Unions: Plan will cost economy 90,000 jobs

THE Irish Congress of Trade Unions has claimed the Government’s controversial four-year plan will cost a further 90,000 jobs in the economy.

The claim was made as the trade union umbrella group gave a briefing on Saturday’s Better Fairer Way march through Dublin.

ICTU president Jack O’Connor said it was “abundantly clear” the Government doesn’t have a mandate to sign off the plan unveiled on Wednesday.

“In our view, it would be better if the people were afforded the opportunity to exercise a choice.”

ICTU general secretary David Begg said the budget on December 7 was going to do a huge amount of damage.

“Anything that prevents the budget being passed is a good thing in my view and on Saturday I will be calling on all members of the Oireachtas not to pass the budget and offering them good reason why they shouldn’t do that.”

Meanwhile, there are real fears the violent scenes at the student protest earlier this month could be replicated on Saturday as subversive elements plan to hijack ICTU’s peaceful protest against the Government’s economic strategy.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is to draft in up to 250 stewards for its Better Fairer Way march in order to avoid the conflict which led to angry scenes both here and in Britain when students marched against an increase in fees.

Saturday’s event has the potential to attract more than 100,000 people.