RMA News
As I write this at the beginning of January 2023, I would like to begin by wishing all our RMA members and their families a very happy New Year.
The major issues of concern to the RMA over the past year has been the dismal failure by our former ETB employers to implement ‘Building Momentum’ in a timely fashion. At time of writing most of our former VEC/ETB retirees are still awaiting payment of the initial 1% due from October 1st 2021 and many post 2012 retirees are still awaiting pension increases from October 2020. The treatment of these members has been deplorable. Their previous payments have been continually in ‘migration’ Co. Councils to PMG to PSSE to NSSO to ESBS. Will it ever end?
The extension to Building Momentum was accepted in autumn 2022 and will see the following pay increases:
3% backdated to 2nd February 2022
2% from 1st March 2023 and 1.5% from 1st October 2023.
Additionally, a 1% increase is payable from 1st October 2022 under the original Building Momentum Agreement.
All these increases will be passed on to retired teachers as the link between retired persons and their serving officer within the public service has been maintained till the end of 2023.
The link between pay and pension is only guaranteed until the end of 2023. Any change to this link will impact negatively on the future value of public service pensions. To effectively defend and promote our interests we need as many retired colleagues in our membership as possible.
RMA AGM and Spring Break
The AGM of the RMA will be held on Tuesday May 9th in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone.
This year the Spring Break will be combined with the AGM, but will not interfere with it.
The AGM will follow the usual format: Registration 10.30 – 11.30, followed by the AGM, with a light lunch available-at your own expense – and finishing at 4.30 pm. Dinner will follow at 7.00 pm. Branches are reminded that motions for the AGM and Amendments to the RMA constitution must be with the RMA secretary rmasec@tuimail.ie before March 1st 2023
The Spring Break arrangements are:
€85.00 pps, €105 Single per night DBB. Tours will be organised – probably including Athlone Castle and Museum, Clonmacnoise, a Shannon Cruise -possibly on a Viking boat -, a Distillery visit (Kilbeggan or Tullamore DEW).
The Shamrock Lodge is not a ‘big’ hotel – just 40 rooms and some apartments which will be available to us. The apartments have two twin/double bedrooms, two bathrooms and a sitting room. They have convenient parking and a covered walkway to the hotel, and occupants will have their breakfasts in the hotel with everyone else.
The hotel asks that participants book with them at least 8 weeks before the event – ie. March 14th. This is important as it is a longer lead in than usual, but understandable given that rooms may be in short supply. The hotel will only allow a maximum of 20 single rooms at the €105.00 nightly rate. The normal single DBB rate is €120.00 per night.
Budget 2023.
In Budget 2023 changes were made to free fuel allowance for over 70s which will be of benefit to some of our members, and also changes to the Tax Credits which members should check to make sure retirees are on the correct Tax rates etc.
Dan Keane
RMA Secretary