Fórsa has commended the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) for working tirelessly to ensure that arrears due to workers in the civil service under the Building Momentum pay terms will be paid in December, avoiding a potential disaster.

Last month, Fórsa sought immediate engagement with the NSSO after reports surfaced that the arrears for some workers would not be paid until March 2023, impacting several thousand employees.

Deputy general secretary and head of civil service Éamonn Donnolly said that the current situation is barely recognisable from the “potential catastrophe of a few weeks ago”.

“Those with regular pay arrangements either have been paid or are in the process of currently being paid, and pension arrears have, or will be paid,” he explained.

Concerns were raised regarding the adjustment backlog of those promoted. This has been reduced by 75% following union intervention.

“Most promotees will have the full arrears adjustment either already paid or in the process of being paid. The small cohort which remains in the backlog will be paid the arrears at the pre-promotion rate, with top-up adjustment to follow in January 2023. A similar arrangement has been secured for those on a higher duty allowance,” said Éamonn.

Almost 1,000 other workers who were off point on the payscale are either already paid or about to be paid, as are temporary rehabilitation remuneration (TRR) recipients.

Éamonn explained that there may, of course be some individual cases, as would be the norm, where delays may occur depending on circumstances.

“Queries on this should be directed to the NSSO, but I want to thank the staff at the NSSO for working so diligently to resolve as much of the problem as was possible,” he said. 

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