State in ‘emotional blackmail’ of public sector staff

PUBLIC sector workers have accused the Government of “emotional blackmail” over claims that seriously ill patients and the Irish economy will suffer as a direct result of wide-scale industrial action.

In the first exchanges in the work-to-rule war taken by more than 90,000 union members, Government groups warned severe problems will be caused to vulnerable citizens by the union action.

In particular, Minister for Trade and Commerce Billy Kelleher claimed more jobs will be lost as investors will ignore a country with industrial action issues, while the HSE said unlike previous disputes, unions had failed to guarantee intensive care units will not be hit.