ICTU general secretary Mr Dave Begg is to call on the Government, employers and other social partners to set up an emergency economic strategy group to tackle the current economic difficulties.
Mr Begg says he wants to create consensus around the type of policies needed to minimise the impact of the international political and economic crisis on Ireland.
Speaking to the The Irish Times yesterday, he said there was a danger that the alternative would be for the problems to be tackled purely at a local level, which could aggravate the situation.
On Wednesday, SIPTU vice-president Mr Jack O'Connor called on the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, to set up a high-level group to avert further job losses. Mr Begg sees his own proposal as an extension of the same strategy.
"While we are still numbed by the suffering and pain inflicted on thousands of innocent people in the terrorist atrocity of September 11th, the economic impact of this attack is already starting to bite at home," he said.
He said the projected slowdown in Irish GNP this year to 5.6 per cent was manageable. Public finances and company profits were also healthy enough to allow the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to be honoured in full. Many workers, including Aer Lingus staff, are due the second phase of 5.5 per cent next month.
"We cannot pretend, however, that the calamity of September 11th will not impinge on our fortunes, at least in the short term," he said. "I want to make it very clear that this responsibility can only be exercised in a spirit of genuine partnership at both national level and at the level of individual companies and organisations. "At national level it may be necessary for the social partners to establish an economic strategy group to agree on the most effective approach for dealing with current economic difficulties.
"This group could seek to build a consensus around the policy initiatives needed at national level to minimise the detrimental impact of international developments on the Irish economy. A top priority must be to protect jobs and living standards.
"At company level, workers and their unions should be informed at the earliest possible opportunity about all the implications for their organisation of changes in the economic environment. There must be full consultation and involvement in policy decisions."
He warned that the new environment would "test the value of partnership for all social actors".