Public sector strikes: Government wants to reach a pay deal 'well and above' inflation rate

ASTI and Forsa union members picketing at Patrician Academy secondary school in Mallow, Co Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

The Government wants to reach a public sector pay deal which is above the rate of inflation, the foreign affairs minister has said.

Helen McEntee has said workers want to see unions and Government get into formal negotiations on a new pay agreement.

She said the Government has set aside €1.2bn in last week’s budget to start talks on a new deal, while adding this is “not the complete picture”.

“What we know from our previous public sector pay agreements, the last two in fact, when you look at it, the final agreement was well and above beyond what the inflation rate was at the time. That's the point we want to get to,” Ms McEntee said, during Leaders Questions’ on Thursday.

“That requires both Government and unions sitting down together.” 

Ms McEntee said she spoke with workers on picket lines on Wednesdsay, adding the message she heard is that people “want to be around the table”.

Ms McEntee was responding to Labour TD Ged Nash, who said the Government has a “maximum of 24-hours” to stop public sector strike action next week.

Mr Nash said an “overwhelming mandate” is there for a further work stoppage next Wednesday, as he pointed to plans for rolling actions over the winter if a pay deal is not reached.

The Louth TD said he visited picket lines and heard a message from workers that the Government has repeatedly gaslit and disrespected public sector employees.

He pointed to the ending of the previous pay deal in July, saying the Government had overseen “two months of deliberate inertia and inaction” on a new agreement.

The Labour TD said public expenditure minister Jack Chambers had an “awful lot of work to do” to repair trust with the unions, while pointing to his more conciliatory tone on Wednesday evening.

Ms McEntee said the workers want the Government to recognise the pressure people are under, while pointing to measures taken by the Coalition within the budget.

She said the budget recognised the increase in fuel, energy and grocery prices due to inflation, while adding the Government made adjustments to tax bands.

In his reply, Mr Nash said both the Taoiseach and Mr Chambers had taunted public sector workers in the run up to the strikes, questioning their “democratic mandate” to hold a day of action.

He asked if Taoiseach Micheál Martin would make a “substantial proposition” to unions today.

In response, Ms McEntee said the Government would not set any preconditions for pay talks, adding this would allow for pay matters to be discussed first.

She pointed to the 9% pay rise received by public sector workers in the 2024 agreement, beyond the 6% inflation rate at the time.

“What we have shown is that we are committed to the public sector more broadly,” Ms McEntee “We are committed to and absolutely respect the role that they played and that they have in our society, and that means responding by ensuring that there are high wages.”