Talks on a new national partnership deal are to continue at Government Buildings today after employers and unions returned to the negotiating table yesterday.
Progress on two key issues had been made in behind-the-scenes talks this week before the parties reopened formal negotiations yesterday afternoon. As talks adjourned for the night, however, both sides remained pessimistic about the prospects of a deal.
The executive council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions immediately went into a three-hour meeting, which was later described as "downbeat". Pay continued to be the main stumbling block after both sides moved closer to compromise on the issues of union recognition and the employers' compliance agenda.
Failure to reach agreement on all three led to the collapse of negotiations last month and raised serious doubts about the continuation of social partnership.
Employers want any new agreement to contain strict provisions requiring unions to adhere to the terms of the deal and refrain from making any cost-increasing claims.Unions are seeking legislation obliging employers by law to recognise unions or, failing that, a strengthening of existing "right to bargain" procedures.
Progress was made on both of these issues during informal talks this week between the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach, Mr Dermot McCarthy, and leaders of the emloyers and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. However, at last night's ICTU executive meeting, it is understood several members expressed doubts about the compromise emerging on both issues.
The meeting was told there had been no movement towards bridging the gap on pay. Employers have been seeking an 18-month agreement comprising a six-month pay pause followed by a phased increase of about five per cent. Unions want an increase of at least five per cent, and possibly more if inflation exceeds that, over 12 months.
Negotiators hoped an agreement on union recognition and compliance would give a new impetus to the negotiations and lead to a concentrated attempt to break the logjam on pay.
Yesterday's talks, which were convened by Mr McCarthy, lasted for nearly three hours. They are to resume at 11 a.m. today.
As private sector unions continue to prepare "headline setting" pay claims at local level, a national deal may become increasingly difficult to achieve. Yesterday, four craft unions said they would be lodging a claim for a 10 per cent pay rise over 12 months with the Construction Industry Federation.
Other unions, including the Irish Bank Officials' Association and the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union, have also announced pay claims in excess of inflation.
