Trade unions join forces to demand household-charge U-turn

A group of trade unions is joining forces to demand a Government U-turn on the household charge.

Latest figures show that despite the registration of 28,000 households over the weekend, fewer than 300,000 of the country's 1.6 million households are signed up.

UNITE, which represents 50,000 members, is asking people not to pay while the Civil and Public Service Union and the Dublin Council of Trade Unions are also opposing the charge.

Jimmy Kelly from UNITE said the €100 fee is simply unfair.

"Millionaires will get the charge of €100 as well as people on low income. We're clearly saying (the Government) has to do a U-turn and listen to the people who elected them," he said.