Strike threat escalates passport dispute

THE stakes have been significantly raised in the Government’s conflict with the public sector unions, with passport workers ready to strike early next week if their pay is docked.

Last night, Civil and Public Sector Union (CPSU) general secretary Blair Horan said those seeking passports should not be “fearful” as a strike will only take place if a Department of Foreign Affairs threat to dock the wages of workers partaking in industrial action is carried out.

Mr Horan said: “We had a threat from Department of Foreign Affairs management to the pay of our people.