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aontas Aug-Sept 2011
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Vol: 76 No 07 Apr-may 2012
AontasThe Magazine of the Civil Public and Services Union
Vol: 76 No 07 Jan-Feb 2013
CPSU MEMBERS COME OUT IN FORCEMassive turnout of members and their families on Feb 9 - SEE INSIDE
NEW MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION UNIT LAUNCHED
aontas Aug-Sept 2011
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aontas Jan-Feb 2013
Contents2 Editorial Comment - By General Secretary Eoin Ronayne3 Membership Information Unit Launched4 Dept of public expenditure & Reform5 CPSU objects to outsourcing proposal to deal with LPT queries6 An Post AGM7 AGM Round-up8 Industrial News9 Equality News: International Women’s Day10 Public Service /Croke Park Agreement11 General News: Clerical Officer Pay amongst lowest in OECD12 Solidarity: ICTU March15 What happens to my membership subscription?16 Extended Opening in Intreo Offices18 Youth Committee profiles20 ADC 2013: Useful tips for the ADC21 Tranfers22 Circulars'23 Crossword - €100 to be won
ContactsCPSU, 19-20 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2.
Tel: (01) 676 5394 661 5448Fax: (01) 676 2918Email: [email protected]
OfficialsEoin Ronayne [email protected] Fagan [email protected] Gaughran [email protected] Mullen [email protected] Dwyer [email protected] MacSweeney [email protected] McNamara [email protected] Haslam [email protected] Keane [email protected] Nihill [email protected]
Thanks to all Head Office staff who assisted with contributions to this edition of Aontas.
General Editor:Eoin Ronayne+353 1 676 5394/ 661 5389
Editor:Des Fagan [email protected]
Design and Production:New Century Publishing Ltd+ 353 1 8855 [email protected]
Printing:Mahons Printing Ltd.
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CommentEoin RonayneGeneral Secretary
Nothing left to give
Reallocation of Officials follows MIU LaunchTHE creation of the new Membership Information Unit or MIU (see story on next page) has required a reallocation of industrial relations duties and responsibilities for the Head Office Officials Team. On taking up the post of General Secretary last March Eoin Ronayne made a small number of temporary changes to the allocations then in place pending the filling of the vacant Deputy General Secretary post and the planned establishment of
the MIU. With both now in place the General Secretary has moved to settle the work responsibilities and duties for the HQ team. Following discussion and consultation with the Officials as to the implications for members and branches a reallocation of duties was announced in January to take effect from February 4th. Your Head Officials contact details have been circulated to your Branch via the regular News Update and are also on the website www.cpsu.ie
AS we go to print there is nothing to report from the so-called ‘Croke Park Extension’
talks. At the outset on January 14th the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) looked for what I described in the media as “the kitchen sink and the copper pipes”. Since then we know the Civil Service Sector share of the €1 billion cuts in payroll costs for the 290,000 public service is €120 million over the next three years with €42 million in 2013. Our position is straightforward enough. We have told DPER we have nothing left to give. We have endured cuts of 14% in pay, the Universal Social Charges, stealth taxes and an increased workplace pressure and demand on staff whose numbers are falling by the day. We’ve been told DPER wants additional working hours of up one per day, a new standard working day 8 am to 8 pm, greater flexibility in rostering staff possibly on Saturdays, changes in flexi time, redeployment, outsourcing, grade duties, an increments freeze and more. For our part we asked for a clear set of detailed demands and costed savings but as of February 13th none has been provided. Our January Executive decided overwhelmingly to stay at the talks pending a detailed outline of what it is
exactly DPER wants from our members. However we are clear that if that shopping list entails a real cut in pay and conditions we’re out. Lower grade public servants have delivered. Let Government find the €1 billion saving through a new higher tax rate on all high earners, public and private. Put simply CPSU members have nothing left to give!
New Information Service launchedElsewhere in Aontas you’ll find details of an exciting new Head Office service launched this month. The
new Membership Information Unit under Assistant General Secretary Cliodhna McNamara will handle all individual queries
from members looking for a range of advice and support on matters such as rights and entitlements at work to handling disciplinary and grievance cases.Up to the launch of the MIU individual members contacting Head Office had to depend on hard pressed Industrial Relations Officials to get back to them. From now on the MIU staff will handle these queries from individual members providing a speedy response time tailored to each individual’s circumstances.I wish Cliodhna, Denis Keane and Mary Murtagh every success with the new unit.
‘Let Government find the 1 billion saving through a new higher tax rate on all
high earners’
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aontas Jan-Feb 2013
Membership Information Unit
CPSU are pleased to announce the launch of the Membership Information Unit effective from the 18th of February, 2013.
CPSU has restructured how individual cases will be represented in the future in order to improve our service to the individual member.
The new Rights Based/Information Unit is aimed at the individual member who has general queries, maybe seeking clarification or information on Circulars and/or Agreements or may need guidance on policies such as Bullying and Harrassment or representation on disciplinary matters.
The Membership Information Unit (MIU) will be headed up by Cliodhna McNamara, Assistant General Secretary and the team will be staffed by Denis Keane, Industrial Relations Officer and Mary Murtagh who will provide information and administrative support.
The role of the MIU will be to provide a service of information on individual
rights to members and represent members on individual rights claims with their respective employers and at hearings involving the Rights Commissioner Service, Employment Appeals Tribunal, Labour Court and Equality Tribunal where deemed appropriate.
To ensure members’ queries are dealt with in a timely and efficient manner by the MIU, members will be required to give more information on first point of contact with the office. This information is to ensure that issues are processed as quickly as possible.
All information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
The team is here to provide as much support as possible on all issues.
Please note, the contact details for the Unit are:
E-mail: [email protected]: 01 6020202
Membership Information Unit
National Museum shops closureNATIONAL Museum of Ireland made a shock announcement on Monday, February 18th of their intention to close their Retail operations in Dublin and Castlebar with effect from next October and to franchise/licence the retail operation from that date.
This decision is premature and a clear breach of the provisions of the Croke Park Agreement which provides for comparative evaluation of the in-house and outsourced options in the first instance.
Appendix: Service Delivery Options, paragraph 6 clearly states that “in respect of an existing service, both sides give a commitment to consult on the development of a service delivery plan.
“This plan will evaluate the existing in-house service, the outsourcing option, and compare both. As part of the evaluation both Parties will consult with a view to agreeing a plan to address the service changes necessary to retain the service in house.”
The Union will insist that NMI management fully discharge their obligations under the Croke Park Agreement with a view to protecting the interests of the affected staff.
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Dept of Public Expenditure & Reform
CPSU has sought that EO Programmer vacancies are filled by way of internal competition or, where there is not adequate qualified internal applicants, through inter-departmental competition
HR has raised the issue with the Public Appointment Services (PAS). PAS advised that they intend holding an open EO competition as a number of Departments with EO Programmer vacancies are seeking that vacancies are filled.
CPSU raised this matter at a recent General Council meeting pointing out the
benefits of up-skilling current staff through inter-departmental competition, additional costs involved in open recruitment, potential displacement of current staff where additional recruitment raises numbers above Employment Control Framework (ECF) targets.
We also indicated that given the buoyancy of the I.T. jobs market Civil Service wages cannot compete with salaries paid to computer programmers in the private sector. The matter is to be discussed further.
Department of Finance
HR Shared Service staff to be transferred to other functionsSTAFF side unions as well as CPSU raised the impact of transfer of functions to HR Shared Services in Clonskeagh at a recent Departmental Council. This will have a greater impact on CSD Tullamore than Dublin. The Official Side advised that it is intended that surplus CSD staff in Tullamore will be redeployed to other work in the Department of Finance Tullamore.
THE nine month secondment of pensions staff, due to commence in mid-January, has been put on hold but is expected to proceed in the near future.
CPSU met with HR and Management of Pensions and PeoplePoint prior to Christmas where members concerns relating to secondment were raised and generally resolved. Financial Secretary Des Fagan and Industrial Relations Officer, Denis Keane will now have responsibility for this area.
