The Congress Private Sector Committee has published Pay Bargaining Guidance for Unions in the Private Sector for 2023.
The Committee has taken note of the various forecasts of the likely rate of inflation and core inflation in the coming year and has recommended the unions seek to secure, where affordable, pay increases in the range of 4% to 7.5%.
The Committee has also pointed to other options that unions have available to them including:
• Improving new entry pay rates;
• Adjusting working time to the benefit of workers;
• Utilising schemes such as the Small Benefits Exemption Scheme;
• Introducing and improving other benefits like service pay, sick pay, annual leave, and pension benefits.
Congress General Secretary, Owen Reidy said that 'the guidance which has been published today provides unions with an analysis of the factors that will affect pay bargaining in the private sector in the coming year. While the conditions will vary from company to company the guidance sets out the options that unions have available to them'.
He said that 'given the high level of uncertainty in the private sector of the economy it is the intention of the Congress Private Sector Committee to keep this guidance under review throughout the coming year.'
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