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Union urges a No vote on Croke Park II

Tuesday, February 26 15:53:06

The Government's proposed Croke Park II deal was dealt another blow today after the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants urged its members to vote "no".

Public service unions are currently preparing to ballot their members on the proposed deal brokered yesterday by the Labour Relations Commission.

The AHCPS's executive committee took the decision at a meeting today.

The association represents around 2,500 higher grade public servants.

It decided that on the basis of what was on the table, and cuts already imposed on Government employees, they could not support the proposals.

The new proposals will see pay and pension cuts for higher earners and additional working hours and reduced premium and Sunday payments in various sectors of the public service.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the final version of the new agreement is expected to be published today.

The union is the first to urge members to reject the proposed new deal.

The Government will seek no further cuts to public service pay and conditions if the latest Croke Park agreement is approved by trade unions, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin said earlier.

Speaking outside Government Buildings ahead of a Cabinet meeting this morning, Mr Howlin said there would be a significant hole in the Government's "budgetary arithmetic" if the Labour Court proposals, the full details of which are to be published later today, are not accepted.