IMPACT has secured a new contracts for court ushers, which will ensure they are not forced into early retirement. The ushers are to receive contracts of indefinite duration (CIDs) in the event that the judge, to whom they are appointed, retires.

IMPACT official Tony Martin explained: “There are about 40 ushers working in the courts, and each one was appointed to a particular judge when the judge was appointed. They work on what’s called a ‘co temporis’ contract, which obliges them to retire as and when the judge retires. This could be after a number of years of service but well before the retirement age that applies elsewhere in the Civil Service.”

Tony explained that one of the ushers, who had been working for ten years, was appointed to a judge who was due to retire earlier this year. “He received notice from the employer that, because the judge he was appointed to was due to retire, he was obliged to retire also. This is a member in his early fifties with ten years’ service. Forcing him to retire shows how the system is antiquated and needed to change,” he said.

Tony became aware that up to seven members were facing a similar situation, and raised the issue with the employer. “We reached an agreement that means ushers will be issued with CIDs, and will retain their service officer (SO) grade. This means they can remain as members of IMPACT and be redeployed within the Civil Service.”