Fórsa gives Government hours, not days, to present public‑sector pay plan

Fórsa secretary‑general Kevin Callinan said the union will give the Government “hours not days” to produce a credible proposal to start public‑sector pay talks.

Callinan told Newstalk that the “ball is in the Government’s court” but welcomed a more conciliatory stance from Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers, who earlier spoke of a “pathway” forward after strike action on Wednesday.

Chambers said intensive work is under way and hinted a mediator could be appointed, with details to follow once an agreement is reached. He added he is hopeful a deal can be delivered in the “national interest” and that pay should be dealt with first.

Callinan noted the cost‑of‑living pressures on public‑sector workers and said the €1.2 bn earmarked by the Government would at best allow a 2.5 % rise, far short of the at‑least 5 % gap between wages and prices over the past five years.

The Public Services Committee of the ICTU will meet Thursday afternoon to review Wednesday’s strike and consider further action, with Callinan warning that without a breakthrough the dispute could become “long and difficult”.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Botond Czapp / Pexels.