ICTU set to endorse participation in partnership talks

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is expected to agree to enter the next round of social partnership talks at a meeting later today.

The move follows yesterday's decision by Ireland's largest union, SIPTU, to vote in favour of taking part in the discussions.

SIPTU had deferred a decision on entering negotiations on a successor to the Sustaining Progress agreement until it received assurances that the issue of so-called "job displacement" would be addressed.

The move followed Irish Ferries' controversial efforts to lay off its Irish workforce and replace them with cheaper labour from Latvia.

However, the union voted overwhelmingly in favour of continued participation in social partnership yesterday on foot of government promises that measures to tackle the exploitation of migrant workers and the "race to the bottom" in the jobs market would be prioritised during the talks.