Dublin: Trade union Unite is preparing to ballot its members for industrial action as pressure mounts on the government to negotiate a new public sector pay agreement following the expiry of the previous deal.
The union has warned that strike action will become unavoidable if the government fails to present a meaningful pay offer after the current public service pay agreement expired.
The decision follows a meeting of Unite’s public sector leadership, where officials agreed to recommend that members vote in favour of industrial action should negotiations continue to stall.
Unite said public sector workers have seen the value of recent pay increases eroded by inflation. The union noted that the salary increases awarded in February and June have been largely offset by rising living costs, leaving many employees under increasing financial pressure.
The union also highlighted several outstanding issues that it believes must be addressed in the next agreement, including the Additional Superannuation Contribution (ASC) for public servants and the lack of progress on local bargaining claims.
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said the government has had sufficient time to bring forward an improved pay proposal.
She warned that if ministers fail to deliver a fair and credible offer, Unite members will have little choice but to take industrial action to protect their living standards during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Irish Samachar English