The employers' body IBEC and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions are due to hold separate meetings today to discuss their responses to the Government's social partnership proposals.

The ATGWU is advising its 20,000 Irish members to reject the Government's latest pay offer.

HOUSEHOLDERS and businesses face a major hike in service charges next year to fund the €277 million rise in public servants’ pay.

THERE were renewed fears of a wages free-for-all last night as unions lodged individual pay claims well in excess of the rate of inflation.

Talks on a national pay deal to replace the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness broke down in Dublin early this morning after employers and trade unions failed to reach agreement.

LOCAL authorities are facing a major cash crisis next year, with new funding not enough to maintain services, Opposition parties claimed last night.

The third annual Anti-Racist Workplace Week begins today with a host of events planned aimed at eradicating discrimination.

The Conference of Religious in Ireland has said social partnership talks, which began in Dublin this morning, must produce a generous package for the less well-off in Irish society.

The Conference of Religious in Ireland has urged the Government to increase taxes to pay for improved infrastructure and social provision.

IRELAND cannot continue to demand infrastructure and services comparable with other EU countries without being prepared to endure a bigger tax take, the country’s religious have warned.

THE Government has been accused of substantially widening the gap between rich and poor.

HOSPITAL patients in the west are facing major disruption from next Monday, with nurses and ward clerks mounting industrial action in a row over pay and planned job losses.

The battle for the top job in SIPTU is under way. Political Reporter Mary Dundon talks to Joe O’Flynn, one of the three contenders

GOVERNMENT and employer attitudes to gain-sharing schemes for workers will be crucial to delivering a new national wage agreement, according to the leader of the country's largest union.

Both sides in the Aer Lingus dispute are due to attend talks today after hundreds of passengers were affected by yesterday’s one-day pilots’ strike.

Anti-poverty and equality organisations have walked out of a plenary session on the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.

The Conference of Religious in Ireland has called for the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to be replaced with a new national agreement to address the widening gap between rich and poor.

Macra na Feirme president Seamus Phelan said the Taoiseach must proceed with the Government's undertaking to introduce tax relief for the purchase of milk quota at today's meeting of the social partners and the Government on the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.

The national minimum wage is to increase from next month.

The Economic and Social Research Institute has called for more flexible pay deals between the social partners.

Twenty five of the most disadvantaged areas of the country are to benefit from a £200m development programme.