ESB to pay first phase of national wage deal

THE ESB has become the latest large employer to ignore the recession and agree to pay the first phase of the new national pay deal to 4,000 of its staff.

The board of the semi-state company has sanctioned the 3.5% pay increase for blue collar workers and, according to Industrial Relations News will now consider payment of the first phase to its white-collar staff.

The 21-month agreement sees workers in the private sector endure a three-month pay pause, followed by two increases of 3.5% and 2.5%.