With both Dublin Bus and Luas drivers securing double-digit wage increases and gardaí threatening strikes over their pay, two of the country’s leading trade unionists have called for a renegotiation of the latest public service pay agreement.

Revenue was justified in extending the original contract to outsource call centre services in support of the local property tax (LPT), despite objections by one of the largest civil service unions, an arbitration board has ruled.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

Anti-Irish Water campaigners have accused Environment Minister Alan Kelly of morphing into ex-minister Phil Hogan by increasingly “threatening” people who don’t pay their bill.

Public Sector unions say they want a flat rate pay increase to form part of a collective agreement on pay.

The trade union representing low-paid civil servants has warned it will pull out of next week’s pay restoration talks “like a hare from a trap” if there is no attempt to close the gap between its members and higher-paid public servants.

Even the National Association of Anticlimaxes would have refused the spring statement entry to its ranks for fear of reducing its already disappointing reputation to an all-time low in the minds of right thinking people.

Even the National Association of Anti-Climaxes would have refused the Spring Statement entry to its ranks for fear of reducing their already disappointing reputation to an all time low in the minds of right thinking people, suggests political correspondent Shaun Connolly.

Trade unions that are currently leading a nationwide campaign against water charges are to drive plans to set up a left-wing political movement.

Protesters from the US city of Detroit are expected to join a demonstration in Dublin next month against water charges.

The group representing rank-and-file gardaí has said people should make complaints if they think gardaí are using excessive force.

The Right2Water campaign today announced details of local events planned for Saturday November 1 to highlight public opposition to planned water charges.

The Department of Social Protection has been given the green light to outsource the 1,000 roles required to run its job activation scheme, JobPath, to the private sector.

The union representing lower-paid civil servants has warned the Government it has to start restoring pay rates to pre-austerity levels.

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton says her department is making every effort to protect welfare staff following recent attacks and abuse in dole centres.

Ireland's largest civil service union, which represents those on lower pay, has today voted to accept the Haddington Road Agreement.

The Unite Trade Union has deferred making a decision on what action to take following rejection of the Haddington Road deal.

The body representing lower paid civil servants is to recommend its members reject the last public sector pay deal.

Public servants face compulsory redundancies unless they accept a new deal on cuts in pay and pensions, the Government has warned.

Nurses have become the latest public sector workers to ratchet up pressure on the Government with threats of industrial action if it imposes pay cuts.

One of the country’s top industrial relations mediators has been given less than a week to conclude talks with trade unions over pay cuts.

Prison officers have threatened the Government with potential strike action if it imposes unilateral pay cuts.

One of the country’s most senior public service trade union leaders has cast doubt on the Labour Relations Commission’s ability to engineer agreement between unions and the Government on how to cut the State’s wage bill by €1bn by 2015.

The country’s lowest-paid public servants will take industrial action if the Government enforces pay cuts, their union has warned.

The Government has offered to open a second round of talks with unions despite warning the public sector that it would enforce pay cuts.

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

Top-ranking civil servants have rejected the proposed Croke Park II round of pay cuts.

As the membership of yet another union balloted to reject the terms of Croke Park II, the number of unions which have said they will not be bound by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions decision (Ictu) on the deal rose to six.

Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin has said unions urging their members to vote No to Croke Park II are only offering uncertainty to public servants.

The Irish Medical Organisation has reaffirmed its opposition to Croke Park II, but said industrial action as an option would be a last resort.

The eight union executives which have urged their members reject the Croke Park II deal will meet officially for the first time next week to discuss a strategy to “protect existing pay rates and terms and conditions”.

Emergency services workers have vowed to step up a campaign against public sector pay cuts.

Up to 1,000 public servants are expected to attend an information meeting on the contents of the proposed Croke Park II deal in Cork city tomorrow night.

Four trade unions opposed to the proposals for a new Croke Park Agreement have launched a joint campaign to urge their members to vote against the new deal.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore have said they want "most families" in mortgage arrears offered a sustainable solution by next year.

IMPACT's Central Executive Committee meets today to discuss the revised Croke Park Agreement.

The Civil Public and Services Union, which represents lower-ranked public servants has threatened industrial action if measures in the €1bn state pay deal are enforced.

Trade Unions are now mulling over the revised Croke Park Agreement and making up their minds on whether they will accept or reject it.

Unions representing staff at either end of the hierarchy in the civil service are to campaign for a rejection of Croke Park II.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has insisted a deal to cut €1bn from the public sector pay bill is fair and proportionate.

Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD has today criticised trade union leaders and the Government after they

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Public sector workers face being forced to accept a €1bn savings plan after the Government warned it needed majority backing from trade unions.