PUBLIC SECTOR trade unions are expected today to consider proposals for limited work stoppages, a ban on co-operation with performance monitoring of staff and a tightening of the restrictions on services for public representatives as part of a plan to escalate their campaign of industrial action.
At a meeting today, the public services committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) will review the operation of the action, which has been under way for several weeks.
The committee will also hear proposals from unions in various parts of the public service on actions that could be taken as part of the second phase of the campaign, likely to come into effect from the beginning of next month.
Some union leaders believe that escalation of the action will have to be considered in the absence of moves by the Government to re-engage in talks in relation to the cuts, public sector pay policy and pensions and job security.
It is understood that in the health sector, one possibility that has been looked at is the introduction of work stoppages for a number of hours. However, it is unclear as to whether this would come about in the absence of similar measures being adopted in other parts of the public sector.
Health unions also examined the introduction of an overtime ban, which could have serious implications for mental health services. However on Friday, the Psychiatric Nurses Association said it did not favour such a move.
It is understood one proposal being examined by local authorities is a ban on co-operation with performance monitoring.
Informed sources said last night there was some concern among unions that any escalation of action in the education sector could trigger a backlash from parents and the media. Until now, the most obvious action in this sector has been that parent/teacher meetings are being scheduled within school hours. Civil service unions are to hold talks in advance of the meeting of the public services committee of Ictu today to decide on their approach to the second phase of the campaign.
Civil service unions have so far introduced phone bans in Government departments on a rolling basis, closed public offices at various times and refused to co-operate in the answering of parliamentary questions.
However, in a circular to members Blair Horan, general secretary of the CPSU which represents lower-paid staff, said while the union would attend new talks, it would not call off the action.
Mr Horan said that members were furious over the pay cuts and the Government’s U-turn in relation to the scale of cuts for top-level staff. He said in some cases the cuts have left staff in serious financial difficulties. He said the union received a letter from the family of a member expressing concern that the employee could die by suicide due to the pressures.