The country's largest main public sector union, Impact, is to hold a day of protest next week over Government plans to introduce a pensions levy.
The Dáil today voted in favour of the Government’s package of economic cuts by a vote of 76 to 66. The salary-based pensions levy is part of a package of measures designed to cut €2 billion in Exchequer spending in 2009.
Impact, which held a meeting of branch representatives to discuss the levy today, announced this evening it would stage a mass lobby of local constituency clinics on February 14th.
Impact represents some 50,000 public sector staff.
Impact general secretary Peter McLoone said members want to express their anger and protect their incomes.
"This mass lobby will help them get the message across to their elected representatives and we will be inviting the other Ictu unions to participate in a united campaign."
The Irish Congress of Trade Union said yesterday it would oppose the Government proposal, which it claimed was an unfair burden on the public service, particularly low to middle income earners.
Ictu general secretary David Begg said yesterday unions will consider “all options” in developing a response to the cuts.
Mr Begg said unions would not take any "self-defeating actions", but they could not "walk away and see a major reduction in peoples' standard of living." To do nothing would be "completely against the raison d'etre" of the trade union movement.
Other main public service unions representing nurses, teachers and gardaí are also meeting in coming days to consider a response to the Government's measure.
Siptu today claimed a catastrophe is looming unless a deal is agreed between the social partners and Government.
In a statement responding to the collapse of economic-recovery talks at the weekend and the Government’s response, Siptu general president Jack O’Connor said: “There is a better way. It is still not too late to agree a social solidarity pact to avoid catastrophe in our society.
“The trade union movement must advance the alternative, which entails a commitment by all sections of society to contribute in accordance with their capacity to do so.” Mr O’Connor said the measures imposed by the Government “are designed to bring about a reduction in pay across the economy as an alternative to devaluation”.
Siptu’s national executive council is to meet next Tuesday in advance of the Ictu executive meeting on Wednesday to finalise campaign proposals.
The new pensions levy will be calculated on gross pay and will range from a 3 per cent contribution for workers earning €15,000 up to 9.6 per cent for staff earning €300,000.
The Cabinet’s package of spending cuts announced yesterday is also looking for €600 million by cutting funding to overseas development aid, an early childcare supplement and advertising and PR contracts.