New terms and conditions for public sector workers could save 'many millions of pounds' according to the government.

A joint working group chaired by Phil Gawne MHK wants to make changes that will mean new staff are on different terms to existing staff. Proposals will be presented before the end of this year to the unions. Meanwhile, there will be presentations to workers in the run up to Christmas.

The proposals will affect staff appointed from April 2015 and the areas being examined include pay and grading arrangements, allowances, annual and sick leave and overtime rates. The working group says the terms of existing staff will be protected.

Mr Gawne said: 'We are committed to ensuring the safeguarding of public sector jobs, in return for a more sustainable terms and conditions framework. This is best achieved by developing new terms and conditions which would apply to staff appointed after 1 April 2015, whilst ensuring that the terms of existing staff would be protected.

'When I re-joined the Department of Infrastructure as Minister this summer I recognised that the current terms and conditions framework was not sustainable and joint working with the unions was essential to enable us to look to provide more cost-effective arrangements in future.

'This joint working has now been extended to cover other parts of Government with the full support of my ministerial colleague, Chris Robertshaw MHK, who is the Chairman of both the Civil Service Commission and the Whitley Council. The work we have done so far shows that we could save many millions of pounds if we can make these changes for new starters.'


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