THE Irish Congress of Trade Unions is demanding a special commission to look at the plight of 100,000 low-paid workers, as part of any new national pay agreement, writes Padraig Yeates, Industry and Employment Correspondent. The general secretary of the ICTU, Mr Peter Cassells, told a meeting of shop stewards in Dublin that radical measures were needed to tackle low pay in the Republic.
"Low pay is a major cause of poverty in Ireland", Mr Cassells said. "It represents our failure to distribute the benefits of economic growth fairly." Any new agreement must contain measures on low pay. The ICTU will also be seeking agreement on a minimum flat-rate increase for all in low-paid employment.
