Siptu leader Jack O'Connor has called for the acceptance of the Croke Park deal on public service pay, saying the proposals guaranteed jobs and prevented further pay cuts.
In a speech in Athy last night, Mr O'Connor said the current economic crisis could compromise Ireland's sovereignty as well as living standards in the country. He backed the agreement on pay and reform of the public sector, despite the proposals being rejected by several public sector unions.
"They offer the best guarantee of reflecting the interests of the citizens of Ireland in a way that is compatible with those of public service workers, rather than the ambitions of those focused on the accumulation of profit through privatisation of State assets and services on the pretext of correcting the national finances," he said.
Mr O'Connor said working people did not create the current mess, but that did not address the issue.
"Even if we win, we will still be faced with the enormous legacy of debt and the need to borrow in the financial markets to maintain the services that are essential to civilised living. The wealthy can and should pay more but, in and of itself, this is not sufficient to resolve the problem," he said.
Mr O'Connor said the union did not trust the Government when it was elected in previous years, but it had done what it could to ensure the voice of working people "wouldn't be drowned out in the representation elected to the Oireachtas".
"The government was elected and re-elected and as long as they are there we have to deal with them as we live in a democracy," he said.
