In a speech the other day to the 24/7 Frontline Alliance, which includes nurses, gardaí and prison officers, Seamus Murphy of the Psychiatric Nurses Association did not mince his words in speaking up for those he represents and those workers, in general, who are required to provide services on a 24/7 basis.

Nurses and doctors want a full meeting of the public service negotiating team for a “detailed debate” on the Government’s demand for premium payment cuts under Croke Park II.

As talks on Croke Park II enter a crucial phase, private sector employers’ group Ibec has called for increments in the public sector to be scrapped and pension entitlements to be scaled back.

In the face of mounting threats both to their pay and their numbers, public service unions should be presenting a united front on how they will meet the demand from the Government for a €1bn cut in the exchequer pay bill.

Emergency service workers will lose almost 11% of their take-home pay just through the Government’s proposals for cuts to shift premiums, their representative bodies have claimed.

Rank-and-file gardaí have joined with sergeants and inspectors in withdrawing from talks on a new Croke Park agreement.

Health unions have insisted they will fight any moves to cut their pay or conditions — despite Health Minister James Reilly confirming unspecified Croke Park changes are on his agenda.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says the cuts and new taxes announced in today's budget will have an effect on the Croke Park extension talks.

Public services trade unions have confirmed an escalation in their action against budget pay cuts.

Union chiefs meet today to look at escalating their campaign of industrial action against pay cuts in the public sector.

EMERGENCY service workers will support an escalation of industrial action in the public sector in opposition to wage and service cutbacks.

Public sector unions say the 24-hour work stoppage planned for November 24 is "inevitable".

The head of the 24/7 Frontline Alliance has denied that there is a split between public sector unions on the approach to fighting cutbacks in the sector.

There are reports today that a rift is developing between public sector unions about where the worst of the government cutbacks should hit.

DIVIDING public and private sector workers is merely a Government-inspired attempt to weaken the labour movement, was the key message from trade union leaders to tens of thousands partaking in ICTU’s National Day of Protest yesterday.

UNIONS and bodies representing emergency service personnel have demanded an urgent meeting with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ public service committee after a letter leaked from the committee’s chairman appeared to indicate his union was willing to accept cuts in public service jobs in order to protect pay.

Plans are being finalised for Friday's national day of protest.

Union leaders tonight called for a €1bn fund to tackle the jobs crisis during the recession.

The Government is set to begin another week of talks with unions about how to save money in the public sector.

Officials from the 24/7 Frontline Alliance have been meeting this afternoon to review progress in talks with the social partners.

THE cabinet is working a double shift. Along with their regular weekly Tuesday meetings they sit every Thursday to deliberate on the budget. Their target is to obtain a €4bn reduction in public expenditure.

The Frontline Services Alliance is warning that it will stage the most significant strike action ever seen in this country if the Government pushes ahead with planned cuts to pay and services.

LEADERS of trade unions representing frontline workers in the public service have warned that industrial action is inevitable if the Government insists on implementing further wage cuts on their members.

More than 1,300 public-sector workers turned out last night for the latest regional meeting arranged by the new alliance set up to oppose government cutbacks.

More than 1,000 people turned out in Cork last night to attend the latest regional meeting organised by the new group set up to oppose cutbacks in the public sector.