Unite accuses Govt of 'dragging its feet' on pay deal

The Unite trade union has accused the Government of "dragging its feet" on elements of the current public sector pay deal.

The agreement is due to expire at the end of June and talks on a successor deal are expected to begin in the coming weeks.

The pay proposals were agreed in January 2024 and include a local bargaining mechanism which allows for a specified percentage of the pay deal to be negotiated for individual grades, groups or categories in the public service.

Unite said outstanding local bargaining increases must be delivered in advance of a new pay deal being finalised.

"The Department of Public Expenditure has been dragging its feet on local bargaining, with the result that many workers are missing out on a pay boost which would make a real difference at a time of spiraling prices," said Unite regional coordinating officer Tom Fitzgerald.

"Discussions on a further public sector deal should not advance until outstanding local bargaining increases are paid," Mr Fitzgerald said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Public Expenditure said issues regarding a specific local bargaining claim should be raised with relevant sectoral management in the first instance.

Unite made its call as it released the results of a new survey of members in the public sector on the issue of cost-of-living increases.

Over 800 members responded and almost all said that their household costs had increased over the past year, with the overwhelming majority citing increases of between 15% and 20%.

According to the survey, 80% of respondents said they had to cut back on essential spending such as food or energy over the past year, while over a quarter said they had fallen behind on payments such as rent, mortgage, bills or loans.

Unite represents public sector workers in areas such as local authorities, health, higher education and public bodies such as Enterprise Ireland.

"These figures are shocking, alarmingly they do not take into account the potential impact on prices of the US-led war in the Middle East," said Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham.

"It is scandalous that public sector workers who provide the services on which we all rely can't make ends meet," Ms Graham said.