Oireachtas workers start email boycott

[David Cochrane]

From RTE...

Government employees in the Oireachtas are refuse to deal with email communications between Oireachtas offices from in an escalation of the public service industrial action over pay cuts.

This is the first time such an action has been mounted while the Oireachtas is in formal session and follows on from a phone ban and other industrial action yesterday.

RTÉ News: Oireachtas workers start email boycott

[SIZE="1"](i've put that up word for word, lest anyone associate the typos to me.....)[/SIZE]

[Libero]

At least some Revenue staff (possibly a lot, possibly all) have also stopped paying attention to emails.

It's a bit pathetic that instead of having an honest-to-goodness strike, which would involve losing pay, public sector unions are effectively withdrawing their labour in bits and pieces, in a way that inconveniences the public but doesn't give them notice of what's coming.

It's even more pathetic that the terms and conditions of employment in the public sector appear to be so abstract and basic that cutting off communication with service users is not seen as refusal to carry out basic duties, and is called a work to rule.

And I'm saying this as someone critical of the government's approach to fiscal adjustment and who doesn't think PS workers have been treated fairly.

It's also a sign of weakness that workers are clearly nervous about the loss of pay that goes with an all-out strike.

[MadAsHell]

Shut down their web access.

At the very least they shouldn't be allowed play Tetris while their inbox fills up....and then we'll have the "clearing the backlog" scenario.

Most email in their offices is probably "blamemail" anyway!

[rockofcashel]

At least some Revenue staff (possibly a lot, possibly all) have also stopped paying attention to emails.

It's a bit pathetic that instead of having an honest-to-goodness strike, which would involve losing pay, public sector unions are effectively withdrawing their labour in bits and pieces, in a way that inconveniences the public but doesn't give them notice of what's coming.

It's even more pathetic that the terms and conditions of employment in the public sector appear to be so abstract and basic that cutting off communication with service users is not seen as refusal to carry out basic duties, and is called a work to rule.

And I'm saying this as someone critical of the government's approach to fiscal adjustment and who doesn't think PS workers have been treated fairly.

It's also a sign of weakness that workers are clearly nervous about the loss of pay that goes with an all-out strike.

I'd have to agree with you there Libero. Though I have always wondered.. if the public service workers really wanted to let Government deputies know how they feel, why don't or haven't they simply stopped co-operating with them e.g. if Deputy A calls asking about Mary's medical card, simply inform him that there is a standard operating procedure designed to adjudicate on who qualifies for a medical card, and that he/she is interfering with the process, thank you and hang up

[odie1kanobe]

Shut down their web access.

P.ie would lose 20% of its users during working hours.

But what you are stating is correct that Revenue have no need for Web Access during working hours so shut it down as well as require mobile phones to be diverted to office phones and said mobile phones left at reception / in lockers.

[just_society3]

P.ie would lose 20% of its users during working hours.

But what you are stating is correct that Revenue have no need for Web Access during working hours so shut it down as well as require mobile phones to be diverted to office phones and said mobile phones left at reception / in lockers.

Would you be willing to leave your Mobile phone at security on your way in to work Odie?

[Baron von Biffo]

At least some Revenue staff (possibly a lot, possibly all) have also stopped paying attention to emails.

It's a bit pathetic that instead of having an honest-to-goodness strike, which would involve losing pay, public sector unions are effectively withdrawing their labour in bits and pieces, in a way that inconveniences the public but doesn't give them notice of what's coming.

It's even more pathetic that the terms and conditions of employment in the public sector appear to be so abstract and basic that cutting off communication with service users is not seen as refusal to carry out basic duties, and is called a work to rule.

And I'm saying this as someone critical of the government's approach to fiscal adjustment and who doesn't think PS workers have been treated fairly.

It's also a sign of weakness that workers are clearly nervous about the loss of pay that goes with an all-out strike.

Maximum pressure, minimum cost. Their strategy so far is very intelligent.

[Bosun Higgs]

P.ie would lose 20% of its users during working hours.

But what you are stating is correct that Revenue have no need for Web Access during working hours so shut it down as well as require mobile phones to be diverted to office phones and said mobile phones left at reception / in lockers.

+1

Only 20%??????

[rockofcashel]

Would you be willing to leave your Mobile phone at security on your way in to work Odie?

As a matter of interest, why not. I am not allowed to have mobile phone access where I work (possible explosive environment), and contractors visiting the site must either leave their mobiles at security or leave them in their cars.

Should people have access to their mobiles at work ?

[redhead101]

Maximum pressure, minimum cost. Their strategy so far is very intelligent.

The decision not to answer most PQs has taken pressure OFF the govt.