Talks hope could avert national strike
Trade union umbrella group Congress tonight signalled it may return to talks on an economic recovery plan after the Government stepped in to avert a potentially crippling national strike.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen invited unions back to the negotiating table – a move welcomed by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions which is organising next week’s day of action.
David Begg, general secretary, said the invitation would be considered at a meeting of Ictu’s executive council tomorrow.
Business body Ibec also welcomed the Government’s intervention, demanding Ictu call off the protest.
Turlough O’Sullivan, director general, said: “The country is facing a serious economic crisis and a collective national response is required.
“There is an urgent need to put in place agreed measure to secure the economic viability of the country and protect the maximum number of jobs.
“We should all be working together in the national interest and sending out a positive signal to the international community that we are capable of solving our problems in a constructive and non-adversarial manner.”
Ictu advised the protest because it claimed the Government and some private sector employers had walked away from a national wage agreement reached five months ago.
Meanwhile, the executive of the country’s largest public sector union met to discuss the one-day protest after it narrowly failed to approve it.
While Impact members voted 65% in favour of the Congress campaign, under union rules a two-thirds majority is required for industrial action.
Union chiefs said that while it cannot instruct members to go on strike, it recognises many will want to support members of other unions.
“Therefore, while the union is unable to sanction industrial action, it is committed to protect those members who refuse to cross picket lines from any threatened management sanctions,” a spokesman said.
“This determination will be communicated to employers in advance of 30 March.”
Peter McLoone, the union’s general secretary warned it was still committed to ensuring a level of fairness in any economic recovery plan.
“The union’s campaign for fairness in economic recovery – including the protection of jobs, public services, incomes and working conditions – will continue in co-operation with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions,” he said.
If the strike goes ahead, major disruption is expected at Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports after Siptu and Mandate backed the call for industrial action, claiming they would stage an eight-hour work stoppage.
Unite workers at Aer Lingus will also be joining the industrial action campaign organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
Ryanair called for the Army to be drafted in to keep the airport open during the planned national strike.
The budget airline’s boss Michael O’Leary said there was no excuse for the strikes and called for “substantial job cuts, pay cuts and productivity increases” at Dublin Airport.
