Talks on a new public sector pay deal are due to begin today at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
It follows meetings on Saturday overseen by a Government appointed group aimed at resolving a pay dispute that saw more than 300,000 public sector workers engage in strike action last Wednesday.
Another strike was due to take place this Wednesday but was suspended by unions to allow for talks.
Industrial action in the form of a work-to-rule is continuing across the public sector.
After meeting the sides in the dispute, the Government appointed group, led by WRC Chair Kevin Foley, said discussions at the WRC should get underway today.
“The discussions should commence with pay related matters, including the trade unions’ claims on cost-of-living effects between 2021 –2025, this year, and for the duration of any agreement,” the group said in a statement.
“There is a need to rebuild trust and confidence in industrial relations in the public sector by addressing commitments made in the context of the previous agreement.”
“In the event of an impasse being reached in respect of any matter during the negotiations at the WRC, we will remain available to consider any such issue at the request of the WRC and to put forward a means of resolution which should be accepted by the parties,” the group added.
Yesterday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the new pay deal should advance productivity in the public service as well as provide protections to low-paid workers.
He added that any deal should represent “value for money”.
Mr Martin refused to be drawn on whether the Government would go beyond the €1.2 billion allocated in this month’s Budget for a new deal amid suggestions the Coalition could dip into a €1.6b pot for unallocated budgetary spending.
Unions have expressed the belief that the cost of a new deal could run to €2b.
“Nothing is decided, no precise figures have even been mentioned yet, other than what we’ve provided in terms of the Budget”, he said.
