Delegates voted by a narrow majority not to withdraw from Partnership 2000. The motion had also called for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to withdraw. Mandate opposed entering Partnership 2000 last year, and yesterday's speeches showed that misgivings about national agreements remained.
Proposing the motion, Mr Con Donovan from Cork said: "Partnership 2000 is dead as far as trade unionists are concerned, and the sooner it is buried the better. Consensus and partnership in this country have been used to create a low-wage economy."
He also cited lack of progress on union recognition as a reason for withdrawing. "The existence of trade unions is guaranteed under the Constitution but their very reason for existence, to negotiate decent wages and conditions, isn't."
Most aspects of Partnership 2000, such as profit-sharing, were aspirational. "In the company where I work we have tried again and again to get negotiations on profit-sharing and they don't want to know." He added: "These are companies which are sometimes making profits of £1 million and £2 million a day. Either we have Partnership 2000 and everything in it, or we have no partnership."
Mr Fred Gosnell of the union's southern division said many unions were heeding Mandate's criticisms. The so-called Celtic Tiger was more like a Celtic Pussy Cat led around by IBEC and the Government.
Ms Mary Larkin, for the Mandate executive, said there was little point in pulling out of Partnership 2000 halfway through. Mandate would only lose its right to raise issues.
She added: "National agreements have done very little to address the needs of the low-paid. There will not be another if there are no changes in the way it is being implemented."
Mandate's national industrial officer, Mr John Douglas, said the ICTU had failed miserably to look after the interests of workers through national agreements. He asked delegates to refer the motion back to the national executive for further consideration, but movers insisted on a vote.
The vote was too close to be decided on a show of hands. It was the only occasion during the two-day conference when tellers were needed. The motion was declared lost.