Leading public service trade union, IMPACT, is understood to be seeking a comprehensive work experience scheme for public servants before it will entertain any Government attempts to reduce the public service through redundancy programmes.
“Our members have been dedicated public servants all their lives,” a source said. “What happens if they take early retirement or redundancy and then seek employment in the private sector? What chance would they have?”
“We are talking about people who may have no notion of productivity. It would be reckless for anyone to employ them.”
He said the union understood that the economy was in crisis and would engage with the government if these work experience schemes were established.
He said it wasn’t beyond all possibility that some public servants could adapt to life in the private sector. “They have to be given a chance. We want to see our members gently exposed to work under adult supervision. A team of psychologists would monitor the outcome and their input would form the basis of decisions on who should take redundancy.”
“Those who perform well would be encouraged to leave the public service while those who struggle with the work concept will be encouraged to stay,” he concluded.
