Order banks to cash govt cheques - SIPTU

SIPTU has called on the Minister for Finance to order banks to cash government cheques.

Financial institutions have decided they will no longer cash such cheques for public servants and they will now have to be lodged until they clear.

However, SIPTU's Mike Jennings said people were entitled to get wages in a way they could spend the money.

He added that unless the banks changed their directive, SIPTU would insist staff were paid in cash.