After several months of negotiations between union officials and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Sector Reform and Digitalisation (DPER) a formal offer under the local bargaining process has now been received.

The offer applies to clerical officers, executive officers, administrative officers, and higher executive officers working in the civil service, and is phase one of the overall claims lodged on behalf of those grades in recent months. 

The offer includes pay increases of 1.25% at the maximum point of each scale and introduces point ‘skips’ within pay scales.

Deputy general secretary and head of the civil service division, Éamonn Donnelly said: “We welcome the offer received from DPER and are now preparing a ballot of members in the civil service.

“It is important to note that the offer is phase one of the overall claim only and maximises what was achievable within the 1% of payroll quantum available.

“The offer reflects what members told us they wanted to see achieved using local bargaining. This approach effectively shortens the pay scales, while remaining within 1% of payroll costs.”

The terms of the offer are as follows:

For clerical officer and related grades in the Civil Service

• An increase of 1.25% to the maximum of the scale, and an incremental skip at point 11 of the pay scale (on completion of 1 year at point 10, the next point of progression is point 12).

For executive officers (standard and higher scales) and related grades

• An increase of 1.25% to the maximum of the scale, and an increment skip at Point 10 of the pay scale (on completion of 1 year at point 9, the next point of progression is point 11).

For higher executive officers (standard and higher scales) and related grades

• An increase of 1.25% to the maximum of the scale, and an incremental skip at Point 6 of the pay scale (on completion of 1 year at point 5, the next point of progression is point 7).

For administrative officers (standard scale) and related grades

• An increase of 1.25% to the maximum of the scale, and an increment skip at Point 10 of the pay scale (on completion of 1 year at point 9, the next point of progression is point 11).

For administrative officers (higher scale) and related grades

• An increase of 1.25% to the maximum of the scale.

For service officers, cleaners and related grades 

•   An increase of 1.5% to the maximum of the pay scale.

If accepted, members would see the increases backdated to 1st September 2025, the date by which the first phase of local bargaining was due to come into effect.

Éamonn continued, “This is phase one of the overall claim, the remainder of the claim will be pursued under the remaining 2% of payroll quantum available after June 2026.”

He concluded: “Now, it’s back to the members. We listened to what you wanted from local bargaining and have done our best to deliver it. This ballot will be your chance to have your say on the offer.”

Members who are eligible to vote will receive details of the ballot by email in the coming week.

Join a union that wins. Join Fórsa.