Fórsa and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) resumed conciliation talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) this week (Monday 16th), in a further engagement on the implementation of a job evaluation scheme in the local authority sector. 

The WRC subsequently issued a statement to confirm that the parties have agreed to re-engage “to progress the scoping exercise on options for a job evaluation arrangement in the local authority sector,” in line with the terms of the current public service agreement.

A further date for conciliation is confirmed for Tuesday 10th December, while the WRC noted “that the parties agree on the necessity for an intensive period of examination and review into schemes that exist in local government sectors outside of the jurisdiction” and that each has committed to jointly review job evaluation schemes in operation in local authorities in the North of Ireland over the next ten weeks, following on from a June agreement to research existing schemes. 

Fórsa’s head of Local Government Richy Carrothers commented: “The local government sector needs to work in good faith and collaboratively with Fórsa over the coming months. Close to 10,000 jobs were lost from the sector following the financial crisis in 2008, and services were only maintained because local authority workers countrywide took on additional responsibilities above their pay grades. 

“The latest public service agreement has made provisions for re-engagement to progress this matter further. We are focussed on the delivery of a job evaluation scheme in the local government sector. Our members have spoken clearly about their demand for such a scheme and it is in the collective interest of workers that this occurs, particularly against a backdrop of a recruitment and retention crisis across local authorities,” he said.

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