Croke Park rejected - Unions win first round

The rejection of Croke Park II by Siptu’s 66,000 public employees — 53.7% against, 46.3% for — means the deal cannot be ratified.

That Unite’s 6,000 public service members voted 84% to 16% to reject the deal means that the Government could face almost unprecedented industrial unrest. It also puts union leaders who advocated the deal in an invidious position.

The prospect of chaos is made almost inevitable by earlier statements from Reform and Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin that, in these circumstances, an across-the-board 7% pay cut would be imposed on all Government employees. If he or the Government stand back from that position then they will have lost considerable authority and probably the support of many people outside Croke Park’s remit.