The Defence Sector pay talks, which are being conducted as part of the extension to the Croke Park Agreement, are currently underway at the Labour Relations Commission. The Official Side is made up of representatives of the Military Authorities, Department of Defence and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with RACO and PDFORRA making up the Representative Side.
It has been confirmed that if an agreement is reached it will include three elements:
- Savings from the productivity area e.g. allowances, premium payments etc.
- Generally applied pay reduction measures.
- Cuts to existing pensions decided by Government.
The Representative Side has been pressing at every meeting for full information of all three elements to be provided as part of the process. It considers this clarity essential, not least to allow members to make career decisions based on complete information.
At the suggestion of the Facilitator it was agreed that the Defence Sector talks would be adjourned until such time as the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is in a position to give details of the pay reduction measures that it proposes for application across the public service as a whole. The talks are due to reconvene on Friday, 22 February.
Further updates will be posted as they develop.
