asked the Minister for Lands what progress has been made in the consideration of the present claim by forestry workers for increased wages and a shorter working week; and what is the present position with regard to this claim.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wages of Forestry Workers.
46.
I am not yet in a position to add anything to my previous replies in the House to questions put down in these matters.
Is the Minister in a position to say what progress, if any, has been made since he answered questions on this matter quite some time ago?
As the Deputy is aware, there is another aspect of this question with which he is most concerned. An increase of 7/6 was given to forestry workers from 1st April, 1961. That was accepted at the time and in December, 1961, a demand was received from the different unions for different rates and reduced working hours. The Deputy is also aware that this matter is approached in a different way in the different counties. Some county councils have adopted different rules and regulations. I think it is desirable, generally speaking, that State employees, special employment schemes workers, drainage, forestry and Land Commission workers, and county council workers, should have the same terms, particularly so far as working hours are concerned. The full picture has not yet emerged as to what the majority of the county councils will do in connection with the matters the Deputy has in mind.
Is the Minister aware that the majority of the county councils have already conceded a 45-hour five-day week with effect from February of this year but that his Department say they are not in a position to discuss the matter, apparently because of the fact that the Government have not made a policy decision on it?
I do not accept what the Deputy has said. Some county councils have and some have not. I do not accept that the majority have accepted any such thing.
Can the Minister say whether or not the proposed wage increases will be made retrospective?
I should prefer to leave these matters for negotiation between the unions and the people concerned in the Department.
They will not object to retrospection?
As the Deputy is well aware, it is a question of negotiation.
I do not want the Minister to get annoved. This is not a matter about which anyone should get annoyed.
The Deputy is the only one who is getting annoyed.
Do not blow your top.
Is the Minister in a position to say whether or not his officials, in negotiations with the trade unions, say that they are waiting for someone or something but they cannot say what it is? Perhaps the Minister could clear the air by saying that these negotiations can be carried out in the normal way.
I have already indicated to the Deputy that the main reason for the possible holdup in the negotiations is the different way in which the different county councils are looking at the matter. As the Deputy will appreciate, that is of vital importance in conducting those negotiations. My people are quite free to negotiate but they must do it in a sensible way and take the whole picture into consideration.