Serious pressure on frontline staff, say civil servants

CPSU CONFERENCE:THE GOVERNMENT has approved large numbers of promotions to senior management positions in the Civil Service over recent weeks, while frontline services continue to face serious pressure, the union representing lower-paid civil servants has said.

Eoin Ronayne, general secretary of the Civil Public Services Union (CPSU), said 50 to 60 promotions to positions of principal officer, assistant principal officer and higher executive officer in the Department of Social Protection and the Revenue Commissioners had been authorised in recent weeks.

“A fair and equitable system of promotions is needed at a time when higher grades seem to be cornering promotions to themselves. Those at the bottom, at the coalface, are not being replaced and there are very few low-level promotions.”

The annual conference of the CPSU, which concluded at the weekend, called on its national executive to seek such a fair promotional system for staff.

Mr Ronayne said higher-level staff who were among the 1,000 personnel who left the Civil Service before pension changes came into effect at the end of February were now being replaced.

He said no replacements, however, were being approved for staff at lower levels who left over recent months.

“It is difficult for our members to cope when they see high-level promotions just after an early retirement package came on stream. Very little resources appear to be being placed into frontline resources.”

Mr Ronayne also said new Government proposals to in effect reduce sick leave arrangements by half would cause real difficulties.

He said members would be angry that existing benefits were being taken from them at a time when they had already experienced pay cuts and reductions in staffing levels.

The Irish Times reported on Saturday that, in a process to get under way at the Labour Relations Commission tomorrow, the Government is expected to table opening proposals which would see staff receive full pay for certified sick leave absences of three months, with half pay provided for a further three months.

At present, employees in the public service can avail of up to seven days’ uncertified sick leave in a 12-month period.

Staff can receive full pay for certified sickness absence of up to six months in one year, and half-pay thereafter.

This is subject to a maximum of 12 months of paid sick leave in any period of four years.