A leading trade unionist has warned employers of the chaos that would ensue if unions were forced to walk away from talks on a new national pay agreement.
President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Senator Joe O'Toole said pay rises needed to be at least in line with inflation, currently running at just under 5 per cent.
Mr O'Toole wage increases could be staggered over a number of years but only if prices increases were introduced in the similiar way.
He said if unions were to leave the talks, scheduled for this week, it would very difficult to get them back.