Chambers 'hopeful' for progress with public sector unions as potential second strike looms
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has expressed hope for a resolution with public sector unions following a major day of industrial action. Unions are threatening further strikes next week if a new pay agreement is not reached.
Why it matters
The potential for continued industrial action threatens to disrupt essential public services and highlights ongoing labor disputes in the Irish public sector.
MINISTER FOR PUBLIC EXPENDITURE Jack Chambers is “hopeful” that the government will make progress with public sector unions soon.
His comments come after around 300,000 public sector workers took part in industrial action on Wednesday, resulting in swathes of public amenities and offices being closed for the day.
Unions have said they will engage in another strike next Wednesday if progress on a new public sector pay deal is not made.
Chambers was responding to the Labour Party’s Private Members’ business in the Dáil today, and he said he wants “to make progress”.
“I am hopeful that may be possible to find a way forward shortly – in the national interests, in workers’ interests, and the interests of the millions of people who rely on our public services.”
He said he was “not in a position to provide specific or further detail at this time”.
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