Unions representing 260,000 workers are to hold a national day of protest next month over the refusal by employers to increase redundancy entitlements.
They are expected to call on other unions to take part in the stoppage, potentially the largest mass demonstration by workers since the PAYE marches of the early 1980s.
At 2 p.m. on Friday October 4th members of SIPTU, the TEEU (Technical Engineering and Electrical Union), BATU (Building and Allied Trades Union) and UCATT (Union of Construction Workers) will cease working and attend rallies across the State. Up to 10,000 people are expected to demonstrate in Dublin.
The unions are seeking an increase in statutory redundancy payments to three weeks per year of service. At present, employees are entitled to only half a week's pay per year of service if they are under 41 years of age and one week's pay per year above that age.
SIPTU vice-president Mr Jack O'Connor, who is also chairman of ICTU's private sector committee, said yesterday that his union had been campaigning for improvements in statutory redundancy payments for many months.
It had hoped that a review group involving the ICTU, IBEC and the Government would recommend an increase in pension entitlements. However, it had failed to reach a consensus because of opposition from the employers. Workers now had no option but to take their campaign on to the streets.
The TEEU's acting general secretary, Mr Eamon Devoy, said: "The rates set out in the Redundancy Payments Acts are 35 years old. Given the refusal of some highly-profitable companies to accept Labour Court awards and only pay the miserable amounts workers are legally entitled to under the law, there is now an urgent need to increase those entitlements."
The dispute is rooted in the refusal by two companies to grant Labour Court redundancy awards to workers. Staff at Peerless Rugs were granted three weeks pay per year of service in July 2001 and have been occupying their plant in Athy, Co Kildare, ever since because of the company's refusal to pay up. Workers at the Irish Glass Bottle Co also occupied their plant in Ringsend, Dublin, but agreed to end the action when local management, after further Labour Court involvement, agreed to the establishment of a fund to pay part of the original award.