Pay reductions to be staggered across sector
Related Articles
FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan last night signalled that public sector wage cuts will be staggered according to rates of pay.
But, he claimed those who argue that the €20bn public sector pay bill and €21bn social welfare budget should be completely immune from cutbacks are "deluded".
As the 24-hour strike by some 250,000 public sector workers continued last night, Mr Lenihan signalled there would be "some tiering" and "some variation" to the rates of wage reductions -- rather than imposing a blanket pay cut.
Higher earners would therefore suffer higher pay cuts, but lower paid workers will not be immune.
If significant savings are to be achieved through reductions in the pay bill, the two-thirds of the public sector workforce who earn €50,000 or less cannot be "excluded totally".
Some 15pc of public sector workers are earning in excess of €60,000, while 10pc of workers have salaries in excess of €70,000.
- Aine Kerr
Irish Independent