CPSU advised HR that consultation required prior to taking in Temporary Clerical Officers (TCO’s) is not being complied with.
Assurances were given that details on appointment of TCO’s to PeoplePoint will now be provided. We have also raised this matter at General Council pointing out the requirement under General Council Report 1323 for Departments to engage in prior consultation with CPSU on rationale for TCO employment, duration of contracts and numbers involved
We have also advised that failure to comply with GCR 1323 will lead to referrals to third party.
Need for Prior Consultation on recruitment of Temporary Clerical Officers (TCO’s)
EO PROGRAMMER POSTS
PeoplePoint
PENSIONS MATTER: AVC’s and PRSA’s changes explained THE publication of the Finance Bill in the Dail this week has revealed some interesting changes that will affect people who hold Additional Voluntary Contribution funds or AVC’s. Aontas has published below what should be some useful insights into how these changes may affect some members who are considering their options.
The Finance Bill confirms that people with AVCs and PRSA AVCs can withdraw up to 30% of their accumulated value. Any amounts withdrawn will be subject to tax at the individual’s marginal rate, but not USC or PRSI (subject to a change in the next Social Welfare and Pensions Bill). The option will be available for a three year period from the passing of Finance Act 2013.
The Finance Bill 2013 confirms the scope of the Early Access facility as follows:-
There are a number of issues to consider in relation to the Early Access facility:- This is a once-off opportunity to take up to 30% of AVC / PRSA AVC value available for a 3 year period from passing of Finance Act 2013. Only one payment of up to 30% will be allowed
rather than, say, 3 amounts of 10%. A refund may not be in members best interest (or even possible depending on fund choice). Is it good advice, for example, to take a taxable payment shortly before retirement, if the benefit can be taken Tax Free payment at retirement?
The amount drawn down will be liable to Income Tax. Payments will not be liable to USC and it is intended that they will also be exempt from PRSI (in the next Social Welfare and Pensions Bill). Higher rate tax would be applied unless the Life Office is in possession of a tax certificate. It is likely that payments will be put through payroll systems in the normal manner.
The AMRF limits (Fund and Guaranteed Lifetime Income) for AMRFs have been reduced. This is a new addition and not previously flagged in the Budget 2013. This will allow more people to access AMRF Funds rather than waiting to age 75 (when AMRFs become ARFs). The current limits for post Finance Act 2011 AMRFs (i.e. since 6th February 2011) are €119,800 and €18,000 p.a. and these have been reduced down to the previous limits of €63,500 and €12,700
for a limited period - for 3 years from the passing of the Finance Act 2013.To ensure that individuals who were affected by the higher limits in the period since the passing of Finance Act 2011 (i.e. since 6 February 2011) are not disadvantaged, provision is also made that:
n Where on or after the date of the passing of Finance Act 2013 such individuals have specified income of at least €12,700, any AMRF they have immediately becomes an ARF, and
n Where on the date of the passing of Finance Act 2013 such individuals have specified income of less than €12,700 then, to the extent that the original capital amount that they placed in the AMRF exceeded €63,500, the excess of that capital amount above €63,500 immediately becomes an ARF.
This is a temporary 3 Year reduction until 2016 and will allow those clients with funds locked in AMRFs to access part of those funds above €63,500 or the entire fund if clients have a specified income of at least €12,700 p.a. rather than waiting to age 75.
by AGS Paul Mac Sweeney
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aontas Jan-Feb 2013
RevenueCPSU objects to outsourcing proposal to deal with LPT queries
CPSU officials engaged with Revenue managers at Dublin Castle recently to discuss the recruitment of JobBridge placements for the ROS helpdesk in Castlebar.
CPSU sought assurances that the placements would not be displacing Clerical officer staff and that the work of the placements would be project based rather than taking over similar work undertaken by their CPSU work colleagues.
CPSU made the point that it was understood that people applying for work placements were attempting to improve their future employment chances but the union would not and could not condone the replacement of CPSU grades by staff that were being paid below minimum wage rates.
Members are asked to advise Head Office should they become aware of proposals for JobBridge placements in their area.
EVER since the Local Property Tax (LPT) was announced in last December’s Budget, members in the Revenue Commissioners have been dealing with management arrangements to enable the collection of the tax.
The measures include an issue of some 1.9 million Revenue letters of estimates to householders on the likely cost of the tax to individual homeowners. The serious issue that CPSU Officials and the Revenue National Committee have been dealing with is the proposal by management to outsource a call centre to deal with the expected large number of telephone queries as responses to the tax develop.
The union understands that Revenue expect the outsourced centre to deal with low level enquires and the more difficult PAYE and tax related queries will be passed on to the normal Revenue services.
CPSU have objected to the outsourcing due to the specific nature of the contract involved and other reasons that would or could lead to further erosion of CPSU members’ conditions of work.
The union have participated in discussions with Revenue management and have advised that the call centre could be undertaken by the large numbers of workers in the Civil Service who await redeployment to other departments.
CPSU are also concerned about a clause in the tender document that allows other departments to use the services of the call centre should they have a revenue collection need. Following a disagreed report at the Revenue Departmental Council CPSU will now proceed to an Arbitration hearing in order to progress the matter.
Extra StaffingAS extra duties and operations will have to be undertaken as a result of the introduction of the Local Property Tax, Revenue have been given sanction by DPER to take staff from the Limerick Agriculture Office in Raheen. Up to twenty staff at CPSU grade level will transfer and it is expected that they will be familiarised with Collector general’s work as Revenue staff are relocated to undertake LPT duties. CPSU officials attended meetings with Department of Agriculture managers and Revenue managers to ensure the needs of Agriculture members were accommodated by the changes.
IN an effort to refocus the attention of the Revenue Commissioners to enforcement and compliance areas managers in Revenue have initiated plans to use staff left available to be concentrated in those areas.CPSU members in Revenue have been relocated to other areas and this is most noticeable in the South West region where
the CRIO office in Blackpool Cork was closed with little or no public notice. Similarly in some areas members on 1890 have had to adjust to changes in start finish times as hours were extended to cover phone lines. The union are considering whether changes will have any effect on members’ flexi terms.
Changes to Customer Contact
Computer Operations St. John’s RoadAN agreed report from the Revenue Departmental Council has been forwarded to DPER for their acceptance following the intervention of the Adjudicator Ciaran McGovern.
The PSEU who had registered a disagreement have accepted revised terms regarding the contracts of staff assigned to the new shifts. At the time of writing CPSU are awaiting the response of DPER.
JobBridge
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An Post AGM
A great attendance as usual heard reports from An Post Branch officers Sinead McKenna and Terry Kelleher at its recent AGM in Wynns Hotel in January. Members also listened to reports from CPSU AGS Cliodhna McNamara and their newly appointed CPSU official with responsibility for An Post Paul MacSweeney.
Calling it a day!AN Post GPO Partnership Official and long time CPSU activist Sean Bregazzi called it a day in January and is leaving An Post.
A spritely Sean was accompanied by his family, including his wife Pauline and daughters Niamh, Ciara and Ashling who along with his many work colleagues from the GPO celebrated his 33 years as an An Post employee.
CPSU officials including Assistant General Secretaries Cliodhna McNamara and Paul MacSweeney as well as the Financial Secretary Des Fagan were also there to wish Sean well and recognise his long service as a trade union activist.
Aontas would like to wish Sean and his family all the best for the future, and we are sure that whatever new venture he takes up he will give it his wholehearted attention.
n L-R Sean Bregazzi, Brendan McDonald and Sinead McKenna
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Around the Country: AGM Round-upA BUSY AGM season concluded on Thursday, February 14th and the pictures below only represent a small proporation of the nearly 90 branches that held meetings from late last November 2012 to the middle of February 2013. This is a good time to thank all those activists who put the work in to allow these meetings to run as smoothly as they do. Next step ADC Galway!
n General Secretary Eoin Ronayne at the Nenagh AGM
n Agriculture Portlaoise General Meeting February
n Property Registration Authority
n Eoin at Revenue Limerick AGM in January
n Revenue Dog Handlers Group
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Industrial News
Those Circulars also provide that the number of HCO posts should be equivalent to 30% of the number of serving Clerical Officers as of 1st August 1996. In 2006 when the Garda Civilian area was established staff transferred from the then Department of Justice and did so in their respective grades. This means that members who were already at HCO level transferred into the Garda area as a HCO.
