University staff to be balloted for industrial action over Government's 'failure' to negotiate pay deal

'Higher education staff cannot be expected to continue absorbing rising living costs while their pay is left unresolved. Nor can they be expected to accept unfinished commitments or the possibility of changes being imposed without agreement,' union says.

Staff at higher education institutions across the country are to be balloted for industrial action, up to and including strikes, by their union. 

The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) will ballot its members over what it described as the Government's "failure" to establish a basis for negotiations on a new public service pay agreement.