Salary deals sealed in April include an average pay rise of 1.8%, an increase on the average 1.6% rise agreed so far this year, says employers organisation AWVN.

The increase is ‘extremely worrying’ the organisation said, because it does not reflect the growing economic uncertainty.
‘The unions are campaigning for an increase of 2.5%. This rise in pay is not in line with the major economic uncertainties facing us,’ the organisation said.
104 pay deals have been sealed in the first four months of this year.
The economic pact sealed by the outgoing cabinet and three minor parties to cut government spending includes calls for a pay freeze for civil servants.