As a consequence the newly established Garda area was in excess of the permitted number of HCOs at the time (30% of serving COs) and there were no opportunities for upward movement unless those who were HCOs left the Garda area either by transfer, promotion or retirement.
In January 2007 the Civil Service Unions and the Department of Finance concluded negotiations on a means of ensuring equal access to the HCO between all Departments/offices across the Civil Service. This agreement recorded as General Council Agreed Report 1482 provided for a revised percentage of 15% of serving Clerical Officers and came into effect from 31st January 2007. Based on the increase in numbers being recruited into the Civil Service at the time the ratio of 15% of serving Clerical Officers meant an increase in HCO posts in most
Departments/offices. The increased numbers in the Garda Civilian area in 2007 meant that applying the criteria of 15% of serving Clerical Officers increased the number of HCO posts which currently stands at 170.
These are the figures for HCO on foot of the 2007 Agreed Report (1482) that are being implemented over the last year. The uplifts were
set out in four Groups as shown below starting in November 2011:
Group 1 – COs who were already COs prior to 31/10/1997 are most senior
Group 2 - Advancements/promotions made on foot of Circular 15/98 are next
Group 3 - Uplifts from CA to CO as a result of circular 33/97 dated 31/10/1997
Group 4 - Clerical Officers entering civil service after 31/10/1997.The first three Phases are complete with payments made and Phase 4 is at an advanced stage.The USC (Universal Social Charge) is being deducted from the arrears in line with the current tax regulations. It is up to each individual member to seek a refund from the Revenue Commissioners at the end of the tax year.
District Rationalisation and Station ClosuresBY Government decision 95 Garda Stations have closed and other offices will be amalgamated. The majority of the Garda Stations closures were “one man” operations and did not affect civilian staff. An Implementation Group chaired by the Deputy Commissioner has been established to oversee the rationalisation and amalgamation project which will be a complex set of negotiations and are due to commence shortly.
Garda RostersTHE European Working Time Directive which was transposed into Irish law through the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 (OWTA) does not provide an exemption for the Gardai or the Defence forces.Therefore all staff working on a shift basis in the Garda area had to be brought in line with the provisions of the Act in terms of the duration of shifts and rest breaks. It was decided at Civilian Council in April 2012 to hold separate discussions in each of the affected areas – GISC Castlebar, GNIB Burgh Quay and Command & Control, Harcourt Terrace.Working Groups were established and discussions are almost complete. One of the outstanding issues relates to how annual leave and public holidays are calculated for members working shifts in excess of eight hours.
Garda Equal Pay CaseTHE hearing on the questions referred by the High Court to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) took place in Luxembourg on July 12th, 2012.In this case the union won the claim for equal pay on behalf of seven claimants against the named Garda comparators before the Equality Tribunal but that decision was overturned on appeal by the employer to the Labour Court.The union then appealed the Labour Court Decision to the High Court who in turn referred a number of questions to the CJEU (see Aontas June/July 2012). The opinion of the Advocate General was published on November 29th, 2012 and having considered the complexities of that Opinion the union is generally satisfied with the position to date.The union has now been advised that the decision from the CJEU will be delivered on Thursday, February 28th 2013. The decision of the CJEU will be sent back to the High Court who in turn will decide the next stage of the process.In terms of the follow-on cases (see CPSU circular 87/12), the data clean-up is almost complete and further information will issue shortly.
Higher Clerical OfficerOVER the last year I have been working with Garda Civilian HR in bringing the number of HCOs up to date. The criteria for eligibility and selection are based on the original Grade Restructuring Agreement which is set out in Department of Finance Circulars 33/97 and 15/98.
ONE of the recommendations of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) Report on the Passport Service in 2011 was an increase of 20 additional CO and two additional SO posts in the Passport Service all of which would be filled by redeployment.
In April 2011 six permanent Clerical Officers deemed surplus in the Department of Agriculture in Cork were redeployed to the Passport Office in Cork. This meant that a further 14 clerical Officers and two Staff Officers are due to be assigned to the Passport Service. As none of the remaining posts were filled by the end of June 2011 the Union referred the matter to Arbitration under the Croke Park Agreement (CPA).
Late last year the Department sought to resolve the matter and made a proposal regarding a number of promotions for the Passport Service as a settlement. Following negotiations that proposal increased to eight promotions in the Department, two at EO and six at SO with six of the promotions posts to be assigned to the Passport Offices.
These promotions, to be done by way of internal competition, are open to all eligible members in the Department. The proposal was put to a Ballot of the members and was carried by 113 to 59. All of the promotions will be made by way of internal competition and management have been asked to start the process for filling these posts as soon as possible.
PASSPORT OFFICES
n Theresa Dwyer
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aontas Jan-Feb 2013
Equality NewsEQUALITY REPORTPRSI and WorksharingTHE RULES governing PRSI contributions require a person for whom a contribution is made to work at least one day in a PRSI contribution week.
A PRSI contribution week is defined as each successive period of seven days starting January 1st each year.
Members who are on a reduced pattern of attendance under the Worksharing Scheme should note that their pattern of attendance may affect their PRSI contributions and consequently their entitlement to social insurance benefits.For example, 1st January 2013 falls on a Tuesday therefore the PRSI contribution week throughout 2013 is Tuesday to Monday.
Members who Workshare on a pattern of a week on/week off from Tuesday to Monday in 2013 will only work every second contribution week which means that they will have 26 contributions recorded as opposed to 52.
In the Civil Service the Union negotiated an agreement whereby members wishing to change their pattern of attendance in order to be PRSI compliant would be facilitated.
Flexi-Time/Time and AttendanceTHE union has made significant progress in our negotiations on the Flexi-Time/Time and Attendance system for our members in An Garda Siochana .Barriers such as cost implications and IT restrictions have now been resolved to the point where we are preparing to finalise the Policy document on the terms and conditions attaching to the Scheme. I expect to complete this piece of work in the coming weeks after which the Scheme will be introduced as a Pilot at a number of locations that will be agreed between the unions and management.
INIS Pilot ProjectA PILOT project commenced in 2012 at Dublin Airport involving COs and EOs operating the Passport Control Booths on a voluntary basis.The project involves 10 COs and 3 EOs working in the Passport check-in channels at the Airport on a 9-5 basis. This Pilot will be extended in 2013.
THE Parental Leave Directive is due to be transposed in to Irish law by March of this year. The main changes included in the new Directive include:
n An increase in the period of Parental Leave from 3 to 4 months with the extra month being non-transferable between parents. n The right to request flexible working arrangements upon return from leave. n The Directive requires Members States to assess the need to adjust the conditions for access and modalities of application of Parental Leave to the needs of parents of children with a disability or a long-term illness. Parental leave is available up until a child is eight years old. (Currently under Irish legislation the parents of a child with a disability can take parental leave up until the child is 16). n Provides for an assessment of the needs for additional measures to address the specific needs of adoptive parents.
The Government are drafting a new Family Leave Bill which will consolidate all existing family leave such as Maternity, Adoptive, Parental and Carers Leave. The intention behind this new piece of legislation is to address any discrepancies and anomalies between the various Acts and streamline the legislation.
PARENTAL LEAVE
INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day originated in the USA at the beginning of the 20th century at a time of major growth in the industrialized world.
There was growing unrest among women who worked in the textile industry in what are now commonly known as “sweatshops” regarding pay, shorter hours and voting rights. In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York to protest about dangerous working conditions and low wages and voting rights. They also called for a shorter working day of 10 hours! Police attacked the protesters and there were a number of casualties.
The following year a memorial march took place in the USA on February 28th 1909 and National Women’s Day was observed across the United States.
