The issue of working time remains “one constant” being raised by civil servants, despite the pay restoration of recent times, according to the chair of Fórsa’s Civil Service Division. But, speaking in advance of the union’s civil service conference in Kilkenny, Niall McGuirk acknowledged that Fórsa Senior General Secretary Designate Kevin Callinan had pledged action on the issue. 

“While the conference on working time that Fórsa hosted last year has helped create a dialogue around our working day, the extra hours imposed on our members under the Haddington Road agreement still rankle with many.

“Whilst we see the unwinding of much of FEMPI under the Public Service Stability Agreement, it is obvious from our motions, and from all our meetings, that the question of hours still needs to be resolved. Our hourly rate of pay has decreased. Kevin Callinan pointed out at a recent conference that the average hourly earnings for civil servants are 93% of what they were ten years ago,” he said.

Niall also noted that Fórsa had signed up to 17 ‘sustainable development goals’ being promoted by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. These are seen as a blueprint for tackling climate change and ending poverty by 2030, while promoting decent work for all.