Employers groups blamed for pay talks collapse

Retail trade union Mandate today blamed employers groups for sowing the seeds of serious industrial unrest over the collapse of the national pay talks.

The body vowed to issue employers with pay claims, arguing low paid workers facing a hike in gas and electricity prices cannot wait any longer for wage increases.

The social partnership negotiations broke down early on Saturday after workers’ representatives refused to accept a timetable of pay increases stretching over the next 18 months.

Unions and employers are expected to return to the talks table at the end of the month.

Mandate assistant general secretary Linda Tanham said the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec) was fully aware of the consequences of failing to reach a deal.

“Mandate will be preparing pay claims with immediate effect following the failure of the national wage talks at the weekend,” she said.

“Our members cannot afford to wait any longer because there is an urgent need for lower paid workers to receive a pay increase ahead of the increases in gas and electricity this winter so we need to begin proceedings as soon as possible.

“By telling their members not to engage in local collective bargaining they are laying the foundations for serious industrial unrest in this country.

“They must behave in a responsible manner especially when you consider they were a key part of why the negotiations failed."