Talks on a 10-year social partnership programme resume at Government Buildings today amid optimism that agreement can be reached early in the week.
A range of issues in areas including pensions, employment standards, social housing, healthcare and education remained outstanding when talks adjourned without agreement on Saturday night.
However, it is expected that agreement on all of the issues concerned will be reached in the next day or two. That would ensure the continuation of the social partnership process begun in 1987.
Cori Justice Commission director Fr Seán Healy said yesterday the community and voluntary sector would not accept an agreement that did not have substantial commitments in the area of social provision. "At this point what is on the table would not be sufficient for us to sign an agreement," he said. "But I am still very hopeful that an agreement can be reached in the first half of the coming week."
The basic pay elements of an agreement have already been finalised, with workers due to receive a 10 per cent pay increase over 27 months. These are to be broken into four phases: (a) an initial rise of 3 per cent; (b) 2 per cent after six months; (c) 2.5 per cent after further nine months; (d) 2.5 per cent after further six months, to cover final six months of agreement.
Workers earning up to €10.25 an hour are to receive an additional half per cent increase after the first six months, giving them a 2.5 per cent rise at that point.
Payment dates vary for workers in different sectors, and some in the private sector will have their increases backdated to January 1st. The first increase in the public sector comes into effect on December 1st.
As reported in The Irish Timeson Saturday, public sector unions have agreed to a range of reforms, including a removal of the ban on outsourcing core public service work, in return for pay increases.