Council staff given 2 days leave to go to the races...

[cyberianpan]

This country is gone to the dogs... well maybe the horses

They’re off: council staff are at the races
Despite the strains of the economic crisis, bosses allowed staff two "privilege" days off work on a "pro-rata basis"
Colin Coyle

They're letting themselves go: council officials right across Ireland are taking Hector O hEochagain’s advice to heart and taking time off to go racing. Last week staff from Kildare county council and Naas town council were granted unofficial holidays to attend the Punchestown festival. All full-time council staff were granted two “privilege” days in addition to their annual leave.

Council staff in Kerry, Galway and Waterford are also enjoying similar perks, despite record unemployment, the crisis in the public finances and demands for savings in the public sector. But councils insist that they are not taking taxpayers for a ride.

This isn't a matter of economics any longer .. it is a matter of Justice ... what sort of monster have we created in the public sector ?

cYp

[Murra]

Hmmm.. if services can run 'as normal' with half the staff missing, then maybe we only need half the staff?

[socialdemocrate]

i'd usually ignore a thread like this but my mum told me the other day that it was usual until recently for the local schools to take the week off for the races so there might be some truth in that story

[trustno1]

The Primary Schools closed for the week. Its a historic thing. However, the schools concerned have to make up the days which means that in effect the teachers/pupils attend the same number of days as any other school in Ireland.

[Murra]

The Primary Schools closed for the week. Its a historic thing. However, the schools concerned have to make up the days which means that in effect the teachers/pupils attend the same number of days as any other school in Ireland.

Thats fair enough. Do council staff take these days as part of their annual leave?

[Irish Liberty Forum]

Quite an interesting two paragraphs at the end:

"Staff at Leitrim county council also won a Labour Court case last month, forcing management to give them time off to attend a non-existent festival.

Management had sought to cancel a traditional half-day to attend a local regatta after it was discontinued due to the worsening economic climate. But Impact argued the annual festival leave had been an entitlement to employees for many years and there were “other festivals” staff could go to. "

[Clanrickard]

Quite an interesting two paragraphs at the end:

"Staff at Leitrim county council also won a Labour Court case last month, forcing management to give them time off to attend a non-existent festival.

Management had sought to cancel a traditional half-day to attend a local regatta after it was discontinued due to the worsening economic climate. But Impact argued the annual festival leave had been an entitlement to employees for many years and there were “other festivals” staff could go to. "

Mindboggling stuff. The worst thing is IMPACT and the CPSU are droning on that they will take the pain as long as it is seen to be fair. This sort of malarkey gives lie to this claim and exposes the selfishness and sense of entitlement of the Public Sector.

[Murra]

Quite an interesting two paragraphs at the end:

"Staff at Leitrim county council also won a Labour Court case last month, forcing management to give them time off to attend a non-existent festival.

Management had sought to cancel a traditional half-day to attend a local regatta after it was discontinued due to the worsening economic climate. But Impact argued the annual festival leave had been an entitlement to employees for many years and there were “other festivals” staff could go to. "

Shame on the Labour Court.

[BodyofEvidence]

been a perk in Kildare coco for as long as it has existed. Not right but by now established....

[cyberianpan]

I quite deliberately posted this in Justice as it is theft, plain and simple

I'm now at a loss as to what we can do with our public sector - the unions are defending the indefensible - the public sector is verging on being a large scale criminal enterprise with the union bosses as the mafia-style ring leaders

cYp