Unions suspend next week’s strike action
More than 300,00 public sector workers, including nurses, doctors, teachers and civil servants, took part in a national strike on Wednesday past.
Public sector unions have agreed to suspend next week’s planned strike after talks with the Government.
More than 300,00 public sector workers, including nurses, doctors, teachers and civil servants, took part in a national strike on Wednesday past.
A second strike had been planned for next Wednesday but, in a statement, the Public Services Committee of ICTU said that after discussions with Government representatives over the last 24 hours, the 19 unions agreed to suspend the action.
PSC chairman Kevin Callinan said the Government has agreed to appoint an independent third party, Kevin Foley, to conduct an “intensive and focused” exercise aimed at constructing a basis for formal negotiations at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
Oonagh Buckley and Owen Reidy have also been appointed to oversee the process.
It is understood that it may get under way on Saturday.
While the strike action on Wednesday has been suspended, the work-to-rule action will continue.
Mr Callinan said Taoiseach Micheál Martin contacted him to indicate his “commitment to the process”.
Mr Callinan said that after his conversation with the Taoiseach, he believed there was a desire on the part of the Government to reach a public service agreement quickly and bring an end to the current dispute.
He said that this would now need to be demonstrated in practice.
“This week, over 300,000 civil and public servants stood together and spoke with one voice,” Mr Callinan said.
“In an organised and democratic way, they told Government that the cost of living is stretching everyone to their limits.
“It’s crucial that the Government now show that they have listened.”
Mr Martin said he hoped that all sides would move forward together into “meaningful negotiation” and a successful conclusion.
“I hugely value the contributions our public service workers make,” Mr Martin said in a statement.
“They are the backbone of our healthcare, social care, education and so many other sectors.
“There is now a real opportunity to make progress where both parties are prepared to come together and explore the various issues, with a genuine commitment to dialogue.”
The Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers, said there was an opportunity to make progress between both parties.
“I am confident there is a genuine commitment to dialogue and I hope that this initiative will now allow both sides to move forward together into meaningful negotiation,” Mr Chambers added.
“I have the deepest respect for public servants and the immense contribution they make to our society and our economy.
“Certainty is important for both public servants and the wider public and I believe that this process is a significant and positive step towards providing that certainty in the period ahead.”
Tánaiste Simon Harris said: “I welcome this positive development and Government are hopeful that through this engagement we will all be able to find a way forward, which allows for the parties to reach a mutually agreeable outcome.
“Public sector workers are so important to our economy across so many strands of society, and dialogue and engagement are the only way of ensuring a positive pathway forward in everyone’s interest.”