National Secretary of union Fórsa said staff want to discuss pay, grading and recognition for ICT roles
Officials at their union, Fórsa, claim there have been years of management inaction to recognise their professional status, pay and responsibilities.
They said information and communication technology (ICT) staff who work in local government are angry because their pay has been static for years.
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – Monday, November 24
A senior official at Fórsa said industrial action would “inevitably” impact public services if it goes ahead.
Richy Carrothers, Fórsa national secretary, said the ICT staff have lost faith that there is a serious commitment to address their issues.
He said the union had sought talks with the Local Government Management Agency for over five years.
He added that they want to discuss pay, grading and recognition for ICT roles.
“There is an existential threat to government services if they don’t take it seriously,” he said. “There would be inevitable impacts on people in the political system, to the public and internal users.”
He claimed there had been no tangible progress in achieving their aims despite proposals, reports and discussions at the Workplace Relations Commission.
“Morale is low and the Government’s digitalisation goals are at risk,” he said.
It’s demoralising to see our work undervalued while expectations rise
“Our members are organising on this critical issue, and that’s why this ballot is taking place.”
He said workloads for ICT staff have grown in scale and complexity, but wages have not increased.
Mr Carrothers said the fact that it is mandatory for staff to have third-level qualifications acknowledges that their roles have fundamentally changed. He said pay and grading have not kept pace.
“It’s demoralising to see our work undervalued while expectations rise,” Paul Barker, chair of Fórsa’s ICT committee in local authorities, said.
“We’re committed to keeping services running for the public, but we need recognition and fair treatment.”
He said the ballot is about fairness, respect, and building a sustainable ICT workforce for local government’s digital future.
“It’s time now for our members to act,” he said, adding that large numbers of ICT staff had joined the union over the last few weeks to take part in the campaign.
“Collective action is the key. If we don’t stand together and make our voice heard, decisions could be made that overlook the value of our work, our expertise, and the responsibilities we carry. This is our moment to ensure ICT is recognised.”
The union wants a review of ICT grading and pay to benchmark ICT roles against other professional groups and staff in public sector bodies.
It wants the establishment of a National ICT Continuing Professional Development Committee to oversee career paths, training, and skills development.
In addition, it wants a nationally agreed framework for out-of-hours work, to ensure consistent compensation for routine duties.
A spokesperson for the Local Government Management Agency said it is not in a position to comment at this time.
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