SIPTU to announce results of pay deal ballot

Ireland's largest trade union is due to announce the results of its ballot on the new national pay deal today.

SIPTU's 250,000 members have spent the past month voting on the agreement, which was finalised in September following weeks of fraught negotiations.

The deal allows for 6% pay rise over the course of 21 months for both public and private sector employees.

SIPTU's vote will effectively decide whether the agreement is ratified by the Irish Congress of Trade Union.

The union's leadership has recommended acceptance on the grounds that it is the best possible achievement in the current economic climate.

Yesterday, the UNITE trade union announced that its 60,000 members had voted to reject the deal.