Notes on the Front

A lobbyist for a group gets paid to promote that group's agenda.  For business lobbyists that means putting on the poor mouth, sackcloth and ashes, maintaining that companies can't afford pay rises.  Indeed, businesses may close if workers don't take a cut in pay.  It's desperate out there, stormy weather and all that, earthquakes, typhoons – after a business lobbyist finishes describing the situation you almost feel like taking up a collection for them.  But that's the world according to business lobbyists.  The actual world of business is far different. 

What's that world like?  Well, let's see what the captains of industry and commerce are actually saying:

According to a PricewaterhouseCoopers survey of 173 chief executives, the majority felt that revenues (71%), profits (60%) and capital investment (54%) will continue to grow.  Almost two-thirds plan to enter new product markets, while 42 per cent will enter new geographic markets. Moreover, the majority of chief executives felt revenues, profits and capital investment would continue to grow.

A recent report by the BT/InterTradeIreland Business Monitor revealed that 80 per cent of 4,000 businesses surveyed are optimistic about their company’s performance over the next three years.

The IIB Bank/ICAI Business Sentiment Survey – produced while the pay talks were in their last days – reported that the slowdown may not be as universal as is sometimes suggested; 54% of firms reported flat or increasing activity, and 42% feel their own company's performance won't significantly reflect broad economic trends. Business Services are still healthy while firms dealing with consumers report widely different conditions.

Enterprise Ireland, launching its recent annual report, stated that the companies it was supporting were ‘not in recession’. Over 1,000 Irish companies receive support from the state agency. Together they increased profits, sales, exports and employment.

Some of these reports and surveys were launched within the last few weeks.   They point to increased growth and profits in many sectors of the economy.  So when ICTU's private sector unions today settled on a strategy of lodging claims of €30 per week for workers below the average industrial wage of €38,000 (and that's most workers) – with percentage increases for higher paid workers – they are dovetailing with what business says about itself. 

So, in the future, don't listen to what the business lobbyists say.  Listen to the business – the sounds of cash tills ringing.  And lodge your pay claim accordingly.  After all, you're worth it.