New deal will see full and final unwinding of 2009 FEMPI legislation and provides for unions to negotiate up to an additional 3% of pay costs via local bargaining.
The Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has ratified the new public service pay agreement following its meeting this morning (Monday, 25th) and the aggregation of ballots by the 19 affiliated unions. The new agreement covers the period from 1st January 2024 to 30th June 2026.
Most affiliate unions have returned ballots of their members with sizable majorities in favour of the new pay agreement, paving the way for pay improvements worth 9.25% - with a further 1% available for local bargaining - for public service workers.
The deal followed a lengthy and challenging negotiation between PSC officers and Government representatives. Talks commenced last November and concluded in January this year, while the previous public service pay agreement, Building Momentum, expired at the end of 2023.
PSC chair and Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan said the new agreement marks the end of an era of industrial relations conducted under the terms of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation, which was introduced during the financial crash in 2009.
He added: “Unions had sought the full and final unwinding of the legislation in these negotiations to re-establish normal industrial relations. This agreement also provides specific provisions for local bargaining, which will give trade unions the scope to negotiate up to an additional 3% of pay costs, inclusive of allowances, for particular grades, groups or categories of employee.
“In both respects we’ve established a unique pay agreement, while ensuring the maximisation of benefits for public servants in the early phase, with 4.25% payable this year,” he said.
The pay proposals are estimated to be worth up to 17.3% for lower paid workers. This is because each of the flat-rate elements of the pay deal are worth more to public servants earning below €50k per annum. The benefit is greater for incomes below this level of salary.
Unions will not be able to lodge any ‘cost-increasing’ claims for improvements in pay or conditions during the lifetime of the agreement. However, the specific provisions for local bargaining will allow trade unions to negotiate up to an additional 3% of pay costs, inclusive of allowances, for particular grades, groups or categories of employee.
Detailed arrangements for local bargaining are to be agreed by the 30th of June this year, with local negotiations to take place between July 2024 and June 2025, and agreements secured, to the greatest extent possible, through direct negotiations.
The deal provides for the following pay terms over the duration of the agreement:
2024
• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 2.25% or €1,125, whichever is greater, from 1st January 2024
• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% on 1st June 2024
• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on 1st October 2024.
2025
• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 2% or €1,000, whichever is greater, on 1st March 2025
• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% on 1st August 2025
• The first phase of local bargaining, equivalent to 1% of payroll cost, on 1st September 2025
2026
• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on 1st February 2026
• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% on 1st June 2026.
The four officers of the Public Services Committee of the ICTU are:
• Chair: Kevin Callinan, general secretary, Fórsa
• Secretary: John King, deputy general secretary, SIPTU
• Vice chair: John Boyle, general secretary, INTO
• Vice chair: Phil Ní Sheaghdha, general secretary, INMO
