Senior civil and public servants back deal

THE union representing senior civil and public servants yesterday voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Croke Park deal on public service pay and reform.

The Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants backed the deal by a margin of 1,936 votes to 330. Its general secretary Dave Thomas said the Croke Park terms represented the best hope of ensuring no further cuts in pay for public servants while also providing a mechanism for the reversal of pay cuts over time if the reforms deliver verifiable savings.

“Our members have suffered reductions in pay and pension entitlements of up to 17% in the last 12 months, but they recognised that the alternative to this deal, namely prolonged industrial action in the present economic climate, will not achieve a better outcome,” he said.

AHCPS is the second union to back the deal. On Wednesday the Public Service Executive Union also voted in favour. The rest of the unions will complete their ballots over the next month.

Health Minister Mary Harney said yesterday there was “no plan B” alternative to the Croke Park proposals. Ms Harney, who received a muted welcome at the final day of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) annual delegate conference in Co Meath, said the Croke Park proposal was “the best that can be offered in the circumstances” and that people needed “to reflect on that”.

She refused to be drawn on the recommendation of the INMO’s executive council that members reject the deal and said it was up to each individual public servant to weigh it up for themselves.

Yesterday INMO deputy general secretary Dave Hughes said the clarification issued by Kieran Mulvey in relation to the proposals made no difference to their recommendation because the moratorium on staff recruitment remained in place.

Ms Harney said the decision by IMPACT not to reject the proposals was a boost for the Government.