Union leaders are considering a possible escalation of the strategy they are employing in their campaign against Government pay cuts.
A decision by the Civil Public and Services Union yesterday evening has strengthened the prospect of widespread strikes in the coming weeks.
The CPSU represents around 13,000 lower paid civil servants and from Monday week it is due to begin a combination of limited and indefinite strikes.
It will also implement a four-week ban on overtime.
It is understood that areas which will be targeted include social welfare offices, services provided by the Revenue Commissioners, the Passport Office, and the Department of Education Exams Branch.
CPSU General Secretary Blair Horan has warned that if any one of its members is struck off the payroll as a consequence of this escalation, the union will immediately mount pickets on the location involved.
On Monday, the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions will meet to consider how the other unions involved will escalate their campaigns to force the Government to reverse pay cuts.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and IMPACT - the country’s largest public sector union - are expected to propose rolling work stoppages.
A spokesperson for the Department of Finance said that the outcome of that meeting will be reviewed.
