Union leader hints at radical action if talks fail

AS the Government prepares to introduce a new “environmental pillar” to the social partnership talks, one of the biggest players in those talks has warned that the budget may have scuppered its future involvement.

SIPTU president Jack O’Connor said his union had received significant contact from grassroots members angry, not only at the contents of the budget, but also of the unions continued participation in the talks.

“Whereas people did expect a very difficult budget and indeed a series of difficult budgets there are a number of aspects which are entirely unacceptable. Not least is the fact that, while middle and lower income people have been hit very hard, we also have an initiative which is, in effect, about the socialisation of the debts recklessly accumulated by the banks.”