Govt, trade unions to prepare for formal talks on pay

Government and trade Unions will prepare for the start of formal negotiations on a new public sector pay deal at the Workplace Relations Commission tomorrow.

It follows an announcement last night that both sides had agreed to enter into official discussions after a period of sustained deadlock, including Wednesday’s national strike involving over 300,000 public sector workers.

A second 24-hour strike by public sector workers for next Wednesday was suspended on Friday.

Last night’s announcement came after meetings throughout Saturday aimed at exploring whether the formal process could begin, with a resolution not initially expected after a single day of engagement.

Independent Chair Kevin Foley met a trade union representative, ICTU General Secretary Owen Reidy, and a Government representative, Oonagh Buckley, who is Secretary General of the Department of the Environment, at the offices of the Forsa trade union in Dublin.

Other key stakeholders were briefed on the phone.

Shortly before 9pm, the trio confirmed an agreement had been reached for formal pay talks to start on Monday.

In a statement, they said: “Following engagement with the parties, we believe that discussions at the WRC should get underway on Monday, 19 October.

“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.”

However, the trio also sounded a word of caution, adding that “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”.

Unions insist some of the commitments made by Government in the previous agreement have been reneged upon.

Mr Foley, Mr Reidy and Ms Buckley said they will remain available should there be any impasse on any particular matter during the negotiations at the WRC and they would “put forward a means of resolution which should be accepted by the parties”.

“We wish to make it clear that this special arrangement should be understood as an exceptional measure reflective of the scale of this dispute and its impact on the economy and the people who rely on public services.

“This measure is specific to this dispute and its unique nature and is not in any sense a template or precedent for any other dispute between these or any other parties,” they added.

Trade unions and Government will spend today finalising negotiating teams for the talks. Arrangements on how the talks will proceed will also be finalised.

Sources on both sides welcomed last night’s development, while expressing positive surprise that this part of the process has concluded quicker than expected.

The Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers also welcomed developments.

“I would like to thank Mr Foley, Mr Reidy and Ms Buckley for their intensive work today. Their statement provides the basis for a move into constructive dialogue at the Workplace Relations Commission to start on Monday”, he said.

“This is a positive move forward and demonstrates the genuine commitment to dialogue on all sides to ensure an outcome that delivers for our people and our country.

“I look forward to the formal talks commencing on Monday,” added the Fianna Fáil Dublin West TD.

Read more: Phone calls that helped get next Wednesday’s strike suspended