SIPTU blames Harney for talks boycott

Tánaiste Mary Harney was at the centre of a political storm last night when the country’s largest trade union boycotted pay talks with Government because of forthright comments she made about public transport reforms at the weekend.

In an unexpected move, SIPTU refused to attend the opening of talks on the second round of Sustaining Progress, involving Government and the social partners. They were due to commence at 5pm at Government buildings yesterday.

The union convened a meeting yesterday morning to discuss remarks made by the Tánaiste at the Progressive Democrats’ annual conference in Killarney.