Industrial chaos looms as pay talks collapse

THE country faces a wave of bitter industrial disputes as hopes of a national wage deal were dealt a hammer blow last night.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern made it clear that he will not try to bring employers and unions back to the negotiating table after two days of talks broke up in disarray, signalling an end to 15 years of central deals which delivered industrial peace.

Employers accused the unions of bad faith while the union leaders said the bosses were not interested in striking deals to replace the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness which expires shortly.