Union defends bulk payments to workers who face changes

A union chief is defending the arrangement whereby public servants could get a lump sum payment to compensate them for loss of earnings if their work practices change.

It could see a mounting cost to the Government for changes brought in under the terms of the Croke Park Agreement.

The situation arose following a Labour Court ruling which saw a number of HSE staff granted lump sums equal to one and a half times the amount of wages they lost when their overtime rates changed.

General Secretary of the Public Service Executive Union Tom Geraghty insisted the arrangement was "non-controversial" and it would only affect a few people.

He insists good work is being done to save money in the sector.

"The real story here is the massive success the Croke Park Agreement has been," he said. "€2.3bn has been saved in the cost of providing public services since 2009 (and) 18,000 people left the public service, yet public services are continuing to be delivered."