PUBLIC SECTOR UNION Siptu has decided to recommend its members accept the new public sector pay deal on the table from government.

Having looked at the deal, the union’s leadership decided “on balance” that it would be better to take this deal than reject it.

The deal reached between government and the union on the new draft pay agreement will see pay restoration for the vast majority of public sector workers.

It is believed that more than 300,000 government employees will benefit from pay restoration and changes to pension contribution arrangements in the draft deal agreed earlier this month. Over three years, the deal will cost the government €887 million.

While the government has said there will be “no weakening of outsourcing protections”, unions were unable to agree a change in working hours or prevent two-tier pay scales persisting in the sector.

In a statement, Siptu said that its national executive council met to consider the proposals and decided that the positives outweighed the negatives in the deal.

The union said: “Having considered the matter in full, we have decided to recommend acceptance of the proposals, on balance, as the benefits, such as the protections against outsourcing in particular, as well as other positive elements, outweigh the potential for what might be gained by running the risk of rejection.”

Its members are set to be balloted on the pay deal, starting Monday 3 July and finishing Wednesday 9 August. Counting will then take place on 10 August.

If accepted by members, Siptu said it will “vigorously pursue implementation of all elements of the proposals”.

In particular, it said, the union will “insist on full implementation of Clause 4.1.3 which envisages a process to satisfactorily resolve the issue of pay for new entrants”.

Other unions such as Impact has already said that it would recommend accepting the deal.

Read: Public service pay deal is ‘fair to workers and taxpayers’ – Donohoe

Read: Man who sexually assaulted comatose woman to be sent to jail following appeal of ‘unduly lenient’ sentence

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More