The move comes as two big unions, Unite and Siptu, are to ballot for industrial action over the escalating row.
In correspondence issued to NAS managers, seen by the Irish Independent, the NAS has directed an internal audit be carried out to determine how many workers received shift allowance payments when they were not entitled to them.
Such payments are understood to date back more than 20 years. NAS director Robert Morton has further written to Unite and Siptu outlining measures that can be taken by staff who face having such shift allowances terminated.
In a letter dated January 30, the unions were advised that personnel have the option to terminate secondments and return to a 24/7 roster, receive unsocial hours allowance rather than shift allowance or change their work roster to incorporate days, nights and weekends into their shift pattern and thereby qualify for the payment.
“What is clear is that any staff member whom does not meet the eligibility criteria confirmed by the Labour Court is not eligible to receive the shift allowance,” the letter said.
A directive was issued following a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) hearing last December. It warned that shift allowances can…
