SIPTU demands return to negotiations
The leader of the country’s largest union, which represents 70,000 public servants, demanded that the Government return to the negotiating table and agree “a social solidarity pact to avoid catastrophe in our society”.
He said to confront the levy will require “the most determined, united and sustained campaign the trade union movement has embarked upon in its entire history. No single union will succeed on its own”.
The call for unity followed the IMPACT trade union’s announcement it was launching, on St Valentine’s Day, an independent lobbying campaign demanding the levy decision be reversed. The 60,000-member union urged people to notify their local TDs and councillors about their anger by email and phone.
Direct lobbying of politicians’ local constituency clinics will be organised for February 14.
The decision to embark on a lobbying campaign followed a meeting of the union’s consultative council yesterday. This scheduled gathering of 130 union officials and branch representatives heard demands for immediate action to confront the levy, which on average is expected to cost union members around €45 a week.
IMPACT general secretary Peter McLoone said: “TDs should brace themselves for a wave of anger, not just at the high cost of the levy to ordinary workers, but at the rank unfairness of the Government’s failure to insist business and the wealthy should make a contribution.”
The union is refusing to rule out industrial action if lobbying is unsuccessful.
However Mr O’Connor and other union leaders are believed to be unhappy with the IMPACT decision to go it alone, without first agreeing an Irish Congress of Trade Union strategy.
The national executive council of SIPTU will hold a special meeting next Tuesday to discuss the levy, in advance of an ICTU meeting on Wednesday where a united trade union anti-levy campaign will be discussed.
