NSAI accused of undermining public sector industrial relations
Workers at the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action over proposed job losses.
The move by Unite members in the Medical Devices Division follows the NSAI’s decision to seek government sanction to impose compulsory redundancies contrary to established practice in the public sector. The NSAI is also proposing to impose staff reassignments without agreement.
The industrial action will start on Tuesday 4 August and will initially involve Product Reviewers withdrawing from billable work linked to conformity assessments, while Auditors will only be available to conduct audits for their daily contracted hours inclusive of travel time.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:
“Thanks to the skills, expertise and commitment of workers, the NSAI has earned public trust and a reputation for excellence. It beggars belief that the NSAI is seeking to tear up a long-standing convention in the public sector and impose compulsory redundancies. Our members have Unite’s full support as they fight to defend their jobs and conditions.”
Successive agreements between public sector unions and employers have prohibited compulsory redundancies. While the government’s failure to engage on a new public sector agreement to succeed the Public Services Agreement which expired at the end of June means there is no longer such a prohibition, it also means that unions are free to take industrial action without constraints.
The NSAI’s move to impose compulsory redundancies comes at a sensitive time when unions across the public sector are balloting to secure a strike mandate in the event that future talks between public sector unions and employers fail to produce an acceptable outcome.
Unite regional officer Ed Thompson said:
“Instead of setting standards the NSAI is flouting standards and undermining industrial relations in the public sector at a crucial juncture. They have sought sanction for compulsory redundancies from the Departments of Enterprise and Public Expenditure. I would urge both Departments to refuse sanction for compulsory redundancies, and also to instruct the NSAI to engage meaningfully with Unite on any proposed reassignments.”
