Striking a “fair balance” between the needs of employers and workers will be key to securing any new partnership agreement, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan said today.
Ms Coughlan said it was not the case that she had “no good news” for unions, but that competitiveness and productivity would be the hallmark of any decisions made on a partnership deal.
“Social partnership in my view, and the Government’s view, has been the architect of our economic success and is hugely important,” Ms Coughlan said.
“We have to have a shared understanding between the Government, the unions and the employers as to how we are going to manage our way through the difficulties that we presently have and that other issues are going to have to be parked until such times as we can revisit them in a better economic climate.”
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, the Tánaiste said she did not want to be "over-prescriptive" about the partnership process.
“We can’t be over-prescriptive as to what unions want particularly because I have to keep an eye on foreign direct investment. I also have to be very cognisant of issues like collective bargaining, for example, and temporary agency workers,” she said.
The Tanaiste noted that much of the State’s foreign direct investment comes from the US, where there was “strong union representation”.
“But I think we have to get a few key messages out there that we still will have our flexibilities within the workplace. That we have people of the highest calibre, with particular skills, that can be flexible.”
“My key message is that competitiveness has to be the hallmark and the background of any decisions we make. And productivity is going to be part of that as well.”
“I’m not saying I have no good news for unions and it’s more for employers. I’m saying we want a fair balance between both sides and that we may have to have flexibilities on both sides to ensure that we get through the impasse.”
She said she was aware that employers “would not be averse to a pay pause”, whereas the unions would.
“I think we have to reflect very much on the vulnerables – those who are working in low-paid income jobs where they have huge difficulties and they are not in a position to meet some of the challenges of utility bills and shopping. Therefore it’s my job to make sure that people see value for money.”
Ms Coughlan said she had met with representatives of the retail sector to discuss rising prices and that reductions had been seen in a number of areas. The Tánaiste said she had also asked retailers to ensure that improvements in the euro/sterling differential were passed on to consumers.
“I don’t want to see a situation where everybody from this part of the world does their shopping in Northern Ireland because it’s better value for money and people here will lose their jobs.”
The talks between the Government, the unions and the employers on a new national pay deal will continue this week. Government officials held separate bilateral talks with unions and employers last week on issues including the economy, the possible length of any agreement and public services.
Irish Congress of Trade Unions general secretary David Begg said last week that if a deal was going to be secured agreement would have to be reached before the end of the month.