public sector pay deal

Unions and government size each other up ahead of public sector pay talks

Negotiations on pay rises are due to get under way on Monday, but both sides have been posturing in advance

Donohoe told RTÉ he was open to discussing the Fempi legislation, but as far as he was concerned it had “no influence” on the recent industrial relations environment. Picture: Rollingnews

Gorillas are said to beat their chests when sizing each other up in the jungle as a means of communicating their power through the frequencies emitted by their thumping.

Similar frequencies could be detected in Dublin last week as the public sector unions and the government began posturing ahead of crucial pay talks, due to get under way tomorrow.

It is a familiar dance, and one that involves a strong element of political theatre played ...