THE registration of new motor vehicles, issuing of tax certificates and processing of exports and imports are among services likely to be affected as 10,900 civil servants impose an overtime ban from this morning.
The ban, introduced by the Civil and Public Service Union (CPSU) in protest at the Government's embargo on Civil Service recruitment, is expected to have mounting effect if the action becomes prolonged.
The slowdown in issuing tax discs will cause problems, not alone for motorists but also for the courts and the Garda in dealing with driving offences.
Customs and Excise is also likely to suffer from the action. Staffing levels at ports and airports will be down, causing hold ups for legitimate importers and exporters but potential windfalls for smugglers.
One of the worst affected areas is likely to be the Revenue Commissioners. The commissioners are in the middle of issuing amended tax certificates for the new financial year. Again, some people may benefit as tax collection will be affected by the overtime ban as well.
Preparations for second level examinations could be seriously upset by the overtime ban. The schedule for preparatory work on practical examinations and the printing of examination papers will be affected.
Finally, there may be some disruption of social welfare payments and the collection of PRSI. The majority of welfare recipients no longer have to collect payments, but those who do could suffer hardship.
The general secretary of the CPSU, Mr John O'Dowd, says the union regrets any inconvenience its action might cause to the public. "But the Government must address the twin problems of the embargo and low pay, as a matter of urgency, has taken industrial action against the backdrop of a ballot of its members on the latest pay offer under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. The members are almost certain to reject the offer.
It provides for increases of between 7 per cent and 11 per cent for most CPSU members. The timetable for implementation is 10 years. The union has been seeking implementation over four years.
Industrial action over pay is outlawed under the PCW, but the embargo is outside the programme. There is now a serious danger that public sector unions will use industrial action over the embargo to indicate their growing dissatisfaction with the lack of progress on pay.
The next union likely to be drawn into industrial action over the embargo is Impact, which has 28,000 members spread across the local authorities, health boards and Civil Service.