IPOA recommends rejection of social partnership deal

The Irish Prison Officers' Association is to recommend rejection of the social partnership deal negotiated during intensive talks in recent weeks and months.

The union's national executive decided unanimously over the weekend to recommend rejection of the Sustaining Progress deal when it is put to a ballot of prison officers.

The proposed partnership agreement includes a 7% phased pay rise over 18 months, with a six-month pay freeze for public servants.

It also includes commitments to improve statutory redundancy entitlements and union recognition obligations, an increase in the minimum wage and the implementation of the benchmarking recommendations for public workers.