Press Release

Unite demands clear signal on issues if new talks are to have meaning

31 August 2008

Unite, Ireland’s second largest union with 60,000 members has signalled that there must be a clear statement of intent from government and employers on a range of issues if proposed new national pay talks are to have any real chance of reviving social partnership.

“The trade union movement entered pay talks in April with four simple demands,” said Unite regional Secretary Jimmy Kelly, speaking after a weekend meeting of the Unite Executive Committee. “They were not addressed prior to the collapse of the talks last month and unless the government and employers are willing to address those issues in good faith, any talks at national level will have little chance of success.”

“In order to start new talks, we will need real action on pay, on workers rights to representation and collective bargaining, on the introduction of mandatory second tier pension provision for private sector workers and on equal rights for agency workers.”

“Our members need five per cent pay increases to keep pace with the rising cost of living. They will not accept any pay pause and there needs to be special provision for low paid workers through implementation of a baseline minimum €30 per week increase.”

“If government and employers are not willing to engage on these issues then it is difficult to see what relevance the talks would have. We would be better fully directing our energies to the local bargaining process which has already commenced.”

“If social partnership as has existed for twenty years is to be revived, we need assurances from government and employers that they are serious about the substance of talks.”

“The two reports published this year by Unite into Irish wages and competitiveness clearly demonstrated the reality that Irish wages are running 25 per cent below the average across the top ten EU economies of which we are one.”

“They also revealed that Irish companies across all sectors are taking out excessive profits. The average profit per employee in Irish companies is €45,000, compared to only €17,000 in Britain.”

“Employers are using the recession, which is primarily rooted in only a few sectors, as a reason to withhold cost of living increases from those who are making their companies so profitable.”

“This is not fair. This is not acceptable. This union has little desire to engage in talks unless they have a genuine prospect of changing this state of affairs.”

Over the course of this week Unite will be progressing pay claims in the financial sector, for a minimum five per cent increase, with Hibernian Insurance, Allianz, FBD, and Irish Life and Permanent TSB, More similar claims in other sectors will follow.