In a significant development, trade unions and the Irish Government have reached an agreement on a public sector pay deal, entailing a 10.25% pay rise for workers over a 2.5-year period. The negotiations, described by Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe as “difficult,” resulted in a deal benefiting 385,000 civil and public sector workers, including teachers, gardaí, and HSE staff.
The pay deal comprises a base pay increase of 9.25%, supplemented by a provision for a local bargaining mechanism equivalent to 1%. The final figure was settled during overnight talks at the WRC, where initial proposals by the government (just over 8%) and counter-offers by unions (over 12%) were navigated to achieve consensus.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) hailed the negotiated pay increase as the “absolute maximum achievable through negotiations.” The terms are now being presented to the 19 affiliate unions, urging them to consider and initiate the process of organizing union member ballots. The balloting period is anticipated to extend until March 25 to allow ample time for union deliberations.
The ICTU highlighted that negotiators secured a higher pay adjustment for workers in 2024 (4.5%) than initially proposed by the government. Details for the local bargaining mechanism will be finalized by June 30, with local negotiations scheduled to take place between then and June 2025.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio One, Minister Donohoe emphasised the difficulty of the negotiation process and the importance of reaching an agreement on public sector wages for the stability of the Irish economy. He noted the commitment to continue engaging with unions on local bargaining rights, highlighting the significance of the 1% mechanism agreed upon in the deal, which represents a considerable cost to the public purse.
The talks, initiated in November, faced two breakdowns before the latest round of negotiations, prompted by an invitation from WRC officials to re-engage. While the agreement marks a milestone, some union representatives, like Antoinette Cunningham from AGSI (union for gardaí), expressed concerns over officials not fully understanding sector-specific issues such as rosters, emphasising the need for ongoing dialogue.
Irish Samachar English News
Kindly click the link below to join WhatsApp group chat to get important news and breaking news from Irish Samachar.