Joan Burton backs public pay rise

Tánaiste Joan Burton has backed plans to give public sector workers pay rises of up to 3% in the coming months, despite declining to say how much money is available to fund it.

Under moves leaked before the Coalition’s “spring statement” budget announcement tomorrow, Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin and Finance Minister Michael Noonan are considering offering the wage rises in meetings with union leaders next month.

If agreed, the pay rises are likely to be signed off by the Dáil before it breaks for its summer recess in July, resulting in benefits to a 290,000-strong public workforce which has seen wages fall by an average of 14% in the recession.