Mandate has right to opt out of partnership talks

MANDATE, the third largest trade union in the 26 counties, representing 40,000 bar, retail and shop workers, was right to pull out of that so-called partnership process and go it alone.

As John Douglas of Mandate said when he addressed the union's annual delegate conference, what's the point of these so-called 'partnerships' if there are 50,000 people on housing waiting lists, and hundreds of people on hospital trolleys? Not to mention the fact that his own members in Mandate, who are among the most poorly paid workers in the country, have fallen even further behind as a result of the most recent 'partnership' deals.

How can you be a 'partner' with someone who wants to privatise and sell off Aer Lingus and Dublin Bus?

Those 'partnership' deals also included that hideous 'inability to pay' clause, which the unions agreed to, which meant that An Post workers were denied their basic cost of living increases for nearly three years, and they're still owed over three years' back money, going back to November 1, 2003, worth about €1,500 per worker.

Paul Kinsella

53 Lorcan Grove

Santry

Dublin 9