Unions warn of 'mobilising' workers as they walk out of talks
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, has arrived at the talks aimed at securing an extension to the Croke Park Agreement - indicating a deal is imminent.
Negotiations on cutting a further €1bn from the public sector pay bill continued through the night after four unions walked out, namely the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, the Irish Medical Organisation, the Civil and Public Services Union, and Unite.
On their way out, they warned that they would "mobilise" their members if the Government attempted to legislate for pay cuts.
However SIPTU, IMPACT and the Irish National Teachers Organisation remain at the talks table.
Cuts of between 5% and 10% to public servants who earn €65,000 or more have been discussed, along with an extension to the working week.
Those who work 35 hours or more will be asked to work 37, and those already working 37 will have to work 39.
Earlier, INMO spokesperson Liam Doran explained the tipping point.
He said: "All of us have collectively decided that the talks on the Croke Park extension agreement had no capability of protecting our members' interests, of maintianing their existing income and of recognising the economic reality that those members are in."
