Premium payments bill cut targeted

The Government wants to press ahead with plans under Croke Park II to cut its bill for premium payments to public servants in a move which will put it on a collision course with more than 70,000 frontline workers.

However, to lessen the blow, government negotiators have told unions they are willing to cut the percentage by which they will reduce premium payments if they can agree a reduction in number of people working those hours and an increase in overall hours worked.

The Government wants payments for working Sundays to be reduced from double time to time and a half, and “twilight” payments for working between 6pm and 8pm, and additional payments for working Saturdays to be scrapped.