The issue of retrospective Sunday payments for border management staff at Dublin airport has gone to civil service arbitration following settlement of the substantive dispute. 

Sunday payments for the staff are being made with effect from 1st January 2020, after Fórsa successfully argued the case in a third party arbitration process at the end of last year.

The outcome followed a ballot of Fórsa members, which overwhelming backed industrial action in the row over management’s refusal to pay a Sunday premium.

Fórsa, which has been seeking the payment for more than three years, argued that it was a requirement under Irish and European working time legislation. The union also said the disputed Sunday premium existed elsewhere in the civil service.

Fórsa’s head of civil service Derek Mullen said a very important outcome had been achieved for members in Dublin airport. “This is testament to the solidarity shown by members in the airport,” he said.