Talks over public sector pay cuts
Danny McCoy, of Ibec, said stablising public finances had resulted in some restoration of confidence
Monday March 15 2010
Two weeks of intensive negotiations over public sector pay cuts are to begin.
Government officials and unions will meet separately at the Labour Relations Commission in a bid to stop an escalation of industrial action.
Civil servants have been on a work-to-rule since January 25 in an attempt to hit the Government without causing massive disruption to the public.
However unions vowed to begin a series of rolling work stoppages in the coming weeks that will affect schools, hospitals, civil servants and local authorities.
Siptu served strike notice on seven Dublin hospitals with 4,500 support staff due to withdraw their labour for two days next month.
But the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec) warned that trade unions should be aware threats of industrial action could rapidly undo the credibility that has been established internationally.
Director General Danny McCoy said: "Tough action to stabilise the public finances has resulted in some restoration of confidence in Ireland on international financial markets.
"Confidence, however, is a fragile commodity and any undermining of the national effort will increase the cost of servicing the national debt."
