Some 1,000 people were expected at Wednesday's public sector protest march to the Dáil; gardaí estimate that 3,500 turned out, including nurses, prison officers, paramedics, gardaí, and firefighters. The march set off from Parnell Square, stopping at Molesworth Street to be addressed by Des Kavanagh of the Psychiatric Nurses' Association before proceeding to the Dáil to hand in their letter of protest. That particular protest was organised so that only those who were off duty would take part

According to the Irish Times the only expression of support shown to the marchers, as they made their way through the city centre, came from a group of student nurses.

A ballot of members of the Irish Nurses' Organisation resulted in 85% voting in favour of taking industrial action on November 24. On Friday the teachers' unions announced that almost 80% of members were in favour of strike action although it's not clear that any of the unions actually revealed how many members took part in the ballots. At least one teacher contacted a radio phone-in programme to express embarrassment at the outcome of the ballot.

Peter McLoone, the leader of the IMPACT union which has the largest number of public service members, has said that the emergency cover on November 24 will be very limited and pointed out that the strike ballot gives the leadership authority to call three one-day strikes.

Meanwhile an Aer Lingus pilot has won a ruling from a Rights Commissioner that the airline was acting unlawfully by failing to pay him an annual increment worth €900. This appears to have been a test case initiated by the pilots' union which is now expected to argue that it applies to all 400 Aer Lingus pilots.

During the week Aer Lingus reported a further decline in revenue by 9.7%, a 7% reduction in passenger numbers, and a year-on-year drop in cash reserves from €654m to €399m. The airline also revealed that it was considering offers which could lead to the sale of 11 aircraft, with some being leased back.

Just over two weeks ago unions representing workers at State-owned Bord Gáis convinced the Labour Court that their members should receive a 3.5% pay increase to augment their average salaries of €67,300. This will cost Bord Gáis, and ultimately its customers, including those who have lost their jobs in the current crisis, €2.1m per year.

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