The Teachers Union of Ireland has become the first public sector union to reject the proposed Croke Park agreement.

The general secretary of the Irish Bank Officials Association (IBOA) has accused the Government of "shafting" the 1,000 staff at IBRC.

The Department of Social Protection has the highest level of sick leave of all government departments at 13.5 sick days per employee last year, new figures have revealed.

The General Secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) has said that the union's members may be balloted on withdrawing from the Croke Park deal if teachers' allowances are cut.

THE general secretary of the Chief Superintendents’ Association has warned the closure of rural Garda stations will reduce the flow of intelligence which is vital in preventing and solving crime.

The Government is being called on to review a number of bonus payments for teachers, it has emerged.

The General Secretary of the Public Service Executive Union Tom Geraghty has said the Croke Park agreement is "working" and therefore "should be maintained".

The General Secretary of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) Eamon Devoy has said pay cuts to semi-state workers will not be tolertated.

The annual Civil Public and Services Union conference is into its second day in Galway.

The union representing lower-paid civil servants is warning the Government it will launch a number of equal pay claims which could cost the State up to €300m in back-pay.

British rail workers will today complete a country-wide march to press for the renationalisation of their industry, claiming strong public backing for their campaign.

Executives at luxury carmaker Jaguar are to be questioned by British MPs over the controversial decision to end production in Coventry, it was confirmed today.

THE Government last night insisted Fianna Fáil councillor Lorcan Allen, who sent letters to more than 2,000 constituents with the forged signature of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, has not been “let off the hook”.

The General Secretary of the Garda Representation Association has said he is somewhat reassured after talks with the Minister for Justice on the Jerry McCabe issue this evening.

EDUCATION MINISTER Noel Dempsey has infuriated teacher unions by confirming pay rises will be withheld from teachers whose schools closed for holidays this week.

Supporters of the anti-bin tax campaign have hit out at the General Secretary of the ICTU for his stance over the waste charge.

The General Secretary of the Building and Allied Trades Union is advising members to reject the new national partnership agreement in a ballot next week.

The Republic of Ireland's Euro 2004 qualifier with Russia could be under threat from peat bog fires in the area surrounding the Russian capital.