Mick Clifford: The unions are back in business — and the Government has taken notice

A new generation of union leaders has secured a deal delivering bigger increases for lower-paid public sector workers

(Left to right) Deputy general secretary of SIPTU Adrian Kane, INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha, Kevin Callinan Forsa's senior general secretary and Irish National Teachers' Organisation general secretary John Boyle protesting with public sector workers last month over delays in agreeing a new public sector pay deal.

By any standards the week that was blew a warm blast from the past for trade unions. 

They were once more highly relevant and demonstrated that they were prepared to flex a few muscles in pursuit of what they and their members consider to be justice. In that respect, it was a throwback to a distant past.