Gay Mitchell
Question:17 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline his plans to improve industrial democracy in the public service.
Written Answers. - Industrial Democracy in the Public Service.
Under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress the Government and the social partners agreed that “discussions will be held with unions in the public service with a view to determining how progress can be made in relation to employee participation in the public service”.
As the public service consists of a variety of organisations having a range of distinctive tasks, it is a matter for the managements directly involved together with the appropriate employee interests to meet together with a view to discussing and devising mechanisms for ensuring employee participation which best fit the circumstances in which their organisations function and no doubt any difficulties which cannot be resolved at the level of a particular organisation will be brought to the attention of the Minister most directly involved.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding which forms part of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, there is also a commitment on the part of public service employers and employees to commence discussions related to the “local bargaining” clause of that agreement in a way which will “create an organisation climate conducive to better job satisfaction, motivation and commitment of staff”.
As Minister for Finance, my direct responsibility as an employer is confined to the Civil Service. Within that area, my officials have circulated to staff interests — in the context of the discussions mentioned above — a document outlining the approach which the official side propose to take to those discussions. That document indicates official acceptance that the Civil Service requires:—
"mechanisms to encourage better communications within Departments and offices as well as greater participation by staff in the setting of objectives and the achievement of results."
I understand that this document is currently being examined by staff interests with a view to formalising their response, which should lead to formal discussion of this and other elements of its contents.