A meeting of the sub-group of the General Council was held on 14th October, and considerable progress was made. 

Head of Fórsa’s Civil Service division, Éamonn Donnelly, said: “Matters are now at an advanced stage. We were very pleased that the agenda put forward was meaningful, and I’m happy to report that significant progress has been made. We’re getting closer to establishing a fair dispute resolution process for people working in the Civil Service.”

Representing members, the Staff Side presented a staged grievance procedure, similar to the one which applies in the wider public service. It was well received, and the principles are close to agreement. The Staff Side also presented a model of conciliation for collective disputes, and there was a favourable discussion about the type of trade disputes that would require facilitation by Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) staff.

In a significant move, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) agreed to set out its position on the definition and scope of a trade dispute as part of a future model for conciliation of collective disputes. The Department also indicated that it would be open to setting “strict, time-efficient” deadlines for statements and counter-statements in adjudication and arbitration processes. There was also discussion about both sides submitting their statements simultaneously ahead of an agreed hearing date.

In perhaps the clearest indicator that a new era for industrial relations in the Civil Service is on its way, it was agreed that an officer of the WRC will now be formally invited to independently chair the General Council. The sub-group will meet again in late November, and positions are to be exchanged in advance of that meeting.

Éamonn concluded by saying: “This progress is very welcome. We have spent a long time working towards a revamped C&A Scheme that would deliver fair outcomes for members."

“Our aim has always been to bring similar efficiencies and conditions into the scheme as those which exist within the industrial relations machinery and processes provided by the state, through the WRC and the Labour Court, to which all other public servants have access. This latest round of engagement is encouraging and leads me to believe we are on the right path.”

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