paid
Published: Sunday, June 12, 2011
Coalition to Protect Lowest Paid / National Women's Council of Ireland
News Release
12 June 2011
The National Women's Council of Ireland expresses deep concern that the Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation, Richard Bruton, T.D, has not heeded its requests to meet with him to discuss his proposed changes to Joint Labour Committees (JLCs) which will effectively cut the pay and conditions of thousands of working women.
Minister Bruton indicated in late May that he would be consulting with relevant stakeholders to discuss his proposals regarding cuts and changes to JLCs before Friday 10th June ahead of submitting a final action plan to Cabinet before the end of June. The National Women's Council Ireland through the Coalition to Protect the Lowest Paid which includes several national community organisations and trade unions has sent emails, letters and phoned Minister Bruton's office since the 23rd of May requesting a meeting to discuss the detrimental impact his proposals would have on the lowest paid workers and the economy.
According to Susan McKay, CEO of the National Women's Council of Ireland, "It's outrageous that Minister Bruton is excluding voices of workers and the women who represent a majority of the those impacted by his proposed changes to JLC's. Are not the hard-working women who struggle to support themselves and their families as cleaners in hospitals, as hotel housekeepers, as mushroom pickers, as hairdressers and as shop workers the most relevant stakeholders?"
Mary McBride, a hospital cleaner and mother of six explains, "I am very worried by what Minister Bruton is proposing. I don't think he understands what it's like to support a family on such a low wage. I work hard for every euro I get. He mightn't notice a cut like €20 in his week's wages but for me it's the difference between my family surviving and going over the edge."
Aoife O'Dowd, a retail worker and mother of two states, "Minister Bruton seems to think that Sunday is just like any other day. But for me it's a family day. When I'm working I can't be with my kids when they are off from school. I am contracted to work on Sundays so I have no choice. I think it's only fair that this is recognised."
Ms. McKay continues, "Fine Gael's budget proposals were based on a principle that the most vulnerable members of society would be protected, especially working women. Michael Noonan spoke of the need to protect these workers prior to the election when he said,
"These are the women who clean the offices in the morning. These are the women who serve food at weddings or hotel functions, who do the washing up, but go home to their families before the dancing begins." (1)
"The women to whom Minister Noonan so eloquently referred are in fact the women whose income is set by JLCs and whose families will be driven into greater poverty should their income be further reduced by his ministerial colleagues plans to slash their pay and provisions. Further cuts will undoubtedly push more onto social welfare and widen the gender pay gap," says Ms. McKay.
Related Articles
"Women's council hits out at Bruton 'snub'". Click here to read full Irish Independent article.
"Women's Council says Bruton ignoring requests for talks on JLCs". Click here to read full Irish Examiner article.