Public sector workers who were listening to the radio on the morning of 30 March must have thought they misheard, when details were given of the proposals for their pay which their leaders were coming back with, following talks with the government.

The most important objective for public sector workers was the scrapping of the pension levy, restoration of pay cuts, protection of pensions and terms and conditions. None of these objectives are met by this rotten deal.

"It really beggars belief that trade union leaders would have the brazenness to propose to low and middle income public sector workers that they should agree, not just an acceptance of the savage wage cuts already meted out, but ‘revolutionary’ measures that can have a further devastating effect on the incomes and working conditions of those workers.

Peter McLoone, the disgraced General Secretary of IMPACT will retire from his position in May.  McLoone’s replacement, chosen by IMPACT’s central executive committee, is Shay Cody.

In the current economic climate it seems those of us lucky enough to have a low-paid job have forfeited our right to respect and decent treatment.  With hundreds of thousands on the live register at the moment, it's an employers' market. The employed are feeling the pressure of thousands in the queue behind them, and the pressure of employers trying to cut down on costs.

The TEEU applied for a variation of the Registered Employment Agreement in order to implement the increase in the rate of pay for electricians in the building industry that was agreed after the week long strike in mid 2009. Yet again, on 19 February last, the Labour Court adjourned a decision on the matter.

The Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan, has spelt out plans to make a further €3 billion in cuts at the next Budget. €500 million of these cuts are to come from public sector "reform" and if the unions don’t agree, he will impose further pay cuts.

Taxi Regulator must put a halt to issuing new taxi licenses and implement an independent review of the Taxi industry.

Following on from John Recto joining his striking Green Isle colleagues Jim Wyse and John Guinan on hunger strike a settlement was reached between the strikers and the company overnight.

A demonstration of 700 family, friends and trade union officials and activists took place in Naas on 27 February in support of the 13 striking TEEU members at Green Isle foods in Naas Co. Kildare.