Pay deal a fair outcome, says McGrath as unions call it 'best that could currently be achieved'

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan (left) and Irish National Teachers’ Organisation general secretary John Boyle with John King. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

The head of Ireland’s largest public-sector union has said that a 6.5% pay increase offer by the Government is the “best that could currently be achieved through negotiations”.

Forsa general secretary and chair of the unions’ Public Service Committee (PSC) Kevin Callinan said that while “neither side has achieved all it sought” the new deal on offer “is a significant improvement on the pay terms” of the expiring pay deal known as Building Momentum.