Establishment Of Public Service Pay Commission Welcomed

The Public Services Committee (PSC) of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has welcomed the announcement of the establishment of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC), chaired by former Chair of the Labour Court, Kevin Duffy.

The PSC said it believes the commission can play an important role in helping to bring stability to public service pay determination "as we move to replace the FEMPI legislation".

In a statement, the PSC said: "Achieving this would be to the benefit of workers, government and the taxpayers who ultimately foot the public service pay bill."

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe confirmed, during last week's Budget speech, that PSPC would start work shortly and report to him no later than the middle of 2017.

Minister Donohoe said the PSPC would address the process of unwinding the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest legislation, which introduced the pay cuts and pension levy.

Also welcoming the news, Fianna Fáil Education Spokesperson Thomas Byrne expressed his hope the Commission would recognise the particular role of teachers in the long term economic development of the country.

Deputy Byrne said: "The Public Sector Pay Commission was a key demand of Fianna Fáil in the Confidence and Supply Arrangement negotiations. While most unions have accepted the Lansdowne Road agreement, clearly there is also a need for an approach for the medium and long term.

"It is my sincere hope that the Public Sector Pay Commission will recognise the particular value of teaching in society, at whatever level of education. I also expect that it will be a pointer to a positive and attractive future for the profession.

"Fianna Fáil has been clear in articulating our views to the Government that pay inequality for new entrants to the teaching profession cannot be justified and is corroding morale within schools.

"For teacher unions within the Lansdowne Road Agreement, substantial progress has already been made on restoring pay for newly qualified teachers and I will be asking the Public Sector Pay Commission to ensure that full pay equality is secured.

"I would hope that the ASTI sees some possibility of taking part in the Lansdowne Road process and that their members may also rightly benefit from the deal.

"In my view, this could be a constructive path to settling industrial relations issues now evident in sectors of the profession," concluded Deputy Byrne.

(MH/CD)