New wage deal ‘hinges on budget’
"The forthcoming budget on December 4 is an opportunity to take a positive step towards a national deal but a bad budget could scupper it," Senator O'Toole said.
He was commenting on a meeting between trade union leaders, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy earlier yesterday. He said despite pessimism, a new partnership deal was still all to play for and if the budget on December 4 addressed workers' concerns, there could be a deal.
