Benchmarking report - Keeping Ireland competitive

The second report of the Public Service Benchmarking Body is due out later this week. Even the unions concerned have prudently been talking down expectations in view of the current economic slowdown.

Any pay increases for public servants are expected to be minimal. Some of the lowest predictions have ranged from no change to a 1.5% increase. Of course, it should be kept in mind that workers are already due to get more than 5% in two increases in 2008 under the terms of the social partnership agreement Towards 2016: 2.5% from March 1, and a further 2.5% from September 1.

There is unlikely to be a repeat of the bonanza enjoyed by public servants following the first benchmarking process five years ago. The average pay increase then ran at 9%, which Senator Joe O’Toole, a former union official, described as an “ATM” for public service workers.