Nothing more to give, say CPSU members

The Civil Public and Services Union yesterday launched its “Nothing More To Give” campaign in which three of its members offered their own financial stories to illustrate why there is a mood of despondency among its memebers.

The CPSU, which represents the lowest clerical grades in the public sector, says the bone of contention over the weekend was the Governments failure to renegotiate the pay and conditions of staff members who are on €35,000 or less.

Conor McDonald pointed out he is not a judge, he is not a politician and he is not working in a gilt-edged industry where those with hefty salaries can afford some “throw-away” money.

Despite the impression the CPSU insists is out there, he is simply one of thousands of lower paid, increasingly disillusioned civil servants. He says he can bear no more.

As a father of two small children, Mr McDonald says he is more concerned by the recently agreed changes to flexi-time, which can be amended at local level, and the impact it will have on his childcare arrangements.

“One of the things that attracted me to the public service was the actual flexi-time,” said the 34-year-old, who works for the Revenue Commissioners and who has allowed his financial affairs to be scrutinised in order to support the frustrated views of his colleagues.

Mr McDonald earns €430 a week after tax and has calculated that the longer hours being introduced will amount to a 6 per cent pay cut.

“The grandparents of the kids spend a lot of time looking after them [but] if they have something on, its necessary for me to have an element of flexibility.”