ICTU Discuss Further Strike Action

The Executive Council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions is considering further industrial action after Saturday's huge protest march in Dublin.

During the march, up to 120,000 people are thought to have joined the protest against the Government's handling of the economy, and the enforcement of the controversial pension levy.

It is believed the ICTU is planning to call for ballots across all unions under its umbrella to measure support for further action.

The union wants the government to reverse its recent decisions on the pension levy and public service job cuts, and instead implement the union's plan outlined in its Better Way, Fairer Way document, published at the beginning of February.

The document has listed ten initiatives as an alternative to the Government's " narrow focus on the public finances".

Included in the document are plans to protect jobs and tackle unemployment by radically altering the social welfare system, and identifying alternatives to redundancy for employers.

The ICTU also outlines reorganising the banking system. The document saiys: "The Bank Recapitalisation Programme involves handing over €7 billion of public money, from the Pension Reserve Fund, to the same people who presided over the collapse. Their refusal to forego enormous personal salaries and bonuses speaks volumes about their contempt for the taxpayer."

The unions have instead insisted upon a complete overhaul of Corporate Governance within the banks and clear indications that wrongdoing will be punished.

(DW/BMcC)