Unions Target Rogue Employers on March 30

23 Mar 2009

The Private Sector Committee of Congress said today (March 23) that planned industrial action on March 30 was part of a campaign targeting rogue employers who refuse to either pay the terms of the national agreement or to engage with unions.

Following a meeting of the Committee, it was pointed out that a significant number of employers in the private sector have already agreed to pay the terms of the Transitional Agreement, despite the employer representative group - Ibec - having unilaterally "walked away."

Private Sector Committee chairperson, Jerry Shanahan said that government and employers groups had "walked away from the agreed terms of the national agreement. Notwithstanding this, a substantial number of employers have agreed to pay while others are involved in the agreed disputes procedures."

Mr Shanahan pointed out that the planned action on March 30 was a "day of protest and action by workers throughout the economy - public and private - about non-compliance with the agreement. It is important to note that this is only more one step in the Congress campaign to secure compliance.

"The precise form which that protest takes will be decided at a special meeting of the Executive Council of Congress, on March 25."

Mr Shanahan said that should there be engagement with employers and government, priority issues for discussion will be based on the Congress 10 Point Plan and would have to address key concerns, such as: job creation and protection, pension protection and urgent legislation to tackle the upsurge in evictions.

 

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Private Sector Committee Chairperson, Jerry Shanahan: 087 2430332

Private Sector Committee Secretary, Eamon Devoy: 087 667 5298

 

Irish Congress of Trade Unions,

32 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.

Tel: (01) 889 7799; m 087 9174171