Unions preparing for strike action on Thursday 12 November

Trade unions representing public sector workers have said that preparations are underway for another 24 hour work stoppage on Thursday 12 November.

The Public Services Committee (PSC) of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) met today, Monday 2 November to discuss the strike action, and to intensify the work-to-rule currently in place across the public service.

The national executives of the unions involved in the discussions will meet this afternoon to discuss next steps for their organisations.

The PSC will meet with members of a Government-appointed group tomorrow, Tuesday 3 November to assist in the stalled talks.

On Friday, members of the PSC said that the Government had failed to present a "credible offer" in talks which had been ongoing for ten days.

Speaking outside the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in Dublin, chair of the PSC and general secretary of Fórsa, Kevin Callinan said that they had reached an impasse.

"It doesn't seem possible at this moment that it's going to be possible to reach an agreement that we can confidently put to our members in a ballot," he said.

Public sector workers engaged in a one-day strike on Wednesday 14 October as part of the dispute. A second day of strike action, planned for 21 October, was called off to facilitate talks.

The dispute arose over what trade unions said was a failure by government to present a credible basis for talks on a new public sector pay deal, following the expiry of the previous deal in July.