In 1911 Germany, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland celebrated the first International Women’s Day in Europe on 19th March. On this day more than one million women attended rallies in a quest for the right to vote, the right to hold public office, the right to work and end discrimination. Less than a week later on the 25 March, the tragic ‘Triangle Fire’ in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of whom were Italian and Jewish immigrants. This tragic event drew attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the
United States and became a focus of subsequent International Women’s Day events.
In 1913 on the eve of World War 1 Russian women held their first International Women’s Day. The following year women in countries across Europe held rallies to protest about the war and show solidarity with their sisters.
In 1917, on the last Sunday of February Russian women began a strike for ‘bread and peace’ in response to the death of over two million Russian soldiers in war. Despite political opposition the women continued the strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government conceded women’s right to vote.
The date the women’s strike commenced was the 8th of March and this became International Women’s Day across the world.
This year events organised by ICTU will take place in Dublin to coincide with the 2013 commemoration of the 1913 Lockout.
International Women’s DayInternational Women’s Day is held on March 8th each year
“The date the women’s strike commenced was the 8th of March and this became International Women’s Day across the world”
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aontas Jan-Feb 2013
THE IMPLEMENTATION of the Public Service Agreement, AKA, the Croke Park Agreement is overseen by a National Implementation body and also sectoral Implementation Bodies. The Civil Service Body which meets monthly after every General Council meeting is chaired by Anna Perry of the Labour Relations Commission and is attended by Union Representatives and Employer Representatives from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
The Implementation Body oversees issues under discussion at General Council arising from the Croke Park Agreement. In this context a range of issues have been under discussion at General Council and its various sub-committees during the year including Redeployment, Job Bridge, PMDS, Cross Stream Promotions and shared Services.
At the time of reporting one of the more controversial transformation issues, that of monthly pay, has yet to reach any conclusion and it is fair to say that there is considerable opposition from CPSU to this proposal.
Equally controversial was the Labour Court recommendation, which is binding under the Croke Park Agreement, which set out new terms for self-certified sick leave, essentially providing that the seven un-certified days are now over a two year period. As well as this we will see changes in the pay and sick leave regime from 2014 with full pay only being available for six months for serious illnesses. A protocol is to be agreed this year setting out a definition of what constitutes a serious illness.
Other discussions at Council include the Equal Opportunities agenda and various discussions on motions arising from CPSU and other Unions including those which emanate from our Annual Delegate Conference.
Clearly there has been considerable pressure on the Agreement during 2012 with media and political commentary that could only be considered as hostile, particularly seen as the Agreement is still on course to deliver the €3.3BN savings by the end of the Agreement.
Towards the end of the year the Government brought forward proposals to the Public Services Committee of the ICTU to extend the terms of the Agreement and to seek a further saving of €1BN from the Public Service pay bill.
Arising from this talks have just commenced in early 2013 in which Government has started to elaborate on its proposals. At this early stage they have broken the pay bill into the various sectors, Civil Service, HSE, Education and Local Authority. They have said that the proportion of the cuts they are seeking applicable to the Civil Service is equivalent to 14% of the overall billion they seek or €120 million.
At the outset and on foot of deliberations at our Executive Committee the Union has indicated to Government that our
members have very little, if anything else to give on top of the Croke Park changes already taking place and the earlier unilateral pay cuts.
Having said that our Executive Committee has approved our attendance at the talks so as to ensure to protect the terms and conditions of all our members.
CPSU CLAIMS AT GENERAL COUNCIL A number of claims have been lodged by the Union at General Council and are currently under consideration, these claims which arise from motions at our ADC include;n A claim seeking the appointment of regional Chief Medical Officersn A claim seeking the introduction of a funded medical schemen A claim seeking the retention of Visually Impaired Telephonist positionsn A claim seeking an extension of special leave arrangements for the death of a relativen A claim seeking the filing of front line posts arising from early retirementn A claim seeking a review of Annual Leave, Bank Holidays etc. for Shorter Working Year participants.
BANK TIME COMPENSATION AND RELATED LEAVE ISSUESArising from the abolition of Bank Time and the absorption of privilege Days the Union has prepared a statement of case for submission to the Civil Service Arbitration Board, which covers a number of important issues, including;n Compensation for loss of Bank Timen Treatment of Privilege Days for Work Sharersn Increasing the leave threshold for Marriage Leaven Restoring leave lost by former FAS membersn Increasing Annual Leave for members
Efforts are also being made at the current talks to resolve these issues which are destined for Arbitration.
General Council
Public Service Agreement/ Croke Park Agreement
Recently appointed Deputy General Secretary Derek Mullen, who has responsibility for negotiating CPSU matters at General Council, provides an insight below into how the negotiation process in the Civil Service works and recent developments in the Croke Park Phase II talks.
“At our Executive Committee the Union has indicated to Government that our members have very little, if anything else to give on top of the Croke Park changes already taking place and the earlier unilateral pay cuts”
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General News
Clerical Officer Pay amongst lowest in OECDCPSU Assistant General Secretary Paul MacSweeney highlights the findings of a recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which dispels the myth that Clerical officers in the Civil Service are being overpaid. The survey finds that Irish Clerical Officer grades are amongst the lowest of 18 of their counterparts in other countries coming 13th lowest overall when factors such as the cost of living in Ireland are taken into account.
Average annual compensation of employees in secretarial positions (2009)
IT’S official, our members’ pay is amongst the lowest pay of Civil Servants across the OECD.
The 2011 OECD survey on Compensation of Employees in Central/Federal Government (part of OECD’s report Government at a Glance 2011) put Clerical Officers pay (described as ‘Secretaries /general office clerks’) in the report for Irish Civil Servants in 13th position of the 18 Countries surveyed. The survey adjusts pay based on ‘purchasing power parity’ (PPP) to establish relative living standards and take home pay in different countries.
When the OECD looked at social contributions made by Government towards pensions and also made a correction to pay based on hours worked our members pay remained 13th lowest of the 18 countries. While the survey takes into account the decrease in salary following Government pay cuts in January 2010 it doesn’t seem to include the pension levy.
The OECD survey compares pay in US Dollars ($) and, having applied the PPP, puts average ‘Secretary ‘ pay for Irish Civil Servants at $29,940 (€21,556) compared to the OECD average of $38,091 (€33,631). While actual average pay of CO’s would be somewhat higher than €21,556, the pay is adjusted downwards in the survey to factor in the higher cost of living and lower take home pay in Ireland.
The role of Secretaries (‘General Office Clerks’) in the Civil Service is described as performing the following:
A range of clerical and administrative tasks in connection with money-handling operations, travel arrangements, requests for information and appointments. They record, prepare, sort, classify and fill information; sort, open and send mail; prepare reports and correspondence of a routine nature; record issue of equipment to staff; respond to telephone or electronic enquiries or forward to appropriate person; check figures, prepare invoices and record details of financial transactions made; transcribe information onto computers; and proofread and correct copy.
The report indicated that ‘Executive Secretaries’ amongst other duties,
supervise work of Clerical Support workers. The Staff Officer is part of this category. The report finds that Irish Civil Service Executive Secretaries and middle Managers pay is close to the OECD average. Ireland is also employing less Public Servants as a share of the workforce than the OECD average (14.8% as opposed to 15%). The number of Public Servants is due to be cut by approximately 9,000 staff under the programme for Government in the coming years.
The OECD data clearly indicates that rather than being well paid our members, in comparison to Civil Servants in other developed counties, pay is well below the average. Very little coverage has been given by the media to Clerical Officer pay in Ireland compared to that of other countries as the data does not suit the agenda of an increasingly more right wing and in some quarters hysterically anti-public sector media. Instead many, but not all, media outlets have concentrated on the high pay by international comparisons of very senior Civil Servants.
CPSU will continue to highlight the low pay of members and make the case for pay restoration as provided for under the Croke Park Agreement and the abolition of the ‘Pensions Levy’.
An Executive motion calling for the restoration of pay, passed at this year’s ADC, has been lodged by CPSU at Civil Service staff panel and will be debated at General Council in the new year.
