26/02/2009

Civil Servants Announce Strike Over Levy

Over ten thousand civil servants have announced they are to stage a one-day strike today, following the passage of the pension levy bill this morning.

The action will be followed by a series of regional protests by workers under the Civil and Public Services Union.

The walk out is expected to cause severe problems services from welfare to passport offices, which will all be forced to close for the day.

Blair Horan, General Secretary said that lower paid CPSU members cannot afford to have their pay reduced by 6% through a deferral of the pay deal and take an average pay cut of 6% on top of that with the pension levy.

According to Mr Horan, members stand to lose between €40 to €60 a week that they simply cannot afford.

"Targeting the lower paid while Top Bankers get off scot free is just not on," he said.

CPSU warned of the dangers that a property bubble posed for the economy as far back as 1998, but nobody was listening. Lower paid CPSU members got no bonanza from the Celtic Tiger but instead suffered an explosion in rents and house prices along with increased childcare costs.

They have had enough, and won't be singled out for a pay cut.

(DW/JM)

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