Public service craft workers get 17% pay rise

Around 4,000 public service craftworkers are in line for a 17% pay rise. This comes as part of the Benchmarking agreement, and is almost twice the average increase.

Paddy Coughlan of SIPTU chaired the craft group that secured the pay hike, said it was the" best deal that could be obtained in the present circumstances".

He said that it was a considerable acheivement, as there had been opposition to public service pay increases from business and right wing politicians.

The pay increase works out at of up to €87.57 per worker per week. The increase will be paid in two stages, on January 1, 2004, and June 1, 2005.

The workers are also due to receive an annual bonus of €888.81 each December. They will also get three pay increases, to the value of around 3%, as part of the Sustaining Progress deal.

The combination of the increases and bonuses will be worth around €100 extra a week for each employee.