The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has called for over £1 billion in tax cuts and social welfare increases in the December Budget. Its general secretary Mr Peter Cassells has warned: "Failure to implement the bulk of our budget proposals will lead to the collapse of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness."
The pre-budget submission is entitled "Securing Prosperity - Delivering Fairness" and Mr Cassells said the aim was to ensure "a transition to higher living standards for everyone". The alternative was a "slide back" into a deeply divided society.
ICTU is seeking a £1,000 increase in the personal allowance, bringing it £6,700 a year; another £1,000 increase in the PAYE allowance, bringing it to £2,000 a year and a widening of the standard rate tax band.
In an effort to promote individualisation of tax rates congress wants the standard tax band widened by £2,000 for individual workers, but only £1,000 for `single-earner married couples'.
The total cost of these measures would be £836 million. ICTU's deputy general secretary Ms Patricia O'Donovan, who drew up the submission, estimates that people on the average industrial wage of £17,300 a year would benefit by between £12 and £17 a week.