Unite the Union has said it fears that talks with the Government over pay and conditions would be nothing but a “merry dance”. 

Today, some 300,000 public sector workers are on strike amid an increasing bitter dispute with the Government. 

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has urged workers to call off industrial action, inviting them to "urgent and intensive engagement” at the Workplace Relations Commission. 

The Government has previously announced €1.2 billion for public sector pay in Budget 2027. 

However, union leaders want a mechanism that would protect pay from inflation in a multi-annual deal.

On Newstalk Breakfast, Tom Fitzgerald of Unite said people need to be “mindful” of the timing of the Minister’s letter. 

“Our concern is that it suggests a greater focus on media management and in a very serious way addressing the workers' concerns,” he said. 

“Public sector units have repeatedly stated that they are prepared to engage, but meaningful engagement requires movement of the substantive issues.” 

Mr Fitzgerald continued that workers’ pay in the public sector has “fallen behind” the cost of living, due to consistently high inflation. 

“What's required is to take the pressure off workers, ensure that they can live in this economy,” he said. 

“For example, 34% of our members would say that they have fallen behind on key payments such as rent, mortgages, bills and loans.

“Public sector pay, just since the last agreement, has fallen behind by 5% relative to inflation.

“Inflation this year is 4.1% at the moment and we know public sector workers are way behind in those circumstances.” 

Mr Fitzgerald added that the question of pay needs to feature “front and centre” in any talks between the Government and unions.  

“We can't have a situation where the Government brings trade unions on a merry dance about a range of different issues, days, weeks, turns into months or any length of time,” he said. 

“Public sector workers need serious engagement now.”

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Main image: Workers on strike. Picture by: Alamy.com.