METRO FREE Wednesday, November 25, 2009 Unions threaten second walkoutUNION leaders yesterday threatened to stage a second national strike unless an agreement is struck with the Government at crunch talks today. As public servants began to lift pickets across the country, officials revealed they were prepared to con- sider temporary measures to reduce payroll costs with- out pay cuts. It is understood proposals being tabled include extend- ing the working day, changing flexi-time arrangements and reducing overtime bills. Hospitals, schools, social welfare offices and local au- thorities shut down as workers staged walkouts around the country over plans to cut 1.3billion from the public sector wage bill. Peter McLoone, Impact union general secretary, said intense talks would continue over the weekend in an effort to avert a second strike on Thursday December 3 just days before the Budget. The negotiations we are about to enter into, in our judgment, will be difficult, challenging and complex, he warned. I believe it is possible to agree an alternative that will achieve the savings the Government requires in 2010 and beyond while rapidly agreeing and introducing re- forms which will protect public services and the incomes of those who deliver them. Around 250,000 public servants downed tools across the country yesterday with pickets mounted at several Government departments, outside the Dil and at pris- ons and fire stations. However, flood relief workers and emergency staff in Clare, Galway and Cork were allowed to carry on work- ing to deal with the worst flooding in living memory in parts of the west and south. BY sarah stack teach them a lesson: teachers protest outside the Department of Education during the strike yesterday Picture: PA Why Pete really ditched Dublin showsSee Page 14 hELP MEtrO hELP thE ENVIrONMENt. rEcYcLE thIs NEWsPaPEr tODaY INSIDE TODAY MetroLife: Page 16 Gerard Butler talks to Metro about new roles Guilty Pleasures: Page 12 Dumped Alexs mother hits out at cruel Jordan PLUS Whats on TV tonight Pages 18-19 Shoppers use day off to hit North: Page 2 index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html28.html29.html30.html31.html