Wage deal ‘to cost sector €55m a year’

The proposed 5.5% wage deal would cost the food processing sector €55 million per year, according to the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association.

Pat O’Rourke, president, has asked the pay talks negotiators to outline precisely where the funding for this increased cost is to be found.

He said the food sector is almost totally dependant on exports and therefore these increased costs cannot be recovered from the market place where prices are set internationally.