Umbrella trade union group Congress today accused influential employers’ body Ibec of scaremongering after it warned jobs would be lost if firms are forced to recognise unions.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen today dismissed calls to safeguard dole payments and protect the unemployed from Budget cuts.

More than 440,000 people are signing on for benefits, it emerged today.

THE Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has described as “utter nonsense” calls by IDA chief Barry O’Leary that wage cuts of up to 15% were required to restore competitiveness.

WITH social partnership talks on an economic recovery plan looking destined to fail, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has launched a May Day call for a €1 billion job creation and protection plan.

THE Equality Authority has revealed the budget took away 43% of its funding, leaving it powerless to carry out a number of key functions.

The Equality Authority tonight revealed it lost 43% of its funding in the Budget.

Irish aid workers are pioneering a new programme to combat female genital mutilation (FGM) in Somalia.

WORKERS in offices, shops and factories were yesterday urged to take time to balance the increasingly hectic demands of work with the need for a good home life.

Government policy is standing in the way of people having time to be parents, it was claimed today.

All workers need paid parental leave to achieve a good work-life balance, it was claimed yesterday.

UNIONS and business group IBEC are to ask the Government to provide budget funding of €70 a week per child towards the childcare costs of 140,000 children.

The Government must improve statutory leave entitlements for working parents and carers to create a more flexible work environment, it was urged today.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions will today highlight the inequality of women in the workplace in Ireland.

CHILDCARE costs are driving women from the workforce and burdening working families with the equivalent of a second mortgage repayment, union chiefs said yesterday.

THE NEW national pay deal cleared its final hurdle yesterday as the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) voted by a clear majority to accept the 5.5% wage rise on offer.