Government and public sector reps to meet on pay deals today

Government and public sector representatives will gather today to begin work on a new pay deal.

25 worker groups are due to attend, while the management side will be led by the Department of Public Expenditure. The pay bill for State employees currently runs to about €16 billion a year. Industry Correspondent with the Irish Times Martin Wall says unions want the public service pension levy scrapped, but the government will demand increased pension contributions in return.