Unions oppose scrapping of privilege days

MOST UNIONS representing staff in the Civil Service are to oppose moves by the Government to abolish privilege days traditionally given to staff in additional to annual leave.

At a meeting yesterday, the Department of Finance proposed that, in place of the privilege days, which are taken by civil servants at Christmas and Easter, it would provide additional annual leave to some grades.

It said for staff with a current maximum of 30/31 days annual leave – mainly principal officers and assistant principal officers – no additional time off would be provided.

For staff with between 25 and 29 days annual leave – mainly higher executive officers – one additional day would be added to their normal holiday entitlements.

The department also said other staff with a maximum of 24 days annual leave or less would have two days added to their normal holidays.

The Government has already abolished the traditional time off given to Civil Service personnel recruited before 2003 to cash their pay cheques with effect from January.

It emerged last night that most unions representing Civil Service personnel have rejected the Department of Finance proposals.

In a circular to members last night, Tom Geraghty, the general secretary of the Public Service Executive Union, which represents about 10,000 mid-grade civil servants, said abolishing privilege days would not reduce costs for the Government.

He said the issue would be referred to the Civil Service Arbitration Board for determination in the new year.

The Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants is also understood to be opposed to the Department of Finance proposals.

The CPSU, which represents lower-paid staff, said it was happy with the new proposals.