News

Frontline Alliance protests over Govt cuts

Wednesday, 11 November 2009 22:05

The Government has been warned not to test the resolve of frontline public service workers.

At a rally in Dublin the chairperson of the 24/7 Frontline Alliance said that his members were not fools and will not be treated as such.

Around 3,500 people attended the 24/7 Frontline Alliance march this afternoon. Attending were members of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, Garda Representative Association, Irish Nurses Organisation, Prison Officers Association, Psychiatric Nurses Association and SIPTU.

PNA General Secretary Des Kavanagh said the call by the Finance Minister to achieve a 6.4% cut in the pay budget did not marry with his officials targeting Frontline Alliance workers for a 15% cut.

Mr Kavanagh told a rally outside Leinster House that frontline workers will not be scapegoated because they are seen as an easy target.

He said frontline workers do not want to be in dispute, do not want to strike and do not want to undermine the services they provide.

However, he warned the Government they would not be found wanting when it came to making their voices hear.

'No cuts in allowances, no cuts in unsocial hours' payments and no freezing of increments.'

Gardaí taking part in the march wore baseball caps with the garda insignia, because they are not allowed to march in uniform.

The employees, who work 24/7 shifts, are objecting to Government plans to cut public sector pay.

The group says that its members would be disproportionately affected by cuts in allowances.

The march proceeded down O'Connell Street, around College Green and along Nassau Street to Molesworth Street where the delegates handed in a letter of protest.

The letter outlines why the Alliance believes that it would be wrong to target frontline services as an easy option for dealing with the current economic crisis.