ICTU meet to discuss benchmarking

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions will meet this morning to discuss its response to the benchmarking report published on Monday.

The unions representing different sectors in the public service are expected to use the talks to exchange their views on the report’s recommendation of an average 9% pay rise for public servants.

Bernard Harbour, a spokesman for IMPACT, said: "Two main things will be on our minds. The first is to discuss the initial responses to the recommendations of the benchmarking body and also to share with each other what we intend to do in terms of consulting our own members.

"Secondly, I think there will be a discussion of the question of the implementation of the recommendations. The offices of the public service committee [of ICTU] announced on Monday morning that they'll be recommending an early approach to Government to try to discuss the question of implementation."