Trade union activists who were campaigning against the proposed national pay deal have forecast that yesterday’s Budget will harden opposition to the agreement.
At a press conference today, activists from a number of unions said the proposed deal would see workers receive increases that are less than the rate of inflation.
They said that in addition, the Budget had hit workers on low incomes with a 1 per cent levy, rises in fuel and food prices, and increases in VAT and hospital charges.
Unions representing hundreds of thousands of workers are currently conducting ballots on the new deal which would see workers receive increases of 6 per cent over a 21 month period.
Brendan Ogle, regional organiser of the Unite union, said that social partnership had not delivered for workers relative to the wealth which had been created in the economy.
He urged a return to free collective bargaining which would allow workers to negotiate directly with their employers on pay.
He said that where businesses were genuinely facing difficulties workers would be prepared to make "hard decisions" but where they were doing well despite the downturn – and he said some companies were doing well – employees were entitled to their fair share.