Public sector pay dispute must be resolved 'in the national interest' – Jack Chambers

Public expenditure minister Jack Chambers said there is 'intensive work' going on in the background with trade unions and he hoped to set out the way forward 'in the next day or so'. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA 

It is in the “national interest” for the Government and trade unions to resolve a pay dispute before further strike action next week, the public expenditure minister has said.

Jack Chambers has said there is a “pathway” forward following positive soundings from trade union leaders, as he said the €1.2bn allocated for pay talks was the “starting point” for negotiations.

“We want to deliver a meaningful, credible, and fair deal for workers,” Mr Chambers said, speaking on RTÉ’s Six One.

“It’s important that on the day of national strike that the Government listens, and we are.”

Mr Chambers said he was hopeful a deal could be delivered in the “national interest”, while adding he was happy for pay to be dealt with first.

He said the Government wanted to ensure public sector workers did not “have to go out onto picket lines” next week.

The minister said there is “intensive work” ongoing in the background with trade unions, adding he hoped to set out the way forward “in the next day or so”.

Asked about the prospect of a mediator being appointed, Mr Chambers indicated this could be on the table.

“We’ll set out the detail of that when it’s agreed. It’s in a very sensitive place” Mr Chambers said, adding there would be a collective approach between the Government and ICTU’s Public Services Committee going forward.

Early on Wednesday, union leaders gathered at the Mater Hospital in Dublin, where Fórsa secretary general Kevin Callinan said there was a “pathway to talks” with the Government.

“We've been very clear in our response to the Government that cost of living is paramount here, but there's another issue as well. It's the breach of trust and the lack of confidence in the industrial relations process," he said.

Fórsa leader calls for a fresh approach

Asked about restoring that trust, Mr Callinan said they needed to see a different approach from the Government.

Asked if Taoiseach Micheál Martin should call him to seek a resolution, Mr Callinan said: 

Any time the Taoiseach talks to me, I listen to him.

“If he’s prepared to do that, obviously we’ll talk to him and see if this situation can be brought forward.”

Mr Callinan said nobody wants a strike to take place, but public sector workers feel “forced into it”.

He said the Taoiseach needed to intervene directly, calling for an independent mediator to be appointed to resolve the dispute.

Mr Callinan suggested the process could involve representatives from the unions and the Government who are “removed from the immediacy” of the strike.

“If that's possible, we'll work with it. If it doesn't happen, we're going to have another strike next week and beyond,” Mr Callinan said.

Meanwhile, Mr Martin said he “would like to think” relations between the unions and Government are in a “better space” on Wednesday than earlier this week

The Taoiseach said he welcomed “the tone and disposition of Kevin and other trade union leaders towards being open to an engagement and being open to a process that could lead to a resolution of this”.