Fórsa has backed the new public sector pay deal. In a ballot which saw 52,729 members voting on the new pay terms, 94% of members voted in favour of the deal. There was a turnout of 67.3%.
Fórsa represents just over 85,000 members, most of whom are employed in public services and state agencies.
The Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is to meet on Monday, 25th March, to aggregate the ballots of the 19 affiliated unions.
Fórsa’s National Executive Committee (NEC), issued the ballot in February with a recommendation to vote in favour of the deal, following a lengthy negotiations process that concluded in January.
ICTU Public Services Committee to aggregate union ballots on 25th March.
If the Public Sector Pay Deal is ratified by an aggregate ballot of the PSC it would provide the following pay terms:
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 previous public service pay agreement, Building Momentum, expired at the end of 2023. The proposed new deal covers the period from 1st January 2024 to 30th June 2026.
The pay proposals are estimated to be worth up to 17.3% for lower paid workers. This is because 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.
If the proposed agreement is accepted, unions will not be able to lodge any ‘cost-increasing’ claims for improvements in pay or conditions during the lifetime of the agreement. However, there are specific provisions for local bargaining, which would allow trade unions to negotiate up to an additional 3% of pay costs, inclusive of allowances, for particular grades, groups or categories of employee.
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