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21/10/2009
IMPACT Backs National Strike Action
The IMPACT trade union has voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in the event of mooted public sector pay cuts.
The union announced today that its public service members had backed industrial action by an 86% majority during a national ballot.
The union's Central Executive Committee will now meet tomorrow to consider its next steps. But the union’s general secretary Peter McLoone said strikes now seemed inevitable.
The news comes in the wake of an abrupt end to a meeting between the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on the National Economic Recovery Deal this morning.
While leaving Government Buildings after the meeting, ICTU President Jack O'Connor said there had been an animated and frank exchange of views between the government and the unions.
Mr O'Connor said it was a matter of public record that the government envisaged a "short sharp correction" in the public finances, and was reluctant to extract any additional contribution from wealthy people.
Backing the ICTU's chief's sentiments, IMPACT general secretary Peter McLoone today said: “This ballot represents a massive shift in opinion among public servants since the imposition of the so-called pension levy last March. Every public servant has already suffered a 7.5% pay cut this year, yet the government is clearly determined to come back again and again to slash their family incomes.
"Our members don’t want strikes or the disruption they will bring, but the government’s refusal to consider alternatives means strikes now seem inevitable as public servants seek to defend what they have left."
The major unions including IMPACT, SIPTU and the ICTU are all now united on tackling the imposition of public sector pay cuts with what will be national strike action across myriad sectors.
The upcoming budget in December is expected to be the toughest in the history of the state as the Fianna Fail government faces down an unprecedented deficit in the budget and a slippery foothold in the world's slowly recovering markets.
Public sector pay is envisaged to take a major hit in order to drive down private sector pay, following advice from a number of government think tanks. The controversial McCarthy Report, which also advised slashing pay in the public sector as well as child benefit, is also expected to play a major role in the upcoming budget.
(DW/KMcA)
The union announced today that its public service members had backed industrial action by an 86% majority during a national ballot.
The union's Central Executive Committee will now meet tomorrow to consider its next steps. But the union’s general secretary Peter McLoone said strikes now seemed inevitable.
The news comes in the wake of an abrupt end to a meeting between the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on the National Economic Recovery Deal this morning.
While leaving Government Buildings after the meeting, ICTU President Jack O'Connor said there had been an animated and frank exchange of views between the government and the unions.
Mr O'Connor said it was a matter of public record that the government envisaged a "short sharp correction" in the public finances, and was reluctant to extract any additional contribution from wealthy people.
Backing the ICTU's chief's sentiments, IMPACT general secretary Peter McLoone today said: “This ballot represents a massive shift in opinion among public servants since the imposition of the so-called pension levy last March. Every public servant has already suffered a 7.5% pay cut this year, yet the government is clearly determined to come back again and again to slash their family incomes.
"Our members don’t want strikes or the disruption they will bring, but the government’s refusal to consider alternatives means strikes now seem inevitable as public servants seek to defend what they have left."
The major unions including IMPACT, SIPTU and the ICTU are all now united on tackling the imposition of public sector pay cuts with what will be national strike action across myriad sectors.
The upcoming budget in December is expected to be the toughest in the history of the state as the Fianna Fail government faces down an unprecedented deficit in the budget and a slippery foothold in the world's slowly recovering markets.
Public sector pay is envisaged to take a major hit in order to drive down private sector pay, following advice from a number of government think tanks. The controversial McCarthy Report, which also advised slashing pay in the public sector as well as child benefit, is also expected to play a major role in the upcoming budget.
(DW/KMcA)
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