SIPTU to debate merits of Social Partnership

THE country’s largest union is to debate the merits of remaining in Social Partnership today as the fallout from the Irish Ferries stand-off continues unabated.

The union’s leadership is expected to win approval from members to seek guarantees from the Government that jobs displacement and exploitation can be protected against before negotiations on the next partnership deal commence. This will allow a breathing space of a few weeks during which the Government will be expected to come forward with an acceptable form of words guaranteeing SIPTU that the issues which lie at the heart of the Irish Ferries dispute can be dealt with through partnership.

SIPTU’s final decision on whether to enter negotiations on a new deal will be postponed until October 24 when a special delegate conference will take a last-minute final vote on whether to proceed with entering talks. If sufficient guarantees from Government are not forthcoming and SIPTU rejects Social Partnership an Irish Congress of Trade Union vote on whether to enter talks, to be taken the next day, may well be lost.