The National Executive Council (NEC) of SIPTU met on the 31st of January to consider the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) proposals for a new ‘Public Service Agreement 2024 – 2026’.
The NEC, having considered the details of the proposals, decided that they should be put to a ballot of SIPTU members in the Public Service and Section 38 Agencies with a recommendation for acceptance.
The pay proposals secured by SIPTU and the other unions in these negotiations are crucially structured in a manner that is consistent with the outcome of previous agreements which prioritise the position of lower and middle-income earners.
If these proposals are accepted, SIPTU members will be covered by the provisions of this Public Service Agreement until the end of June, 2026.
Accordingly, the SIPTU National Executive Council recommends acceptance of these proposals which will be put to a vote of all our members in the public service in a secret ballot to be held over the period Monday, 12th February to Wednesday, 20th March, 2024.
SIPTU representatives, along with colleagues in the Public Services Committee of the ICTU, were in discussions over the last number of months with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform for a new Public Service Agreement.
Following a period of intense engagement over the 25th and 26th January, these proposals were negotiated that will provide long lasting pay benefits to our members that are structured in a way that will assist them in dealing with the cost of living and inflationary crisis.
The proposals also provide for mechanisms to normalise industrial relations in the public service, a bargaining mechanism to allow workers deal with their grade related issues and, significantly, include procedures that protect our members against unilateral outsourcing.
A webinar for Shop Stewards was hosted by Deputy General Secretary for the Public Service John King and available to watch below.