Fórsa, the largest public sector trade union, is holding its biennial conference in Killarney.
The union represent more than 400,000 workers who will be debating a major motion on pay, living standards and public service negotiations.
This comes as the unions prepare for what could become the most significant round of public service pay talks in more than a decade.
Spokesperson for Fórsa, Niall Shanahan says many members believe the fuel protestors were rewarded for their blockade of ports and the country's only fuel depot.
He says workers whose unions comply with the law and approved systems surrounding industrial relations should be similarly rewarded:
Meanwhile, General Secretary of Fórsa Kevin Callinan is calling the hospitality VAT rate a ‘waste of taxpayers money'; he says the overall VAT rate should be reduced by 2% instead.
Mr Callinan told the conference the union hopes to secure a ‘united approach’ to negotiating the next Public Sector Pay Agreement:
Taoiseach Micheál Martin addressed the conference, and afterwards said he wants the local bargaining element of negotiations completed as soon as possible:
