Unions stress value of deal

TRADE unions have emphasised the positive role the Croke Park deal on public sector reform can play in correcting the state’s finances.

The comments come amid speculation the Government may be considering reneging on the agreement.

Yesterday it emerged that some Government departments had failed to meet an end of September deadline to present management plans, outlining reform in their areas, to the Department of Finance.

The Croke Park deal was ratified in June and, as part of the reform process, finance officials were scheduled to begin constructing a master plan for public sector reform from the various departmental submissions.

In recent days the leader of the country’s largest public sector trade union, Shay Cody of Impact, has criticised the lack of urgency shown by the Government in implementation of the reform process.

Yesterday Enterprise Minister Conor Lenihan said: “If progress is not made soon it will probably signal the end of the Croke Park agreement and the partnership process as we know it. Huge and difficult decisions still remain to be taken about downsizing the state.”

Trade union representatives were reluctant to comment on the media speculation. However, Unite regional secretary Jimmy Kelly said it was his view that such an attempt to revisit the deal “would be consistent for a Government which doesn’t seem interested in working people anyway. To attempt to renege on commitments not to reduce pay and not to have compulsory redundancies would be in line with their approach.”

He added: “I’m not any wiser than anyone else whether speculation on the deal is just Government kite flying or whether it is something that is being looked at.”

Commenting on Thursday’s announcement of the latest stage in the bank bailouts, Mr Kelly said: “As far as Unite is concerned it was just an absolutely horrendous day for working people in this country. We have been promised certain things by Fianna Fáil but every time it is examined the situation is worse and requires a bigger bailout, mortgaging future generations even further.”

“Unless you invest in creating jobs or protecting jobs, you just won’t solve any of the other problems unless you tackle unemployment.”