Officers in Defence Forces back new pay deal

Military officers in the Defence Forces have voted overwhelmingly to accept the new public service pay agreement.

The Representative Association for Commissioned Officers (RACO) said that 95 per cent of members voted in favour of the deal which will see a 3 per cent pay increase over the next two years. The first 1 per cent rise is scheduled to come into effect in October.

RACO, which had previously expressed strong unhappiness that it was not involved in the final negotiations that led to the agreement last December, said on Wednesday that its members had little choice but to back the new accord.

RACO said “ its members are fully aware of how they were locked out of negotiations, but are also aware of the ‘take it or leave it’ nature of the proposal”.

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"Our members have noted with disappointment the refusal of Government to deliver on commitments made under the Public Service Pay Commission, and the failure to resource the recommendations of the Government's rescue plan Strengthening our Defence Forces.

“However, we have little choice other than to accept this offer which does not acknowledge the ongoing unique recruitment and retention difficulties that the organisation faces. It is now for management and the Commission on the Defence Forces to resolve these issues.”

Last week the Department of Public Expenditure declined to provide a full list of organisations that have signed up to the new agreement.

It said as of August 20th, all employers and the majority of unions and associations in the public service are party to the Building Momentum agreement.

“Public service employers will continue to engage with parties to the agreement and those unions and associations outside the agreement to encourage their participation in and implementation of the agreement.”

Separately, RACO said "disappointingly, despite multiple requests" it had been unable to secure a meeting with Minister for Defence Simon Coveney since December 2020, to discuss issues of concern to members.