Councils urged to limit staff attendance
by Bernard Harbor and Hazel Gavigan
 
The head of Fórsa’s local government and municipal divisions, Peter Nolan, said most local authorities had been adhering to public health advice, but this wasn’t the case in all areas.
The head of Fórsa’s local government and municipal divisions, Peter Nolan, said most local authorities had been adhering to public health advice, but this wasn’t the case in all areas.

Local authorities have again been urged to limit workplace attendance during the Level Five lockdown.

 

Following an intervention by Fórsa, the Local Government Management Association (LGMA), which represents employers in the sector, has told councils that workplace attendance should be confined to “staff who are essential for the delivery of essential services and who cannot do so from home.”

 

In a letter to the union, the LGMA also praised council workers for their exemplary performance in delivering essential services within public health guidelines. “The safety of all staff remains the key priority for our sector, and this is reflected in the detailed safety guidance protocols which are in place in each local authority,” it said.

 

The employers’ body said local councils would continue to review operational plans to minimise risks to staff.

 

The LGMA agreed to write to local authorities after Fórsa complained that many workers were unnecessarily being told to report to workplaces. The union recognises the need to provide essential services but says that, at the height of the pandemic, more can be done through remote working.

 

The head of Fórsa’s local government and municipal divisions, Peter Nolan, said most local authorities had been adhering to public health advice, but this wasn’t the case in all areas.

 

“The union understands that responding to the needs of homeless people is essential, whereas dealing with long-term rent arrears is not. Equally, landscaping and plant control in parks is not a priority during a pandemic,” he said.

 

Earlier this month, Fórsa said guidelines issued to local authorities managers and other public service managers fell short of official Government advice to employers across the economy. As a result, there had been no significant reduction in the numbers of public service staff being instructed to travel to work since the country entered level five restrictions last December.

 

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