Vets vote to reject new State pay agreement

Vets have emphatically rejected the proposed Lansdowne Road agreement on public service pay and pensions.

The deal was opposed by 92 per cent of members of the Veterinary Officers Association in a ballot.

The association represents more than 250 veterinary officers in the State Veterinary Service.

The executive of the association had urged members to reject the Lansdowne Road accord, which was negotiated in May.

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.

However, when the deal was being negotiated, the Government decided at the 11th hour to drop plans in an original draft for a €1,000 pay hike for those deemed to be higher earners scheduled for 2017.

This increase will only now apply to those earning less than €65,000.

The Lansdowne Road agreement is expected to be formally ratified by the Public Service Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions next week as a number of the country's larger unions – such as Siptu, Impact and the Irish National Teachers' Organisation – have already backed the accord in ballots of their members.