Wage deal bad for the economy, says ISME

ISME, the independent lobby group for small to medium companies, warned yesterday a heavy price will be paid for the new wage deal singed off on by employers and trade unions on Monday.

ISME said the new pact was “a bad deal for small business, a bad deal for the economy, a bad deal for democracy but a good deal for the public sector unions and CORI”.

The association warned that this ‘agreement at all costs’ would have serious repercussions for Irish competitiveness and the overall welfare of the State.