Members of one of the country’s top unions have rejected the draft national wage deal.
Unite’s 60,000 members voted by a three-to-one majority against the agreement, thrashed out at the end of September after marathon talks between the Government, trade unions and employers.
Regional secretary Jimmy Kelly said a national agreement was no longer the way to ensure employee rights.
The union, the second largest in the country after Siptu, represents workers across a wide range of private sector industries.
“The draft agreement on which our members have now voted came up short in too many key areas,” Mr Kelly said.
“The leadership of this union put forward a view that a national agreement is no longer the best basis on which to advance the rights and fair remuneration of workers. Our members share that view.”
The draft agreement provides for a pay increase of 6 per cent for all workers over 21 months, to be paid in two phases with a 0.5 per cent increase at the end of the agreement for workers earning less than €430.49 per week, or around €22,463 a year.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) will hold a special delegate conference on Monday to decide whether to accept or reject the deal.
Results of a ballot of Siptu, the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU), Impact and Mandate members are expected to be known by tomorrow.
Union leaders have urged their members to vote in favour of the agreement.
Explaining Unite’s rejection, Mr Kelly said the union had sought improved pension coverage to bring Ireland in line with its European neighbours, but claimed employers rejected it and the Government failed to get involved.
“It was a similar case with our demand for the right of workers to trade union representation,” Mr Kelly said.
“Such a right exists in Northern Ireland, across Europe and the United States, but still not here.”
Mr Kelly said there had been conflicting views on all sides as to whether the deal was the best one to tackle the rapidly changing economic conditions faced by the country.
“We stood up to be counted with a view that the pay element was not enough in real terms for working people,” Mr Kelly said.
“The special treatment we deemed essential for the lowest paid was not delivered, with the token gesture offered representing a maximum five cents per hour. We believe it is better to fight on at local level to achieve fair pay.”
Mr Kelly said 40 Unite delegates will attend next week’s Ictu conference to express the union’s views.
“Our position has been clearly stated and overwhelmingly supported by the members of this union. We will take that mandate to Liberty Hall next week. We will seek that the union movement as a whole reject the agreement, and we will continue to seek the best outcome for our members and for all working men and women.”
PA