Unions threaten strike if deal on public service wage structure not in place by end of year

Talks have been underway between the unions and the Department of Public Expenditure at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) since late November. File picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

Public sector unions say they will draw up ballots for industrial action in January if the Government fails to reach an agreement for a new public service wage structure by the end of the year.

Talks have been underway between the unions and the Department of Public Expenditure at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) since late November. However, in recent days union figures had become frustrated at the slow pace of the negotiations.