The OECD will examine Civil Service pay again in Government at a Glance 2013.
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aontas Jan-Feb 2013
Solidarity
DESPITE the wintery weather and more importantly the attempts by some government spinners to undermine the turnout ICTU estimated that up to 100,000 people came out to demonstrate on Saturday February 9th last across six major centres in the country.
From Sligo to Cork, Waterford to Galway and Limerick to Dublin CPSU members turned out in large and particularly vocal numbers to add their strength to the marches.
CPSU officials attended at all the demonstrations and Partnership Officials Moira Haslem and Deirdre Nihill represented CPSU head office in Galway and Cork.
Theresa Dwyer Assistant General
Secretary organised the Sligo members and Assistant General Secretary Paul Mac Sweeney Waterford and Industrial Relations Officer Denis Keane Limerick provided support to those areas.
The Dublin march was attended by head office officials and staff and some three hundred members as well as members of the CPSU Youth Committee.
The march in Dublin ended with a musical and festive atmosphere, however, ICTU General Secretary David Begg warned the powers that be that the unions would continue to campaign throughout Europe until Ireland receives some relief from the unfair debt burden.
ICTU MARCHICTU Day of Action, February 9th 2013
Dublin
Limerick
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aontas Jan-Feb 2013
Solidarity
Cork
Cork
Galway
Waterford
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aontas Jan-Feb 2013
SolidarityDublin
LimerickWaterford
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aontas Jan-Feb 2013
Union Finances
MEMBERS have rightly questioned from time to time how, where and on what does the subscription paid to the CPSU go.
The Union’s Financial Secretary as treasurer of the union oversees the requirement for day to day spending and disbursements of funds. Along with the General Secretary who as Chief Executive of the Union has ultimate responsibility for finance the union’s subscription income is divided amongst three different funds each with a specific purpose.
Members pay a subscription rate of 1% on their earnings to the union which is normally deducted at source. The funds are paid to the union by employers monthly and these monies are reconciled with the members’ files in head office. Each month your Finance and General Purposes Committee review accounts prepared by the Financial Secretary and any decisions to make payments that relate to charitable requests or other out of the ordinary payments are minuted for the sanction of the Executive Committee which is your elected governing body.
So what happens to my membership subscription? I hear you ask. Well, 60% of the money is allocated to the union’s general fund. This fund is used to pay wages and day to day running costs. 15% of the income is allocated to the contingency fund which is basically our rainy day fund used for exceptional items such as legal fees, building costs or more importantly to hold funding used in the event of a dispute. A further 20% goes to the benefit fund which pays out benefits to members for optical and dental costs as well as some medical cost such as hospital overnights. The remaining 5% is redistributed back to the Branches to enable them to run their branches. The branch subvention is based on the number
of members within the branch. Branches can only receive a subvention from head office if they have filed an annual branch return of accounts for the year in question.
How do these figures break down in real terms, money in other words. Well in 2011 the union paid out of the General Fund €2.24 million which paid salaries, conference ADC, union committees, professional and audit fees, training costs and affiliation fees. The benefit fund received €747,000 whilst the branches received €186,000 and the contingency fund was added to by €560,000. The benefit fund paid to members €243,000 for optical benefit, €350,000 for dental and €53,000 for hospital benefit and it also paid €32,000 to the families of
deceased members. The benefit fund carries a substantial proportion of the union expenditure in any year and when benefits were increased by 25% in 2011 a substantial draw on the fund was noticed. However the fund remains solvent and an important benefit to members in a time of need.
Members representatives are provided with a full set of audited accounts at every ADC and representatives have the opportunity to examine the accounts through the union trustees, Pairic Mc Cormack eircom or Terry Kelleher, An Post. Or if members wish they can put questions to the Financial Secretary at ADC.
What happens to my membership subscription?
60% General Fund
15% ContingencyFund
20% BenefitFund
5% Branch Subvention
Financial Secretary, Des Fagan outlines how members subscriptions are spent
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FOLLOWING a binding Adjudication finding last December the Department of Social Protection will now proceed to implement extended opening, initially at the four new Intreo offices:
– Sligo– Kings Inn– Tallaght– Arklow
The finding of the adjudicator supported new public office opening hours as follows:- 9.15 am – 5 pm Monday to Thursday 9.15 am - 4.30 pm Friday
These are the opening hours for the new style integrated reception areas and there is provision for the opening of other desks including SAFE Stations and integrated decisions.
These decisions will be made locally.
Further Intreo offices will follow.
It is important to point out that strenuous efforts were made in negotiations at the LRC to modify the original management proposals and also to point out that the Adjudication finding is binding on all parties, under the terms of the Croke Park Agreement.
Extended Opening in Intreo Offices
Social Protection
ARKLOW Local Office went live as an Intreo Office in October 2012. It was one of the initial offices to go live. The members in Arklow have co-operated with all the new initiatives and are continuing to do so on an on-going basis.
Members in Arklow are also implementing new extended public opening hours along with colleagues in other offices such as Sligo and Tallaght.
Arklow was followed by Killarney, Dundalk and Buncrana who went live in January. Coolock and Ballymun followed and further offices will go live during the course of 2013.
The introduction of the Intreo service at offices like Arklow has been a significant contribution to the transformation process under the Croke Park Agreement, something that would not have been achieved without the co-operation of our members countrywide.
Obituary: Dave FayIT WAS with great sadness that we received the news of Dave Fay’s untimely death on Christmas Eve last. To any who knew him, and that was many across the CPSU and Civil Service, Dave was a stalwart Union member and activist, of the best kind. A man with a deep social conscience who cared about his colleagues and fellow Union members.
Dave was always a regular at the union’s Annual Conference, attending on behalf of the Dublin North Branch of the Department of Social Protection, where he was a member of the Branch and an Officer for many years.
Those of us who knew him will remember him fondly and miss him. He always had some advice for me on how to deal with the plight of members struggling to cope with the economic crisis and was always to the fore in raising issues on behalf of individual members of the Union.
Despite his own struggles he always cared deeply for those around him. Indeed we last met Dave at the DCTU demonstration in late November 2012 marching proudly with his fellow trade union colleagues and friends.
He had a love of the English language, and as I discovered at his funeral was a poet of considerable merit. He also dearly loved his crosswords and his forays into many a table quiz.
On behalf of everybody at the Union we wish to extend our deepest sympathy to Dave’s family and colleagues at this very sad time.
One of our own has left the field. n Dave Fay out in solidarity with his colleagues
More Local Offices go “Intreo”
n Rosin Cogavin , Arklow Rep
n Arklow Local Office
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aontas Jan-Feb 2013
Youth Committee ProfilesAS part of our commitment to support the CPSU Youth Committee Aontas are happy to provide profiles of three of the members of the Youth Committee below. One of the objectives of the union is to encourage our younger members to take part in union activities and become involved in assisting the union develop its policies. If you wish to become involved you should seek the nomination of your Branch or discuss your queries with any of the Youth Committee members.
LocationI was born and reared in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. I spent almost three years commuting to Dublin where I spent one year working in Tánaiste Mary Harney’s Constituency Office and the other two years working as a Computer Programmer for Dept. Revenue. I got my transfer through the Provincial Location Exam to Dept. Education & Skills, Tullamore in 2004.
What attracted you to the Youth Committee?When I first heard that a Youth Committee existed (2010), I was intrigued and excited. I have been involved in many CPSU Committees over the years but at last there was a committee solely for the voice of our younger members. Unfortunately, the age limit for members was 30, so I had to bow out. Thanks to a motion at ADC, the age limit was increased from 30 to 35 so I re-joined. My colleagues are both enthusiastic and energetic, not to mention our head office official, Cliodhna who is so efficient and hard-working. I have found my time on this Committee extremely rewarding to date.
What are your hobbies/interests outside work?I have two beautiful sons, Andy (7) and Neil (1). Andy has Asperger’s Syndrome (ASD) so I find I spend a lot of my time raising awareness, fundraising and trying to keep up with my quirky little man’s ways. I am also a D.J. which brings me to my next point … my husband, my brother and I are the founders of an event in Tullamore called “Pride Friday” which is a party night dedicated to the L.G.B.T. (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transsexual) community. We have had huge interest from all corners of the country and they have been very successful to date.
