The Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants has recommended the acceptance of the public sector pay and reform deal.

The executive of the union, which represents over 3,000 senior civil servants and managers, says the offer is the best hope of ensuring no further cuts in the public sector.

However, it comes as the UNITE trade union earlier recommended the rejection of the deal, while IMPACT and two of the teachers unions – the ASTI and the TUI – have already recommended a ‘no’ vote to their members.

This has prompted fears that the pay and reform deal is in danger of collapsing.

Regional Secretary with UNITE Jimmy Kelly says workers are in no mood to co-operate.

“Really what the government done at the end of last year by imposing wage cuts in the budget, has caused the biggest anger – I think – across the public sector” he said.

“This was on top of the pension levy; and now people see that the proposals that came from the government called for their co-operation in this new deal”.

“Workers are in no mood for co-operating with a government unless those pay cuts are restored” he added.