Unions demand Cowen meeting over wage deal

UNIONS have demanded a meeting with Taoiseach Brian Cowen to tell him Tuesday’s budget may have scuppered their chances of selling the national wage agreement to members.

General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) David Begg said the 1% levy on all workers, irrespective of income, imposed by Finance Minister Brian Lenihan was “politically and morally wrong”.

He said the ICTU needed to meet with Mr Lenihan and Mr Cowen urgently to press for changes in the application of the levy before the Finance Bill is enacted.