A further conciliation conference at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to finalise the replacement of the common recruitment pool with an agreement on confined promotion competitions is scheduled for next week, October 18th.

The agreement to replace the Common Recruitment Pool with a system of confined promotion for grades IV to VII has already been reached in principle. The new arrangement will see the field of competition for 50% of all promotions to be confined to eligible staff of the local authority sector. While 20% will be confined to eligible staff in each local authority and the remaining 30% will be open.

The WRC will consider outstanding issues such as the sequencing of the competitions, treatment of "special" posts and arrangements for local authority related bodies such as Regional Assemblies.

The Local Authorities divisional executive committee has already determined that relevant members will be balloted on the outcome of any proposals that emerge from the WRC.

Speaking after the most recent meeting of the divisional executive committee, Cathaoirleach Sean Reid said, "We are on the cusp of an achievement that will greatly improve promotion procedures and prospects for thousands of members, particularly clerical officers.”

The WRC talks followed an industrial action ballot of Fórsa members after the local government employers’ body said it intended to scrap the ‘common recruitment pool,’ which currently governs promotion competitions in the sector. Instead, it wanted all promotion posts filled by open competition.

See related here.