The Irish Congress of Trade Unions said today “broad agreement” had been reached on a number of issues relating to wage-setting mechanisms in talks with Minister for Enterprise and Jobs Richard Bruton.
The Minister is proposing to change the way basic rates and conditions for over 200,000 low paid workers in the hotel, catering and retail sectors including the controversial premium payments for Sunday working.
Ictu officials met with Mr Burton last night to discuss his plan to reform the joint labour committee (JLC) and registered employment agreement (REA) systems.
Ictu’s general secretary David Begg said today a number of “sticking points” concerning Mr Bruton’s reform agenda still remained, including proposed changes to Sunday premium payments.
Mr Begg said Ictu had also held the belief that austerity measures should not be visited on the weakest members of the community.
“We are the only people standing up for them at the moment. We are going to do our best to get justice for them,” he said.
At the meeting, Mr Bruton insisted most of his proposals followed the spirit of the recent Duffy-Walsh report on the wage-setting mechanisms.
In areas where the report did not make recommendations, the Minister said he had developed his proposals from the analysis contained in the document.
Tánaiste and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has played down suggestions of a rift in Government over plans to reduce Sunday premium rates of pay.