Unions will consider lengthy pay pause if wage cuts are taken off the table

THE Irish Congress of Trade Unions will consider accepting a lengthy pay pause for the 360,000 workers in the public sector, possibly until 2010, as long as pay cuts were taken off the table.

The trade union umbrella organisation made the concession as it yesterday outlined its route-map for economic recovery, details of which it has submitted to Government.

Presenting the ICTU proposals, general secretary David Begg said the worker representatives were open to discussions with the Government and the other social partners on how to constrain growth in public sector pay and pension costs.