Labour Youth denounces ICTU Ratification of Toward 2016 Deal

national | worker & community struggles and protests | press release Wednesday September 06, 2006 00:08 by Graham Ó Maonaigh - Labour Youth

Labour Youth no longer considers the continuation of the Social Partnership process to be in the interests of workers in Ireland on the ratification by ICTU Special delegates of “Toward 2016”

STATEMENT BY LABOUR YOUTH
Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Speaking on ICTU ratifying the “Toward 2016” agreement, Labour Youth Chair, Graham O Maonaigh commented, “We believe that the Trade Union movement ought to adopt an independent and dynamic strategy aimed at substantial increases in real wages, job security and working conditions for it's membership.”

“Pay increases totalling 10% over a 27-month period effectively mean there will be no increase in Real Wages for Workers, as any pay rise will be eaten into substantially by inflation which currently stands at 4.6%. The level of inflation will no doubt further rise due to rising Fuel Costs, SSIA money and the FF/PD government attempting to buy the election with a Giveaway Budget.”

“Social and Community elements of the “Toward 2016” deal are of grave concern to us. In previous deals, the FF/PD government has continuously reneged on the commitments it signed up to, whereas the Unions especially, and to an extent the Employers have fulfilled their commitments in previous agreements.”

“A non-enforceable government commitment to supply 27,000 Social Housing is just a repeat of previous unfulfilled commitments on Social Housing in previous Social Partnership deals.”

“No coherent strategy to combat Youth Unemployment which remains at the high level of 9% and almost double this figure for early school leavers.”

“The “Toward 2016” Deal offers no benefits to the working people of Ireland.
Labour Youth will continue to support Unions that adopt an independent strategy for Workers Rights’ as we believe the Social Partnership process to no longer be compatible with the demands of Working People in Ireland”

ENDS - For more info contact Graham O Maonaigh at 086 838 1556
www.labouryouth.ie