The trade union UNITE is calling for a "dose of reality" from the Government when it comes to job creation.
In a circular sent to its 60,000 members, the union says that deflationary policies - welcomed by some economists as positive - are in reality acting as a brake on growth.
Regional secretary Jimmy Kelly said there were also big differences between job loss figures from state training agency FÁS (109,000 job losses this and next year) and from the Government (less than half that figure).