The Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) is a collective agreement between the Irish government and public service trade unions. This agreement covers the period of 2018-2020 and outlines the terms and conditions of pay and conditions for public service workers. The agreement is designed to provide stability and certainty for workers while also ensuring the delivery of essential public services.
Under the PSSA, public service workers received pay increases over the three-year period. These pay increases were structured in such a way as to provide the most significant increases to those on lower pay scales. For example, those earning less than €30,000 received a 7% pay increase over the three years, while those earning between €65,000 and €70,000 received a 2% increase.
The agreement also introduced changes to the way public service workers are promoted, with a new system for filling vacant positions. This new system aims to ensure that the most qualified and suitable candidates are selected for vacancies.
The PSSA also included provisions for addressing issues such as the gender pay gap and precarious employment. A working group was established to examine the gender pay gap in the public service and make recommendations for addressing it. This group published its report in 2019, which made a number of recommendations for addressing the gender pay gap.
In addition, the PSSA introduced measures to address the issue of precarious employment in the public service. These measures include changes to the way temporary and contract workers are employed, including limits on the use of these types of contracts.
Overall, the Public Service Stability Agreement is an important agreement for public service workers in Ireland. It provides stability and certainty for workers while also ensuring the delivery of essential public services. The agreement also includes provisions for addressing important issues such as the gender pay gap and precarious employment, making it an important step forward for workers` rights in Ireland.