Union Protest Apposed By Tánaiste

The Tánaiste has said unions should engage in negotiation rather than strike action after a march on the Daíl was announced by a major trade union.

Speaking at the Small Firms Association annual conference in Dublin, Ms Coughlan said trade unions should engage in negotiation rather than strike action after major union Siptu announced a campaign of action against suggestions of major cuts in the upcoming budget.

The union also announced a national march of community workers, employers and activists to take place in Dublin tomorrow, in protest against the proposed cuts to community projects across the country.

The union said several thousand people were expected to participate.

“The implications for services and communities are real and devastating,” said David Connolly, chairperson of the Communities Against Cuts campaign.

He added: “Projects that deliver vital childcare, youth support, drug rehabilitation, education, training, literacy programmes and community development will have to cut services and many will face closure as the result of the government cut-backs."

Responding to the announcement from new community alliance, Ms Coughlan said while no-one wanted to see a reduction in frontline services, savings still had to be found.

Ms Coughlan said alternatives suggested by social partners would be listened to, adding that "we have had a long number of years when we didn’t have those actions and as a consequence we have had a great working between ourselves and our social partners".

(DW/KMcA)