IMPACT first to confirm 24-hour strike plans

IMPACT trade union has become the first to confirm it wants a 24-hour strike by the country’s 310,000 public servants at the end of November in protest at Government plans to introduce an average of 6.5% pay cuts in the sector in the next budget.

The country’s largest solely public service union said next Wednesday it will propose to the organisations representing teachers, nurses and others who provide essential public services, that they join with its 55,000 members in the national strike on November 24.

Meanwhile, the newly formed 24/7 Frontline Alliance, which comprises 100,000 emergency service personnel including gardaí, nurses and prison officers, yesterday said it was starting balloting members for strike action. The ballots will exclude gardaí who are banned by law from engaging in industrial action. The alliance is not only fighting against cuts to core pay but also to shift premia and overtime, which make up 20% of its members’ salary.