Perception of sabotage is growing

AS employers and unions continue to jockey for position in what promises to be the toughest round of negotiations in the 15-year history of national pay deals, it is worrying that the Government is seen as attempting to sabotage hopes of a new deal before it even gets off the ground.

Rightly or wrongly, that perception is gaining force within union circles where the Coalition is increasingly viewed as displaying blatant bias in favour of employers.

This latest broadside was fired hours before Taoiseach Bertie Ahern reiterated the difficulties besetting the economy.