Gardaí and teachers ‘can still change their mind’ on pay deal - or may lose €2K bonuses

Gardaí and teachers who have turned down the pay deal with the Government face the loss of €2,000 in bonuses, but they can still change their minds, says Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin.

He said it was now up to trade unions representing gardaí and teachers to decide whether to sign up to the new deal, but they must do so before next year.

His comments came as the Labour minister signed off on legislation yesterday which reverses pension and some pay reductions under financial emergency measures introduced during the crisis. Mr Howlin confirmed though, that unions who had not agreed to the Lansdowne Road public sector pay deal, which comes into place next year, faced the loss of their work-related bonuses or increments.

“If you’re not part of an agreement, you can’t simply have the good bits and not have the bad bits,” he said.

“We will take no precipitative action against anybody as long as they are protected by negotiated agreement. If people are not part of it, they cannot chose to get only the benefits and not take the responsibilities it requires.

“I’m open to anybody coming on board and I hope all civil servants will be encompassed by it.”

Under the new financial emergency measures in the public interest legislation, the Government can retain increments for up to two years if workers are not covered by an agreement.

This is thought to amount to over €2,000 for some workers. The ASTI and the TUI have voted against signing up to the Lansdowne Road Agreement. The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors saw 52.6% vote against the deal last month. It would have given members a €2,000 pay bonus over three years.

Mr Howlin said it could be up to the Government after the next general election to decide on what actions to take. He also said that, under the legislation, only former ministers on pensions of up to €35,000 would see some cuts reversed.

There had been concern that ministers from previous governments or civil servants with large pensions could have cuts reversed.

Asked what the exact position was with former ministers and their pensions being restored, Mr Howlin told reporters: “Under the legislation I brought in, the benefits would only accrue to those who are receiving pensions up to just below €35,000. The additional withdrawal of pension or pension deduction, up to 28% over €100,000, remains in place. It’s not being restored.”