Union claims hidden agenda in treaty

UNIONS: THE GOVERNMENT'S refusal to commit to a Siptu demand that it legislate for collective bargaining rights for workers …

UNIONS:THE GOVERNMENT'S refusal to commit to a Siptu demand that it legislate for collective bargaining rights for workers was sharply criticised yesterday by another trade union.

The Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union said the Government's stance was "proof of a hidden agenda" to promote the interests of big business.

The TEEU, which last month called for a No vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum, was reacting to comments made by Taoiseach Brian Cowen following Siptu's announcement last Friday that it would not urge a Yes vote unless the Government introduced legislation guaranteeing workers the right to be represented in talks with employers.

The treaty's Charter of Fundamental Rights recognises workers' rights to collective bargaining "in accordance with Community law and national law and practices" but Mr Cowen has ruled out immediate concessions on this, saying such matters must be settled in social partnership talks.

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"The Taoiseach says Irish people have nothing to fear from the Lisbon Treaty, but his own refusal to give a commitment that the Government will implement the Charter of Fundamental Rights confirms that trade unionists, and more especially workers not allowed to be represented by trade unions, have everything to fear," TEEU general secretary designate Eamon Devoy said.

"The refusal of the Government to give a commitment to Siptu that it will implement the charter and attempt instead to leave it to the social partners, is effectively putting it on the back burner. It is proof enough of their hidden agenda to use Lisbon to promote the interests of big business."

Mr Devoy said trade unionists had campaigned in favour of the Nice treaty after receiving assurances from the Government "only to find that we are still negotiating with them and the employers on how to tackle the scandal of agency worker exploitation - four years later".

He argued that "the plague of agencies exploiting vulnerable migrant workers" was a direct consequence of Nice.

"Mr Cowen is now asking us to trust what is effectively the same government again. In the light of the recent European Court of Justice judgments, especially in the Laval and Ruffert cases, such gullibility carries a high potential price tag . . . We will not be fooled twice," he added.

Meanwhile, anti-Lisbon Treaty campaigner and member of Siptu's education branch Kieran Allen has criticised Labour leader Eamon Gilmore for remarks he made on the union's decision not to back the treaty. Mr Gilmore said at the weekend his view was that no group should adopt a "sectional position" on the treaty.

Siptu's concerns could not be dismissed as "sectional", Mr Allen said. "The union represents nearly a quarter of a million members and is one of the largest organisations in Irish society. It had focused attention on a key issue - what protection does the Lisbon Treaty offer to workers across the continent?"

He said the "only logical position" for Siptu now is to call for a No vote, a view echoed by Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins. "The Siptu [position] explodes the myth that the Charter of Fundamental Rights will resolve the issue of workers' rights and the battle against exploitation," he said.