Unions furious over benchmarking report

Public service unions were tonight furious that an independent benchmarking body recommended little or no pay rises for their workers.

Increases were earmarked for just 15 of the 109 grades examined by the Public Service Benchmarking Body.

The group said in its 250-page report presented to Minister for Finance Brian Cowen that it generally found that public service salaries at most levels compared well with the private sector.

The increases, which range from 1% to a maximum of 15% for senior health professionals are estimated are cost 50m euro a year.

The benchmarking report covered all the major groups in the public service and its recommendations will trigger discussions on a new public service pay agreement.

The benchmarking body, which includes employer and union representatives, reviewed the salaries of 300,000 public sector employees, including civil servants, gardaí, teachers and nurses.

Several unions including those representing teachers and university lecturers were furious at the report’s recommendations.

“There is a significant gap between the lifetime earnings of teachers and those working in comparable careers in the public and private sectors,” said an ASTI spokesperson.

The International Federation of University Teachers said university lecturers earn between €10,000 and €15,000 less per year than students who graduated only three years ago.

“It is a slap in the face to all academic staff and a brutal and short-sighted decision which will have major adverse consequences,” a spokesman added.

The Irish Nurses’ Organisation said the lack of pay rises for its members devalued the profession.

The body said it had recommended a pay rise where the remuneration of a public service grade was below private sector levels.

It said its findings had to underpin the country’s competitiveness and continued economic prosperity.

Top union Siptu said the report reflected the failure of the Government to address growing disparities in society. However business lobby Ibec said it brought reality into pay scales in the public service.

The previous benchmarking body which reported in July 2002, awarded public servants an average increase of 8.9% each.