Unions warned over pay talks

Trade unions have been warned by the Government that it could act unilaterally and formulate its own method of pay restoration to public servants if agreement cannot be reached through negotiation.

The first session of talks on pay restoration for the country’s 290,000 public servants adjourned after a short meeting yesterday.

The Government side is understood to have told unions that the discussions are predicated on continuing and building on the productivity gains secured through the Haddington Road and Croke Park agreements.