Questioning the national wage agreement in the private sector. On February 21, for the first time since the beginning of social partnership in Ireland, workers in the public and private sector demonstrated in the street (see our dispatch No. 090233). Unions say the entire country should suffer from this crisis, not a few people. Yet, meanwhile, employers want the removal of the 2008 wage agreement in the private sector. This agreement, concluded in September 2008, provides for a 6% wage increase over 21 months. Few businesses actually apply it. Many tend to negotiate wages at local level. The IBEC (Irish Business and Employers’ Confederation) thinks the price drop must reflect on wages. The organization proposed renegotiating this agreement with unions if tripartite bargaining fails. During talks with the government, unions asked for an Employment Protection and Creation Program for an amount of €1bn. They also demanded measures to help people who might loose their house and/or pension. The government says it has no more playing cards that will satisfy both unions and employers. It should announce the provisions of its recovery plan this week.
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Questioning the national wage agreement in the private sector. On February 21, for the first time since the beginning of social partnership in Ireland, workers in the public and private sector demonstrated in the street (see our dispatch No. 090233). Unions say the entire country should suffer from this crisis, not a few people. Yet, meanwhile, employers want the removal of the 2008 wage agreement in the private sector. This agreement, concluded in September 2008, provides for a 6% wage increa
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