Government invites public sector unions to WRC talks to try to avert Wednesday strike
With a public sector strike planned for Wednesday, Minister Jack Chambers invited union leaders to Workplace Relations Commission talks, saying pay can be discussed as a priority. It is not yet clear whether the unions will accept.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Public expenditure minister Jack Chambers invited public sector union leaders to talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on Monday 12 October, in a last-minute attempt to avert a strike. The Irish TimesLC “The Government has moved to avert Wednesday’s planned strike by more than 300,000 public and civil service workers by inviting the union leadership to attend talks at the Workplace Relations Commission.” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Irish IndependentRC “Jack Chambers makes last ditch attempt to avert public sector pay strike by inviting unions for talks at WRC tomorrow” Read at Irish Independent ↗ Right · 1Earlier on Monday, the Irish Independent reported that there were no fresh talks and that the Government was bracing for strikes within 48 hours, with the coalition expected to contact unions again that day. Irish IndependentRC “No fresh talks as the Government braces for public sector pay strikes in just 48 hours”“Coalition expected to contact unions again on Monday” Read at Irish Independent ↗ Left · 1The Irish Times reports that the strike, planned for Wednesday, involves more than 300,000 public and civil service workers; schools are set to close and thousands of hospital and other healthcare appointments are due to be deferred. The Irish TimesLC “Schools are set to close and thousands of hospital and other healthcare appointments are due to be deferred.” Read at The Irish Times ↗
Mixed · 2In his letter to the officers of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions' public services committee, Chambers said: "I wish to make clear that pay issues can and should be discussed as a priority." Irish IndependentRC “‘I wish to make clear that pay issues can and should be discussed as a priority’” Read at Irish Independent ↗ The Irish TimesLC “Chambers told the union leaders in the letter pay “can and should be discussed as a priority alongside other matters as part of the pay talks”.” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Left · 1Chambers again described the €1.2 billion provided for public sector pay in the budget as "significant" and suggested an agreement could still be reached if talks were held. The Irish TimesLC “Chambers again described the provision of €1.2 billion for public sector pay in the budget as “significant”” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Left · 1Whether pay could be discussed has been a key sticking point in getting talks started so far, according to the Irish Times. The Irish TimesLC “This has been a key sticking point in getting talks started up so far.” Read at The Irish Times ↗
Left · 1It is not yet clear whether the unions will accept; union leaders Kevin Callinan and Phil Ní Sheaghdha both said on Monday morning they would consider the wording of any Government approach carefully before deciding. The Irish TimesLC “Union leaders Kevin Callinan and Phil Ní Sheaghdha both said on Monday morning they would consider the wording of any approach by the Government carefully before making a decision.” Read at The Irish Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Irish Times reports the Government's invitation as a move to avert a strike, with detail on the disruption and the union response.
- Emphasis
- Disruption to schools and healthcare, the €1.2 billion pay provision, the pay-talks sticking point and union caution.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not report the earlier absence of fresh talks.
- For example
-
“Chambers reiterated the Government’s desire to avoid the industrial action on the basis of the huge disruption it would cause to services.” — The Irish Times
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The Irish Independent runs the story as a countdown to strikes, first noting no fresh talks, then a 'last ditch attempt' by Chambers.
- Emphasis
- The 48-hour deadline and Chambers' statement that pay can be discussed as a priority.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Coverage available gives little on union reactions or the scale of the disruption.
- Charged language
- “last ditch attempt”
- For example
-
“No fresh talks as the Government braces for public sector pay strikes in just 48 hours” — Irish Independent
“‘I wish to make clear that pay issues can and should be discussed as a priority’” — Irish Independent
What every side reports
- Minister Jack Chambers invited public sector unions to talks at the Workplace Relations Commission.
- The invitation is an attempt to avert a public sector strike due within days.
- Chambers said pay issues can and should be discussed as a priority.
Jack Chambers person
Says the Government wants to avoid the strike, that pay can and should be discussed as a priority, and that the €1.2 billion budget provision is significant.
“Chambers again described the provision of €1.2 billion for public sector pay in the budget as “significant”” — The Irish Times
“‘I wish to make clear that pay issues can and should be discussed as a priority’” — Irish Independent
Workplace Relations Commission organisation
Is the venue the Government has proposed for talks with the union leadership.
“inviting the union leadership to attend talks at the Workplace Relations Commission” — The Irish Times
Left1 article
-
Public sector unions invited to talks in last-minute bid to avoid strike
Neutral Reports the invitation with context on the scale of the strike, disruption, the budget pay provision and cautious union leaders.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right3 articles
-
No fresh talks as the Government braces for public sector pay strikes in just 48 hours
Alarmist Frames the standoff as a countdown, with no new talks and the Government bracing for strikes.
-
Neutral Presents Chambers' invitation to WRC talks as a last-ditch effort to avert the strike.
-
Neutral Leads with Chambers' invitation and his quote that pay can be discussed as a priority, calling it a last-ditch attempt.
- 12 Oct 05:30 First Irish IndependentRC No fresh talks as the Government braces for public sector pay strikes in just 48 hours
- 12 Oct 15:25 +9h 55m Irish IndependentRC Jack Chambers makes last ditch attempt to avert public sector pay strike by inviting unions for talks at WRC tomorrow
- 12 Oct 15:25 +9h 55m Irish IndependentRC Jack Chambers invites unions for WRC talks tomorrow in last ditch attempt to avert public sector strike: ‘Pay issues can be discussed as a priority’
- 12 Oct 15:49 +10h 19m The Irish TimesLC Public sector unions invited to talks in last-minute bid to avoid strike
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…