Public sector unions to campaign for a rejection of Croke Park II

Unions representing staff at either end of the hierarchy in the civil service are to campaign for a rejection of Croke Park II.

The Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants, which represents 2,700 senior civil servants and managers in the commercial and non-commercial state sector, said it would ballot its members on the deal, but added that it would be recommending a no vote.

General secretary Dave Thomas said the decision had not been taken lightly but it had no other choice, given the pay cuts proposed. Those cuts will impact on its members, many of whom earn over €80,000 and so face cuts of at least 8%.