Clare’s ISME representative has expressed fear that the public sector pay rise will result in a further drain of staff from the private sector.
Public sector unions believe a 6.5 per cent pay rise proposal was the best that could achieved through negotiations at this time, with individual unions will be asked to consult with their members ahead of a vote on October 7th.
Talks concluded at around 6 o clock this morning at the Workplace Relations Commission, 19 hours after they started.
The proposals would see a backdated 3 percent rise from February 2022, 2 percent in March 2023 and 1.5 percent or 750 euro in October 2023, whichever figure is greater.
At 10 o clock this morning, the Public Services Committee met and decided individual unions should consult with members.
In a statement, Irish Congress of Trade Unions President Kevin Callinan says it’s his belief that it was the best offer that could be achieved at this time.
The Public Services Committee has said individual unions should now consult their members, while it has asked for any planned industrial action ballots to be suspended while this process is ongoing.
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy thinks it’s a ‘poor deal’.
Clare’s ISME representative says throwing budget space at the public sector alone will diminish the ability to tackle current crisis such as housing, energy and health for everyone else though.
85% of the workforce are employed in the private sector and Siobhan Ni Ghairbhith says there’s already a strain on companies in competition with the public sector, when it comes to the recruitment and retention of staff.
The owner of St Tola’s Irish Goat Cheese Farm is concerned that a further jump in wages for only 15% of the workforce, given the current cost of living crisis, will worsen the situation for small businesses.
Listen back to the full interview below:
