Public sector pay talks to resume at WRC
Formal public sector pay talks between the Government and unions will resume at the Workplace Relations Commission.
The negotiations opened yesterday and were adjourned after around four hours.
The talks come after unions triggered a review clause within the existing public sector pay deal ‘Building Momentum’ due to rising inflation.
Under the current agreement, public sector workers received a 1% pay increase last year, with a further 1% due in October.
Arriving at the WRC yesterday, Irish Congress of Trade Unions President Kevin Callinan said they were looking for fairness and a reasonable approach from the Government.
Unions have not yet said what percentage pay increase they are seeking but have said that their focus will be on the gap that has emerged between where inflation is now and where it was when the original public sector pay deal was agreed.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath said last week that the Government believes there is a basis to proceed and enter formal pay negotiations.
However, he said that success is not guaranteed and that the negotiations will be difficult against a challenging backdrop of global economic uncertainty and rising inflation.
Both sides have said they expect the talks to be intense and that they could conclude, with or without a deal, within a week or two.
Article Source – Public sector pay talks to resume at WRC – Brian O’Donovan – RTE
