Pay is ‘top priority’ for civil servants

The trade union representing mid-ranking civil servants has said its members will withhold any further productivity in order to secure a restoration of pay in talks beginning next month.

In his address at the start of its annual conference in Kerry, Public Service Executive Union (PSEU) president Brendan Lawless told delegates restoration of pay was the “number one priority for the majority of members”.

Refering to approaching talks with Government, he added: “I want to emphasise to those representing the official side that this will be purely about restoration and there will be no further concessions in return for restoration of pay. There may be plans in some Government quarters to seek more changes and it may seem like an adroit plan to some people but it does have two major flaws.