Staff in a number of State-funded voluntary organisations providing health and social care services are to ballot for strike action after the apparent breakdown of a proposed agreement on the restoration of pay which was cut following the economic crash. Yesterday, Siptu said  it was preparing to ballot members in Section 39 orgnaisations following the refusal of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) to fully honour a recent pay restoration agreement.

Business Minister Heather Humphries will travel to Munster today after more than 800 job losses were announced in the province in 24 hours. The Taoiseach has expressed his “deep regret” at the double announcement of job losses in Cork and Shannon, but said they are not linked and part of a wider problem.

Meanwhile, Independent News and Media (INM) has decided to shut its printing plant in Citywest in Dublin with the loss of 84 jobs, after almost two-thirds of the facility’s staff applied for a voluntary redundancy scheme. Siptu said they are "seeking an urgent meeting" with INM management, following staff being told of the closure.

A planned strike by engineers at Aughinish Alumina refinery due to take place later this week has been suspended, and the dispute referred to the Labour Court. The suspension of the industrial action comes after High Court proceedings brought by the workers’ employer Murphy International Ltd (MIL), against trade union Unite were resolved following talks. The workers had voted to go on strike in a dispute over pay and allowances. 

The Labour Party has proposed that the rural broadband network be owned by the State. Speaking in the Dáil on a Private Members' Motion Brendan Howlin said that in this case, the private sector cannot do anything the State could not and the State had delivered electrification and water to every home through publicly-owned networks.

The Indo has this interesting piece focusing on addressing the retirement pay gap

Ireland has again missed it annual greenhouse gas emissions target set by the EU, exceeding its allocation by five million tonnes last year. Figures from the Environmental Protection Agency show agriculture remains the sector which emits the most - accounting for 34% of the total. It is the third year running that Ireland has exceeded its emissions budget.

TDs and senators have been told that social media companies should be made to pay for support services for victims of cyber-bullying and fund a new online safety commissioner. The call came as the family of a woman who had images of her decapitated body shared online said "everyday life is impossible" because of it. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) told the committee it supports the criminalisation of sharing such images online.

James Brown brings us our zen this morning. The US Soul singer recorded his legendary 'Live At The Apollo' album in this day in 1962. Here's a taster of him performing "I Got the Feelin'. 

Have a good day.