Last but not least, I love playing pool. I used to play pool for the Irish Ladies Team and represented Ireland in the World Championships on a few occasions (many moons ago!).
Who do you admire most?I think I admire my husband most. He has gone through a huge amount of stress and loss over the last five years. He lost his job during this financial disaster and we both lost our home that we had worked so hard to build. He has now pushed this to one side, brushed himself down and is a doting dad and very supportive partner. He never gave up and is currently trying to secure a course for caring for people with special needs … fingers crossed!
What advantages are there being involved in the Youth Committee?Being on any CPSU Committee these days is great as it is a great forum for us to come together to discuss important matters that are affecting the majority if not all of our membership. Having a Youth Committee is especially vital though, as it shows how interesting being a participating Union member can be, young or older. To me, having a Youth Committee is also a great way of getting issues and ideas fed up the line to the Executive Committee.
Mary Duffy
LocationLimerick Revenue Branch - Collector Generals Division
What attracted you to the Youth Committee? The Youth Committee is a dedicated group of young trade union members who come together to discuss and debate current issues of interest to younger members. The Youth Committees ensures a voice for the younger members to get heard and offers them the opportunity to openly debate policy issues and priorities.
What are your hobbies/interests outside work? Mainly sports – hurling, soccer, Gaelic Football – reading and social media.
Who do you admire most? Katie Taylor
What advantages are there being involved in the Youth Committee? There is a number of advantages being involved in the Youth Committee such as to influence Union policy that will reflect the particular needs and viewpoints of the young members, to encourage greater involvement of young members across all branches, to support the effort to recruit young members into the Union and to encourage young members to become activists and to drive campaigns that affect young people in the trade union movement.
Tanya O’Neill
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Youth Committee Profiles
I WAS born with a mobility difficulty yet it has rarely stopped me doing most things that I have wanted to do in life – it just requires imagination, effort, support and some lateral thinking.
People around me have always recognised my single minded approach to achieving goals, to me it is more about not letting my disability define me as a person or my life.
I have been a full time civil servant for over 15 years based in the same Department. While I would not say I am stuck in this Department, transferring to a new building presents specific environmental challenges for me.
At this stage, forward planning has become automatic for me in order to overcome the challenges that my work environment poses such as getting through the seven fire doors to get to the toilet or the challenge of physically getting into the disabled toilet facilities. Some days the effort required to negotiate this manoeuvre is even too much for me. It is days like these that I really value my friends who quietly help me out. The question arises as to whether anyone tests out these facilities to see if they are workable for anyone other than a gymnast. It is situations such as these that lead me to think disabled facilities are put in place as a box-ticking exercise and are not actually there to be used.
There has been talk of automatic doors being installed but at this stage I have overcome the door challenge! The doors would only be installed on the floor I presently work on which would mean in effect I would be limited by the doors as to which sections I could work in and frankly I have enough limits imposed already.
Over the years, my Department has worked with me to accommodate my needs. My disability has resulted in my having to take sick leave. I have to say I am very uneasy about how the recent changes to sick leave entitlement will affect me in the future. Or how it will affect others who acquire a disability whilst serving as a civil servant. Clarity in relation to some level of accommodation for employees with a disability would certainly make my life less stressful.
I have a lot to contribute and I want to continue to make a difference. My disability has taught me many unique and valuable skills which enhance the contribution I make in my working life.
Suzie FloodNovember 2012
A DAY IN THE LIFE
LocationOffice of the Revenue Commissioners, Nenagh, Co. TipperaryChairperson of CPSU Revenue NenaghChairperson of CPSU Youth Committee Executive Committee Member
What attracted you to Youth Committee?I first joined the Youth Committee in May 2008 when it was reconstituted following many years of lying idle. I was honoured to hold the position of Secretary until I had to step down due reaching the age limit. When the Executive Committee agreed to extend the age limit to 35 I was thrilled to have an opportunity once again to join a group of exceptional and proactive members.This committee gives younger members of the organisation a forum whereby issues relating solely to younger members can be discussed. It also allows us look at wider issues to establish what impact it would have on younger members. We also have the potential of bringing about positive changes to the organisation by having our voices heard.
What are your hobbies/interests outside work?I have a keen interest in sports and especially GAA – well I am from the home of hurling so it is pretty hard to escape from it. I obviously follow Tipperary but I also love watching Dublin in the football - have done so for many many years. Music … oh where to begin… well I don’t play (unless you count air guitar) and definitely shouldn’t sing in public but love listening to music and especially love if I can get a chance to go out to live gigs. Unfortunately I don’t get many opportunities these days but if I can I try and see up and coming Irish bands – who knows I could be saying “I saw them before they made it big”I know some people hate it but I love social media – I’m both a Facebook and Twitter user and unfortunately due to bad internet coverage a former Skype user. Given we are living in a time where so many (too many!) are
emigrating it is a fantastic way of keeping in contact. My most treasured time though is the time I spend with my son – even if he makes me listen to One Direction and watch lots of Scooby Doo movies – I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. As the famous saying goes there are some things money can’t buy and this time certainly is one of them.
Who do you admire most?The world has produced so many wonderful and admirable people but I cannot single out just one. So the people I most admire are those who continue to fight for the rights of others, who effortlessly put their time, their energy and their passion into making a difference. People like CPSU members who continuously campaign against the persistent attacks on the Public & Civil Services.
What advantages are there being involved in the Youth Committee?It gives younger CPSU members an opportunity to get involved in union activities. It is a platform from where we can discuss, debate and hopefully put forward solutions to issues (both work and social) affecting younger members.
Deirdre Quinlan
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AS ANNUAL CONFERENCE is the most important event of the year it is vital thatBranches are well prepared. This year the Conference will take place over threedays, with the first session usually being devoted to a rules change agenda. Thisportion of Conference allows members to consider and agree changes to the unionrule book. Aontas has provided some tips which may be useful for conferencedelegates.
n When the Booklet of Motions is prepared by the Union’s Standing Orders Committee it is posted out to each Branch before conference. The first draft gives Branches time to submit amendments to motions if they so require. The second and final draft includes the amendments which have been accepted by the Standing Orders Committee. At this stage most Branches call a meeting to discuss the motions that will come up for debate at conference.
At Conference
If your motion is accepted by the Standing Orders Committee to go on the Agenda, then the following procedure applies to conference.
n The President who Chairs conference will ask if there is a ‘proposer’ or ‘mover’ and a ‘seconder’ for the motion. If this doesn’t happen then it will ‘fall’, in other words it won’t be dealt with.
n The Chair will then ask the proposer and seconder to ‘speak to’ (in support of) the motion. They will say why they support it, and why they want other people to support it.
n The Chair will then ask other people to join the discussion.
n At the end of the discussion the proposer has the right to reply. This means that the proposer can quickly deal with points raised during the discussion.
n Finally, a vote will be taken, if the majority of votes are in favour, the motion becomes a ‘resolution’ of the conference and an integral part of Union policy.
Amendments
n Amendments are alterations to the original motion. You cannot propose an amendment that completely distorts or changes the meaning of the original motion.
n If the mover of the original motion accepts the amendment, it will automatically become part of the motion. Otherwise it will have to be voted on. Once it has been agreed it becomes part of
the ‘substantive motion’.
n Voting on motions can be confusing, especially if there is an amendment. The amendment should be voted on first. If the voting goes against the amendment, the discussion can continue on the original motion. If the amendment is voted for, then the motion, as amended, is voted on. To avoid confusion, the Chair will have the amended motion read out at the meeting.
n The Chair’s casting vote is reserved for when there is a tie. Otherwise the Chair does not usually vote at all.
Conference is a time for Delegates, Executive Committee members and Head Office Officials to get together and agree future policy for the Union. Quite apart from the workings of conference, it is also a time to socialise, renew acquaintances from other Branches and make new friends.
