Autumn Break and EGM in the Rose Hotel, Tralee on

19th /20th /21st October 2021.

Recent EGM

With elements of normality returning, the RMA held an EGM in Tralee on October 19th.  The meeting was called by the Officers to ratify decisions taken by the Management Committee during the 21 months of the Pandemic.  Management Committee meetings had been held via Zoom but the 2020 and 2021 Annual General meetings could not take place.  The TUI was represented at the EGM by Assistant General Secretary Seamus Lahart.  A minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect for members  who have left us since the last AGM.  These included Donncha O’Riordan, Frank McCarthy, and Joan Kavanagh -former Officers of the RMA. The business of the meeting was restricted to the Accounts for 2019/’20 and 2020/’21, and a number of RMATUI Constitutional Amendments which now go before the TUI Executive for approval.  The EGM was arranged to coincide with the Autumn Break at the 4-star Rose Hotel in Tralee.

Autumn Break

In excess of eighty retired members and partners/friends gathered for the Break which started on October 19th.  On the 20th two buses took the group round the Dingle peninsula, visiting Inch Strand in glorious sunshine and then proceeding west. We stopped at Paudie’s pub for tea/coffee before continuing to Slea Head. Our drivers kept us informed about the highlights along the route. These included ring forts constructed of stone and beehive shaped huts dating from the pre-christian era.  We stopped in Dingle for lunch and a walkabout, with ample time to visit the many craft shops, local museum and pubs of character.

Thursday’s tour took us south via Kilgarvan to Kenmare.  From there we went to Moll’s Gap and Killarney National Park, stopping at Muckross House, again in bright afternoon sunshine.  We had time then to stroll around Killarney town before returning to Tralee.

 

 

The Rose Hotel looked after us very well.  The staff were extremely helpful and courteous – dining-room, bar, housekeeping and reception. It was an extremely enjoyable three days and good value too.

Our next Break is set for Treacy’s West County Hotel in Ennis at the end of March ’22 – March 29th, 30th and 31st. The details will be on the RMATUI website shortly.  In a change from previous years, it is proposed to ask intending participants to return a form to the Chair/Social Officer separately from making their booking with the hotel by phone.  The information is needed to give us adequate time to book buses and arrange tour venues – e.g. museums, gardens, boat trips etc.

Next Year’s AGM will take place in Galway’s Harbour Hotel on May 18th.

Pension Increase.

For the first time since 2008, retired members are set to get a 1% pension increase.  This is due from October 1st 2021, but we anticipate some delay with the processing of the increase.  A further 1% increase is due in 2022 (Oct 1st also), both are as a result of the retention of Parity agreed under ‘Building Momentum’, but it should be noted that parity is not guaranteed after the end of 2022.

Representation for retired workers

Deputy Brid Smyth’s Bill was amended and deferred by the Government at the end of June. The promised ‘Consultation’ has yet to start, but in an effort to expedite that, an email lobbying campaign has been agreed for the end of November. Representatives of the relevant Retired Workers’ Organisations have met by Zoom in recent months to form a united platform to achieve Representation.   RMA Branches will be issued with a standard letter which members can use to lobby their local TDs and Senators, who, is it hopes will pressurise the relevant Ministers – Minister Varadker and Junior Minister English.

RMATUI Branch Activity

As mentioned in the last issue, the RMA exists to help service the needs of our members in their retirement.  In recent years those needs have extended from the purely social to pension issues and others.

The RMA Branch structure provides members with a forum to expound their views with our Area Representatives and Officers in attendance, and allows members also an opportunity to hear at first hand what is happening with the Alliance of Retired Public Servants and with TUI itself.  Can I urge all RMA members to make an effort to attend local RMA meetings.  Also, noting that our serving colleagues also are benefitting from the 1% increase mentioned above, many intending retirees have deferred retirement until later in the year.  If you have such colleagues intending to retire this year, encourage them to join us.  The form is on the website, and most TUI Branches pay the initial €25 subscription.

Daniel Keane: RMATUI Secretary

Martin Hoye: RMATUI Chairperson