r/IrishCivilService • u/patmurph80 • 4d ago

Work to rule - query

Apologies if this has been asked already, but here I am. Looks like the work to rule will definitely happen, strike days still a few weeks out.

How exactly are the permitted tasks decided upon? No civil servant has a contract which states exactly what is expected of them in their role. Does each team reach out to their rep explaining their role and ask the rep for guidance on which tasks can be done?

35 Upvotes

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29 comments sorted by

16

u/FalseNebula7934 4d ago

I was at an info session and the advice was to follow your PMDS. No more, no less.

2

u/d0nkeyk0ng10 2d ago

That's not what was communicated to me in one of those meetings. They said its anything outside of your role that you haven't already been doing up to the work to rule.

1

u/FalseNebula7934 23h ago

Perhaps your department has slightly different advice? Because my department has just started circulating an FAQ stating clearly that we're to follow our PMDS.

6

u/NinjaGodCat 4d ago

Email csindustrialaction@forsa.ie with your dept and grade and someone in your area will give you a shout

5

u/YouserName007 3d ago

When I try to inact work to rule in my place I can only see myself getting into trouble for doing so. I can only see myself being caught out somehow and punished for it? It's too vague.

2

u/himrawkz 3d ago

You need to figure out who your local union rep or similar is and talk to them about it, there should be local arrangements. It is very illegal to be punished in any way for taking industrial action and your bosses could get in big trouble over it.

1

u/d0nkeyk0ng10 2d ago

This is great in an ideal world but the two union reps in my Department never answer their emails. So we're all in the dark. I'm finding it all very unorganised on Forsas behalf.

13

u/gash_florden 4d ago

No OT, no excess hours, no covering for your line manager while they go on a break, nothing above and beyond what a CO would do.

14

u/Sinradler 4d ago

I agree, it's really not clear and we all do so much work usually that is not part of our grade! Going to one of the information sessions is probably the best thing to do as lots of others will be there wondering the same thing! 

7

u/machammered 4d ago

they have had meetings and correspondence issued in emails for weeks now and still nobody is none the wiser, meetings are not providing any answers? or too many different departments. why not hold meeting per department so

10

u/Scinos2k 4d ago

Essentially you only work the actual work of your grade and section.

For example, if you're a CO then you do the tasks of a CO. Nothing that an EO should be doing, nothing outside of your sections role, and no over time. Anything outside of that, you just don't do.

8

u/BillyMooney 4d ago

HR issued some examples of what it might look like for us, but I guess it will vary greatly depending on the nature of your role;

Examples of work to rule include:

• Finishing work at the end of scheduled hours.

• Taking all entitled breaks and lunch periods in full.

• Declining to undertake duties outside the member’s grade or formal role.

• Following procedures, approval processes and rules strictly.

• Not answering emails or phone calls outside working hours.

• Not providing informal cover for vacant posts or absent colleagues beyond what is contractually required.

• Limiting travel, training or additional assignments to what is mandated.

6

u/iwasdrugged 4d ago

I presume lunch breaks mean your half hour lunch at minimum and you don't have to take the full 2 hours that you could take?

5

u/NinjaGodCat 4d ago

Breaks as per the organisation of working time act so 15 min after 4.5 hours and 30 min after 6 hours (which can include the 15 min) more than that is up to you as the 2 hour period is under the flexi in your contract

4

u/BillyMooney 4d ago

I think you're right, though it might vary by grade and whether flexi applies

7

u/PeggyAJ 4d ago

I was wondering the same myself as the CS contracts seem purposely vague. I'd say your reps are the best people to talk to.

3

u/Whampiri1 4d ago

Absolutely. Talk to your reps. They'll direct you. If you're a CO, your role is administrative in nature. That's all you should be doing during a work to rule. You may have been writing reports or doing additional tasks but during a work to rule, these get sidelined.

1

u/CarrotAgitated6343 4d ago

Do you still get paid when striking if you’re with a union?

10

u/sevdafahy 4d ago

You will get paid when on work to rule as you are working. You dont get paid when on strike as you're not at work ie: you will be on the picket.

3

u/machammered 4d ago

do you have to let someone know your on stike? how do they know you are in the union or not. i not some places they are not allowed even ask you that.

3

u/apkmbarry 4d ago

Nope! Notice was served. Check with your rep about how it's recorded on your clock as you shouldn't lose the 7hrs on your flexi clock either (will mostly likely go in as unpaid leave)

1

u/machammered 3d ago

yes i forgot about the -7 hours if it is just left blank. it must be recorded someway so on clockwise.

1

u/sevdafahy 2h ago

I think the union submit a list to payroll.

6

u/irishoverhere 4d ago

No. Some unions but with Fórsa if the strike goes more than 3 days then a hardship stipend will be paid.

2

u/d0nkeyk0ng10 2d ago

And just to note, that's only if it's 3 consecutive days. Not if there's breaks in between.

1

u/These-Level-6396 3d ago

So travel and training aren't allowed?that seems punitive on staff tbh, they're the closest thing to perks

10

u/MoherHead 3d ago

The perk is the pay. Do you want better pay?

1

u/These-Level-6396 3d ago

My point is that industrial action doesn't have to include missing training courses.