ICTU to pursue benchmarking awards

The ICTU is insisting that the payment of benchmarking awards this year and next, has not been ruled out by Government.

However, earlier this month, Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, at a plenary session of the PPF, said that it would not be realistic to implement the pay hikes in this time-scale, given the current state of the economy.

The ICTU is insistent that it wants to see the full pay-outs recommended in the report implemented by the end of 2003.

They now say that they have a letter by the Department of Finance confirming that this demand has not been ruled out.

They are determined to pursue full implementation of benchmarking vigorously.