Mandate pulls out of partnership talks

WITH the future of social partnership to be determined within the next week, the country’s third largest union yesterday announced it was pulling out of talks on the next partnership agreement.

Following a meeting of Mandate’s national executive in Dublin yesterday, the union’s general secretary John Douglas said he did not believe social partnership could address the widening gap between those on low and high pay. Mandate, with 40,000 members, primarily represents workers in the retail and bar trades.

The move comes just a week before a crucial SIPTU vote, to be taken next Monday, on whether to enter new agreement talks.

All unions represented by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions will then make what could be an era-defining vote at a special conference next Tuesday. But already there are numerous signs that the 18-year long span of partnership agreements - credited by many with being crucial to Ireland’s economic success - could be about to end.

As a result of the Irish Ferries stand-off, SIPTU has repeatedly indicated that a partnership process which is incapable of protecting Irish jobs and the rights of migrant labourers is not worthwhile at all.

Soaring inflation figures, sparked by continued instability in international oil prices, have also served to make the possibility of a new wage deal less likely.

Already business sector demands for competitiveness are becoming increasingly difficult to reconcile with union demands for a wage increase that reflects inflationary realities.

Following yesterday’s decision, Mr Douglas said he saw no benefit in entering talks.

“Mandate has very grave doubts as to whether the social partnership process, with its current restrictive agenda and parameters, can truly address the income needs of those on middle and lower incomes, given the very narrow focus on ‘competitiveness’ and wage restraint being applied to the talks by both the Government and employers in terms of wages in particular,” he said.

“The trade union movement has participated in social partnership arrangements for almost 20 years now. There is no doubt that they have contributed to the country’s economic success, however, the fruits of this success are not being fairly shared or distributed. The reality for lower and middle income earners is this gap has grown even bigger.”

To back up that fact Mr Douglas pointed to widespread increases in household costs in the past year including a 1.5% hike in fuel and the 25.26% increase in gas prices.