A union representing 11,000 staff working in the Civil Service has warned there may be industrial action if its members do not get a good deal from the forthcoming new public pay talks.
Secretary General of the Civil and Public Service Union Eoin Roynane said its time for the Government to pay up or face the consequences.
Speaking at the union's annual conference in Killarney, Mr Roynane said lower paid clerical officers can only dream of the €4,500 pay increases given to the Secretary Generals of Government departments last week.
Mr Roynane also told delegates that a recent survey of members found one in 10 are in receipt of social welfare payments to make ends meet.
In addition to restoring pay, the CPSU boss warned that failure to address the unpaid hours issue which has seen his members work an extra 2.5 hours per week "will lead to trouble".
The CPSU represents staff working in the clerical and administrative grades of the Civil Service, semi-State bodies and the private sector and has 11,000 members.
