Briefing: Long, hot summer of discontent starts now

After years of recession, medical, postal, education and transport unions want pay boosts

Kieran Mulvey, director general of the Workplace Relations Committee, was accused last week of bias against striking Luas workers Rollingnews.ie

On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland last Friday, Kieran Mulvey sounded like a man who had hit peak exasperation. Ahead of another weekend of Luas stoppages, the director general of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) was at a loss to understand why the long-running dispute had not been resolved.

The week before last, Luas workers voted overwhelmingly to reject proposals brokered by the WRC between Siptu and tram operator Transdev.

Salary hikes of between 10 ...