The president of SIPTU, Mr Jack O'Connor, has called on Labour and Fine Gael to immediately begin negotiations on a pact if they are to offer a serious alternative to Fianna Fáil and the PDs in the next election.
The leader of the State's biggest union said the parties should agree an alternative programme for government well before the next election to boost their prospects of removing the "neo-liberal" influence of the PDs in government.
He also laid out conditions that must be met before SIPTU would support Labour's entry into such a pact. These included specific commitments to improve health funding, access to healthcare, affordable housing, childcare, and a new government department to protect workers' rights.
He said he was not saying SIPTU would automatically support a pact which met such demands, but ruled out supporting a pact without these conditions.