Dear members,

Yesterday, on Thursday 19th December, we lodged our first local bargaining claim on your behalf. As you know, this is a new process of national bargaining for collective issues specific to a grade, group or category. 

The claim is in respect of Clerical Officers/Grade 3 and related grades. By taking part in our recent survey, you decided the nature of the claim. 

The claim is as follows:

• Removal of Point 6 of the Clerical Officer scales (on completion of 1 year at point 5, the next point of progression is point 7).
• Removal of Point 11 of the Clerical Officer scales (on completion of 1 year at point 10, the next point of progression is point 12.
• Removal of the 3 years waiting criteria for access to Long Service Increments on the Clerical Officer scales.
• An increase of 3.5% to the absolute maximum points of the Clerical Officer Scales.

You can read the claim here.

Now that the claim has been formally lodged, we await a response. We believe this claim is reasonable and constructive, however if the official response does not share that view, we will need your full support to make sure we can pursue the claim vigorously.

Early in the new year we will consult with grades 4 to 7 and executive officers, administrative officers, and higher executive officers with a view to lodging a claim on their behalf in January. 

Local bargaining is a key feature of the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026. By lodging these claims we are signalling our intention to make full use of Clause 4.2.1  of the agreement. 

As ever, by acting together, we can win together. 

Wishing you and yours a happy Christmas.

Yours sincerely,

Éamonn Donnelly,
Deputy General Secretary