Fórsa is continuing to campaign for the reinstatement of flexitime across the local authority sector. Staff working remotely, or working a combination of at-home and in-office hours, still don’t have access to the scheme after its temporary suspension was announced at the outset of the Covid-19 emergency.

The union referred the issue to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) where a conciliation conference was facilitated last month. It criticised employers for breaching collective agreements and failing to advance any reasonable rationale for their decision.

The head of Fórsa’s Local Government Division, Peter Nolan, said workers had now lost the opportunity to accumulate flexi-leave for over 12 months.

“No acceptable reasoning has ever been provided for the decision to suspend flexitime. This is incredibly unfair to the affected workers, particularly in light of the current difficulties in accessing childcare,” he said.

The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), which represents local authority employers, said it was unable to directly engage with the union because the suspension of flexitime was a public service-wide measure instigated by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER).

The LGMA said it would relay Fórsa’s concerns to DPER and respond within two weeks.

Fόrsa has also raised this matter directly with DPER and will now consider a cross-sectoral response to the matter.

Normal flexitime arrangements for civil and public servants working regular hours from the workplace were reintroduced last August after engagement with Fórsa on the issue.

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