Public service trade unions have welcomed the €38.33 fortnightly “down payment” for their members as a result of the Government’s decision to bring forward pay increases from April, but have warned that much more will be expected in a new deal later this year.

Pressure is mounting on the Government to fast-track the new Public Service Pay Commission as it scrambles to cope with mounting pay demands by unions in the wake of a €40m proposed deal for gardaí.

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One of the country’s largest public sector unions has warned that the complete repeal of the legislation which cut the pay and pensions of State employees during the recession would see high earners gain substantially more than their lower-paid colleagues.

The Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has voted to approve the Lansdowne Road Agreement.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) have voted to accept the Lansdowne Road Agreement.

The Lansdowne Road agreement on public service pay has been given another boost after a third trade union voted to accept the contents of the deal.

Trade unions warned today that there will be industrial action if the Government imposes further public-sector pay cuts.

The eight union executives which have urged their members reject the Croke Park II deal will meet officially for the first time next week to discuss a strategy to “protect existing pay rates and terms and conditions”.

The 15,000 members of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland have voted overwhelmingly to reject Croke Park II.

The education and health sectors of the public service must, between them, yield almost three quarters of the total €1bn in savings required under Croke Park II over the next three years.

After two days of negotiation, talks on Croke Park II are already in difficulty, with the country’s largest union claiming a meeting later this week will decide if unions walk away.

Public sector union leaders have said they are pessimistic about the prospect of a reaching a new agreement with the Government aimed at making a further €1bn in savings.

Public service unions have agreed to enter talks with management to discuss the Government's plan to raise a further €1bn from the Croke Park Agreement.

The Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin has said the Government wants significant additional public sector pay savings.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has voted to accept the Croke Park agreement.

The Croke Park deal on public sector pay and reform is likely to be rubber stamped by the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions today.

THE Construction Industry Federation has told the Labour Court a 20% reduction in the minimum wage rate for general operatives will help restore some of the 200,000 jobs lost in the industry over the last two years.

THE Croke Park deal on public sector pay looks set to be ratified next week after the country’s two biggest public sector unions backed the deal.

The Association of Garda Sargeants and Inspectors have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Croke Park deal on public sector pay and reform.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions says the proposed public sector agreement which emerged on Tuesday is the "best approach" to protect public servants.

Public services trade unions have confirmed an escalation in their action against budget pay cuts.

Union chiefs meet today to look at escalating their campaign of industrial action against pay cuts in the public sector.

EMERGENCY service workers will support an escalation of industrial action in the public sector in opposition to wage and service cutbacks.

Unions are meeting today for talks on last week's public sector pay cuts.

ICTU's Public Services Committee says talks will continue this afternoon with Government as planned, and that nothing has been decided yet about public sector cuts.

Unions will hold a critical meeting with Department of Finance officials today as the second stage of the benchmarking review begins.