DELEGATES attending the south west regional conference of SIPTU in Killarney today will be told to prepare for an industrial "free for all" this winter.
While the State's largest union has committed itself to talks on a new national agreement, its senior official in its largest region, Mr John McDonnell, is expected to warn officials and branch activists to put themselves on a war footing locally in case the talks fail.
The south west region is the largest within the union, contain"ing more than 40,000 members, almost a quarter of the total. The Dublin No 2 (Private Sector) region has more than 30,000 members.
The Dublin delegates begin their conference tomorrow morning. Despite the geographical differences and the fact that the south west region includes public as well as private sector workers, the priorities are similar.
The Dublin regional secretary Mr Jack Nash, said members are apprehensive about the likely shape of any new agreement. "If there's going to be a real agreement there has to be meaningful partnership at local level" he said.
Tied to this are concerns about the impact of legislation on issues like European Works Councils, reducing the maximum working week to 48 hours, and equality legislation that should ensure greater access to employment for women and the disabled.
While SIPTU members are predictably critical of shortcomings in proposed legislation on works councils and equality, some south west members are also worried that a reduction in the maximum working week to 48 hours could lead to a serious loss of earnings in sectors such as the private security industry. One motions calls on the union to take "whatever steps are necessary to maintain our present level of earnings".
Speakers at the conference will include the Minister of State for Labour Affairs, Ms Eithne Fitzgerald. Her colleague, the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, will address the Dublin conference. The conferences give local union activists an opportunity to express their fears and concerns direct to the Government, as well as their own national officers.
Ministers and union leaders are likely, to hear deeply sceptical speeches on any future national agreement. One motion for the Dublin conference stipulates that it must contain provision for mandatory recognition of trade unions in the private sector and the right of workers to full "consultation and participation at workplace level".
On taxation, delegates to both conferences will hear that PAYE tax reforms accounted for only 0.9 per cent of the 4 per cent increase in take home pay the average worker received in 1994. Tax reform accounted for only 0.4 per cent of the 3.7 per cent increase during 1995.
The conferences are expected to insist that any new agreement provide for significant tax reforms. There are also proposals for a minimum wage of £4 an hour and no tax on workers earning less than £150 a week.
Drug abuse, crime, housing and local service charges also feature prominently on the agendas. As SIPTU enters intensive talks on a new national agreement with the Government and employers, these two conferences provide a vital sounding board on members' concerns.