SIPTU undecided on social partnership

THE country’s biggest trade union wants to see more top-level talks before deciding whether to continue to back social partnership.

After three hours of deliberation yesterday, SIPTU’s executive was apparently not satisfied by Government pledges relating to protection of jobs and employment standards.

The executive had before it a copy of a letter from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to trade union congress leader Peter McLoone, but it failed to convince the union leadership to issue a recommendation favouring a new partnership deal.