Sir, - As a committed trade union member , I am astonished that the Government's response to a work-to-rule by my union, ASTI, was to withdraw payment for the days on which this action took place. Not only was this illegal and provocative, especially when efforts to resolve the dispute were under way, but it is also anti-worker and anti-trade union and has profound implications for all workers in this country.
Because of this, I am even more astonished that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions should remain silent. While the ASTI is no longer affiliated to ICTU, this action by the Government represents a serious threat to the trade union movement. By its resonating silence, ICTU is offering its support to this appalling decision. Perhaps this is the real price of "partnership" and "consensus." If so, the future for all workers in this country is very bleak indeed. As to the silence of my colleagues in the TUI and the INTO, at executive level, at any rate, they seem to have adopted an Augustinian principle: "We support you fully. . .but not yet." - Yours, etc., Paddy Mulcahy,
Courtlands, Silversprings, Cork.