Union entry into talks is welcome

THE trade union decision to finally enter talks on a new pay deal is to be welcomed.

Workers will be reassured by news that sufficient progress has been made on the thorny issue of employee rights to allow negotiations aimed at forging a new national agreement to begin next week.

Having received a solemn Government promise on the employment rights agenda, the unions were absolutely right to hold out for a watertight commitment to protect vulnerable workers.

As nationwide protests have shown, the public is strongly opposed to the exploitation of workers, as was made public in the controversies at Irish Ferries, Turkish construction group Gama, and in the exposure of a number of unscrupulous East European contractors who were caught blatantly ripping off immigrant workers on the overhaul of Ireland's electricity supply network.

Such exploitation is unconscionable and intolerable.