The latest in our series marking the 175th anniversary of Engineers Ireland, Milestones, this article looks at the growing influence of Cumann na n-Innealtóirí in the advancement of the status of the profession. This text is based on the contribution of Dr Finbar Callanan Chartered Engineer FIEI, to the definitive history, Engineering Ireland (2006), edited by Dr Ron Cox Chartered Engineer FIEI
Ireland's first peat-fired electricity generating station, built in 1950 for the Electricity Supply Board.
Photo courtesy of Dr Ron Cox.
The latest in our series marking the 175th anniversary of Engineers Ireland, Milestones, this article looks at the growing influence of Cumann na n-Innealtóirí in the advancement of the status of the profession. This text is based on the contribution of Dr Finbar Callanan Chartered Engineer FIEI, to the definitive history, Engineering Ireland (2006), edited by Dr Ron Cox Chartered Engineer FIEI
By the 1950s, Cumann na n-Innealtóiri had made considerable progress in fulfilling its objective of advancing the standing, status and remuneration of members of the profession. This work was pursued actively by the system of vocational groups, which represented the various areas of employment, and which had developed over the years. Notable amongst the groups in question were those representing engineering personnel in the ESB, the local authorities, the defence forces (engineer officers only), Bord na Móna, Posts and Telegraphs and CIE. Additionally, the Cumann played a very positive role in furthering the interests of smaller groups and individuals for whom negotiating services were supplied. Remuneration was consistently improved and, without question, the efforts of the Cumann in its formative years, and subsequently, played a very significant part in advancing the cause of engineering in Ireland and in projecting the profession as a rewarding career to be sought and followed.
Valuable contribution
The Regions were particularly valuable sounding boards for the members throughout the country, where ideas were generated, proposals were made, and grievances and queries aired. It was a significant strength of the Cumann that it was in constant communication with its members and its ability to deal with bread-and-butter issues, as well as furthering a wide range of policy issues and educational and social events, was a unifying influence, which added greatly to its growth throughout the 1950s and 1960s in particular. It was the tradition of the Cumann, in its negotiations in relation to salaries and conditions of employment, to eschew industrial action, not only because it was not a trade union, but also because many members considered quite seriously that industrial action could be unethical, as far as the practice of their profession was concerned.
Up to a point, employers respected this attitude. However, as time moved on in the late 1950s, and particularly during the 1960s, it became apparent to many in some employments that, in the more difficult era of industrial relations that was developing in Ireland and elsewhere at that time, there was a grave danger of being left behind in the salary stakes unless negotiations could be backed up by the threat of, or by the actuality of, effective industrial action. The first approach by the Cumann to industrial action was in 1953, when the post of county engineer of Dublin was advertised at a downgraded salary. The Cumann succeeded in getting all applicants to agree to withdraw their applications and thus began what became known as ‘the ban’.
Mixed feelings
By 1956, posts of county and city engineer and some chief assistant posts had been affected by the ban in seven local authorities. There were mixed feelings about this action and it was a contentious issue. Eventually a referendum of local authority engineers in 1958 recommended lifting it. This was not done before an Extraordinary General Meeting (the first in Cumann history) had been called on a motion to disregard the referendum and hold a new one involving all Cumann members. The motion was lost.
The negotiation services of the Cumann were availed of largely by engineers in the public sector and, in that regard, the ESB and the local authorities were the leaders. In effect, the scales negotiated for those two vocations generally set the standard for the remuneration of engineers throughout the public sector and, in very many cases, in the private sector also. As it grew in numbers and influence, the Cumann also strengthened its links with the Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland, The Engineers Guild (the UK counterpart of the Cumann), the Irish branches of the British Engineering Institutions (particularly the IEE and the IMech E) and especially with the Irish Medical Association, whose aims and objectives on behalf of its members mirrored those of the Cumann.
These contacts were very valuable, not only in broadening the Cumann's influence within its own professional group of members, but also in learning from others, such as the medical profession, who had been involved with the Cumann since its foundation.
