Breaking: Unions invited to WRC talks as minister calls for strike to be postponed

Jack Chambers said the planned strike on Wednesday will cause 'great disruption' to the country. File picture: PA

The Government has invited unions to formal talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on Tuesday, as public expenditure minister Jack Chambers called for Wednesday’s strike to be postponed.

Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers are set to go on strike on Wednesday, which is expected to cause widespread disruption to schools, hospitals, public services, and the Dáil schedule.

The strike will see nurses, doctors, teachers, civil servants and other workers take part in a 24-hour work stoppage as part of a row with the Government over pay negotiations amid the cost-of-living crisis.

In a letter to public sector unions, seen by the Irish Examiner, Mr Chambers said pay “can and should be discussed as a priority”, alongside “other matters” as part of the talks.

“I believe an agreement can be reached without delay if both parties are willing to enter an intensive process of engagement as soon as possible,” Mr Chambers wrote. 

He said he believed that agreement on a deal would have been reached by now.

The public expenditure minister pointed to the Government’s announcement that €1.2bn was being made available for the pay talks.

Mr Chambers said the planned strike on Wednesday will cause “great disruption” to the country, particularly vulnerable people as well as the “avoidable loss of earnings for public servants”.

“I believe that this action is unnecessary, particularly when the Government stands ready to enter talks and work with you towards a fair and meaningful resolution for all parties.” 

In the letter, addressed to Fórsa, Siptu, the INMO, and the INTO, Mr Chambers called for ICTU to postpone the strikes to “allow for urgent and intensive engagement” at the WRC on Tuesday.

• Tadgh McNally, Political Reporter