Public sector pay deal offers 10.75% rise for 420,000 workers

A draft public‑sector pay agreement, approved by the Government and senior union leaders, sets a 10.75% pay increase for more than 420,000 public servants over a 33‑month period.

The rise will be delivered in stages. An initial 2% increase or a minimum €1,200 (whichever is greater) is back‑dated to 1 September 2026, with further increments scheduled for 2027, 2028 and 2029. A separate 1% local‑bargaining uplift is slated for the next pay deal.

Public expenditure minister Jack Chambers said the compounded effect will deliver a minimum 11.3% increase. The deal also raises the lower‑pay threshold from €50,000 to €60,000, potentially boosting the lowest salaries by up to 18.3%.

Sectoral plans will be drafted for areas such as education and health, including curriculum cooperation for teachers and digitisation of HSE systems. Both sides agreed on a review clause for significant inflation or economic changes, to be concluded within six weeks, and on no compulsory redundancies as artificial intelligence expands.

The planned public‑sector strike and related work‑to‑rule actions have been called off while unions ballot members, with results expected by early December.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: paul / Pexels.