Senior public servants reject Lansdowne Road pay deal

The Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants (AHCPS) has emphatically rejected the proposed Lansdowne Road agreement on public sector pay and pensions.

The union, which represents some 2,850 senior civil service members, said 87 per cent of those balloted opposed the deal with 13 per cent voting in favour. Turnout for the ballot was 63 per cent.

The association's secretary general Ciaran Rohan said the result showed the proposed offer to be " both unfair and inequitable".

Under the proposed deal, most public service personnel will receive an increase in earnings of about €2,000 in three phases between January 2016 and September 2017.

“Our members experienced a disproportionate reduction in their incomes during the financial emergency but, now as we come out that other side and we return to growth - there has been no recognition of this whatsoever,” Mr Rohan said. “It is deeply disappointing that the Government has shown such dim regard for our members in the pay proposals.”

Mr Rohan said the age profile of civil servants was rising and that recruiting for such jobs would prove difficult if working conditions continue to be eroded.

The outcome of the ballot is unlikely to impact on the introduction of the deal given it is been backed by members of larger unions representing public sector workers such as Siptu and Impact.

The agreement is expected to be ratified by the overall public service committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in September.