Sinn Féin spokesperson on Defence, Sorca Clarke TD, has welcomed the agreement between the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and the government over public servants pay. There are “significant numbers” of public servants yet to ratify the deal , however. 

Teachta Clarke said:

“I welcome the news that the government and ICTU has come to terms with a public service pay agreement. While this deal is not everything we would have wanted, it does offer some security for pay and against privatisations as well as a modest 2% pay increase and a possibility of another 1% of pensionable pay.

“There are still, however, thousands of public service workers who are not represented by ICTU and who’s unions and representative bodies were not included fully in the negotiation process. Should they ballot and decide that there are still unaddressed issues I would encourage the government to engage fully with these bodies to find a solution.

“Some smaller unions outside of the ICTU umbrella have yet to ballot, as do the Psychiatric Nurses Association, the Permanent Defence Forces Representative Association (PDFORRA), the Reserve Defence Force Representative Association (RDFRA) and the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) and others.

“The government’s lack of engagement has shown exactly how they will treat organisations without union rights. Their dismissiveness shouldn’t be forgotten. It is something I have become accustomed to working with members of the Defence Forces who have long argued for improved pay and conditions with little to show for it.

“Sinn Féin has long argued that these workers be given the same rights to unionise that all other workers have and that their representative bodies be given union status. Until such recognition is given it is imperative that the government engages with their organisations to find acceptable solutions to pay and working conditions.”