Richard Boyd Barrett Challenges Taoiseach on Public Service Pay
Richard Boyd Barrett challenged the Taoiseach over public service pay negotiations during an exchange in the Dáil, as workers prepared for industrial action. He called for a decent pay offer to address inflation-related losses and keep pace with rising prices.
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Transcript
Taoiseach, teachers, nurses, council workers, workers who work in this building, public
and civil servants have voted overwhelmingly, more than 90% in most cases, for industrial
action.
Some of the work to rules will begin this week because this government hasn't offered
them a pay increase that will actually make up for the loss of earnings as a result of
the inflation and cost of living crisis, or being willing to discuss pay up front in negotiations
as their union representatives have asked the government to do.
So are you going to sit down and make a proper, decent offer to the workers in this building
who keep our public services and our civil service going to compensate them for the loss
of earnings in real terms because of inflation over recent years and a decent pay increase
to keep pace with inflation over the coming years?
Are you going to do that to avoid them having to take this action?
The last pay agreement not only kept up with inflation but exceeded inflation, particularly
for low paid workers.
And of course the government is anxious to enter into a public service pay negotiations.
We've made it very clear that we want to engage in public service pay negotiations with the
I don't believe there's any need for balloting, I don't believe there's any need for a work to rule.
I believe negotiations without preconditions should commence with the objective of achieving
a public service pay agreement for all public service workers, just like we did on previous
occasions.
And it's entirely doable.
And that's what should happen.
And so, that's, that's, that's, what do you mean you want to, what, I mean, sorry.
Deputy Boyd Barrow.
What do you mean pay up front?
The bottom line is we want to enter into public service pay negotiations.
We're putting money aside in the budget.
Substantial funding will be put aside in the budget towards a public service pay agreement.
I think the unions know this deep down.
I don't.
The leadership certainly knows it.
Thank you David.