The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) has today outlined a campaign of industrial action and potential strikes following the breakdown in talks with the Government and cuts imposed in last month's budget.
In a statement, Ictus's Public Services Committee (PCS) said it is "resolved to take action necessary" to protect its members' pay, pensions and tenure.
The committee said the Government's approach - which was "based solely on the principle of attack" - meant there was now no alternative to its campaign. "The consequences of that situation rest firmly at the Government’s door."
The first step will involve a refusal to co-operate "with the management change agenda". The committee said it will hold joint union meetings to brief members and ensure they get full support if management attempts to victimise them.
These meetings will take place during January to ensure a co-ordinated action across different employment sectors.
Ictu said its strategy would entail further strikes if necessary, including "selective strike action to be used intermittently alongside a sustained work-to rule non-cooperation campaign, other forms of disruptive action, and consideration of a wide-scale strike at a strategic point in the campaign".
The union campaign envisages "a managed withdrawal" from most local partnership arrangements, and work-to-rules at specific times, in specific areas, "to cause maximum inconvenience to senior management".
Within the civil service, the work-to-rule would entail refusal to answer telephones or operate computers in certain areas, the ending of certain activities at 5.30pm, and a refusal to give priority to queries by elected representatives in certain areas.
In the education sector, teachers' unions would reject co-operation with any Government transformation strategy, while health-care staff would withdraw all goodwill services and additional time that is currently given on a non-paid basis.
Later this month. the PCS intends to finalise a second phase of actions across the public service that can be taken with effect from February 1st "to increase the level of disruption to government and management systems".
It has also pledged extensive political and public relations lobbying and an examination of legal options in the face of pay cuts and future changes to pension entitlements.
Ictu called on members of all unions to support the campaign.
