General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Patricia King has said some policy decisions of the Labour Party had "caused angst" within the trade union movement.
Ms King was a guest speaker at Labour's national conference in Mullingar, Co Westmeath on Saturday.
“During the dark days of austerity, economic recession, some policy decisions of this party caused angst within the trade union movement, and the opposite was also the case.
“However, very few trade unionists could deny that in that period substantive key legislative measures have been undertaken at the behest of the party.”
Ms King said these measures had "bucked the international trend", greatly improved workers' ability to collectively bargain and would have a positive effect for employees in Ireland for many years to come.
She also highlighted what she described as an “unhealthy concentration of some media ownership and wealth and power”.
Ms King said profitable companies were an essential component of a dynamic economy, and there were many reputable employers who engaged with trade unions to develop collective agreements.
“However there are also a considerable number of employer groups whose advocacy shows no concept of the consequences of low pay or growing inequality for workers and their families,” she said.
Ms King said they had “no notion” of paying a living wage or providing decent work. They took the view that the State should subsidise wages with no disruption to their growing profits.
“These are no small lunatic fringe sniping from the margins of Irish society. In fact, their view is very well represented among political groupings and some media commentators, hardly a surprise actually given the unhealthy concentration of some media ownership and wealth and power.”
The phenomenon was not peculiar to Ireland, she said. Strong pressure was being exerted on workers to deliver “flexible and precarious” work arrangements, out-sourcing and any measure to reduce labour costs.
"In its most recent report, Oxfam outlined the global inequality crisis is reaching new extremes. The richest one per cent now have more wealth than the rest of the world combined."
The conference also heard from former Clery's worker Susie McGowan, who said she found out her job was gone on Facebook. The department store on Dublin's O'Connell Street closed last June.
Ms McGowan said had had learned a lot about politics in recent months and had joined the Labour Party in November.
“There are those who just come out to show their support, promise you the sun, moon and stars, but are just there for the photo opportunity,” she said.
“And then there are those who are truly willing to help you out because they believe in your cause just as much as you do.”
