Sir, - I would like to congratulate the rank and file low-paid workers around the country who sent out a clear message to SIPTU's leadership last week; to get out of the partnership talks and do it now. It's clear that, after 12 years of social partnership, the gap between the haves and have nots has widened. Surely the time has come for ICTU to put up its hands and realise it got it wrong on two fronts.
Firstly, I believe it underestimated the anger of low-paid workers in a year when we had Ansbacher, DIRT, and the ongoing and expensive tribunals, not to mention Mr McCreevy and company seeking a £200 a week pay rise. Secondly, I believe that ICTU failed to understand that the only wages that were kept to the letter of Partnership 2,000 were those low-pay incomes which were restrained by the "parameters of partnership".
Past partnership agreements which were based on percentage rises was sure to benefit the better-off in our society and ICTU should have known this. When the partnership talks recommence, one hopes that the trade union movement will support the less well-off in our society, rather than enter into an agreement which benefits the well-off, the captains of industry, the executives, and the professionals. - Yours, etc.,
Michael Killeavy, Tullamore, Co Offaly.