DONEGAL County Council
and trade union officials are locked in negotiations
to discuss the reorganisation of council services
following recent budget and staff cuts around the
county.
The possibility of some local authority workers
being put on a three-day week, however, is not part
of any current proposals, the local authority
stated.
Negotiations with the trade unions began yesterday
to discuss proposals tabled by the Council a week
ago.
"The County Manager presented proposals to the
elected members and trade unions on Monday, July 20,
2009 for the reorganisation of Council services to
deal with reductions in staff numbers, reductions in
budgets and the change in the number of electoral
areas from six to five," said a Council spokesperson
yesterday.
"The elected members endorsed the County Manager’s
proposals in principle at the Council meeting on
July 20 subject to further briefings from the County
Manager as the process unfolds." Meanwhile,
negotiations between the Council and trade unions
are expected to continue over the next few months.
But the Council ruled out, for now, introducing a
three-day week.
"The possibility of clerical staff's working hours
being reduced to three days per week has not been
tabled and is not part of any proposals at this
time. In view of the fact that negotiations are
ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment any
further at this time," added the spokesperson.
It is understood a number of local authorities
around the country are considering putting workers
on a three-day week in a bid to cut costs.
According to a report in the Irish Independent, at
least three local authorities are contemplating the
idea in a bid to introduce more wage cuts. However,
the report states that the alternative is compulsory
redundancies, or councils going bust and being
unable to maintain their services to the public.
President of the Association of Municipal
Authorities of Ireland (AMAI) Jim O'Shea said: "We
know that three-day weeks are being mooted around
the country. A three-day week would be totally
demoralising for staff, who have worked very hard to
build up local government." |
