******************* TRADE UNIONS told to prepare for strike ballot as no basis for public sector pay talks in place Preliminary meetings fail to find common ground, with current deal set to expire on 1st July 2026. (Irish Times, 18.6.2026) Exploratory meetings on a new public sector pay deal have concluded, with union negotiators telling colleagues … Continue reading ORGANISED LABOUR
economy
They rewarded disruption over need—giving to those who shout the loudest!
ORGANISED LABOUR (Owen Reidy, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions) THE rules have changed; it is now clear that public spending is based on noise rather than need (Irish Mail on Sunday, 19.4.2026). The past two weeks have felt seismic. With a 20% jump in fuel prices as a result of conflict in … Continue reading They rewarded disruption over need—giving to those who shout the loudest!
ORGANISED LABOUR
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% April 2026 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ NATIONAL TRAINING FUND—Near €1.4bn surplus in State training fund is ‘ridiculous’ and ‘outrageous’. Accumulated surplus in National Training Fund now stands at €1.37bn, Dail's Public Accounts Committee is told. A near €1.4 billion surplus in a key State training fund has been criticised as 'outrageous' at the Public Accounts Committee. … Continue reading ORGANISED LABOUR
Budget 2026—Editorial
The Irish economy continues to be buoyant, notwithstanding the uncertain global economic environment. GDP growth rates are expected to be 10%, 1% and 4% for 2025, 2026 and 2027 respectively. (The large growth rate in 2025 and low rate in 2026 reflects multi-nationals bringing forward production and sales in 2025 to avoid Trump’s tariffs.) There … Continue reading Budget 2026—Editorial
ORGANISED LABOUR NOVEMBER 25
BUDGET NOVEMBER 25 UNIONS line up to warn of looming strikes after budget snub to workers (Irish Independent, 9.10.2025). “Employers face salary pressures as minimum-wage rise to create ripple effect. “The potential for industrial action has heightened, with pressure for pay rises predicted to mount following the budget. “Someone on a €50,000 salary is expected to pay … Continue reading ORGANISED LABOUR NOVEMBER 25
ORGANISED LABOUR
October 2025 Pat Maloney ICTU and Israel The Irish Congress of Trade Unions [ICTU] has called on the Government to end trade with Israel. Congress has said that workers in Ireland should not be placed in"unconscionable situations" of facilitating trade with Israel or handling Israeli goods while attacks on Gaza continue. Government must step up its response by ending … Continue reading ORGANISED LABOUR
The Lesson of NAMA
(National Asset Management Agency) John Martin If there is one thing that can be learned from recent Irish political history, it is that when there is a crisis the State must intervene. But, as last month's editorial pointed out, the resources of the State must be organised so that they are applied in a concentrated … Continue reading The Lesson of NAMA
Irish Political Review 