A warning that unions may be ready to abandon social partnership and return to free-for-all pay bargaining was issued last night by the general secretary of SIPTU.
Mr Joe O'Flynn claimed there had been a breach of trust on the part of both the Government and employers and this may have "put paid" to the prospect of future agreements. Discussions on a new national pay deal are due to get under way in March.
Addressing the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Mr O'Flynn said social partnership had been good for both workers and business.
However, many questions were being asked within the trade union movement about the future value of partnership.
While the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, appeared to favour the consensus approach, there were "forces within his Cabinet" who were attempting to "smash" it, he said.
The only Cabinet member specifically referred to by Mr O'Flynn was the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, whose plan to break up Aer Rianta and privatise public transport has drawn him into conflict with unions.
The SIPTU general secretary also accused the employers' body, IBEC, of "viciously" defending anti-union companies and ignoring "the rights of employees to be professionally represented by a trade union".
Not only that, but some people in IBEC "trumpet the notion that the trade union movement is in decline", despite the fact unions had more members than ever.
It was ironic, he said, that such attitudes were held by a registered trade union "whose sole purpose is to enhance the interest of its members, who just happen to be employers".
Ordinary workers should not be denied the same rights as members of IBEC, the Construction Industry Federation and groups such as doctors, lawyers and farmers, he said.
The pay discussions due to begin next year would be conducted in "very difficult and challenging times", said Mr O'Flynn.
"The trust which underpins all such national agreements has been breached and is no longer evident from either the Government or the employers side at this stage. I believe the forecasts regarding the end of social partnership may well be realised and we may well end up in a free-for-all situation if this is to continue."
Trade unions, he said, would meet the challenge presented by free collective bargaining. "Indeed, it may well be that a free-for-all would greatly enhance the standing of the trade union movement with our own members."
Unions, however, would be prepared to continue to play a positive role in a partnership context, as long as there was "respect and mutual understanding" displayed by employers and the Government.
The current partnership programme, Sustaining Progress, has more than two years still to run.
