Equal Pay for NIO staff

pepper33

BigAl94 wrote: »

Quite bluntly, you won't find a lot of support for public service whingeing here.

Well I have a lot of sympathy for anyone in the private sector, I have protested on their behalf. It is not a race to the top, its a race to the bottom. The public sector does not get the pay or rewards of the private sector, and in fact we are getting a pay decrease.....So please don't be so critical of the public service, blame the government.

warmhands.coldheart

pepper33 wrote: »

....... The public sector does not get the pay or rewards of the private sector, .......

What planet are you living on... Seriously, after that statement, I would seriously question you sanity

saverbuyer

She lives in the entitlement tree, in public sector La La land.

Mistral001

pepper33 wrote: »

Well I have a lot of sympathy for anyone in the private sector, I have protested on their behalf. It is not a race to the top, its a race to the bottom. The public sector does not get the pay or rewards of the private sector, and in fact we are getting a pay decrease.....So please don't be so critical of the public service, blame the government.

I used to hear public sector friends and relatives complain about their 1 or 2 % decrease or whatever it was and nearly break out in tears. They just did not have a clue or were just being crass and insensitive to the people in the private sector around them who were really suffering. Now I just nod and agree.


So I agree totally, it is terrible. A race to the bottom. I totally get that.......Aghhh

pepper33

saverbuyer wrote: »

She lives in the entitlement tree, in public sector La La land.

Has this just turned into a playground of people slagging off the public sector. As I have stated my case, and I live in planet Belfast, where I am struggling to pay my bills, because of burglars, who are kept in the planet luxury, so have a go at them instead.


There just seems to be a couple of people on here, who are determined just not able to discuss anything. If I worked in the private sector, would I get the same crass comments.

highrisklowreturn

There are self employed people on here struggling to GROSS 7 or 8 K - never mind sitting about worrying about their "equal pay claim" (please explain the ins and outs of this to give non PS workers a real laugh) to jump their earnings from 16-19K, backdated 7 years.

As one not long out of the sector I can honestly say the terms and conditions are so liberal it's disgusting - yet the government hasn't the nuts to take on NIPSA and a few strikers.

pepper33

I have explained the ins and outs, and this case goes back 30 years, before I worked in the public service. It was not my choice to join the NICS, as I was used to working in the private sector, but the work dried up, so please think again, when you give off about the public services, think about the paramedics, nurses, all govt offices that deserve to have equal pay, according to the law. Women in two grades get paid less than men in the same job, so if you disagree with this, go to the Equality Commission, and see what they say. I think they would give all of you a very short answer!!!! Some of my colleagues had to get a rise in pay to bring them up to the minimum wage, and a lot of them are claiming benefits to put food on the table. As I have said before, it is not a race to see how the govt can pay the private sector less, its about making greedy bankers etc, and private sector bosses bonuses, whilst their staff get paid buttons. If you don't understand this, you do not agree with equality in the workplace. It is not all about the money.

warmhands.coldheart

Back to point at issue though! Basically you joined NICS, now have somehow found you are actually working under NIO and not NICS and thus do not fall under the agreed equal pay agreement. So it IS all about money. I completely agree with equality in the workplace but (and a big BUT) when it is related to your work effort, your achievements, your enthusiasm, etc. Not just a case of.... oh they've both worked here the same length of time and do the same job so need to be paid the same.....

pepper33

It is the lack of communication from the NICS, we all agree, and this is including the people that have retired, that we never left the NICS, we were employees of DFP, and I have the letter that I got when I joined.Yes I agree it is about money, but we do feel that we are being treated like the underdogs. Ask the senior management, that went to court and got their money, when the dept was devolved.

NAR

FROM THE NIPSA WEBSITE

NIPSA throughout negotiations has argued that the equal pay terms of settlement should be applied in full to those NI Civil Servants having any service with the NIO and/or PSNI. While PSNI Management appear supportive of our position both the Department of Justice (DOJ, formerly NIO) and the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) have resisted our representations.

This has been reported to members in the range of NIPSA Bulletins and Branch Secretary Circulars which were issued providing on-going equal pay updates. As the negotiations did not result in a resolution of the matters NIPSA advised members that a meeting had been requested and held with the Justice Minister, Mr David Ford.

In his response the Minister stated that the legal advice he had obtained indicated the DOJ had no legal liability in terms of the equal pay settlement. The Minister stated he had asked his Officials to work with Corporate HR (DFP) with a view to resolution of issues relating to those who had former service with both the NIO and the NICS during 1 February 2003 to 31 January 2009. In relation to PSNI/former PSNI staff the Minister indicated that the respective legal representatives for PSNI/DOJ and DFP were considering a number of points. He had encouraged them to bring their considerations to a conclusion. However, the Management Side failed to engage in further discussions with NIPSA following the meeting with the Minister.

NICS Management’s position as contained in the circular of 22 March 2011 is therefore a restating of their position ie, “.it remains DFP’s view that there is no legal position for extending the NICS equal pay settlement…” to those having service with the NIO and/or PSNI. It is precisely because of this position adopted by the DOJ and DFP that NIPSA lodged County Court proceedings as reported to members in Branch Secretary Circular CS 03/11 issued in February.

NIPSA, via members like yourself, brought the case to court and lost. Unfortunate for you, in that you lost out on £14k, but that is the legal outcome.