Members of the Defence Forces have voted overwhelmingly to accept a 7 per cent pay increase. The two military staff associations, one representing officers and the other non-commissioned personnel, balloted their members simultaneously over the public sector pay offer, which was finalised almost two months ago.
The larger of the two, the Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks' Representative Association (PDFORRA) which represents about 10,000 soldiers from private to the rank of sergeant, voted by a margin of 94 per cent in favour of the deal.
The officers' association, RACO (Representative Association for Commissioned Officers) also voted strongly in favour - about 85 per cent. It is expected the deal will include an initial back payment of £1,000 to £1,500.
PDFORRA members receive a 3 per cent basic pay increase along with increased allowances, including a £15 per week increase in the military service allowance, which is paid to all soldiers; a revised rate of £25 per day for Naval patrol duty allowance; and a once-off payment to personnel who took part in the BSE operations along the Border, which will come to a total of about £750,000.
RACO members also receive the same basic increase along with the revised daily rate of £25 for Naval patrolling; increases in basic pay scales with the rationalisation of the number of pay scales; and the introduction of an emergency medical office allowance of £35 per day.
Both staff associations, in turn, have accepted the Partnership 2000 pay agreement. They have also reached agreement on a revised conciliation and arbitration scheme for the military and set a deadline for further negotiations on extra allowance payments.
The pay offer was recommended to the memberships of both associations by their negotiators, a move which was welcomed by the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith.
The typical private soldier currently earns a maximum of £268 per week.