'Lenihan Levy' could scupper new national pay deal
There are fears that the income levy unveiled in yesterday's Budget could scupper the new national pay deal.
Earlier, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said it is seeking a meeting with the Finance Minister Brian Lenihan and the Taoiseach Brian Cowen in an attempt to introduce a threshold which would exclude the working poor from the levy.
Congress General Secretary David Begg said, as it stands, it is manifestly unfair and morally wrong.
This evening the leadership of the country's largest trade union SIPTU announced that in light of this it is postponing a recommendation and ballot on the new national pay deal for a week.
President Jack O'Connor says there is a lot of anger out there over the contents of the Budget.
