Workers close public offices to protest cuts

A NUMBER of public offices in Government departments are expected to be closed today as low-paid civil servants and their managers ramp up their opposition to the public service pay cuts.

The two unions which represent the workers, the Civil Public and Services Union and the Public Service Executive Union, have given no indication which offices will be affected as they do not want to give opportunity to put contingency plans in place.

The unions’ members closed offices operated by seven Government departments for a number of hours yesterday morning.

The departments affected were Justice, Finance, Transport, the Taoiseach’s office, the Public Appointments Service, Arts Sports and Tourism, Property Registration and Enterprise Trade and Employment.

After the action union members in each office refused to answer phones in the afternoon. The unions have also indicated the form of action they are taking could vary on a daily basis.

Until now the majority of public servants have only been involved in a work-to-rule designed not to impact too severely on the public. However, the action constitutes an escalation into more disruptive action.

Nonetheless, the Government has made no attempt to press ahead with its threat to suspend workers.

Meanwhile, Mandate trade union has issued strike notice on the Turf Club on behalf of its members in the Turf Club Officials Association (TCOA).

The 32 members of the TCOA, which includes officials who carry out stewarding duties and are the sole regulators of the rules of horseracing in Ireland, are striking from February 28 over issues relating to pay.

They say their members will see a 36.5% cut in income if the Turf Club’s measures are implemented.

The union said the action could be averted but only if both parties agree to attend the Labour Court.

“The strike may affect several events on the Irish horseracing calendar including Clonmel and Leopardstown, but we want to be quite clear in stating that the officials do not want to go on strike and would much prefer to resolve the dispute as quickly as possible,” said Mandy Kane of Mandate.