Unions set for showdown over agency worker issue

THE Irish Congress of Trade Unions is almost certain this morning to follow the example of SIPTU and vote in favour of participating in the new national pay and employment talks.

However, just a day before the ICTU debate, fellow social partner, IBEC, has claimed trade union demands for equality for agency workers are simplistic and warned it will oppose any measures that affect flexibility in the labour market. The demand for equality is a fundamental prerequisite of the trade unions’ position in the new pay negotiations.

Brendan McGinty, IBEC’s director of industrial relations and human resources, said his organisation believed agency workers are already fully protected by employment legislation.