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25/03/2009
Irish Strike 'Deferred' - For Now
NI people travelling across the border and to Dublin will find things a lot easier than had been anticipated on Monday as a planned wave of cross-sector strikes has been called off.
The Executive Council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has announced it is deferring the expected combined action.
It comes as union leaders decided to accept yesterday's invitation from Brian Cowen's (pictured) government and return to talks on an economic recovery package.
The General Secretary of ICTU David Begg said unions want their government to engage with their ten-point plan for economic recovery.
Mr Begg said the public service pension levy was not the only issue and that unions want to discuss a range of matters including protections for workers, mortgage holders, those on social welfare and affair restructuring of the tax system.
Monday's action threatened serious disruption, particularly to transport, health and education services - and would potentially have paralysed Dublin airport.
The move follows a significant union setback, when members of IMPACT, the largest public sector union, failed to reach the required majority to support the industrial action.
It was also confused when, last night, the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants also voted 60%-40% against taking part.
The invitation for talks from Taoiseach Brian Cowen was welcomed by both unions and the employers' body, IBEC.
The unions have consistently complained that the Irish government strategy to tackle the economic crisis has disproportionately hit working people and lower earners.
See: Government Asks Unions To Talks As Strikes Loom
See: Strike 'Rejection' Ballot To Top Union's Agenda
(BMcC)
The Executive Council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has announced it is deferring the expected combined action.
It comes as union leaders decided to accept yesterday's invitation from Brian Cowen's (pictured) government and return to talks on an economic recovery package.
The General Secretary of ICTU David Begg said unions want their government to engage with their ten-point plan for economic recovery.
Mr Begg said the public service pension levy was not the only issue and that unions want to discuss a range of matters including protections for workers, mortgage holders, those on social welfare and affair restructuring of the tax system.
Monday's action threatened serious disruption, particularly to transport, health and education services - and would potentially have paralysed Dublin airport.
The move follows a significant union setback, when members of IMPACT, the largest public sector union, failed to reach the required majority to support the industrial action.
It was also confused when, last night, the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants also voted 60%-40% against taking part.
The invitation for talks from Taoiseach Brian Cowen was welcomed by both unions and the employers' body, IBEC.
The unions have consistently complained that the Irish government strategy to tackle the economic crisis has disproportionately hit working people and lower earners.
See: Government Asks Unions To Talks As Strikes Loom
See: Strike 'Rejection' Ballot To Top Union's Agenda
(BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A rather cloudy but mainly dry day with just the odd shower. Best chance of any brightness will be across northern and eastern counties. Mild. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:Another cloudy and mild night with the odd spot of rain. More widespread outbreaks of rain will spread southeast late in the night. Minimum temperature 7 °C.
