SIPTU representatives have called for clarity on the details of the EU/US trade deal announced yesterday and immediate action from the State that will prioritise protecting jobs in the sectors that are worse impacted.
SIPTU Manufacturing Divisional Organiser, Neil McGowan, said: “The statements and media reports on the agreement between the US and EU on a new tariff regime governing trade between the two economic blocks, leaves a lot yet to be clarified. It is vital that we get this clarity urgently because every day of uncertainty impacts investment decisions by business which directly effects the tens of thousands of our members employed in sectors which rely heavily on exporting into the US.
“Workers in Ireland including those in the food, drink, medical devices and pharmaceutical sectors have been very concerned since President Trump embarked on his protectionist economic policy. While the erratic decision making of the US President is not something that we can have any bearing on, the Irish Government can, and must, work to alleviate its outcomes.
“When the US President made clear earlier this year that he intended to embark on a protectionist trade policy by instigating specific tariff regimes on imports, SIPTU called for the Government to begin planning for how to protect jobs in Ireland. This must be done in an urgent fashion and involve key stakeholders including the trade union movement.
“Among the options, which SIPTU believes should be considered, are wage subsidy programmes similar to those introduced during the Covid pandemic for companies that experience a considerable fall in turnover due to a reliance on the US market. Consideration must be given to modelling this scheme on that operated in Germany with subsidies for shortened working weeks. These measures will aim to protect production, jobs and the economy in the short-term and must include social conditionality, concerning issues including collective bargaining and workers’ rights.”
He added: “At the same time as these short-term measures are applied work and resources must be turned to assisting indigenous companies in diversifying their markets and products to adapt to the changed global trade environment in the long-term.”