The largest public service union Fórsa has accused public service employers of flouting Covid-19 public health restrictions by forcing more people than necessary to travel to work during Level 5 restrictions.
In a statement, Fórsa claims there had been a "widespread management failure" to properly identify precisely which workers actually needed to attend their workplaces to undertake essential functions during the pandemic rather than working remotely.
The union alleges that what it called "macho-management" could undermine national attempts to bring the virus under control, and put the staff in question at unnecessary risk.