Warning agency workers issue could jeopardise partnership

Social partnership:Siptu president Jack O'Connor warned the Government that failure to address the plight of agency workers could jeopardise social partnership.

He said the use of agency workers was growing like a "cancer" in the economy across the services sector and into manufacturing, as well as construction.

"But our Government hypocritically extols the virtues of social partnership while simultaneously participating in an alliance of four countries to block the adoption of an EU directive to combat this soulless exploitation," he added.

"Very soon, the Government will have to decide, in these very uncertain times, between whatever benefits it believes are to be derived by some from the exploitation of vulnerable people in this way and continuing with social partnership."

Mr O'Connor's call was backed by delegates and the party's Oireachtas members, but trade unionists were rebuked by Labour enterprise, trade and employment spokesman Willie Penrose for being too close to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. He advised them not to be too "palsy walsy" with the Taoiseach and appealed to trade union members to vote Labour.

Mr O'Connor said there was no doubt that in the context of any impending economic slowdown, the use of agency workers would be employed as a device to outsource and replace whole workforces.

"We, in the trade union movement, are fighting for the principle of equality of treatment for workers doing the same work for the same employers in the way that it applies in most EU economies."

Mr O'Connor was speaking during a debate on a motion calling on the Government to drop its opposition to the draft European directive on temporary agency workers and bring forward legislation protecting them.

Delegates also passed a motion calling for the same terms and conditions of employment for agency workers as those enjoyed by full-time employees.

Replying to the debate, Mr Penrose said that the party would highlight the issue during private members' time in the Dáil.

To loud applause from delegates, he added: "In return, we in the Labour Party expect trade unionists to come out and support us and not be behind the door . . . and forget about being palsy walsy with Bertie Ahern . . . forget about the china . . . about Farmleigh and Merrion Square."