ADC 2013
Useful tips for ADC
Owen Fitzgerald Mary TwomeyAn Post Courts Service Cork
Both will receive €50.00 each Congratulations.
Solutions1. 7 days in a week2. 26 letters in the alphabet3. 12 months in a year
4. 5 toes on a foot5. 3 blind mine6. 13 is unlucky for some7. 60 minutes in an hour8. 90 degrees in a right angle9. 6 balls to an over in cricket10. 18 holes on a golf course11. 52 weeks in a year12. 13 stripes on a united state flag13. 12 signs in the zodiac14. 3 wheels on a tricycle
15. 60 minutes in an hour16. 39 books of the old testament17. 13 loaves in a baker’s dozen18. 9 lives of a cat19. 15 players on a hurling team20. 7 wonders of the world21. 24 hours in day22. 1000 years in a millennium23. 100 cent in a euro24. 365 days in a year25. 10 green bottles hanging on the wall
April 25-26-27th
Clayton Hotel Galway
Winners in the Fireside Quiz:-
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Transfers
Clerical Officer, Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, Limerick, seeks head to head transfer to any Government Department in Cork city for commuting reasons. Friendly office with car parking and flexitime.BOX 224
Clerical Officer, An Garda Siochána, Capel Street, Dublin 2, seeks head to head transfer to any Government Office in Dublin city centre for educational purposes. Friendly office, flexitime and central location for bus, Dart and Luas services.Box 225
Clerical Officer, An Garda Siochána, Kilkenny, seeks head to head transfer to Department of Foreign Affairs in Cork. Other Government Departments considered. Friendly office in convenient city centre location, car parking available.Box 226
Clerical Officer, G.I.S.C., Castlebar, working permanent part-time (twenty hours per week) seeks transfer to work full-time in any Department in Castlebar or within reasonable commuting distance of Castlebar. Shift allowance and Sunday allowance payable.Box 227
Clerical Officer, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Dublin 2 seeks head to head transfer to Social Protection or Revenue Commissioners. Friendly working environment, flexitime, car parking and foreign postings available.Box 228
Clerical Officer, Department of Justice, Galway, full-time, seeks head to head transfer to any other Government Department in Mayo/Roscommon/Leitrim/Longford/Westmeath areas for urgent domestic and commuting reasons. Friendly working environment with canteen and convenient citycentre location, flexitime available.Box 229
Clerical Officer, Department of Social Protection, Longford, wishes to transfer to any department in Co. Cavan/Co. Monaghan or Dundalk area for commuting reasons. Friendly working environment, free car parking and flexitime available.Box 230
Clerical Officer, Courts Service, Waterford, seeks head to head transfer to any Department in Meath or Louth regions for domestic reasons. Friendly working environment, flexitime and free parkingavailable.Box 231
Staff Officer, Irish Prison Service, Longford, seeks head to head transfer to Department of Agriculture, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim for
commuting reasons. Very friendly office, car parking and flexitime available.Box 232
Clerical Officer, Legal Aid Board, Limerick, seeks head to head transfer to Revenue Commissioners, Ennis or Limerick or any accounts-based role to gain relevant experience towards accountancy qualification. Flexitime available, friendly city centre office.Box 233
Clerical Officer, An Garda Siochána, Mullingar, seeks head to head transfer to Revenue Commissioners, Athlone. Friendly working environment and car parking facilities.Box 234
Clerical Officer, CSSO, Dublin, seeks head to head transfer to any Government Department or Government Agency in Dublin for career growth. Flexitime is available.Box 235
Clerical Officer, Irish Prison Services HQ, Longford Town, seeks head to head transfer to Carrick-on- Shannon, Co. Leitrim for personal reasons. Flexitime, friendly office, canteen and car parking.Box 236
Clerical Officer, Department of Social Protection, Cork city, seeks head to head transfer to any Government Department in Kerry for commuting purposes. Friendly office to work in with flexitime and car parking available.Box 237
Clerical Officer, Revenue Commissioners, O’Connell Street, Dublin 1 seeks head to head transfer to any Government Department in Dublin 1, 2, 4, 7, and 15 for personal reasons. Friendly office, flexitime available and convenient to all bus, Dart and Luas lines.Box 238
Clerical Officer, Revenue Commissioners, Cork, would like a head to head transfer to Clonakilty or another west Cork location for commuting reasons. Flexitime and car parking available.Box 239
Clerical Officer, Department of Social Protection, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, seeks head to head transfer to the Department of Social Protection, Social Welfare Services Office, College Road, Sligo.Box 240
Clerical Officer, Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, Clonmel Street, Dublin 2 seeks head to head transfer to any department in city centre area. Friendly working environment, flexitime and car parking available.Box 241
Clerical Officer, Department of Defence, Renmore, Galway, seeks head to head transfer to any Department in Athlone for commuting reasons. Flexitime available, friendly working environment, excellent sports and social club, free parking, catered canteen.Box 242
Clerical Officer, Courts Service, Loughrea, Co. Galway, (full-time/work sharing) seeks transfer to any Government Department in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, for domestic and commuting reasons.Box 243
Staff Officer, Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, Merrion Street, Dublin 2, currently working three day week, seeks head to head transfer to Revenue Commissioners, Tallaght, Dublin 24 for domestic reasons. Friendly working environment and flexitime available.Box 244
Clerical Officer, Department of Social Protection, Sligo, (Pensions Office) seeks transfer to Department of Environment, Communications & Local Government, Tubbercurry/Ballina for commuting reasons. Flexitime and car parking available.Box 245
Clerical Officer, Revenue Commissioners, Dublin 15, seeks head to head transfer to Department of Foreign Affairs for career growth. Friendly office, car parking and flexitime available.Box 246
Clerical Officer, Department of Social Protection, Store Street, seeks head to head transfer to any Department in Dublin 2 or Dublin 4 for commuting reasons. Very friendly office, not open to the public, flexitime available and central location beside Luas line.Box 247
Clerical Officer, An Garda Siochána, Gurranabraher, Cork city, seeks transfer for commuting reasons. Seeking move to Revenue Commissioners, Blackpool, CSO, Mahon or other Cork Civilian Office.Gurranabraher is a friendly office with kitchen and car parking.Box 248
Clerical Officer, Revenue Dundalk seeks transfer to any Government Department/Garda Station/Social Protection in Dundalk. Flexitime and Free car parking available.Box 249
Clerical Officer, O’Connell Street, Dublin 1 seeks a head to head transfer to Passport Office Balbriggan or any Northside office due to commuting reasons. Flexitime available and pleasant office to work in.Box 250
Transfer Policy Clarificationn Head to Head transfer within a location are at the discretion of the relevant Department. If approved, both transferees accept the seniority of the most junior application.n Head to Head transfer are not permitted between Dublin and Provincial locations, CAF and or the Central Transfer List system applies.n Head to Head transfer between provincial locations are only permitted when both transferees are the most senior on the Central Transfer list and or the CAF in their own location.n We would appreciate if members could acknowledge the replies they receive.n Please note that to respond and /or have a transfer printed in Aontas you have to be a member of the CPSU.
