SIPTU to support yes vote

THE leaders of Ireland’s largest trade union have voted to support the yes campaign in the Lisbon treaty referendum.

However, a statement by SIPTU following a meeting of its National Executive yesterday said: “We are enormously disappointed that the Government has chosen to ignore its own survey carried out in the aftermath of the last referendum which indicated that significant concerns in respect of workers’ rights caused a high percentage of them to reject the Treaty. “Statements emphasising their value are worthless, without a tangible commitment to give effect to the ‘Fundamental Right’ to participate in collective bargaining which is enshrined in the treaty.”

As a result of their concerns SIPTU leaders have said they would not share a yes platform with any of the government political parties prior to polling day on October 2.