asked the Minister for Finance what steps have been taken to find a settlement to the industrial dispute involving audio-typists at Leinster House, in view of the escalation of the dispute and the likely impact that it will have on the work of the Oireachtas and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Private Notice Questions. - Audio-Typists' Industrial Action.
(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Finance the cause of the industrial dispute involving staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas and the steps, if any, he is taking to resolve the dispute.
I propose to take these two questions together.
My understanding is that the Civil and Public Services Union objects to changed arrangements for the reporting of proceedings in the Houses of the Oireachtas which were decided upon by management of the Houses before the summer recess and that the union takes the view that its members have to be compensated for such changes. I recognise that where changes have immediate and adverse effects upon the working conditions or remuneration of staff, steps may need to be taken which minimise any adverse impact which they may have on serving staff and in that context the Department has indicated to the union and to the authorities in Leinster House my willingness to meet, to a substantial degree, the union's concerns. However, in addition to what I would see as the legitimate concerns of the staff in question in relation to location, continuation of payments paid to them for the specific duties involved and access to a new grade, the union has insisted on and taken action on foot of its claim that ten existing posts of clerical assistant should be upgraded to clerical officer. The union have, I understand, made it clear, both formally and informally, that a settlement which does not involve an upgrading element is not acceptable to them.
Apart from any other consideration, I do not regard the question of upgradings as being related to the present dispute. In taking this action the union is well aware that discussions under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress for the restructuring of Civil Service grades, which includes discussion on the future of both the clerical assistant and clerical officer grades, has been initiated on a Civil Service wide basis. I regard the maintenance of good staff relations in this House as essential to its smooth running. It is, however, equally essential that no union be given encouragement to take action affecting the House in relation to matters for which another mechanism of discussion and negotiation exists.
Because of the publicity which has been given to those involved in this dispute, I wish to put on record the demands made by the union and the responses already made to them. The union asked that staff currently serving as audio typists in the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas would not, following the introduction of the transcriber grade, be redeployed to other Departments. The union were informed that the staff in question would not be compulsorily redeployed. The union complained that the establishment of a transcriber grade would result in the elimination of the grade of trainee reporter for which, since its inception, many of their members had competed successfully. My Department agreed to the establishment of a trainee transcriber grade and to the the selection of three audio typists for appointment to it later this year. The union sought a guarantee that at least 12 appointments to that grade would be made over the next five years. Since the rate of vacancies in the transcriber grade over that period cannot be predicted my Department was unable to enter into such a commitment. The union sought agreement that the allowance paid to its members in addition to their clerical assistant salary for the performing of audio typist duties would be continued. The union has been informed that the staff involved will not be at any monetary loss.
I thank the Minister for his detailed reply but does he not acknowledge that, by any outside comparison, to have these people on the lowest possible Civil Service grade is not commensurate with the calibre of job that is required from them? Does he not acknowledge that it is regrettable that this ought to have reached the stage of a full blown dispute? Does not the sight of pickets outside Leinster House set an appalling headline for industrial relations outside the House? Is the Minister aware that the union concerned are prepared to accept the intervention of a third party and that the official side will not accede to a third party intervening in the dispute?
In relation to the Deputy's final point the conciliation and arbitration scheme is the system in operation in relation to disputes of this kind and the official side has no difficulty with that. I regret that anybody would find it necessary to picket Leinster House. The Minister and the Department have been very forthcoming in relation to meeting the union's demands. The matter in relation to payments and so on is under discussion. A useful purpose is not being served by anybody marching up and down outside.
(Limerick East): I put it to the Minister of State that this dispute, together with the difficulties arising from Oireachtas Members' secretaries in recent times, has added to the general air of inefficiency and incompetence which pervades this House. I further put it to the Minister that before launching into a debate on reform of procedures here last week, he should have at least put the mechanisms in place with the staff, to ensure that there were staff willing and able to carry out the reforms once they were put in place.
I appeal to the Minister to take this to an agreed third party immediately so that we do not disgrace ourselves further in the eyes of the nation.
The official side will negotiate on this matter through established procedures. The official side has not moved away from the established procedures. The dispute has nothing at all to do with the reforms announced for the House last week. The question goes back to April 1992. There have been ongoing discussions and the Department has tried at all times to resolve the matter through the agreed mechanisms and will continue to do so.
Deputy Rabbitte rose.
I expressed the hope that one round of questions would suffice, expecially when we are dealing with a number of Private Notice Questions of varying kind.
I will not delay the House, I merely——
If I allow Deputy Rabbitte to ask a question I will have to allow Deputy Noonan to ask one.
I merely want to draw attention to the dispute in this House a few years ago, when we set the headline of a third party intervening successfully.
Does Deputy Noonan wish to intervene?
(Limerick East): No.