SIPTU: Agreement will not include compulsory redundancies

on 15/01/2013 17:35:41

The country's largest trade union has said there will be no new deal on public sector pay and working hours if the Government insists on compulsory redundancies.

SIPTU's Patricia King said it was a core trade union principle to protect jobs, and there would be no deal if a proposal for compulsory redundancies were pushed by the Government.

She made her remarks as unions and public sector management met again today to discuss a framework for talks on a successor to the Croke Park Agreement.

Unions have expressed shock at the scale of the cuts being demanded by the Government in order to save €1bn over the next three years.

Patricia King said: "There will be no agreement (that includes) compulsory redundancy from our union's perspective. Trade unions are there to represent the best interest of their members."