Pay rises must be ‘well ahead’ of inflation

ANY new national agreement must have pay increases significantly ahead of inflation, according to Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) general secretary John White.

He said his union was bitterly disappointed with the report of the second benchmarking body, which included no increases for its 17,500 members.

As the vast majority of public servants received no increases, Mr White said it was unlikely public service unions would enter another benchmarking process.