The Civil and Public Service Union has taken industrial action on a Civil Service-wide basis against the Government's embargo on filling posts. The industrial action includes: withdrawal of flexibility regarding the duties of the clerical grade; ban on overtime; non co-operation with the introduction of new working methods and technology and refusal to co-operate with work arising from unfilled vacancies.
A high proportion of the staff in the Companies Registration Office are members of the Civil and Public Service Union. The industrial action is accordingly having an adverse effect on the work of the office, resulting in a diminution of the service provided to customers. A notice to advise customers of the office of the difficulties was placed in the national newspapers at an early stage the Civil Service-wide industrial action was commenced in March.
Discussions with the CPSU in the dispute are being handled centrally by the Department of Finance through the mechanism of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme.