Public sector trade unions have warned that they will organise budget strikes to coincide with September's Budget, having accused the Government of failing to take pay talks seriously.
They have signalled they are prepared to take industrial action in protest at the impact of soaring inflation on middle and low-income workers.
This year the Government offered a 2.5% pay increase and a further 2.5% for next year, but unions rejected the offer, saying the rise did not take inflation into account.
The president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), Kevin Callinan said yesterday that the most recent talks took place on June 17 and no progress has been made since.
"I think we can't be accused of rushing the fences in relation to this, we've been very patient, but unfortunately our patience has now run out and I think we require a fair deal from this Government," he told RTÉ. He said that as a result of increased cost of living and higher inflation, members want a "fair deal" as low and middle-income workers struggle.
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He said: "There's no doubt that over a sustained period of time, inflation is not good for the economy. Workers don't cause inflation, they're the victims, workers and their families are the victims of inflation. We really need this Government as an employer to respond to that, just as we would expect other employers who can afford to do their bit in relation to this cost-of-living crisis."
The unions said that they would not be happy to discuss an extension of the Building Momentum agreement to cover pay in 2023, until improved pay terms for 2021 and 2022 are agreed upon.
A letter to ICTU members from the Public Services Committee, which represents around 90% of public servants, said that the Government was breaching the public service pay agreement by not reviewing the Building Momentum pay terms.
The letter said: "The Government administration is now effectively winding down until mid-September, leaving low and middle-income public servants with the prospect of another two months of uncertainty. In our view, the Government's attitude towards its staff is bordering on contempt."
