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Review of terms and conditions for government staff
A FUNDAMENTAL review is needed of the terms and conditions of staff employed by government, Chief Minister Allan Bell told Tynwald.
Mr Bell said the terms and conditions negotiated in the past were certainly causing ‘considerable problems’ for departments now trying to balance their budgets because of the shortfall in tax after the VAT agreement was changed.
He added: ‘This area will have to be looked at in the future. We cannot react to the very serious challenges we have from budget reductions without a fundamental review at some point for the terms and conditions of employees right across government. That is going to be the only way we can protect and save jobs of the workforce, if we are more flexible in this area.’
Mr Bell was replying to a question from Zac Hall (Lib Vannin, Onchan) who asked about the progress being made by the Transforming Government Group and the need to change the culture of government.
The Chief Minister said he wanted to see an end to ‘allowing people who fear change to block and undermine it’.
He said: ‘There are pockets of very positive culture throughout our public service, but much more needs to be done across the whole service to ensure we have a culture that supports the reform we need.’
Mr Hall asked whether he shared his frustration that more was not done sooner to address levels of absenteeism in government departments, which had resulted in £40 million a year being lost in labour time through sick days.
‘Why wasn’t action already taken on the issue by the Chief Secretary’s Office or the Corporate Leadership Group and the Treasury? Government must have known about the levels of absenteeism and the associated costs for the last few years,’ he said.
Mr Bell replied: ‘I cannot necessarily explain why these changes have not been brought in earlier, other than to say that I am fully committed to making sure that these changes do come in and there is the appropriate level of urgency to ensure the changes are brought in as quickly as possible.’
Mr Hall said it had been reported that airport director Anne Reynolds had said if Ronaldsway was run on commercial lines, annual cost savings of £2 million could be made.
‘This would represent a large percentage cost-saving. If the current cost structure is due to standard government work practices, presumably this degree of waste could apply similarly to other departments? What are officers doing in the Transforming Government Group, in light of this perception?’
Mr Bell said the issue had been flagged up but affected not just with the airport, but other parts of government.
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Thursday 23 February 2012
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Comments
There are 13 comments to this article
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EORH
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 09:37 AMBell and Co-Min should lead by example,from the top down a 25% cut in salaries,contribute at least 12% towards pensions,cut out the travel allowance for all,this includes Civil Servants as well. He says there has to be some tough decisions to be made,like job cuts,no rises in salaries,or wages,and Departments cut their budgets by 10%. All fine words,but when is happens,it will make the feeding of the 5000 with five loaves and two fishes,and the changing of water into wine,2 very small miracles in contrast.
DP
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 12:35 PMLaurel you are quite right that things are never as simple as we would like - or have been lead to believe. We were told by the current Chief Minister when he was Treasurer what a marvellous job he had done with the economy. Now the new Treasurer is saying that he needs to 'manage the public's expectations' due to the state of the economy. Both the UK and the Island are facing a period of austerity, probably for at least the next 5 years. And on the IOM we have to take account not only of the broad economic conditions but also the nearly one third loss of annual government revenue that will hit us over the next few years. None of us should bank on much, if any at all, upward movement in our earnings. That is why I personally believe that our politicians should be at the forefront of applying to themselvs salary, pension, allowances and political structural changes that will save money for taxpayers. Anne Craine used to say that this was flag waving! I call it leading by example.
howill
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 12:31 PMBut bus drivers in IOM are getting c.£38,000 pa pay, whereas those in the Uk are getting around 25% less. Why do our bus drivers deserve more than their UK counterparts? What do the IOM drivers do over and above those across apart from having to drive on the appalling roads here that the rest of us have to drive on too?
howill
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 12:28 PMWell said Laurel
Laurel
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 10:34 AMIf we ask people to work longer though, we create an ageing workforce, many of whom will inevitably suffer from ill health. On incremental pay rises - some schemes are linked to the UK pay and conditions such as a teacher's pay. You are awarded a post and the post will be be paid between £30, 000 to £33,000 say. This means you earn £30,000 in the first year, £31,000 in the second year and so on until you reach £33,000 and then it stops at that ceiling. So technically it's not actually a pay rise - in fact you're getting the post holder cheaper for the first two years. If you break away from UK pay and conditions then you will not attract people from the UK to work here and we need fresh blood on a regular basis or government will stagnate. It's never as simple as we would hope!
howill
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 09:09 AMThere is no doubt that leaders should lead from the front and set an example. No good preaching to others unless you are prepared to set you own house in order first. Members of the IOM Government please note. Pay, allowances and pensions of the legislature need revision downwards to suit the economic climate and to mirror what is going on in the private sector in the IOM already where people are being laid off and their salaries reduced considerably..
RevolutionNotEvolution
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 07:47 PMI've seen no sign of this process at all. When will it start ?? Too many managers are ditherers and do nothings. They have no skills in personnel issues,and just don't want to know.The responsibility is simply passed onwards until they find an odd scapegoat. I am aware of pockets of positive culture though. Mostly the size of a leprechaun's pockets,but there none the less. A positive culture will come when 9 layers of management are removed. This is happening in the UK private sector with dramatic results.I am sure we will get it in about 15 yrs,being an island new things take a long time to reach us.
manxape
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 06:49 PMWhen's a pay rise not a pay rise? When it's an incremental pay rise. Remove these from govt contracts and millions will be saved each year and this fallacy that govt isn't giving pay rises can end.
Phil.T
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 06:38 PMGood luck Mr Bell
Phil.T
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 06:34 PMI'm not too sure that LibVannin's self-appointed role of political policeman, worthy though it is in some respects, is actually adding anything to Manx politics. It certainly attracts public applause but it smacks to me of becoming nothing more than a theatre of simplistic critique with nothing new to go with it. We can all call the referee a b*****d but that doesn't make us football coaches, players or club chairmen capable of running a successful football club..........if you get my drift!
Douglas Lad
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 03:08 PMThere are already policies in place for dealing with absenteeism within Government but involve lots of red tape and Manager's with the inclination and backing from senior Managers to implement. Also DP well said. It appears that the Politicians are always focusing on others, thus deflecting any actions against them, such as a proactive approach to contibuting to their pensions, cutting down the numbers of MHK in relation to the size of the Isle of Man and being pay expenses by submitting proof. However such actions won't be forthcoming as the 'club' are fearful of their jobs. Aren't we all in this climate.
DP
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 02:04 PMWhilst Mr Bell is at it he may like to reflect on his words. He says that he wants to see an end to ‘allowing people who fear change to block and undermine it’. How about applying that to the political system. It seems to be resistant to change and any pressures for greater cost effectiveness? Leading from the front and by example is a good policy. I also note Mr Bell's words that ‘This area will have to be looked at in the future.' Why not now? Actions not words.
Little Boy Blue
Friday, January 20, 2012 at 12:58 PMHere, here the sooner the better.
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