Alliance unions demand meeting over leaked letter
The letter from IMPACT general secretary, Peter McLoone, to his officials, described by one trade union source as a “prelude to surrender”, claimed any deal with the Government that avoids cuts in public sector pay would likely involve major reductions in the numbers of people employed in the sector over the next three or four years.
Crucially, he added, “additional exceptional measures will also be needed in 2010 to deal with the budgetary crisis next year”.
Public service sources have indicated that in order to protect core pay and avoid compulsory redundancies, those savings could come from cuts in overtime and premium payments.
However, it is precisely to avoid cuts in those payments that the 24-hour Frontline Alliance was formed. It is made up of gardaí, nurses, prison officers and emergency personnel for whom overtime and premium pay accounts for up to 20% of their pay.
One Frontline Alliance source said what was being proposed by Mr McLoone was “a prelude to surrender” to the Government.
He said the members of the alliance would not be made “sacrificial lambs”.
Last night, in a press conference, the alliance said it had demanded a meeting with the ICTU public service committee.
The outcome of talks is likely to determine whether the alliance members will press ahead with participation in the 24 hours of strike action on November 24, which was proposed by the IMPACT trade union.
Talks between the Department of Finance and public service unions have adjourned till this afternoon when they will examine payroll figures for various sectors within the public service.
The talks process is likely to continue to the weekend and beyond.
