Work rate ‘key’ in pay talks

Upcoming talks on pay restoration in the public service must recognise the productivity given by staff and must not come at the expense of further changes to terms and conditions of employment, a senior trade union figure insisted.

Tony Martin, chairman of health and welfare section of Impact told delegates at its divisional conference: “It’s now time for us to stop taking backward steps and move forward again.”

His comments came as Robert Watt secretary general of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, was quoted by RTÉ as saying public servants will have to continue to reform the way they work and improve productivity.