Jackie ‘amazed’ at pay of female staff

JACKIE CASEY couldn’t believe how the Government, as an employer, ignored discrimination in the Civil Service, while at the same time passing equality legislation that private sector employers had to implement.

“I was amazed that Government bodies could ignore the fact that women clerical workers were paid the equivalent of €200 per week, €50 less than men, doing practically the same job,” she remarked.

Working as a staff officer in the Cork District Court offices, Jackie is one of 26 women who initiated an equality test case with the Department of Finance in 1991.

The result has been a €34 million settlement that will benefit around 6,000 civil servants, the biggest equality award ever in Ireland, and probably in Europe.

Jackie and her 25 colleagues can now expect back payment of between €30,000 and €35,000, stretching back to 1988.

She was among the many celebrating last night after her union, the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU), accepted the record award, agreed on Thursday evening following lengthy negotiations with the Dept of Finance.

Jackie joined the Civil Service in 1982 and worked in Brussels between 1991 and 1997, the year she returned to Cork.

She has since been promoted to staff officer.

“I always thought it was very unjust to have men paid more than women for doing the same work and was more than happy to sign up in support of the union’s case. After all, the equality legislation was introduced in 1974,” she recalled.

“With someone of the calibre of our deputy general secretary, Rosaleen Glackin, in a leading role, I knew the battle would continue to the very end and would result in victory.

“I see this as a major breakthrough for women workers in terms of equality and it should encourage others to pursue similar claims,” she said.

The mother of a nine-year-old son, Christian, she regarded the award as recognition for some of the sacrifices she has to make in order to go out and work.

“As a working mother, I have to leave my son every day, but I now know that I have a good career structure in the civil service and decent pay.”

With her last night was the CPSU’s key negotiator, Rosaleen Glackin, who recalled the long, 12-year battle.

“I started working in the same grade as those women, in 1965, but was always sure we would win the equality case in the end,” Ms Glackin said.

“All unions must look at their own particular employment situations, but there is potential out there for lodging other claims as there are still pay differentials of around 20% between men and women”.