On Thursday 19th December 2024, Fórsa lodged the first local bargaining claim on behalf of members who are working as clerical officers, in grade 3 roles and related grades. Local bargaining is a key feature of the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026. It is a new process of national bargaining for collective issues specific to a grade, group or category.
Before lodging the claim Fórsa consulted members through a survey which asked what changes they would most like to see made as part of local bargaining. The claim was then developed using members’ responses as its basis.
The claim is as follows:
- Removal of Point 6 of the Clerical Officer scales (on completion of 1 year at point 5, the next point of progression is point 7).
- Removal of Point 11 of the Clerical Officer scales (on completion of 1 year at point 10, the next point of progression is point 12.
- Removal of the 3 years waiting criteria for access to Long Service Increments on the Clerical Officer scales.
- An increase of 3.5% to the absolute maximum points of the Clerical Officer Scales.
The claim is on behalf of a diverse range of members across the union: in the civil service division clerical officers and temporary clerical officer are concerned, while in the Education division members encompassed within this claim work in the Education and Training Boards and the Higher Education sector, as clerical officers, Grade III roles, and library assistant posts.
In the Health & Welfare division members concerned work as Admin Assistants, Clerical Officers, in Grade III roles and as Telephonists. In the Local Government and Local Services division, the members concerned work as Clerical Officers, in Grade III roles, and Library Assistants. In the Services & Enterprises Division members concerned work as Admin Assistants, Clerical Officers, in Grade II roles, in Grade III roles, as Library Assistants, Science & Arts Attendants & Visitor Security Officers.
Éamonn Donnelly, head of the civil service division and deputy general secretary said: “Now that the claim has been formally lodged, we await a response. We believe this claim is reasonable and constructive, however if the official response does not share that view, we will need members’ full support to make sure we can pursue the claim vigorously.”
“We will now move to reconvene the Equivalent Grades Committee and plan consultation with grades 4 to 7 and executive officers, administrative officers, and higher executive officers, with a view to lodging a claim on their behalf very soon.”
Éamonn concluded: “Local bargaining is a key feature of the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026. By lodging these claims we are signalling our intention to make full use of Clause 4.2.1 of the agreement.
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