Wednesday's planned strike action is suspended
The public sector strike planned for next Wednesday has been suspended.
The move follows discussions between the ICTU Public Services Committee and Government representatives over the last 24 hours.
Following a report by the officers of the ICTU Public Services Committee, a meeting of the 19 unions affiliated to the ICTU PSC has agreed this evening to suspend strike action due to take place next Wednesday.
PSC Chair Kevin Callinan,said that the Government has agreed to appoint an independent third party, Kevin Foley, to conduct an intensive and focused exercise aimed at constructing a basis for formal negotiations at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). Mr. Foley will be assisted by one trade union and one employer nominee. It is understood that the process may get underway as soon as tomorrow morning.
Mr Callinan said that the Taoiseach had come out of a meeting of the European Council in Brussels to telephone him to indicate his commitment to the process that had been developed following engagement between the union and employer sides.
Mr Callinan went on to say that following his conversation with the Taoiseach he believed that there was a desire on the part of the Government to reach a public service agreement quickly and an end to the current dispute. He said that this would now need to be demonstrated in practice.
While the strike action on Wednesday has been suspended, work-to-rule action will continue.
Welcoming the breakthrough, the ICTU PSC officers stressed that there remains a pressing need to rebuild trust and confidence in public service industrial relations.
Mr. Callinan said that: “This week, over 300,000 civil and public servants stood together and spoke with one voice. In an organised and democratic way, they told Government that the cost of living is stretching everyone to their limits.”
“It’s crucial that the Government now show that they have listened.”
The ICTU Public Services Committee Officers are: Kevin Callinan (Fórsa), Phil Ní Sheaghdha (INMO), John Boyle (INTO), Adrian Kane (SIPTU)