Fórsa has secured a pay-out in excess of 8,000 euro for a member who had been underpaid for taking on additional higher-grade duties. 

While working as a storeman for An Garda Síochána, the member had been asked to take on additional clerical officer duties without amending their pay to the clerical officer rate for that work. 

While the employer claimed the situation was only temporary, lasting no longer than 6 months, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found that the situation had lasted far longer. 

On appeal to the Labour Court, it awarded the member a payment of unpaid wages equal to a four-and-a-half-year period, at a rate of 36.77 euro a week, amounting to just short of 8,200 euro. 

Fórsa official Paul Moyer said, “this was a clear case of underpayment. There is a rate of pay for clerical officer work and that needs to be paid to anyone of a lower grade doing that work.” 

He continued, “These kinds of cases are bread and butter to us. If an employer thinks they can get away with having workers work to a higher grade and not compensate them fairly for that by paying the going rate, we’re here to tell them otherwise. Any member who is asked to take on additional duties at a higher grade should seek advice from their local branch and also get the employer to put in writing what they will be paid.” 

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