Pay Talks

Analysis: Public sector unions’ strike threats are first step in the pay talks dance

The choreography of the recent breakdown in negotiations is well rehearsed but unions and officials should be careful not to lose their footing

Talks broke down, negotiations were suspended, and both sides have since been engaged in a war of words through the media, with government claiming its “generous” offer is already at the upper limit of what is possible

After weeks of talks between the government and union heads, it was not until Wednesday evening that the central issue of pay was first raised at the Workplace Relations Commission.

Until then the pay talks had not broached the subject of pay and instead focused on issues around terms and conditions, local bargaining clauses and protecting public service jobs from outsourcing.

So just after 8pm, the Department of Public Expenditure officials, led by deputy secretary ...