Public sector workers begin work-to-rule today

Following a period of escalating disputes over public service pay and the cost of living, around 100,000 public service employees will begin a work-to-rule style industrial action from today.

One of the key groups behind the action is Fórsa, with their members working strictly to contract from today; this will mean a refusal to undertake duties outside their agreed responsibilities.

The action is part of a wider response by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, with 19 affiliated unions now moving towards industrial action.

Kevin Callinan, Fórsa general secretary and chair of ICTU's Public Services Committee, said: “The last public service pay agreement expired at the end of June. Attempts to engage on a successor agreement came to nothing because of the Government’s steadfast refusal to address cost-of-living pressures at the outset.

“That refusal has made this industrial action inevitable.

“Our members have been clear that their living standards must be protected, and the absence of any credible engagement on this issue has led directly to this industrial action.

“The Minister for Public Expenditure has variously described union ballots as ‘unnecessary’ and any industrial action as ‘unfair’, but it is the Minister’s own refusal to discuss pay measures that has made industrial action unavoidable.”

Mr Callinan continued: “FEMPI was introduced in a matter of days during the financial crisis, yet more than a decade and a half later it remains in place, despite clear agreements that it would be repealed.

“Unions continue to push for this legislation to be fully unwound, but we have been stonewalled in that effort. Previous commitments to unwind FEMPI have not been honoured. It sends a clear signal that Government has difficulty following through on its own agreements, which does not inspire confidence in negotiations on a new pay deal.”

On its website, the HSE stated the industrial action. It said: “Several health sector staff unions have informed the HSE of their intention to commence industrial action, with a work-to-rule beginning on 30 September and 1 October. This industrial action is being undertaken following a ballot of members, in relation to the public service pay agreement.

“The HSE is committed to protecting patient safety and minimising disruption throughout the period of industrial action. Engagement on contingency arrangements is underway with the health sector unions. HSE Health Regions are monitoring service needs and impacts in each area.

“Local arrangements will be put in place and communicated to patients and service users in advance. Service disruptions are also reported on the HSE website. During periods of industrial action, members of the public should continue seeking healthcare in the usual ways, unless otherwise advised locally.

“Patient safety and minimising public disruption are a key priority for the HSE. Any HSE service disruption information will be made available on the HSE website here: https://www2.hse.ie/services/disruptions/.”