NORMALLY in the trade union world, North is North and South is South and the two don't intertwine or indeed interfere in each other's affairs. Northern problems are sorted out up there and the Republic's down here. Now, however, things are changing - which must be for the better. Inez McCormack, the forceful Belfast woman who was elected president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions last July, is keeping her promise to provide leadership in all its aspects. Having travelled to Dublin a fortnight ago to preside at the ICTU's general purposes committee to sort out the nurses' dispute, she returned this week to lead the delegation at the start of the crucial talks in Government Buildings on a new Partnership 2000.
McCormack left most of the talking to ICTU general secretary Peter Cassells, but she has made clear she will be no mere figurehead. The fact that she attended at all was a new departure, and one that could have raised a few hackles had she got dug in on what are most crucial negotiations on the future of our booming economy. The employers want low wage agreements to fuel and sustain, but not overheat or blow out, the economy; the unions want high pay for those they say created the boom; the Government wants workers rewarded without wage increases and is looking at other possibilities, such as share options.
So far (i.e., one meeting), everyone has been on best behaviour, with only one speaker from each side giving an opening statement - except, surprise, for the farmers. Practically everyone on their nine-strong delegation had something, frequently contradictory, to say. Paddy Teahon in the chair would need all the skill of a George Mitchell. With more than 70 people entitled to attend, and by far the most ambitious agenda ever attempted, these negotiations could run and run. And they will, if the rest take the farmers as an example.