A strong overture by the Taoiseach has failed to convince Siptu to enter talks on a new partnership deal, due to begin next month. Chris Dooley, Industry and Employment Correspondent
In a letter to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) at the weekend, Mr Ahern said the Government was prepared to deliver a range of measures aimed at protecting standards of employment.
The best way of achieving that, he said, was for unions to remain within the partnership process. Siptu, however, is to seek more specific commitments from Mr Ahern before it decides whether to continue its support for partnership.
The union's position, decided at a meeting of its national executive yesterday, has put the continuation of social partnership in doubt.
Mr Ahern's letter, to Ictu president Peter McLoone, followed a series of high-level meetings last week between Government and union representatives.
Siptu is threatening not to enter talks because of the fallout from the Irish Ferries controversy, over its plans to replace unionised seafarers with cheaper labour from abroad.
Before entering talks, the union wants commitments from the Government that measures will be put in place to prevent exploitation and displacement of jobs.
In his letter at the weekend to Mr McLoone, the Taoiseach said a substantial range of employment protections were already in place. But he said he fully accepted Ictu's position that an "extensive review" was needed of the policies, legislation and resources required to maintain "decent employment standards".
Some recent notable cases of "poor practices", he said, particularly that of Irish Ferries, had added to the case for change.
Mr Ahern said he did not wish to see companies achieving competitiveness based on poor wages, the casualisation of labour and poor health and safety standards. Such practices were "wrong and not sustainable". He believed the Government, employers and unions could deliver a "meaningful package" covering a range of issues in talks on a new partnership deal.
The issues listed by Mr Ahern included adequate resourcing of the labour inspectorate, subcontracting and pensions in the construction industry, future skills requirements and immigration, regulation of employment agencies, "harmful labour practices", and penalties for breaches of employment law.
At its meeting in Dublin yesterday, however, the Siptu executive decided further clarifications should be sought from Mr Ahern. The executive will recommend that a decision on entering talks be deferred at a special delegate conference of the union today.
If the recommendation is accepted, Siptu will in turn ask the Ictu to delay a decision on union participation in the talks.That decision was to have been taken at an Ictu conference, to be attended by all of its member unions, tomorrow.
Ictu's executive council will consider the position at a meeting this evening. Given Siptu's stance, it is likely to recommend that a decision be deferred.