The Public Expenditure Minister says industrial action is not the way forward for public sector workers seeking a pay increase.
Michael McGrath says negotiation is the only way of achieving 'an acceptable outcome', and the government are 'on standby' to re-enter talks.
Yesterday, SIPTU said preparations are underway for its members to take strike action, after an agreement wasn't reached during the review of the pay provisions last month.
Minister McGrath says they recognize living standards are difficult at the moment and the deal they offer will acknowledge that:
"I don't believe that industrial action is the way forward and negotiation is the only way of achieving an acceptable outcome here, an outcome that is acceptable to the government on the one hand, but also the public service workers. We, of course recognize that living standards are under pressure for public sector workers as they are for people on fixed incomes and private sector workers as well."
