SIPTU: Solidarity not Social Partnership

national | worker & community struggles and protests | opinion/analysis Tuesday October 04, 2005 11:47 by seedot

Why SIPTU should say no to another Partnership deal

As the SIPTU biennial delegate conference takes place, Des Derwin analyses the current state of partnership

The current version of Social Partnership has, since it's inception in 1987, been opposed by many in the Trade Union movement. SIPTU has consistently had around 1/3 opposed despite being seen as the majotr proponent of this approach to industrial relations. Before every set of negotiations the trade union movement makes noises about pulling out of partnership and returning to local bargaining - but this year the stances seem stronger and have come earlier driven in part by the Irish Ferries dispute.

In the attached pamphlet, to be distributed at the BDC Des Derwin, a consistent opponent of social partnership, makes the case that the problems lie much deeper than an individual dispute and go to the route of the malaise in trade unionism in Ireland. He covers a number of disputes, trade union density, tax and pay and, of course, rip off Ireland.

Social Partnership will be debated this Thursday and Des will come back and give his report.

Pamphlet from Des Derwin 0.17 Mb