Agriculture row leads to officers’ suspension

ALMOST 150 clerical officers have been knocked off the payroll by the Department of Agriculture in four regional offices in an ongoing dispute over grading.

Offices are sure to be plunged into chaos with this being the last week for farmers to submit Area Aid applications for EU grants and subsidies.

The row took a serious twist yesterday when officers, who have been on a staggered work-to-rule since March 18, were suspended.

Last week, escalated action was staged at DoA offices in Waterford, Clare, Cork and Tipperary when employees refused to take telephone calls, process faxes or man the counter.

They were warned then that such action would result in their suspension, but none were.

Yesterday however, similar action at DoA offices in Limerick, Kerry, Galway and Mayo resulted in between 100 and 150 members of the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU) being told they would no longer be receiving pay cheques..

Last night, Mr Kevin Gaughran, CPSU official, said the dispute goes back two years to when the union was given an assurance that the issue of promotion structures would be discussed and resolved.

Two years later, nothing has changed and talks staged between Department officials and union representatives in that time have produced no results.

According to one of the staff affected by yesterday’s suspension said it was not unusual to find clerical workers in DoA offices with over 30 years service but no grade. On average, each grade is worth about 20 per week.

Mr Gaughran said he viewed yesterday’s action by the Department’s officials as “provocative and intimidating”.

The work to rule had been affecting about 20% of business at the offices, like issuing of cattle sales and slaughter permits.

The CPSU and the Department of Agriculture are scheduled to hold talks at 11am today.