Low pay and the deteriorating quality of life were the main preoccupations of delegates at SIPTU's biennial conference in Tralee yesterday, but they were divided on how to tackle them. Education branch delegate Mr Kieran Allen believed it was time to "rearm our movement for class warfare" in the face of recession. SIPTU's head of research, Mr Manus O'Riordan, said social partnership had secured increases in living standards for workers that were "the envy of Europe".
Even supporters of national agreements, including Mr O'Riordan, were highly critical of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (PPF). Mr Mick Martin of the Finance branch summed up the feelings of many when he said a 10 per cent pay increase in real terms over two years was fine, but tax cuts helping to finance the deal meant new charges for refuse collection, and having to receive hospital treatment on trolleys.
Mr Tom Flynn from Waterford said they were negotiating pay increases for three years at a time, but businesses were increasing prices on a weekly basis. Like many delegates, he wanted any new pay agreement to last no more than 24 months.
Pensions were another big issue. Dublin branch secretary Ms Chris Rowlands said she had 30 cleaners with the Bank of Ireland earning less than £100 a week. Their occupational pension was "integrated" with the State pension of £105 a week, so they were "starting off from a minus position before they even retire". The link between occupational pensions and State pensions had to be broken.
She was one of many delegates who highlighted the housing crisis that has accompanied the boom. Former Abbey Theatre actress Ms Kathleen Barrington made a plea for rent controls. With 60 per cent of actors out of work at any given time, the profession was glad of national agreements. It lacked the industrial muscle to secure pay increases.
Even so, she was unhappy with current pay rates and said it was difficult for most actors to rent accommodation in Dublin, let alone buy a house. Any new agreement must include rent controls to be acceptable to her members.
The most trenchant critic of social partnership was Mr Allen. He said it had presided over a period when the workers' share of national income had fallen by 10 per cent. With the economy facing into recession, it was time for members to realise "the boss is not our partner".
However, Mr O'Riordan said people should not talk themselves into a recession or provide ammunition for employers to renege on commitments. "The most valid criticism of the PPF was the purely voluntary nature of gain sharing," he said. "Many employers would prefer more pay increases, because gain sharing challenges the traditional master-servant relationship." A 35-hour week, more public holidays and "a real childcare" system for working parents were also high on the SIPTU wish-list from a successor to the PPF.