Nearly 90% of members in the Community Welfare Services (CWS) hub in Sligo have voted in favour of industrial action in cases where they are instructed to carry out work appropriate to a higher grade.

There was a 95% turnout in the protective ballot on work-to-rule, up to and including strike action.

The ballot will be used where management move to unilaterally downgrade work from Higher Executive Officer (HEO) to Executive Officer (EO) grade.

The ballot was unanimously approved by the Civil Service Divisional Executive Committee for the union’s members in CWS hub in Sligo, as well as supported by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) Executive Grades and PSO Clerical Sligo Branches.

Fórsa has advised management that the union does not support the downgrading of work carried out by our HEO Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) to EOs and that it expects the DSP to comply with the collective agreement.

The collective agreement refers to the transfer of CWOs to DSP which recognised CWO work - including designated person work - as HEO graded work.

“Designated person work is covered by legislation and while the HEO/CWO grade is not specified, this work has been carried out by the CWO grade over a lengthy period of time,” said Fórsa official Paul MacSweeney.

“The DSP has countered that the work is appropriate to the EO grade and that there is provision to allocate the work accordingly. Accordingly, Fórsa has advised the DSP that the exclusion of our representatives from the consultation and negotiation process will undermine stable industrial relations,” he added.

Fórsa has expressed its open availability for further discussions on this matter to reach a resolution.

Separately, the union has also advised CWOs that there is no onus on them to cover out of hours attendance in the absence of an on-call allowance.

“We have advised members not to complete a role profile form which has not been agreed with Fórsa and includes a liability for extra attendance. Proposals received from Management on compensation for out of hours cover are now actively under consideration,” said Paul.

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