Unions pledge to fight public sector allowance cuts

PUBLIC sector unions insist they will fight attempts to cut allowances paid to frontline staff, after the Government indicated it might seek a “restructuring” of public service pay instead of cutting salaries.

It has also emerged that schools, roads and other infrastructure could be affected by plans to cut €1bn from capital spending in the budget.

Ahead of talks between the Government and unions on Wednesday, SIPTU said it will treat any removals of allowances as a pay cut, while the Garda Representative Association (GRA) said it will takeaction, including protests, over any removal of allowances to its members.