Kenny: Inclusion of €300m savings in Budget 'stands' despite union votes

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said the Government will reflect on the decisions of unions on the proposed Croke Park II Agreement.

Kenny: Inclusion of €300m savings in Budget 'stands' despite union votes

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said the Government will reflect on the decisions of unions on the proposed Croke Park II Agreement.

IMPACT has accepted the deal this afternoon, but SIPTU rejected it.

A final decision will be made when the votes go to a meeting of the public services committee of Congress tomorrow, but the Government has already warned an overall 'No' vote will see legislation for pay cuts introduced.

This afternoon the Taoiseach insisted the savings need to be made, with or without the support of public servants.

Mr Kenny said: "Clearly the implications of the vote are ones that the Government will reflect on, and the bottom line is that the inclusion of €300m this year stands."

SIPTU said 54% of members were opposed to the agreement, joining the likes of Unite, the Civil and Public Services Union (CPSU), the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants and the Teachers’ Union of Ireland.

Jack O’Connor, general president of SIPTU, said the vote reflected the sense of grievance among working people and public service workers, in particular, that they are carrying an excessive burden in the post-crisis adjustment.

"The result reflects the deep and well justified sense of grievance among working people throughout the country and public service workers in particular,'' he said.

“They feel that they are shouldering the lion’s share of the post-crisis adjustment while the wealthy are not contributing anything remotely approaching their capacity to do so.”

“We urge the Government not to proceed with legislation to cut the pay of public service workers as it would inevitably precipitate a major confrontation.”

The result of ballot in the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation is still awaited.

Other groups opposed to the cuts plan are the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association and the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and the Irish Medical Organisation have urged their members to vote No.

Earlier, Unite regional secretary Jimmy Kelly said it will stand with other unions against any Government attempt to force through the plan.

“This has been a democratic process which the Government sought to disrupt through threats and bully tactics,” Mr Kelly said.

“The vote, though, is loud and clear that these proposals are bad for workers, bad for everyone that relies on money being spent and bad for Ireland.”

“Unite has stood firm with other trade unions in presenting an honest case.

“We now have to follow through the wishes of our members and will do so by standing against any attempt by government to railroad imposed cuts through a technical device at the ICTU or legislation that would tear up any basis of trust that exists between worker and employer.”

The Public Service Executive Union supported Croke Park II as did the Prison Officers’ Association.

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