MINISTER FOR Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has said that the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU) deliberately selected the Passport Office as a focal point for its campaign against pay cuts in an effort to get the Government to budge on the issue as a result of the widespread disruption caused to the public.
In Paris last night the Minister criticised the union, which represents lower-paid passport office workers, and reiterated that they may have pay docked if their protest does not end.
Mr Martin’s comments came as the CPSU issued protective strike notice on the Department of Foreign Affairs following its warning over the possible deduction of pay. Long queues again formed outside the Passport Office in Dublin yesterday while the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the backlog of passport applications awaiting processing had not reached 50,000. Mr Martin said the CPSU’s position was “untenable and unacceptable” and accused the union of “putting out red herrings” and distorting the situation for its own ends.
“We have been reasonable with the union,” he said. “Their position is untenable and unacceptable and I would again call on them to lift the embargo on overtime, to end the work-to-rule and not to be blocking the recruitment of 50 people. That would go a long way to clearing the backlog.” Asked if the threat to dock employees’ pay still stood, Mr Martin said: “Absolutely. We have been available for talks. We met with the CPSU yesterday. I think they have been putting out a lot of red herrings in relation to this to try and distort the story.
It appears the Government is holding off on issuing similar warnings over pay to other public service workers who are engaged in similar industrial action. CPSU members in the Revenue Commissioners yesterday closed public offices until after lunch and social welfare offices will be closed this afternoon. In a memo issued yesterday to Government departments, to be released in response to any press queries on the issue, the Department of Finance stated: “The approach currently being adopted is considered proportionate and is a matter we are keeping under active consideration, in consultation with the Department of Finance.”