We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
PUBLIC EXPENDITURE MINISTER Michael McGrath has confirmed that formal public service pay talks between the Government and unions have begun.
Exploratory talks had been taking place around the pay for 350,000 people who work in the public sector against a backdrop of rising inflation.
Following today’s Cabinet meeting, the Minister said he believes that there is now a basis for entering into formal talks.
“I advised my Cabinet colleagues this morning that I am of the view that there exists a basis for formal negotiations to now take place,” McGrath said in a statement.
Cabinet has agreed to the proposal and discussions will be facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) commencing next week.
“I recognise that these will be very challenging negotiations given the impact high levels of inflation are having on living standards of workers but also because of the uncertainty in the global economic outlook,” he continued.
“My aim in these talks will be to strike the right balance and seek to achieve a deal that is fair and affordable to both taxpayers generally and public service employees.
“Given the confidential nature of the process I will not be commenting further during the negotiation period.”
Under the Building Momentum Public Sector Pay Agreement, public sector workers received a 1% pay increase last year. They are due to receive a further 1% increase in October.
In March, unions triggered the agreements’ review clause due to the increasing cost of living.
New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show inflation is now at a 38-year high.
Irish consumer prices increased by an average of 7.8% in the 12 months to May, up from 7% in the year to April.
It’s the largest annual increase in the consumer price index since 1984, when annual inflation was marginally higher at 7.9%
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Lets hope the unions do a good job and not sell the workers down the drain.
And of course our representatives will benefit of course from these increases, god help them they’re struggling!
And so it begins the votes for sale event is back
What this country needs us a change and none of the above is gonna give it to us …..can’t believe
@Michael Nolan: So who will?
@Gavin Conran: some times you have to make a leap of faith …..this last time I took it with fg and labour . ..burned me Instead of the bond holders …there’s not many left that I haven’t voted for …don’t get me started in the greens in 08
The security Inustry thought they eaare getting a 30ent per hour pay rise 4 years ago but the big companies who could afford it took it to the courts. Still working in the security industry. Still no pay rise
Some of these public servant’s are worth a hell of a lot more than a lot of others,some real wastes of space in a lot of those jobs,get rid of those permanent contracts and employ a lot of them yearly and I guarantee soon see the benefits.
@Paul Owens: So you want public servants and all of the decisions to come from people who are employed on a yearly basis? I wonder how much of a worse state the government departments would be in if they had new people coming in every single year, with no training.
Sick of seeing people blame civil servants for the mess the country is in. The majority of civil servants are hard at work every day just as much as the private sector. It’s not as cushy as some suggest, especially the wages many of them are on. It’s the government who ultimately calls the shots on everything, they are to blame for the issues.
@Tomo: it’s estimated 40.000 have little or nothing to do everyday,they take no risks in life with their jobs,their salary paid by people living in the real world,they can’t be moved where they are needed or they go to HR, promotion if u have a pulse,lazy a holes most of them,and by the way I work in the public service,,,half them should be sacked
@Paul Owens:
Estimated by whom
Have you a link for the source of this figure
@Willie: No I don’t sorry,but I am surprised it’s 40.000, could be more,,I work in public service and half do f,,all and other half do all the work,,the higher u go it’s gets worse,there are tons u can do in public service to make it a lot more efficient,it’s a joke,I worked abroad for 3 years and it’s amazing what a 2 year contract will do to people to get their ass moving,,stop the permanent contracts to start with.
@Paul Owens: again as @Willie was saying where you getting the 40,000 figure from?
All the time the private sector will go out on the wrong side
All public service workers should be getting around 8 percent pay increase
CPI since my last increase in Sep 2018 has gone up 8.8% yet theres no sign of a resolution to the security ERO in sight.
The current rate is 11.65 and I think at a minimum it should be increased by circa 10% to €12.80 immediately if not €13
Those in public service have job security, pensions and other benefits the private sector don’t particularly those of us at the low end who are feeling it more then anyone above us on €30k+ a year
@Stealth: The public service pension isn’t with a lot at the low end as it is better off against the state pension and there is a pension Levy and contribution
@Mickety Dee: *worth *netted
have your say