Tullamore CPSU members demonstrate against pension levy

Approximately 150 members of the Civil Service Trade Union (CPSU) in Tullamore staged a lunchtime protest yesterday (Thursday) at Government offices throughout the town to show their growing anger at the effects of the pension levy. Lower paid civil servants picketed all Government offices and related agencies in the Offaly county town, including the departments of Social Welfare, Agriculture and Finance along with the Revenue Commissioners office, The Courts Service and Tullamore Garda Station among others from 1pm-2pm. However, no services were affected by the industrial action. 'The anger is getting worse among workers because the levy is actually hitting their pockets now,' Industrial Relations Officer Cliodhna McNamara told the Offaly Independent this week. 'It is a pay cut rather than a levy. At the recruitment grade level members are feeling the pinch more, their starting salary is €23,000 a year.' She added for someone working as a clerical officer who started at €23,000 per annum and are now mid-point on the incremental scale they are down an average of €100 a month, a big drop, especially for people with commitments like mortgage, childcare etc. The lunchtime demonstration follows the union"s protest action last week when a one hour telephone protest took place in all Government Offices in rotation by region each day throughout the week. The CPSU"s action is against the Government"s pay cuts introduced through the pension levy and the deferral of the pay deal due this year. 'The CPSU acknowledges that changes have to be made and that everyone has to bear the brunt but we are saying make it fair, don"t just impose it on the lower paid civil servants. Let it be fair - taxes across the board rather than just imposing it on the civil servants,' Ms McNamara commented. Meanwhile, speaking of the demonstration General Secretary of the CPSU, Blair Horan said members around the country are still very angry at the Government"s decision to impose pay cuts averaging 6% and deferring the pay deal worth 6% due later this year. 'CPSU members will continue to resist this attack on lower paid workers. Pay cuts for lower paid workers is not the solution to the country"s problems,' he concluded.