The CWU successfully negotiates wages and salaries for the majority of workers employed in the Irish communications industry and would be able to do so for you. One of the strengths which your CWU negotiators can bring to bear on your behalf is their detailed knowledge of pay rates in the Industry. As a result we know what the appropriate remuneration is for the work you and your colleagues are carrying out for your employer. This is particularly important in workplaces where employers negotiate individual contracts with employees. It is not uncommon to find major differences In pay between workers doing exactly the same work In such companies. The fact that the CWU knows the rates of pay in the Industry and knows how your company is faring financially will help them to ensure that you get a fair deal in your salary cheque.

Providing Better Packages
Wages or salaries should only be one part of a worker's overall remuneration package which should also include pension and sick pay arrangements. Unfortunately, as recent reports have pointed out, too may companies don't honour their responsibilities to their staff in this regard. What Is nearly worse is that some companies offer such packages to their executive staff but refuse to do so to the rest of their workforce. The CWU has successfully negotiated such arrangements with employers for thousands of its members. Its experience in this regard could be of great benefit to you.

Democratic Involvement
Of course while pay negotiations would be conducted by a full-time official on your behalf, generally such officials would be accompanied by a negotiating committee elected by you and your fellow members who would also decide the negotiating mandate or instructions. Ultimately any proposals which would emerge from such negotiations would have to be accepted by a majority vote of the members in your company in a secret ballot.