ICTU General Secretary David Begg has called on the Government to spread spending cuts over a longer period of time to reduce the impact on workers.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Begg said re-adjustment of the public finances should take until 2017, instead of the Government target of 2013.
He also explained that ICTU did not have the authority to call a strike on the proposed national day of action on 6 November.
However, he wants as many people as possible to turn out.
The ICTU executive council yesterday launched its campaign of opposition to any pay or spending cuts that would harm its members.
It is the biggest advocacy campaign ever organised by Congress and will have a budget of over €1.3m.
Congress has said the campaign will continue even if the Government were to issue an invitation to further partnership talks.
It said it will only be called off if a worthwhile outline deal emerged from any such talks.
SIPTU President Jack O'Connor yesterday said the Government and employers had reneged on the National Wage Agreement ratified last year.
He warned that there could also be widespread industrial action.
Services alliance meeting in Cork
More than 1,000 people attended a meeting in Cork last night organised by the 24/7 Frontline Services Alliance set up to fight further pay cuts in the public service.
It was the second in a series of regional meetings and the chairman of the alliance, Des Kavanagh of the Psychiatric Nurses Association, said public servants would not accept further pay cuts.
The alliance represents gardaí, nurses, fire fighters, prison officers and others working for the emergency services.
A row has developed over the withdrawal from the alliance of the Defence Forces representative association, PDFORRA.
The association's General Secretary Gerry Rooney said PDFORRA was forced to withdraw from the alliance by the Department of Defence.
A spokeswoman for Defence Minister Willie O'Dea denied this, although she said the association had been reminded that membership was in breach of the Defence Act.
