The Education Ministry has temporarily suspended its plan to cut over 700 roles, some of which are already vacant, following a legal challenge from the Public Service Association (PSA).
The PSA has taken the matter to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA), with the case scheduled to start on Friday. The ministry communicated to staff that if the ERA rules in favour of the PSA, it would necessitate a halt to all ongoing change processes. This would lead to further negotiations with the PSA to reach agreements on specific changes, possibly resulting in new or revised proposals that would require additional consultation before implementation.
Despite the pause, the ministry remains committed to achieving necessary cost savings, which it says cannot be met without reducing staff numbers due to the requirements of Budget 24 commitments. The ministry will proceed with voluntary redundancies but has paused expressions of interest in newly created roles for affected staff.
The PSA has endorsed the ministry’s decision to extend notice periods for those facing redundancy, emphasising the need for a more considerate approach to individual circumstances.
State media reported that Union assistant secretary Fleur Fitzsimons has called for a complete rethink of the ministry’s strategy, highlighting the psychological harm caused by the current process and advocating for a halt to all dismissals until the ERA reaches a decision.
Image credit: Feliphe Schiaroilli
The marxists, propagandists and child groomers in the ministry of miseducation refuse to go quietly.
Shocker 😒
Time for the diversity hires to go. Now they are putting their protesting skills to work inhouse too. They must be really really really offended.