Union representatives in Clare have expressed hope of a speedy resolution to public sector pay talks over the coming days.
Negotiations between Government and union representatives get underway from two o’clock this afternoon at the Workplace Relations Commission, following last week’s strike action.
The talks follow meetings on Saturday, overseen by a Government-appointed working group, at which both sides agreed to engage in negotiations today.
Last Wednesday’s strike saw more than 300,000 public sector workers take part in a 24-hour work stoppage, causing widespread disruption.
A further strike planned for Wednesday has been suspended to allow negotiations to proceed, but work-to-rule action affecting public services will continue.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin says both sides will have their positions, but differences will have to be ironed out during the negotiations.
Clare’s INTO representative says the pay talks must address the gap between wages and the cost of living since January 2021.
Gareth Heagney is also calling for protection against further cost-of-living increases in 2027 and beyond, as well as improvements to the second phase of local bargaining.
Mr Heagney, principal of Sixmilebridge National School, says the challenge for union negotiators is to secure the best possible deal for members, while minimising changes to working conditions and productivity expectations.
The Government has allocated €1.2 billion towards a new public sector pay deal.
Reports over the weekend suggested a further €1.6 billion could be available in unallocated budget funding, while unions estimate the cost of a new deal could reach €2 billion.
Clare-based paramedic and MidWest representative on the Irish Ambulance Representative Council, Orla Considine, argues the proposed pay increase would do little more than keep pace with inflation, leaving workers with little improvement in their spending power.
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