THE LARGEST UNION of civil service workers will hold a conference today to discuss how it will respond to the rejection of the Croke Park 2 deal.

The Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU) rejected the proposals by a wide margin when it voted earlier this month – and will today consider a number of motions outlining its possible reaction to the deal.

Its 13,000 members voted 86-14 against the deal, and the union was one of four to launch a major campaign encouraging other public sector workers to vote against the plans.

Among the motions being tabled at the annual conference is the potential withdrawal from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, if the congress backs a revised pay deal and the CPSU remains opposed to it.

Members will also consider whether to pursue industrial action if the Government attempts to change their terms and conditions without prior approval.

A separate motion would also rule the CPSU out of any negotiations on a revised pay deal unless there is a guarantee that further pay cuts are off the table.

The steadfast rejection of the proposal by the CPSU – which historically represents lower-paid public workers – was a particular blow to the Croke Park 2 deal, as the government had promoted the fact that it did not cut core pay for workers earning less than €65,000.

However, workers openly rejected the plan’s proposals to extend the working week, delay incremental pay increases for most workers, and reduce allowances and other premium payments.

Read: No deal on public pay means no protection against job cuts – Kenny