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aontas Jan-Feb 2013
Ref: Issued to Subject Issued By
177/12 Branch Sec Invite from B. Howlin to talks re Croke Park ER178/12 Branch Sec FAS members of SIPTU transfer to CPSU DM/DF179/12 Dept of Finance Departmental Council Update PMacS180/12 GISC, Castlebar New rosters TD181/12 Branch Sec Budget Day demonstration ER182/12 Branch Sec Executive Committee Minutes ER183/12 Social Protection Extended Opening Hours DM184/12 Branch Sec Civil Service crèches TD 185/12 Garda Civilian Station closures TD186/12 Branch Sec Update re Garda Equal Pay Case TD187/12 Branch Sec Documentation re ADCER188/12 Branch Sec Closing date for 2012 benefit claims DF189/12 Dept of Agri Departmenal Council Update CMcN190/12 Social Protection Extended Opening Hours DM001/13 All Members PRA Access to Sponsored Law Course PMACS002/13 Branch Secs Membership Drive DF003/13 Branch Secs ADC 2013 ER004/13 Global Solidarity Comm. Decent Work Seminar KG005/13 Dublin Branch Secs ICTU Demonstration on 9th Feb DM006/13 Revenue South West Customer Service/Flexible attendance DF007/13 Global Solidarity Comm. ICTU Training Course KG008/13 Courts Nat Committee Issues for next meeting TD009/13 Passport Office Ballot on Promotions Proposal TD010/13 Health Departmental Council Update PMACS011/13 CE&NR Departmental Council Update PMACS012/13 Clare/Limerick/Tipp ICTU Day of Action DK
Ref: Issued to Subject Issued By
013/13 Education, Athlone Financial control section PMACS014/13 Members Cork & Kerry ICTU Day of Action KG015/13 Members North/West ICTU Day of Action TD016/13 Dept. of Finance Departmental Council Update PMACS017/13 Members South ICTU Day of Action PMACS018/13 North East/Midlands ICTU Day of Action DM019/13 Members Garda Area District Rationalisation/Amalgamation TD020/13 PER Departmental Council Update PMACS021/13 Clare/Limerick/Tipp ICTU Day of Action DK022/13 Branch Secs EC Minutes November 2012 ER023/13 DPP PMDS and PPSN PMACS024/13 Branch Secs PRSI and Worksharing Correction TD025/13 Branch Secs ICTU Day of Action DF026/13 Branch Secs ADC 2013 ER027/13 Branch Secs ICTU Day of Action DM028/13 Passport Offices Ballot on Promotions Proposal TD029/13 Northwest Reps ICTU Day of Action TD030/13 Members South ICTU Day of Action PMAC031/13 Branch Secs ICTU Day of Action DM032/13 Northwest members ICTU Day of Action CMCN033/13 Branch Secs ICTU Day of Action DF034/13 Eircom Service Optimisation & Road Show DF 035/13 Dept Social Protection Extended Opening Intreo offices DM036/13 Branch Secs Annual Treasurers Report DF037/13 Members Garda Area Update on Issues TD038/13 Garda Nat Comm Letter to GRA General Secretary TD
Circulars
Transfers cont...
Clerical Officer, Department of Education and Skills, Athlone seeks head to head transfer to the Department of Social Protection in Mullingar or Longford. Flexitime and car parking available.Box 251
Clerical Officer, Client Eligibility Services, Dept. of Social Protection, Waterford seeks transfer to any Government Department in Wexford area. Young, friendly office. Flexitime, canteen and car parking available.Box 252
Clerical Officer, Court Services, Limerick seeks head to head transfer to any Government Department, Court Service in Newcastle West, Listowel or Tralee for commuting reasons. Car parking available.Box 253
Clerical Officer, Department of Social Protection Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry seeks head to head transfer to Department of Justice Killarney. Friendly office, car parking and flexitime available.Box 254
Clerical Officer, Garda HQ, Phoenix Park, Dublin 7 seeks head to head transfer to Government Department in city centre for domestic and commuting reasons. Friendly working environment, car parking, gym and canteen facilities available. Good location for Heuston, Luas Red Line or Dublin North West commuter.Box 255
Clerical Officer, Probation Service, Portlaoise (office will be relocating to Naas in the near
future) seeks transfer to any Department in the area of Portarlington, Portlaoise or Tullamore.Box 256
Clerical Officer, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Dublin 2 seeks head to head transfer toSocial Protection or Revenue Commissioners. Friendly working environment. Flexitime and foreign postings available.Box 257
Staff Officer, Garda Headquarters, Harcourt Square seeks transfer to any Government Department in Dublin City Centre or Dublin 8 area. Parking and flexi time available.Box 258
Staff Officer, An Garda Siochana, West Dublin, seeks head to head transfer to any GovernmentDepartment in Dublin.Box 259
Clerical Officer, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Carlow seeks a head to head transfer to any Department or office in Portlaoise or Portarlington for urgent family reasons. Friendly working environment, flexitime and free car parking available.Box 260
Clerical Officer, Carlow Combined Courts Office, seeks head to head transfer to Garda Station, Kilkenny, for urgent family reasons. Car parking, flexitime, canteen facilities available. Friendly office.Box 261
Clerical Officer, City Centre Garda Station seeks head to head transfer to DMR Garda Headquarters, Harcourt Square, or to any North
Side Garda Station or Government Department in City Centre for commuting reasons. Must have typing skills, pleasant, friendly office and car parking available.Box 262
Staff Officer, An Garda Siochana, Bridewell, Dublin 7 seeks head to head transfer to any Government Department in the Dublin area. Friendly working environment, convenient to bus and Luas service. Flexible working hours available. Care parking available.Box 263
Clerical Officer, Collector Generals Office Listowel seeks transfer to any Government Department in Tralee or Killarney for commuting reasons. Friendly office, car parking and flexitime available.Box 264
Clerical Officer, An Garda Siochana, Harcourt Square, Dublin 2 seeks head to head transfer toany Government Department within Dublin City Centre or North Dublin area. Friendly office environment, located directly across from the Green Luas Line, car parking available and access to the gym.Box 265
Clerical Officer, An Garda Siochana HQ, Phoenix Park, seeks transfer to any city centre Department/ Office. Flexitime available, sports club, free parking and canteen.Box 266
If you are interested in a transfer, call 01/6765394 or email [email protected]
23
aontas Jan-Feb-Mar 2012
Crossword
Crossword No. 134 Two prizes of €100.00 will be awarded to the members whose correct solutions are first opened. Solutions must reach the edi-tor no later than Friday the 5th of April 2013. Only one entry per member accepted. Send your correct entries to Crossword No 134, CPSU, 19/20 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2 along with a copy of a current payslip.
CLUES ACROSS6. Guaranteed for life or death (7)7. Like a judge in odd robes (5)9. Sound pretty ordinary in flight (5)10. Little brother is frantic among the reeks (7)12. Where to sell fish, we hear (6,5)14. Those who pass remarks in sport (11)18. It revolves in leaps and barks (7)19. Barrister will stroke the brush (5)21. I had been in front but did nothing (5)22. Inverse lady has will to turn (7)
CLUES DOWN1. Make lamps break into song (5)2. Old coin is new in pacific (6)3. Latin monarch related to a cross (3)4. Barrier around ship is petrified (6)5. Solid foundation for stone-age town (7)8. In the stable I can be like an animal (7)11. Relieved of cover and cash (7)13. Poor Ted can be explosive at sea (7)15. It’s not the woman Geraldine in the trough (6)16. The supernatural had no capacity last month (6)17. Will trout, in turn, appear for lessons (5)20. Retiring segment of English yeomanry (3)
Name:
Grade:
Branch:
Membership No:
Full Address:
Solution No.133Across: 6.Annular 7.Molar 9.Grate 10.Rabbits 12.Legal Action: 14. Jaws of Death 18. Aladdin 19.Aimed 21.Pound 22.Sirocco.
Down:1.Snare 2.Auntie 3.Bat 4.Wombat 5.Cartoon 8.Damages 11.Caffein 13. Baloon 15. Siding 16. Tailor 17. Peach 20. Kid
Prizewinners - Two prizes of €100 each to:Shauna Dykes, Department of Social Protection, College Road, Sligo.Brenda Smith, Revenue Commissioners, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.
Win€100
24
New Membership Information Unit (MIU) Launched
CPSU – Working For You
Contact the MIU team on 01-6020202 or by e-mail on [email protected]
n Advice on your rights under Agreed Circulars/Reports and Agreements
n Guidance on annual leave, sick leave, maternity leave, shorter working year, deductions from pay, flexi time etc.
n Guidance on handling disciplinary and grievance policies and procedures
n Advice on Bullying and Harassment Policies and procedures
n Referral of individual rights cases to third parties such as the Rights Commissioner Service
n General information on Equality, Disability, Health & Safety and Pension rights and entitlements
NEW SERVICE FOR INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS INCLUDES
