The Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec) is sowing the seeds of serious industrial unrest by urging its members not to negotiate with workers on pay and conditions, trade union Mandate warned today.
It blamed employers' groups for Saturday's collapse of the national pay talks, claiming Ibec was fully aware of the consequences of failing to reach a deal.
The social partnership negotiations broke down after workers' representatives refused to accept a timetable of pay increases stretching over the next 18 months.
Mandate, which represents workers in the retail trade, pledged to issue employers with pay claims arguing low paid workers facing a hike in gas and electricity prices cannot wait any longer for wage increases.
But Ibec urged member companies not to take part in local bargaining with unions ahead of a meeting with Taoiseach Brian Cowen at the end of the month.
"Mandate will be preparing pay claims with immediate effect following the failure of the national wage talks at the weekend," the union's assistant general secretary Linda Tanham said.
"Our members cannot afford to wait any longer because there is an urgent need for lower paid workers to receive a pay increase ahead of the increases in gas and electricity this winter so we need to begin proceedings as soon as
possible.
"Calls from the employers bodies not to engage in local collective bargaining are both dangerous and out of touch with reality.
"By telling their members not to engage in local collective bargaining they are laying the foundations for serious industrial unrest in this country."
Ms Tanham blamed employer's groups for the talks' failure claiming they were determined to stall pay hikes at any cost.
Mandate is looking for a flat-rate increase to wages, describing it as a fair and reasonable option for workers.
"All members of the trade union movement realise that the economy is going through a tough time at the moment," Ms Tandem said. "We are not in the business of putting jobs at risk as has been insinuated by some commentators and unions will behave in a responsible manner should companies be in genuine financial difficulties."
Mandate has called on employers to display "social solidarity" with the most vulnerable sectors of society and engage with unions to find a reasonable solution to low pay.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Tanaiste Mary Coughlan had been on standby up to 4am at Government Buildings on Saturday to help broker a deal if necessary.
It is understood employers offered the unions a 18-month timetable consisting of a six-month pay pause, followed by two separate pay rises totalling 5 per cent.
PA