By Emma Ryan
THE industrial action taken by Donegal County Council staff members is set to escalate this week if a resolution is not found.
Around 380 staff in Donegal County Council are taking industrial action as part of an ongoing dispute to achieve job evaluation in the sector.
During the dispute, there is a ban on council workers engaging in all non-statutory political representations – verbal, email and written, with councillors, Senators, TDs, including Ministers and MEPs.
The industrial action, which is being overseen by trade union Fórsa, began last Monday.
However, if an agreement is not reached, Fórsa has confirmed further action will be taken this week.
There will be an escalation in the next couple of weeks in the form of an email ban on September 22 for 24 hours, and then a further 48 hour telephone ban on September 26 and 27.
Fórsa has just over 380 members in Donegal County Council of various grades, and they are all involved in the ongoing action.
The trade union has confirmed there will be further escalation of the industrial action if the employer fails to engage in order to resolve the dispute which will be decided by Local Government Divisional Executive Council soon.
Members working in the local authority sector voted for action by over 85 per cent to give Fórsa a mandate.
The dispute centres on job evaluation, which is the process which assesses if a job’s grade is properly matched to its duties and responsibilities.
The trade union said the lack of job evaluation is causing a retention crisis in Local Authorities as staff are leaving Local Authorities to take up posts in places like the HSE where they view their terms and conditions to be better.
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