Public pension hike proposal to spark anger

A long-awaited Public Sector Pay Commission report recommending continued restoration of pay is to be brought to Cabinet today.

However, in return for increased wages — which Government could delay by a number of months — the report is expected to recommend workers contribute more towards their pensions, a move that would spark fury among workers.

Unions representing the country’s 300,000 public sector workers have already reacted angrily to any notion of changing pension arrangements and are calling for a full restoration of pay ahead of talks to establish a successor to the Lansdowne Road Agreement.