SENIOR TRADE union leaders said last night they had not received a proposed document from the Government setting out its vision for the public service over the next two to three years.
Neither have they received its proposals on so-called “bridging measures” for making savings on the public sector pay bill next year.
Unions maintain that the document is crucial to talks, which have been effectively stalled for the last week, on an alternative to pay cuts as a means of generating the €1.3 billion in savings the Government wants to secure on the public sector pay and pensions bill in 2010. Unions had expected to receive the Government document before the end of the weekend.
In addition to its view on the future size and scale of the public sector and proposals on the bridging measures – a code for cutbacks next year – unions also want the Government to spell out precisely the savings generated to date by staff on the State payroll.
The public services committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions is to meet today to consider progress in these talks, as well as plans for the national public sector strike scheduled for Tuesday week, November 24th.
Two more unions – Unite led by Jimmy Kelly and the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants led by Dave Thomas – are expected to announce the results of ballots of members on participation in the strike today.
Already more than 60,000 teachers, 55,000 administrative and professional staff in the health sector, local authorities and the Civil Service, as well as nearly 50,000 nurses, are set to take part in the industrial action.