Public servants warn union leaders over concessions

GARDAÍ, nurses and other frontline public servants have warned trade union leaders that they must give no concessions on allowances, overtime and other premium payments in the latest round of pay talks with the Government.

Intensive talks between public sector union leaders and the Department of Finance over the next four days will attempt to reach agreement on, firstly, a template for the downsizing of the public sector, and, secondly and more immediately, how the public sector pay bill can be reduced by €1.3bn in 2010.

On Tuesday, public sector leaders appeared to concede that a reduction in the pay bill was necessary next year but that raised concerns among members of the 24/7 Frontline Alliance of trade unions.