Dispute extends beyond pay

Thousands of public-sector workers walk out in dispute over pay

Public services across Cavan and Monaghan continue to face widespread disruption today (Wednesday, October 14) as thousands of local public-sector workers have joined a 24-hour national strike. The workers are bringing grievances over pay, work conditions and the rising cost of living to picket lines across the region.

Teachers, nurses, healthcare professionals, civil servants and local authority employees are among those taking part, with unions saying the action is necessary as a means to force the Government to commit to a new public service pay agreement.

A work-to-rule, introduced on September 30, will remain in place even after today; and unions warn that further industrial action is possible, with the Public Services Committee scheduling another national strike for Wednesday, October 21.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Peter Johnston, an Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants representative who works at the Department of Agriculture, regards the dispute also encompasses working conditions, including staff retention.

“Inconsistent” approaches to remote working across departments has created differences in how attractive some individual workplaces appeared to employees.

“This, in turn, has knock-on effects when it comes to retaining staff, ensuring employees maintain and develop their skills, keeping them engaged and sustaining morale.

“There are a whole range of issues connected to this. It’s not just about pay; working conditions, staff retention and morale are also central to our concerns.”

Those concerns were echoed when the Celt spoke with Tom O’Brien, chair of the Cavan branch of Fórsa, working with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment at its Elm House offices.

Tom says civil servants helped maintain public services during the Covid-19 pandemic, but now feel that this contribution appears to have unfortunately been “forgotten” amid the continuing pay impasse.

He believes the Budget measures introduced have failed to provide a “meaningful way forward” for workers facing higher mortgage repayments, grocery bills, fuel costs and electricity prices.

“We’re all struggling with the cost of living. Mortgage payments are difficult to meet, grocery bills are rising, fuel is becoming more expensive, electricity prices are going up, and almost everything costs more.”