More deal-breakers than solutions on the table at pay talks

From productivity to pensions, and from to outsourcing to Croke Park hours, the public service pay talks are rife with issues that could derail the negotiations, says Stephen Rogers

Week two of a pay talks session is usually when one finds out whether a deal is possible, whether the ingredients which have emerged in the first week can be put together in a successful recipe to keep both sides happy.

As Government and unions re-enter the WRC-moderated discussions this morning, though, there are already real fears that this process may be destined for failure given the measures sought by the Government which, unions believe, could make workers worse off rather than better.