Fórsa is to ballot clerical and administrative grades (III to VI) in the child and family agency, Tusla, following the agency’s suspension of an agreed job evaluation scheme for these grades, which had only re-opened in January 2020.

Fórsa official Chris Cully said Tusla had made a decision to temporarily suspend the scheme following an instruction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER).

Chris said: “Tusla agreed with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to suspend the scheme because DPER said it was operating without sanction.

“However, the job evaluation scheme is an acknowledged scheme within the health sector and is covered under the Landsdowne Road Agreement (LRA). The agreement requires management and unions to conclude arrangements on the conduct and scope of job evaluation in the health sector.

“Tusla’s suspension of the scheme contravenes the agency’s own commitment to staff who were assured that they would not be less favourably treated than HSE staff when they transferred to Tusla.

“Now they are absolutely being less favourably treated. That leaves us with no option to initiate a ballot for industrial action, up to and including strike action if necessary,“ she said.

The union advised Tusla of its decision to proceed to ballot on 8th October. Ballot preparations are underway and Chris said the union will make contact with branches and regions about ballot arrangements shortly.