Unions and Government to discuss job stimulus schemes

TRADE unions meet with Government officials this afternoon to evaluate a range of job stimulus schemes aimed at stopping rising unemployment.

Relations between the two sides are reasonably positive after Taoiseach Brian Cowen wrote to ICTU general secretary David Begg last week telling him he agreed with unions that measures were required to support the maintenance of employment. He also said he was willing to spend €1bn – if not more – which unions had been seeking for the jobs package. However, he said guarantees would first be required that the measures contained would be “worthwhile, targeted and effective”.

Ahead of today’s meeting ICTU yesterday met to discuss potential measures which they will today present to Government. They included more binding collective agreements with employers, an obligation on employers to ensure workers access meaningful training opportunities, short-time working arrangements and how social insurance and improvements/changes to the social welfare code could contribute.