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2008

SIPTU response to the decision of the Construction Industry Federation to renege on the National Pay Agreement

Date Released: 26 Nov 2008

SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor said he very much regretted the decision of the Construction Industry Federation not to honour the new national pay agreement. Responding to news that the CIF would not be complying with Module II of Towards 2016 he said, “It is ironic that the employers who benefitted more than any other sector of Irish business from the Social Partnership model that created the Celtic Tiger, many of whom grew wealthy beyond their wildest dreams, should be the first to renege on it.

“Many ordinary families who contributed to this wealth by paying exorbitant prices to put a roof over their heads would doubtlessly love to be able to walk away from their crushing  mortgage repayments as easily.

“The CIF decision is also unbelievably short sighted even from their own members perspective, because they, of all people, stand to benefit most by the maintenance of the stable platform provided by the national agreements to restore economic growth. There are problems due to the economic downturn but the best way of resolving them is by utilising the infrastructure of the Agreement, not by tearing it up. The CIF have forfeited all possibilities of doing so by denying building workers some degree of inflation proofing for a few months – a classic case of cutting off the nose to spite the face.

We are left with no alternative now but to join with the other Unions in the Construction Industry to develop a campaign to protect building workers on a range of issues, as well as pay, that it was not possible to pursue because of the restrictions of the National Agreement.

“We will continue to abide by the terms of T2016 with regard to the other employer organisations, the Government and the Community and Voluntary sector. However, we will be insisting that the Government honours its obligations under the agreement to ensure that only those employers who display a commitment to the national interest and adhere to national pay policy qualify for publicly funded contracts, and we will be seeking an early meeting to this end.”





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