This article is from page 19 of the 2009-07-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 19 JPG
THE Civil and Public Service union has warned it will not allow public services be damaged by any attempt to force through staff cuts and other changes on foot of the Bord Snip Nua report
The union, one of the largest in the public service warned that it would not accept any attempt by Govern- ment to force through staff cuts and other changes proposed in the report of the so-called Bord Snip Nua. The union said protecting the highest standards and availability of public services was “paramount and a core principle that could not be compro- mised”.
Noting the publication of the re- port, CPSU Deputy General Sec- retary, Eoin Ronayne said it would require further detailed analysis but stressed ’’we have always questioned the purpose and intent of the Bord, as these so-called ‘experts’ repre-
sent the failed recent economic past – consequently anything they have to say about our public services will not be likely to impress”.
He added, the union’s initial ex- amination of the report did little to dispel its concern that this would be a ‘slash and burn’ exercise. “There is past history here, we didn’t share the assessment of the original Bord Snip and it won’t be a surprise that we have yet to find anything in this which suggests our view will be any CUPS CoRo sl mneN Iman salem
Mr. Ronayne said that ultimately it would be up to Government and unions to work through the difficult weeks and months ahead and the CPSU expects “nothing less than the processing of any proposals by the employer through the normal indus- trial relations procedures.”
Meanwhile, SIPTU will hold a press conference in Liberty Hall to- morrow to give it’s “considered re- sponse” to the proposals.
“The recommendations of An Bord Snip Nua represent an exercise in fantasy,’ SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor said following the publication of the report. “In fairness to the group their terms of reference focused exclusively on reducing ex- penditure without regard to the eco- nomic and social implications, or the viability of alternative approaches.
This is graphically highlighted in that the Government’s own projec- tions envisage reductions of €1.5 bil- lion in current expenditure for 2010 and the same again in 2011, whereas this report recommends an incred- ible £5.3 billion. The Government’s targets are not achievable without the most severe measures. The recom- mendations of this report are entirely unworkable, unnecessary and down- right counter-productive.”