ICTU approves Lansdowne Road Agreement

The Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has voted to approve the Lansdowne Road Agreement.

The deal restores around €2,000 to the pay of most public servants by 2017.

The result was widely expected after most of the country's large unions voted in favour of it - including Siptu, Impact, the Irish National Teachers Organisation and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

Trade union Unite voted against the proposals following a ballot of the union’s public-sector members in which over 75% voted to reject the deal.

Commenting, Unite’s regional co-ordinating officer Richie Browne said: "Notwithstanding the outcome of the aggregate ballot which endorsed the Lansdowne Road proposals, Unite members consider them wholly inadequate in view of the sacrifices exacted from public sector workers over the past number of years In addition to pay cuts, the pension levy and increased taxes and charges, our members have faced job losses, cuts in sick pay, longer hours and increased pressures as a result of the public sector recruitment moratorium.

"Unite’s public sector representatives will be meeting in the coming weeks to discuss the result of the aggregate ballot and how we can best continue advancing the case for full restoration of our members’ terms and conditions."