Unions to stay in talks on recovery process

DESPITE claiming the Government had shown a “poverty of ambition” in its latest economic recovery policy document, trade unions have decided not to walk away from the process.

After a long meeting of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions executive yesterday, ICTU general secretary David Begg said the Government’s proposals were the “only show in town” and the onus remained on the social partners to stick with the process.

Unions had been close to withdrawing their involvement on Tuesday night when the Government initially only said it would put €250 million into a job protection programme, €750m less than ICTU had been demanding.