Public Pay Talks - see mod warning post 4293

Talks started today. I wonder when we will start to hear leaks about what each side want or are offering? Will talks be done this side of Xmas and ballot members in early January?

Do the Union leaders not consult with their members beforehand anymore to get a feel for what they want/expect?

Forsa ran a survey....

Bit unfair to pick a guard in particular imo. Prison officers, Dublin fire brigade, immigration officers plus others are the same. None of which require a degree. (But at this stage, majority of people applying for any position have a degree anyway as standard)

Tbh, wouldn't begrudge any of them 25% on top of salary for working nights, weekends, unsocial hours etc.

To earn that, they've to work it. So it's a moot point imo. It's money paid for the lack of routine, the impact of nights on health, and I'm sure the constant "I'm in work" for a get together or kids birthday party on a Saturday or "I'll see can I get leave".

Having worked shift work in the private sector myself, and knowing two people who left shift work roles in the public sector, a price can't be put on routine.

The payscales are the payscales. Some will involve more sh1t than others within normal hours, whether it's a Monday to Friday accountant or clerical officer.

Then completely separate to that is shift work for decades. There should be no issues paying extra on top for what's a terribly unhealthy lifestyle both mentally and physically.

33,943.

34k is not appalling for a 21/22 year old.

It doesn't include shift allowances etc either.

I'll remember that when I'm waiting 24 hours in A&E in future. Ah sure they're should be more nurses here they get paid great money for being that age....

Do you know any nurses? I do 6 to be percise and guess where they all ended up once qualified? Not in our hospitals because the pay was far worse than the sunny side of Australia.10 years later not 1 has returned.

A question i'd have as a CS myself and I know it won't be addressed in this round of public pay talks. If we are negotiating pay for the different grades, what is the role envisaged for them in the medium to long term?

For example, I was involved in a project where robotic process automation was used and it replaced the roles that COs and EOs would have traditionally worked. It was cheaper, more accurate and faster. With a much reduced staff requirement, no HEO role was required.

Another example is AOs, will it be formalised that they are now an entry point role which can be assigned the same role profile as a HEO? This is the case in many areas already.

I would also like how PMDS/performance management in general is handled, as currently I think the balance is not right.

Really if that your opinion I don't know what I can do for you.

Plenty of the big 4 hire grads at under 30k straight out of college.

34k plus whatever thousands the shift and other allowances (you'd essentially get as part of your working week as) is pretty decent. I think it does place a value in their work.

Personally disagree that every starting salary in the country needs to be at the average. Experience matters as does the ability to motivate yourself to earn more.

Back on the wider pay deal, id say 6/7 per cent over 18 months again

Also, I am only googling it which has a lidl sales associate on 25k, where are you seeing 30k plus?

Obviously 25k would be alot less than the 34k (and less again when shift allowances etc are included).

It's very mean to try denigrate hard working retail workers through comparison though.

Some reports (it's been a few years, I'd have to Google it) omparing pay with the private sector found low grades in the PS/CS do very well by comparison. On the otherhand it found senior managers are less well remunerated.

An obvious fear of a non homogeneous agreement is the AHCPS would make that case strongly.

where did I denigrate hardworking retail workers ? ... really

I made the comparison between two vastly different sectors and the training (investment) needed to start working in said environment.

And yes there is much less needed to start working at lidl then to start a shift in a busy A&E as a new grad.. with one making 75 euro more per week Sorry if this comparison hurt your feelings.

In the end it needs to be worthwhile to go out there and earn a decent wage that not will be gone after paying rent and buying a few groceries.