Trade unionists to meet over pension levy response

Trade union umbrella group Congress will hold a special meeting of its executive council today to devise a united union response to the crisis sparked by the Government’s pension levy.

The Government has faced growing worker discontent since the €1.4bn proposal was unveiled last week.

The Civil Public and Services Union, representing some 13,000 lower paid public sector workers, is planning a one-day strike later this month in protest at the plans.

Congress has said the measures lacked fairness and focused on stabilising the public finances at the expense of job protection.

Siptu warned yesterday of industrial action on a very dramatic scale to fight for the rights of workers in both the public and private sectors.

The meeting will take place in Impact’s headquarters in central Dublin.