The Coalition Government is beginning to get tough with the public service. As job losses rise within the private sector and unemployment levels reach a three-year high, ministers have begun to adopt an uncharacteristic, confrontational approach in their efforts to secure new and better services, along with administrative change.
A shortfall in the Government's finances may be partially responsible for this altered attitude. But a desire to secure value for benchmarked pay awards and to make civil and public servants aware of the value of their protected employment status may also be a factor.
The most obvious practitioner of this new approach is the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, who appears determined to push ahead with the introduction of private sector competition for CIE and Dublin Bus. His statement of intent has brought a threat of strike action, but Mr Brennan appears to be inflexible in his determination. He has already introduced a drivers' penalty points system, against the wishes of the Garda Síochána.
Last Wednesday, the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, told prison officers there was no money left to pay their annual "insatiable and indefensible" €60 million overtime bill. He gave the Prison Officers' Association 90 days to agree to an annualised work commitment, involving the payment of a lump sum and the elimination of overtime. Negotiations on reform had, he said, already dragged on for six years and the process must be concluded.
The Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, infuriated the secondary teachers' unions when he decided to press ahead with the introduction of a new science syllabus for junior certificate students in the autumn. This was done in the absence of agreement on in-service teacher training and without new funding for laboratory equipment.
Elsewhere, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, has presided over the lay-off of 250 clerical staff at decentralised agricultural offices in six counties. The civil servants complained of a lack of promotional opportunities and, in pursuit of advancement, declined to carry out certain duties. They were removed from the payroll. While the Minister is available for talks, the prospect of a generous settlement being offered in the current economic climate is remote.
These unrelated flash points could form a pattern of industrial unrest as the Government attempts to secure reform and greater value for money. Change is certainly needed. But ministers should ensure their enthusiasm for reform does not damage the overall economy.