Trade unions are to mount a sustained campaign of opposition to pay cuts, jobs losses and reduced public services.
While the precise nature of the campaign will not be finalised until the end of the month, SIPTU President Jack O'Connor said that nothing could be ruled out - including strike action.
He said ordinary workers were being 'battered into the ground', while the Government appeared to be focussed on NAMA, bondholders and shareholders.
Mr O'Connor cited a number of disputes where employers were refusing to go to the Labour Court and were using aggressive tactics to achieve pay cuts and job losses.
A campaign of resistance equal to the aggression being waged against workers would be needed, he said.
ICTU General Secretary David Begg said the Government had not moved sufficiently to tackle rising unemployment.
He said there was only a certain amount of time unions could give to engagement with the Governnment.
If it was not going anywhere, they would have to ensure the force of members' feelings was brought home to the Government, he added.
