SIPTU general secretary John King has criticised the government’s “abandonment” of low and average-income households amid a worsening cost-of-living crisis driven by spiralling energy costs, with no targeted support measures.
King said, “the government has again failed workers with the energy support measures it announced on Sunday, which are focused on providing a financial break to businesses and high earners.”
The SIPTU boss said “the government is foregoing approximately half a billion euros through a range of tax reductions and supports for the haulage and farm contracting sectors. Despite the cost of these measures, they contain little to no relief for the vast majority of workers and households, who are left completely exposed to a cost-of-living crisis and mounting inflation.”
King stated, “the government must present an innovative and progressive package of direct measures for lower- and average-income households to offset the drastic impact of this economic crisis brought about by international events. The Irish economy is facing an economic storm not experienced in decades. The government must act now,” he said.
He added, “SIPTU has already warned the government that it cannot expect workers to accept an unbearable burden from a worsening international economic crisis, while it simply provides massive subsidies to business. Across the public and private sectors, workers’ earnings are being eroded by the cost-of-living crisis; this will impact wage negotiations in all workplaces.”
“The government must act to support workers immediately to address these issues or face serious industrial relations issues across the whole economy.”