The Public Services Committee (PSC) of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions met this morning (Tuesday) in anticipation of an invitation to formal talks on a possible successor to the current public service pay deal, the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA).
The committee, which represents all ICTU-affiliated unions with members working in the civil and public service, decided that it would accept an invitation to formal negotiations if one was made. The invitation has since been received from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
The committee heard a report on progress in exploratory talks, which have been underway between the PSC’s officers and senior Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) officials, with the aim of establishing whether there is a basis for formal talks. Last week, PSC Chair Kevin Callinan said the engagements with DPER had intensified significantly.
The PSSA has been in place since January 2018 and expires on 31st December 2020.