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.
THE FÓRSA TRADE union is recommending its members accept a public sector pay deal which would see workers get a 6.5% pay rise across two years.
The national executive of Fórsa – which is Ireland’s largest public service union – today voted overwhelmingly to recommend that its members vote in favour of the pay package proposed by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) earlier this week.
The union will begin balloting members next week and voting will conclude in October.
The proposed pay deal would see public sector workers receive an increase of 6.5% across this year and next year.
A 3% increase would be paid this year, backdated to February. Next March a 2% rise would come into effect and a further 1.5% jump or €750 (whichever is the greater) would be introduced on 1 October 2023.
The minimum payment of €750 from next October means the package would amount to an 8% pay increase for workers earning €25,000 a year and a 7% spike for those on €37,500 a year.
The pay rises would be in addition to increases of up to 3% agreed under the existing public sector pay deal ‘Building Momentum’.
Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan said the executive accepted that the deal was the best that could currently be achieved through negotiations.
“We’ll now be explaining this package to Fórsa members, who will decide the union’s position when a final decision is taken next month. The Fórsa executive considered the details of the package and had a constructive debate, which strongly acknowledged the financial realities facing working people across the economy – and their fears for the future.
“While neither side achieved all it sought in the negotiations, this package is a significant improvement on the pay terms of Building Momentum. And it is worth more to those who need it most.
“Today’s discussion by Fórsa’s elected leadership underpinned the fact that workers expect the government to honour its promise to supplement pay measures with robust cost-of-living supports in the forthcoming Budget, and through the Labour-Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) process. A failure to do so is likely to affect the decisions that Fórsa members make in this ballot,” Callinan said.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
For all the fighting talk coming from unions over the last 2 weeks a measly 6.5 per cent is all they could get.Selling their members down the swannee as usual.
@Patrick Fennell: alot of us would give our right hand gmfor that sort of increase, without giving much in return. And a cash bonus for November..
@Patrick Fennell: Are you joking? 6.5% gets added to your DEFINED BENEFIT pension which is also index-linked.
I don’t mind a 10% increased but defined benefits will cripple this country in the near future. It needs to be scrapped.
@Patrick Fennell: I will be voting for it and hope private sector workers get a lift too from their employers
@Rob Jones: you really mean you’re jealous you don’t have a defined benefit scheme so you want to take it off those who do.
Electric Ireland energy price increase today has just done away with any saving that Public Servants would make from this deal..Its gotta be a NO vote!!
@Sean Fallon: Absolutely it will be completely swallowed up!!!!
Unbelievable! Fórsa are basically recommending a pay cut to their members. They are absolutely useless to their members when it comes to national pay agreements.
Where is Mick Lynch when you need him?
Members urge Forsa to go back to negotiations or start preparing for a strike.
As a member of Forsa it will depend on what’s in the budget, if there is no major benefit from the budget I will be voting no to this deal, if there is then I’ll be supporting it. Inflation is being caused by supply chain delays due to covid and the war in Ukraine, it’s not ingrained in the system yet so no point in chasing it with large pay increases that will cripple the economy longterm.
@The next small thing: seemly the younger people will have to pay more taxes come the new year 6.5 percent rise isn’t worth anything when there wages be less
Supply chain delays causing inflation
Are you having a laugh
have your say