Initial talks on a new national partnership agreement could begin as soon as Thursday afternoon following an overwhelming vote by Siptu delegates to enter negotiations.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) special executive will make a decision at a meeting tomorrow morning on whether to open talks on a successor to Sustaining Progress. Given that the country's largest union has voted in favour of talks, however, it is likely that Ictu will follow suit.
But Siptu General President Jack O'Connor said the union would "retain the capacity to march together" if the talks did not deliver for workers.
Jack O'Connor, President of SIPTU speaking at a Special Delegate Conference on the subject of entering Sustaining Progress.
Delegates and executives of the union said issues of employment standards would have to be addressed before progress could be made on any other issues.
The motion said the union will enter talks to "explore the potential for achieving substantial progress on measures to combat job displacement and exploitation, improve the standards of living, advance the relative position of the lower-paid and enhance the quality of life of our members and workers generally."
Although the vast majority of speakers at the special delegate conference spoke in favour of the motion, many expressed concerns over what could be delivered and said there was no guarantee that members would accept any proposed agreement.
Mr O'Connor said that it was essential that the talks were "multi-stranded" but that Siptu would insist that significant progress needed to be made on the first strand regarding employment standards before any substantial engagement would take on pay issues.
A number of delegates had expressed concern over the rise of outsourcing, the use of agency workers and the fact that many workers are unable to afford housing.
Speakers also criticised the EU Services Directive proposed by Irish Commissioner Charlie McCreevy - which they said threatened workers rights.
Mr O'Connor rejected the suggestion that the social wage and non-pay elements such as pensions, social housing and health care had been eroded as a result of social partnership. Instead he suggested it was because the electorate had chosen governments with a "neo-liberal component".
He also said Siptu would be seeking a major overhaul of the construction industry as part of any talks. Delegates from construction unions had earlier outlined how workers rights have been eroded in the sector.
"We need to cement the momentum of the past couple of months into an agreement that shores up what organised workers have achieved in the last 30 years and protects migrant workers coming to this country," said Mr O'Connor.
The issues of outsourcing and the use of agency staff to replace permanent employees would also be "pursued to the ultimate degree" at the talks, according to Mr O'Connor.