Unions to oppose sell-off of State companies

TRADE UNIONS have said they will resist any measure to sell off State assets or State-owned companies.

In an emergency motion passed at its delegate conference in Killarney yesterday, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said it would consider “selective action” to oppose any privatisation plan in threatened firms.

Brendan Ogle of the Unite union said this could involve specified industrial action.

He said the people supporting the break-up of the ESB were those who were responsible for the economic crisis. He said the ESB should play a role in the repair of the economy and not be sold off.

The conference also heard a call from the union representing bank officials for a Croke Park-style deal for bankers, which would provide guarantees of no pay cuts or compulsory redundancies.

General secretary of the Irish Bank Officials Association Larry Broderick said the strategy of focusing resources on two pillar banks would lead to the elimination of 6,000 jobs.

He said there would be no co-operation with change unless bank officials also got a Croke Park deal – similar to that in operation in the public service.

Meanwhile, a delegate at the conference called for the leaders of the trade union movement to resign and accused them of being too placid.

Sinéad McKenna of the Civil Public and Services Union accused the congress leadership of becoming so embedded in social partnership that they had forgotten their original purpose.

The move by trade unions to send a shot across the Government’s bows on privatisation came a day after Taoiseach Enda Kenny indicated the sale of State assets was on the Government’s agenda.

Addressing the conference on Monday he said there was a need to consider whether assets that are owned by the State are producing the best results, or whether they would be better used in other hands.

The programme for government indicates that up to €2 billion in non-core State assets could be sold.

Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin is scheduled to bring proposals to Cabinet shortly, possibly before the end of the month, based on the recent McCarthy report on State assets.

The motion passed by the congress conference stated that resistance to any asset sales could also involve demonstrations and a “national referendum” to be held simultaneously at every trade union office in the country.

It stated that while the McCarthy report had flagged the possible privatisation of forests and greyhound tracks, its most serious suggestions involved the sale of key infrastructural companies such as the ESB, national airports and Bord Gáis.

The conference will today hear calls for trade unions to support a mortgage strike.

The deputy general secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Dave Hughes, said last night his union would be calling for a broad-based campaign demanding that mortgages on principal private residences be revised downwards to reflect the actual value of homes. He said his union would also urge laws to penalise those who committed financial treason and a charter of rights for all.