Public sector workers will have to escalate their industrial action if they are to avoid further pay cuts, according to the president of Ireland's largest union SIPTU.
Speaking at a mass meeting of public servants in Galway, Jack O'Connor said a fair solution was still possible through negotiation, but the sands of time were running out.
He said Government employees must lay-out a determined programme of action carefully escalating it to minimise the implications for ordinary citizens, while maximising the prospect of a negotiated outcome.
Mr O’Connor said that otherwise, they would end up drifting along to the end of the year and into another budgetary assault on jobs, pay and pensions.
He said the key to arriving at any negotiated solution would focus on providing decent public services within the limits of available resources completely de-coupled from the wider issue of cutting pay across the economy.
Mr O’Connor said there was a dangerous misconception that if people kept their heads down there would be no further cuts to their pay and public service.
However, he warned that the Government remains committed to further adjustments totalling €6bn in 2011 and 2012.
IMPACT General Secretary Designate Shay Cody said the pay cuts could be reversed if equivalent savings were made through public service reform.
