Unions for 70,000 workers quit talks

Talks on an extension to the Croke Park Agreement continued into the early hours, despite unions representing almost 70,000 public servants walking out over the Government’s demands.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU), the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), and Unite trade union all said the cuts being sought by the Government to achieve €1bn in savings were just too much.

However, at the time of going to press, unions for most public servants were still immersed in the talks. Between the teaching unions, Impact, and Siptu there remained representation for almost 220,000 public service workers.