The future of social partnership has been thrown into doubt this afternoon after the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) decided today to defer entering discussions.
A delegate conference in Dublin this afternoon considered a request by Siptu, the largest union in the State, not to enter talks until assurance are received in relation to issues such as the exploitation of migrant workers and the attempt by Irish Ferries to replace over 500 seafarers with foreign workers not subject to Irish labour laws.
Today's decision by delegates was expected after Siptu yesterday decided that a letter to the president of Congress from the Taoiseach failed to give tangible assurances.
Last night Ictu's executive voted to defer the discussions, and delegates today voted unanimously to back the position.
The Taoiseach is a strong supporter of partnership and believes that over its 18-year lifespan it has been one of the major contributors to the success of the Irish economy.
But a senior union source quoted in today's Irish Timessaid there was "unprecedented tension" within the trade union movement. A number of unions want to enter the talks scheduled to begin on November 17th,
Those favouring talks include public service union Impact, whose general secretary Peter McLoone is also the president of Ictu.