Private pay deals overtake public sector settlements

Private
industry pay deals in 2004 have overtaken the levels of settlements in the
public sector, reversing the trend of 2003.

Deals
in the commercial sector averaged between 3 per cent and 3.5 per cent, while
public sector increases had ranged between 2.5 per cent and 3.3 per cent,
according to research organisation Incomes Data Services.

The
unit said the figures showed the impact of Treasury policy seeking lower public
sector increases this year than in 2003.

By Mike Berry