National Strikes Happening From Wednesday, Widespread Disruption To Schools And Health Services

The Public Expenditure Minister is due to brief his Cabinet colleagues today on the efforts made to engage with unions ahead of tomorrow's strike by public sector workers. It's after unions rejected Jack Chambers' invitation to meet at the Workplace Relations Commission today. More than 300 thousand workers including teachers, healthcare staff and civil servants will take part in a 24 hour work stoppage. Minister Chambers will tell Ministers of the “substantial efforts” to engage in talks with public sector unions, including officials meeting with ICTU on twelve occasions this year, with two meetings taking place since the expiry of the last pay deal in June. Ministers will hear he wrote to unions twice in the past two weeks including on Monday, where it was reiterated all issues raised by unions could be discussed including prioritising pay. Yesterday, Fórsa's General Secretary, Kevin Callinan, said unions had rejected the Minister's invitation to meet in the Workplace Relations Commission today, and said the Minister hasn't changed his position since meeting with them in June. Joining Alan Morrissey were Graham Macken, SIPTU representative, and Brendan Horan, INTO President. Photo (c) shotbydave from Getty Images Signature via Canva