Talks failed to reach agreement at Work Relations Commission
Summary
Barry Roantree, an Assistant Professor of Economics at Trinity College Dublin, analyzes the stalled public sector pay talks and the potential for a November 11 strike. He highlights that public sector real wages have stagnated for nearly two decades while private sector earnings have grown by 20%, creating a significant disparity. Roantree argues that the current negotiation focus on cost-of-living adjustments ignores this long-term wage gap and the broader economic growth since 2011.
Topics discussed
Thumbtack ad and show introduction
Public sector pay talks and potential strike
Comparison of public vs private sector earnings growth
Wage premiums, education adjustments, and pensions
Parity in earnings and difficulty filling jobs
Geographic wage disparities and housing costs
Economic factors like job security and benchmarking
Cost of living crisis vs long-term wage stagnation
Economic growth, employment numbers, and pay bill
Closing remarks and contact information
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