Irish public sector gets more pay


Unions and the Irish government look set to sign an agreement on higher pay for around 340,000 workers in the public sector. Talks began earlier this year, after unions, concerned about rapidly rising prices, used a review clause to reopen the two-year pay settlement they signed in 2020. The two sides have now reached a new deal, which they are recommending to their members.


This provides a 6.5% increase over this year and next, paid in three stages: 3.0% backdated to February 2022; 2.0% in March 2023 and 1.5%, with a guaranteed €750, paid in October 2023. These figures are on top of the 1.0% increase under the existing deal, paid through sectoral increases in February 2022. 


The increase is less than inflation, which was 8.7% in August, but Kevin Callinan, the unions’ main negotiator, said it was the best that could be achieved through negotiations.