Clare’s Minister of State has called on public sector unions to come to the table and prevent further ‘unnecessary’ strikes.
Further industrial action is planned for next Wednesday, with unions setting a strict deadline for Government to table a new proposal.
More than 300,000 workers took to the picket lines yesterday in one of the largest days of strike action in the State’s history.
€1.2 billion was set aside for pay increases under budget 2027, with unions arguing this sum would not cover the cost of inflation since the previous pay deal expired.
A meeting with Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers at the Workplace Relations Commission was rejected earlier this week, with unions saying there was no meaningful change in the Government’s approach.
Clare Fianna Fáil Minister of State Timmy Dooley says unions sought preconditions before engaging in meaningful talks.
The Tulla Deputy claims they were determined to proceed with strike action when those conditions were not met.
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Meanwhile, the head of the country’s largest public sector trade union says the government has “hours, not days” to come back to them with a proposal to resolve the pay dispute.
Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers last night said that intensive work was continuing behind the scenes, and he remained hopeful a way forward could be found in the coming days.
Fórsa General Secretary, Kevin Callinan, says the clock is ticking.
