Unpaid leave proposal sparks TD fury

THE Government and public sector unions were last night continuing to debate ways to save €1.3bn in the public service pay bill next year and reform the service into the future.

In particular, trade unions were being forced to defend claims that 12 days’ unpaid leave for workers could form the basis of the public service contribution to the Exchequer savings in 2010.

Earlier, both Fianna Fáil TDs and the Department of Finance questioned the value of such a programme.