ICTU to mull strike action over levy [Business World]
- Published: 05 February 2009
Source: Business World
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has left it unclear whether it is prepared to take industrial action to oppose the pension levy slapped on public sector workers this week.
Its general secretary David Begg has said that congress will convene a meeting ot its full executive council to discuss the matter. He said there would be no "knee-jerk" reactions to the levy or the government's overall 2bn euro cutback package. However, he did not rule out what he called a "campaign" against the government if congress could not obtain a re-engagement. He refused to be more specific, saying that Congress would consider all options. Mr Begg was speaking at a press conference in Dublin. In other reaction to the levy, the secretary general of the Irish National Teachers Organisation, John Car, r warned of a "strong response" if what he called the "disproportionate" measures were not changed. He said that three quarters of the burden in the cutbacks would be borne by public servants, while those who had got the country a mess were not being asked for anything.
