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2008

SIPTU recommends Yes Vote

Date Released: 22 Oct 2008

The proposal for a “Transitional Agreement” to extend for 21 months from the end of last March should be considered against the background of a sustained assault on the quality of employment in Ireland and the circumstances prevailing today.

Basic conditions, which many would have taken for granted until recently, have been under attack through outsourcing, etc.  Accordingly, in addition to trying to secure a pay increase for workers across the board, we have to win better employment protection legislation to combat exploitation and prohibit victimisation of workers trying to organise to defend their rights.  If we do not remain focussed on this, the unscrupulous element among the employers will enjoy an increasing competitive advantage over organised workers, ultimately undermining security and quality of employment generally.  Winning this legislation is an uphill struggle.  However, we have made a certain degree of progress in the original ‘Towards 2016 Agreement’ and further advances in this proposal. 

While the necessity to address the problems with the public finances is acknowledged, the Government Budget announced on October 14, ran counter to the principles of social justice.  Accordingly, on Wednesday 15, we proposed that the Congress of Trade Unions would seek a meeting with the Taoiseach and we deferred a recommendation on the pay proposal and delayed our ballot by one week pending that meeting.  We met with the Taoiseach on Friday 17.  We emphasised our concerns with the general direction of the Budget, and particularly its failure to place the burden of raising tax revenue on those who benefitted most during the Celtic Tiger years.  We also argued that failure to address the medical card, 1% levy and education cuts issues would result in tens of thousands of workers who might otherwise consider voting in favour of the proposal, rejecting it.  The outpouring of public anger regarding the medical card issue in particular over the weekend removed any doubt in the minds of Government. 

The Budget has now been amended.  Although universal entitlement to a medical card has not been fully restored to people over seventy years of age, the position of ordinary pensioners is protected for the medium-term at least.  Equally, while we had sought the removal of the levy in respect of all those below average industrial earnings, the amendment at least respects the principle that all workers on the minimum wage would be exempt.  We will seek further improvements on these issues over the coming weeks.  Our opposition to the general direction of the Budget and to a number of its specific measures remains and we will vigorously campaign on these issues. Success will depend on the degree to which every member plays a part.

The  proposed  ‘Transitional Agreement’ does not meet all our aspirations, nor for that matter do the amendments announced in relation to the Budget.  However, if we reject it  we will not secure the essential legislation on employment protection which is provided for in it, and workers will be entering employment-by-employment bargaining on pay in a most difficult economic environment.  Meanwhile Budget 2009 will still remain in place.

Accordingly, on balance we recommend acceptance of the proposed ‘Transitional Agreement’ so that workers can benefit from the new laws to support security and quality of employment as well as the 6% pay increase.  Meanwhile we are also resolved to participate on all major campaigns focused on preserving good secure sustainable jobs and creating more, defending the quality of our public services on which ordinary people depend and pressurising the Government to “Tax the Greedy not the Needy”.





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