Further backing for public pay deal

The public service pay deal is set for overwhelming acceptance as four more unions yesterday voted to back it.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) backed the deal by a margin of 75% to 25%, while the Irish Medical Organisation did so by an even bigger margin of 85% to 15%. The biggest acceptance margin of all came from the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) which supported the new public service pay deal by 93% to 7%.

The INMO said it will seek immediate engagement with the Public Service Pay Commission to address concerns regarding staff recruitment and retention difficulties in the health sector.