SIPTU stops short of approving partnership talks

SIPTU will not make a final decision on reentering Social Partnership talks until the new year - despite yesterday’s resolution in the Irish Ferries dispute.

The union had delayed scheduled talks on a new national pay deal in October by refusing to enter any negotiations until the Government committed to tackling issues such as jobs displacement and the abuse of vulnerable migrant workers.

That decision forced the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) to follow suit, leaving the entire future of Social Partnership in serious jeopardy after 18 years of back-to-back national agreements.