Government let pay deal lapse and public sector workers are paying the price
Government let pay deal lapse and public sector workers are paying the price - The Labour Party
Labour Leader Ivana Bacik TD has challenged the Taoiseach over the Government’s failure to resolve the public sector pay dispute ahead of tomorrow’s nationwide strike.
During Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil today, Deputy Bacik called out Government’s failure to engage in good faith with Trade Unions in recent months.
Deputy Bacik said:
“The strikes tomorrow have not come out of the blue. Trade unions have been calling on Government to come to the table and to enter into pay talks for some time.
“The cognitive dissonance from the Taoiseach and Minister Chambers today beggars belief. The last minute “Hail Mary” invitation to talks last night was just the latest in a series of insults to workers from this Government.
“The Government could have prioritised protecting wages against rising prices in their Budget 2027 announced last week.
“Instead, the Government chose to cut taxes on wealth while leaving public sector workers without clarity on what is actually available for a new pay agreement.
“When challenged today, the Taoiseach repeated last week’s Budget announcements and failed to take responsibility for allowing the agreement to lapse.
“Reissuing an invitation to talks without any meaningful change in approach will not break this stalemate.
“Labour is calling for negotiations that put pay at the centre from the outset, with a clear commitment to protecting public sector wages against inflation.
“Tomorrow’s strike reflects a failure of Government to maintain trust with the workers on whom our public services depend. Resolving this dispute requires Ministers to put a credible pay offer on the table and to negotiate in good faith. Without that change, this Government risks prolonging the dispute and creating further disruption.”