Research on over 200 private sector and commercial semi-state pay deals struck in 2018 has found that pay increases ranged between 2-3% last year. The data, which appeared in the respected journal Industrial Relations News (IRN) earlier this month, shows that most pay deals averaged below 3% per annum, but that only a minority were below 2%.

Fórsa concluded a number of pay agreements in both the commercial semi-state organisations and private companies in 2018. These included a 1.5% pay increase in An Post, which was part of a 6% multi-year deal.

Meanwhile, agreement was reached on an 8.1% three-year deal with telecom provider eir. This includes a review of disciplinary procedures.

In the private sector, similar agreements were reached for non-pilot grades in Aer Lingus and Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).

The IRN study identified a growing trend of additional benefits in private sector agreements, on top of basic pay increases. These include things like annual leave, bonus payments, pensions and fringe benefits including tax-exempt vouchers.

Last month, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions set a 3.4% target for private sector pay agreements in 2019.