Jack Chambers: Government to seek productivity reforms in public sector pay talks

Public expenditure minister Jack Chambers: 'We respect the fact that every side needs to conclude that before we’ll see an outcome.' File picture

The Government will seek productivity measures and reforms in public sector pay talks, public expenditure minister Jack Chambers has said.

Talks at the Workplace Relations Commission are under way on a new deal after 300,000 public sector workers went on strike earlier this month in protest at the lack of a renewed agreement.

Speaking in Dunboyne, Co Meath, on Wednesday, Mr Chambers said the talks were confidential, but confirmed the Government would ask unions for changes to productivity.

"There will be proposals around reform and productivity, and they’ll be discussed, and hopefully agreed between all sides, as well as agreement on a wider public sector pay deal itself," he said.

The Government is clear we want to have a fair deal for public sector workers, and a public sector deal has to be sustainable and affordable for the taxpayer as well.

Mr Chambers said there had been positive and constructive engagement between all sides so far. "That level of intensity will increase through the week and, obviously, we want to have a positive outcome from that," he said. 

"But as has been said by everybody involved, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.”

Mr Chambers added that “we respect the fact that every side needs to conclude that before we’ll see an outcome".

“But Government wants a positive outcome for public sector workers. We value industrial peace, and we want to have stability around industrial relations in 2027 and beyond,” he said.

Mr Chambers said gardaí would be taken into the new deal, following reports that over 90% of rank-and-file officers were in favour of industrial action. 

While 256 gardaí who responded to the GRA survey voted against industrial action, 3,977 (93.6%) voted in favour of industrial action to include a work-to-rule position for any forthcoming EU presidency events.

Some 273 of GRA members who responded to the survey (6.4%) voted against a work-to-rule during policing of the EU presidency.

About 45% of 11,600 GRA members voted in the survey.

The results come almost two weeks after public-sector strikes closed schools, libraries, and parks and led to thousands of cancelled hospital appointments due to anger over a delay to implement a new public sector pay deal, as many struggle to cope with the escalating cost of living.

Mr Chambers praised the work of gardaí, but said engagement was ongoing.

"As I've said, we've intensive discussions under way at the WRC to give a fair deal for public sector workers, including An Garda Síochána, and obviously they'll be part of any working at that if an agreement is made," he said. 

"But I know there's constant engagement with Garda management and the GRA and minister for justice as well, relating to the issues that they have and they're party to the wider discussions.

"This relates to certain matters to the EU presidency, but there will be discussions with Garda representative groups as part of the broader public sector pay discussions, and there's constant engagement with Garda management related to the issues that they have, and they've played an incredible role thus far, and I believe they'll continue to do so as we conclude the presidency at the end of the year."