Northern Ireland’s largest trade union today warned an industrial fall-out was looming after thousands of public workers were ordered to switch off their workplace radios for good.
Both the Department of Social Development and the Department of Education and Learning have banned staff from listening to music and radio shows in recent weeks.
Civil service chiefs claim the move was necessary because workplace radios need licences from organisations which collect royalties for musicians.
But Brian Campfield, general secretary of the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (Nipsa), said the ban will lead to significant morale issues which will spark a reaction.
"This will lead to problems for the Departments because they will have a lot of disgruntled and demoralised staff on their hands, and that situation can't be
allowed to continue for any length of time," he said. "Even people in prisons are generally allowed to listen to the radio."
Nipsa accepts tariffs have to be paid for workplace radios but Mr Campfield insisted the taxpayer-funded Departments should pay the necessary fees, particularly for workers carrying out repetitive tasks.
"A lot of the work that people in these areas perform can be quite monotonous and it's a long enough day without having some background music," he said. "It's going to cause problems and big issues with low morale.
"At the end of the day, if they want the work done, they want it done right and well and they want people to be content at their work then this issue is going to have to be sorted out."
The Department of Social Development (DSD) said it will only purchase licences
where there is a "business need", usually for front offices or public areas, to keep customers entertained, as well as some canteens.
A spokesman was adamant their new policy was brought in to make sure it is keeping within the law, but he added that not all workers wanted to tune in to the radio.
"It can have an adverse effect on people answering telephones and conversing with colleagues and can thus be bad for staff relations," he said. "However, we will let staff play music where there is a business need.
"We are in the process of examining various submissions for business needs which if accepted will lead to additional licences being purchased."
The DSD said it is now finalising licences with two copyright companies - the
Performing Rights Society and the Phonographic Performance Limited - for 48
licences.
Despite requests, workers in offices not covered by these have been told they can not pay for licences themselves and have also been banned from listening to personal MP3 players or iPods during work.
"There would be no consistency across the Department with regard to copyright licences if individual teams decided to do their own thing," said a DSD spokesman.
Nipsa chief Mr Campfield said some workplaces - including benefits and social
security offices, where workers have listened to radios for years - have changed
"fundamentally" since the ban.
"It's in the Departments' own interest to get this resolved," he said. "There is a big morale issue, and we will be making active representations to the Departments about this."
Mr Campfield added that if the ban spreads to other departments, Nipsa will fight the case with central government.
