SIPTU members have objected strongly to proposals that their right to strike in essential services should be curtailed in return for union recognition. In a heated debate there was strong criticism of the union leadership, which was accused of lack of consultation and making the process of recognition too "complex and protracted".
The SIPTU president, Mr Jimmy Somers, who had been a member of the Government's High Level Group on Trade Union Recognition, said no limitation was agreed on the right to strike. He added that all the officers of the union were totally opposed to having any restriction on people working in essential services.
He told delegates that, far from not consulting them, he had toured the State to hold intensive negotiations. He supported the motion, but told delegates that legislation on union recognition was not "a panacea for every ill".
Later, the union's general secretary, Mr John McDonnell, said the document agreed by the high-level group would not satisfy everyone, but it would go some way towards matching the progress made in other countries. SIPTU was "absolutely clear" that the code on disputes in essential services was voluntary.
The conference passed a motion saying that union recognition was a key issue for SIPTU. It called on the national executive to categorically oppose the introduction of legislation and/or new codes of practice which would take away the right to strike.
The secretary of the civil aviation branch, Ms Carmel Hogan, told the conference that the high-level group had failed to obtain its objective. "Not only does it make the process more complex and protracted, the price we would have to pay if it were accepted and implemented is a code of practice on so-called essential services which has the potential to dramatically restrict our members' current rights."
The Ryanair dispute at Dublin Airport had shown the difficulties that existed for every trade union member when confronted with an intransigent employer. If the report was accepted "watered down derecognition will become more and more common". Effective legislation was needed "and if necessary even a constitutional amendment" to secure it.
Another SIPTU member at Dublin Airport, Mr Sean O'Dwyer, said 39 Ryanair workers had been locked out for 40 days in 1998. "What had Congress, IBEC or the Government done? Nothing," he said. It was SIPTU members at the airport and workers elsewhere who had had to take industrial action on their behalf.
Mr Dan Donohue, of the Dublin broadcasting branch, said limitations on the right to strike were outrageous. It was important that unions kept their basic right to strike.
Mr Jack McGinley, of the education branch, said that the consultations might not have been sufficiently comprehensive.