Fórsa is set to return to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) later this month, to seek an acceptable solution to the dispute over the introduction of a job evaluation system for clerical and administrative staff in local authorities.

The union has long sought a local authority job evaluation scheme similar to the one that operates in the HSE and the education sector. Job evaluation is an established tool that allows the knowledge, skills and responsibilities associated with individual jobs – rather than grades or staff categories – to be assessed and appropriately rewarded.

Fórsa has maintained that almost 10,000 council jobs were lost following the financial crisis, and services had only been maintained because staff had taken on additional responsibilities above their pay grades.

Late last year the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), which represents council employers, responded to the union business case for job evaluation, essentially dismissing the union claim. The employer has also tabled new job descriptions as part of the process. 

Fórsa’s head of local government Richy Carrothers said that in the event the WRC process fails to produce a satisfactory resolution, the division will plan for industrial escalation.

“Local authorities suffered the greatest reduction of numbers of employees during the austerity era, which has resulted in significant grade drift in the sector. Why should these workers suffer less favourable treatment than colleagues in other sectors,” he said.

There are severe disparities in pay rates across the local government sector, where staff doing the same work could be paid more or less depending on which of the 31 councils they work for.

“It is completely unacceptable that clerical and administration, library staff, museum curators, archivists, technicians and so many more, are being paid different pay rates in different counties. That is undermining the similar level of work and effort that’s put in by people in these grades, just based on what council they work for,” Richy said.

The WRC hearing is set to take place on 26^th January.