ICTU rejects partnership talks
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) today refused to agree to new social partnership talks, insisting the time was not yet right.
After the country’s largest union, SIPTU, called for negotiations to be deferred, the congress voted unanimously in favour of delaying a decision on whether to take part.
David Begg, ICTU general secretary, said more work needed to be done on preventing the exploitation of workers, particularly migrants.
“We need a sea change in our approach to regulation and enforcement of employment protection and conditions,” Mr Begg said.
“While we don’t need to see – and are not asking to see – actual legislation enacted in advance of new talks, we do need to see the blueprint, we need to see what the plans are.”
The move came after the executive council of ICTU agreed not to recommend unions join the talks, and followed intense pressure from SIPTU.
Mr Begg stressed that the present climate was not right to address the serious issues affecting all sides in the negotiations. The matter will go before the executive council at a later date.
Mr Begg, who represents 770,000 workers and 56 affiliated unions, condemned employers for their silence on key issues such as poor compliance with agreed employment standards.
Such practices, he said, were neither morally acceptable nor socially sustainable.
Talks on a successor to Sustaining Progress are due to formally begin on November 17, with the Government keen to continue the 18-year-old partnership.
But with increasing pressure from unions eager for more commitments on the protection of workers, it is not yet clear whether the talks will go ahead.
Mr Begg added that employers’ silence on crucial issues such as labour law contrasted with their sharp criticism of workers in An Post, who had threatened strike action over pay.
Referring to a letter from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to Congress, Mr Begg said it was welcome but clarification was required from the Government on its willingness to protect employees and act tough on employers who flout labour laws.
