Slow learners need to take a crash course on Croke Park deal — fast

THE Croke Park accord is apparently heading up a cul de sac. Key public sector unions are coming out against the revised pay deal.

Last week the ASTI, TUI, Unite and IMPACT signalled they were advocating a ‘no’ vote. This latter union, representing 55,000 members, has surprised insiders by their negativity. This is not least because Peter McLoone, their retiring general secretary, led the ICTU side of the negotiations with the Government. This week the CPSU and INMO are poised to dismiss the terms. Only SIPTU seems to understand reality.

The offer looks superficially unattractive to public sector workers. This is because the context of the negotiations was based on a lack of realism. Ever since budget day, when Brian Lenihan announced 5% pay cuts across the board, union bosses have been winding up a campaign of resistance. Early in the new year protests by way of work-to-rule were organised. All possible inaction was put in place, short of strikes. The Government turned a blind eye. No staff sanctions or suspensions were implemented. When the consequences of the backlog of 50,000 unprocessed passports erupted in Molesworth Street, this phony war could no longer be ignored.