Wicklow courts hit by further disruption as Bray Courthouse staff join Fórsa work-to-rule action
The Wicklow PeopleCivil servant staff at Bray Courthouse have begun work-to-rule action as part of a nationwide industrial dispute over public service pay and working conditions.
Fórsa members began the action on Wednesday, September 30, with the union saying more than 90,000 public service workers are taking part across the country.
The union has 1,400 members in Wicklow.
Under the work-to-rule action, members will work strictly to their contracts, withdraw cooperation with new work practices, and refuse to undertake duties outside their grade or agreed responsibilities.
Fórsa general secretary and chair of the ICTU Public Services Committee Kevin Callinan said the action came after the previous public service pay agreement expired at the end of June.
He said attempts to negotiate a successor agreement had “come to nothing” because of what he described as the Government’s refusal to address cost-of-living pressures.
Media representative for the union Niall Shanahan stated the level of disruption caused by the action at Wicklow court services is initially expected to be low.
However, he said the longer-term impact would only become clear over time.
The work-to-rule action was evident at a sitting of Bray District Court on Thursday, when registrar staff informed Judge David Kennedy that they would finish work at 4pm.
The industrial action comes as criminal defence solicitors continue their withdrawal of legal aid services, following a dispute with the Government over reforms introduced on July 1 by Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan.
Wicklow solicitors have argued that the changes are unworkable and have warned they could undermine access to justice, with practitioners withdrawing from legal aid work in June.