Ictu is to hold protests in eight regional locations on Friday November 6th to encourage the Government to adopt an alternative plan for economic recovery.
Ictu president Jack O'Connor said it would be encouraging workers to take time off to attend the rally however he said the move does not represent a strike.
The rallies will take place in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Sligo, Galway, Tullamore, Dundalk and Waterford.
There will also be a leafleting, media and online campaign to support Ictu's position for a fairer way of dealing with the economic recovery.
Speaking earlier today, Mr O'Connor said the timeframe needed for economic recovery and the equality of Government cuts are the main stumbling blocks for unions.
He said the economic “short, sharp, shock, therapy” favoured by the Government and employer groups - where significant spending cuts are introduced in the short term - will do more damage than good.
He also said that wealthy people will have to contribute “substantially more” than they are contributing at the present time, identifing those earning over €100,000 and with "considerable reserves of wealth".
The Government held talks with union leaders and employers last night to discuss the prospect of an economic recovery agreement between the social partners. In response, union leaders threatened strike action.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland Mr O'Connor said the negotiations would not work if they are simply about working people having to “shoulder the burden of the adjustments as a result of the problem which they had no part in creating.”
Mr O’Connor said the €4 billion of spending cuts and tax adjustments envisaged by the Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan in April had now become €4 billion of cuts.
While the unions accepted cuts are necessary, the degree to they can be accepted is “influenced by the degree to which it’s clear that other elements of society are contributing.”
“If we don’t achieve a fair agreement the people on our side, working people and people who depend on public services can’t be expected just to roll over and accept it all in what’s called the national interest; which is increasingly being confused in this country in the interests of the better off.”
Director general of employer group Ibec Danny McCoy said there are “hard decisions to be made”.
“We’d be confident in 2010 into 2011 if we take the medicine now we can see the economy coming back, coming back strong,” he said after the talks.
Yesterday, Taoiseach Brian Cowen warned cuts in public sector pay and pensions would have to form part of the budget considerations.
He told Opposition leaders in the Dáil the Cabinet was currently discussing a range of measures as part of the budget process.
Members of the Ictu executive are currently meeting to discuss the last night's talks. It has already announced a national day of protest for Friday, November 6th.
