Fórsa has sought the completion of the process of amalgamating the civil service SO and EO grades, which came into force in 2017. The union has taken the claim to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) on behalf of around 120 civil servants who remain tied to the now-defunct SO pay scale.

The staff concerned are in jobs that carry different titles but which are historically linked to the SO grade, particularly in the Legal Aid Board and the Department of Agriculture. There are also some in other areas, including the Chief State Solicitor’s Office.

The two grades were amalgamated in 2017, when SO pay was brought in line with the EO pay scale.