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Lansdowne House, where negotiations on the pay deal took place. Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Seven unions have now rejected Croke Park II proposals

Earlier, two unions representing builders and plasterers both said that the deal would offer job security for members and voted in favour of it.

Updated 5.15pm

SEVEN UNIONS HAVE now rejected the Croke Park II proposals on public sector pay and reform.

The Irish Federation of University Teachers this afternoon announced its members had rejected the proposals by a margin of three to one.

Earlier the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU) rejected the proposals as did the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants (ACHPS) which voted 85 per cent No to the agreement.

Those three unions join the craft workers union, UCATT, as well as the Teachers’ Union of Ireland, the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union, and Medical Laboratory Scientists Association in rejecting the deal.

The entire deal now hinges on the verdict of the two largest trade unions in the country, SIPTU and IMPACT, which are expected to announce the results of their ballots in the next two days.

Results from the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), the Public Service Executive Union (PSEU) and the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) will also be needed to ensure that the proposals are accepted overall by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).

Earlier, two unions representing builders and plasterers voted to accept the proposals.

The Building and Allied Trades Union (BATU) and the Operative Plasterers and Allied Trades Society of Ireland (OPATSI) both confirmed today that they voted in favour of the deal.

ICTU meeting on Wednesday

Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Greg Macken, Secretary of the public service branch of BATU, which represents about 125 workers in the construction industry, said the union voted in favour of the deal “because of the job security it offers”.

“In the environment we’re in at the present moment that’s important but as well as that the basic pay hasn’t been touched,” he said. “We wouldn’t say it’s a good deal but in the current climate it’s the best deal we can get that we would be able to take control of,” he added.

Macken said he expects the results of all of the votes will see the deal pass but that he expects it will pass by a “small majority”. “We’re just waiting now because the big guns have still to cast their votes,” he said.

Billy Wall of OPATSI, which represents 75 workers, said that the agreement would have “no big hit” for members and would in fact result in an increase in annual leave from 23 days to 25.

“It’s not a bad deal for our members, I’d rather say that than it’s a good deal and I understand where other workers are in other sectors,” he said. “But in the first deal our members were decimated and I didn’t see the UNITE or the IMO coming out because plasters were being affected.”

Wall said he felt that the government had “split unions in all different ways”.

“I honestly don’t know if it’ll pass now – a month ago I would have thought it would have but we have unions standing on different sides and even the leadership of unions saying one thing and members saying another,” he said.

ICTU’s Public Services Committee meets on Wednesday where the results from each union will be taken into consideration and weighted according to their size of their membership to produce a result either accepting or rejecting the proposals.

- additional reporting from Hugh O’Connell

Read: TEEU rejects ‘Croke Park 2′ proposals by two-to-one margin>

Read: Garda protest outside EU finance ministers meeting in Dublin Castle>

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    Mute Michelle Byrne
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    Nov 19th 2012, 6:31 PM

    Its tough for a family to lose a family member so far from home. God rest him.

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    Mute B Collins
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    Nov 19th 2012, 6:19 PM

    Rest in peace.

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    Mute SkepticallySpeaking
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    Nov 19th 2012, 6:30 PM

    every parent’s worst nightmare, rip

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    Mute Jimmy Myers
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    Nov 19th 2012, 7:30 PM

    Deaths on roads happen in every country,very sad news for family and friends and the young lad on the other side of the world RIP.

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    Mute dave pratt
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    Nov 19th 2012, 8:12 PM
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    Mute Den Ni Chroinin
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    Nov 19th 2012, 8:17 PM

    Shocking story. How much can the dispute have been over, a couple of dollars!!

    RIP

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    Mute mick lennon
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    Nov 19th 2012, 11:08 PM

    Jesus that’s appalling,what a terrible waste of life over a couple of bucks,god rest his soul

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    Mute Máire Lenihan
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    Nov 20th 2012, 3:17 AM

    That’s an awful story. A young man killed in the prime of his life and his poor friend having to witness this. I took a journey with a Sydney cab a couple of weeks ago. The driver was one of the rudest people I’ve ever met and refused to help me even though I was struggling with luggage. This was during the day and I really felt he didn’t deserve my money. I hope this man gets jailed for this.

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    Mute Cathleen O Connor
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    Nov 19th 2012, 11:24 PM

    Thinking of the family at this difficult time

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    Mute Lauren McEnery
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    Nov 20th 2012, 1:33 AM

    Heard it on the radio yesterday here in Perth. Taxi drivers are in the news a couple of times a week over things like this and people attacking them. It’s ridiculous

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    Mute Dave Mc Evoy
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    Nov 20th 2012, 7:54 AM

    May he R.I.P.

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    Mute Jessica
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    Nov 20th 2012, 6:17 AM

    A 26 year old Perth taxi driver has been charged with dangerous driving causing fatal injuries to his passenger.

    A police statement has confirmed that an argument between the driver and Ryan took place regarding the fare.

    The report stated, “As a passenger was exiting the vehicle the driver accelerated the vehicle, causing the passenger to fall to the ground, where he received life-threatening injuries.”

    That’s what happened, it was all over the news over here.

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    Mute Mad Taoiseach
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    Nov 20th 2012, 8:00 AM

    Tragedy. Au be test in peace.
    May the justice system work properly in WA.

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