Conclusions based on ‘myth’

THE Irish Congress of Trade Unions Public Services Committee laid the blame for yesterday’s almost non-existent increases for the majority of public sector workers on two key decisions it said were based on a “myth”.

Its chair, Peter McLoone, said the first reaction of most public servants would be disappointment, and many would inevitably be angry.

“Even on an initial reading of the report it is clear that its conclusion — that most public servants should receive zero — has been shaped by two benchmarking body decisions: one to change its methodology from that used in the first exercise and, two, to impose a much higher premium on pensions than was used in the first exercise,” said Mr McLoone, who is also general secretary of the IMPACT trade union.