Civil servants demanding a shorter working week say they want to focus on returning to a six-hour and 57-minute working day after it was increased by around 27 minutes in 2013.

The union representing low-paid civil servants has told its members to prepare themselves for industrial action if their pay demands are not met in the upcoming public-service pay talks.

Changes to how civil servants are reimbursed for mileage expense — traditionally a barometer for how private sector employees claim mileage from employers — have come into effect.

A new policy to tackle poor work performance by civil servants has been given the green light by the Civil Service Arbitration Board, despite concerns by staff representative bodies.

The trade union representing low-paid civil servants has warned it will pull out of next week’s pay restoration talks “like a hare from a trap” if there is no attempt to close the gap between its members and higher-paid public servants.

The trade union representing mid-ranking civil servants has said its members will withhold any further productivity in order to secure a restoration of pay in talks beginning next month.

There is a distinct sense of unreality about growing union demands for pay rises for tens of thousands of civil servants.