SIPTU to decide whether to enter partnership talks
SIPTU delegates are meeting in Dublin this morning to decide whether to enter talks on a new social partnership deal.
The negotiations were due to get underway late last year, but SIPTU and the rest of the trade union movement refused to attend unless they received assurances that the issue of so-called "job displacement" would be dealt with.
The unions' stance followed Irish Ferries controversial move to lay off its Irish workforce and replace them with cheaper labour from Latvia.
The SIPTU leadership has already recommended that delegates agree to enter the next round of partnership talks after receiving assurances from the Government that their concerns will be addressed.
Speaking yesterday, the union's president, Jack O'Connor, said he believed the issue was being taken seriously.
"We're confident that there is a recognition on the part of the Government and, I think, on the part of the employer organisation, that there is very serious public concern about displacement and exploitation in our economy," he said.
If SIPTU agrees to participate in the partnership negotiations, then talks on a successor to the Sustaining Progress agreement should get underway on Thursday.
