SIPTU rejects call to control food sector wages

SIPTU, the country’s largest trade union, has rejected a call by the president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association Pat O’Rourke to have wages in the food processing sector controlled and reduced where possible.

Mr O’Rourke has warned that the ICMSA will not be party to any new national agreement which does not address the impact of wages and costs generally in the food sector as this has a direct impact on current farm incomes and the future development of the food sector in Ireland.

He said the total wage bill in the food processing sector in Ireland increased from €462 million in 1999, the year before the start of the PPF, to an estimated €533 million in 2002.