Bradley slams ‘detrimental’ civil servants compensation scheme

SDLP MLA for Newry and Armagh Dominic Bradley has slammed the Civil Service Compensation Scheme he claims will have a detrimental effect on workers.

SDLP MLA Dominic Bradley

Vowing that the SDLP will stand firm on fighting the proposals the assemblyman said the scheme, ‘simply, is about reducing redundancy terms for civil servants’.

Speaking ahead of an Assembly SDLP motion discussing the matter, Bradley told Newry Times, “If these changes were to be made in their current form they will result in a significant detrimental effect to Northern Ireland civil servants and employees of non-departmental public bodies covered by the Northern Ireland Civil Service Compensation Scheme in the event of either voluntary or compulsory redundancy.

“At a time of redundancy it is important that staff receive as much financial support as possible. It is unacceptable that the redundancy provisions are being undermined, especially at a time when the opportunities for securing alternative employment are scarce.

The local SDLP MLA continued, “If the SDLP had not brought this prayer of annulment the legislation would has been passed by regulation by the DUP Finance Minister without any debate following the DFP consultation.

“There is no need to enforce on NI Civil Service staff the changes that have been introduced in Civil Service in England, especially as Northern Ireland lags several years behind in attempting to implement these changes but it has not been a pressure point for the London Government.

“Remember, these regulations have the potential to negatively affect thousands of civil servants. The major public sector union in Northern Ireland hold grave concerns that the consultation process failed to take into account the voice of those civil servants.”

Bradley pledged that the SDLP “will continue to fight these detrimental proposals the DUP appear only too keen to implement”.

He added, “Perhaps this, like Welfare Reform, is one of Peter Robinson’s ‘nuclear options’ which he’s only too happy enforce or threaten to hand back to London.”

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=41250

Posted by Newry Times News on Apr 17 2014. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry