The ICTU public service committee is due to meet on Monday to consider its position following the collapse of pay talks with the Government yesterday.
It is not known whether the meeting will signal a return to strike action across the public sector, but some union sources have said they will not adopt a 'knee jerk response' following the rejection by the Government of their proposals for an alternative plan for reducing the public sector pay bill.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said the Government could not agree a deal because the union's alternative proposals would not have achieved the necessary savings.
It is believed that concerns about the political and public reaction to the issue of unpaid leave were a key factor.
