The End of Partnership Agreements

The talks on Partnership have been ended without agreement. Individual pay bargains will now be negotiated by different Unions.
Given the current escalating employment, in some sectors ( construction - retail ) wages are not likely to go up. In other sectors, will there be an inflationary spiral?

On a personal level the end of Partnership may have implications too - Highly paid Trade Union leaders may have to do a lot more work for their money and this appears to be another serious failure by Brian Cowen to deliver the main items of the Government's agenda.

Did Cowen actually want them to succeed I wonder...

johnfás wrote:

Did Cowen actually want them to succeed I wonder...

Does Cowen not just want it all to go away?

I get the distinct feel of a man who would rather be running a dogs home than running the country.

Or maybe just a man who would rather be running.

I agree with you, but, these agreements were the baby of Ahern. I wouldn't be surprised if Cowen just wanted to see the back of them.

The Partnership Agreements were a big part of the sales patter of the IDA to foreign investors. They promised economic stability, not industrial action and so on.

The Partnership Agreements over time grew sideways to include all kinds of non-wages/work social items - anti-poverty actions and so on. This last aspect was I think rightly criticised as being anti-democratic as those things would have previously gone through the Dail rather than be wrapped up in a closed doors negotiation.

The end of the agreements, if it is the end, is a big change, and opens up a lot more uncertainty in an already very volatile climate.

Quote :

Trade unions rejected a final offer from employers that would have involved in a temporary pay freeze for both public and private-sector workers.

The freeze would have lasted for 12 months in the construction sector, nine months in the public sector and at least six months in the private sector.

The employers were also seeking measures which would make it easier for companies to plead inability to pay wage increases.

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen has indicated that he may wish to meet with both sides at the end of the month to discuss arrangements which will operate in respect of pay in the future.

However, unions say they will now be lodging pay claims with individual employers following the failure of the talks, which have been ongoing for several months.

Breaking News.

Not easy for Unions to agree a wage freeze with food and fuel inflation up towards 10%.
Not easy for employers to pay increases.

Partnership was introduced supposedly as a strategy to develop the economy by providing stability and was perceived as having had some success. Now what?