Analysis: Markers have been set down for further benchmarkingwage rises, writes Cliff Taylor
Under the terms of the benchmarking deal, the bulk of the money was to be paid over to public servants before much of the promised changes in work practices were actually delivered. It is thus no surprise that the way has been cleared by the performance verification groups for civil servants and health service employees to receive 50 per cent of the benchmarking payments due next month. However some markers have been set down that further progress is needed before the final 25 per cent is paid in June 2005.
The vast majority of public servants are likely to receive the money on time next month, although the Department of Education is pushing for concessions on parent/teacher meetings before giving the green light to teachers. Under the national agreement, 25 per cent of the benchmarking money was paid unconditionally earlier this year. The job of the performance verification groups (PVGs) is to ensure delivery of the improved productivity promised in return for paying the remaining 75 per cent.
In the case of the Civil Service, the 35,000 employed in Government departments and offices, the group, chaired by Dr Donal de Buitleir, has cleared the way for the payment of the 50 per cent due next month. However it has put in a lot of work and has set down clearly the areas in which it wants to see further progress achieved before paying the final 25 per cent - as has the health group chaired by Dr Maureen Lynott.
The job of the PVGs was to pass judgement on agreements already finalised on what would be done in return for the money. These agreements were widely criticised as being unspecific and not ambitious enough, but the PVGs could not rewrite them.
The Departmental programmes submitted to the PVG do contain many useful initiatives in areas such as the introduction of new technology and more flexible working practices. Mr Eddie O'Sullivan, the secretary general in the Department of Finance responsible for the public service, does express concern about the pace of introduction of competitive-based promotions across the service. In many, seniority still plays a role in appointments. However lack of progress here was not judged serious enough to stop the January payment.
The Civil Service PVG does seek to push things forward by calling for further progress on these HR issues, as well as on regulatory reform and on the efficient use of resources. This is to set down a marker for the assessment of the final payment. It has, for example asked all Government departments and offices "to provide clear and measurable indicators of both efficiency gains and improvements in service over the remainder of the verification process". A similar approach is set down in the report on the health sector,
The power of the verification groups to push through such changes would have been greater if a larger proportion of the money remained to be paid in 2005.