`The whole world is in a state of chassis, Joxer." And the whole of Ireland is angry. We waited through a long and costly Beef tribunal, we read media revelations about financial institutions and politicians; about planning corruption, rezoning and political donations; we waited for justice to be done, for some public acknowledgment of wrongdoing, some admission of guilt, and for recompense. And what did we get? - Ansbacher.
The latest revelations represent a major turning point for most people. They seem like a bridge too far. Compliant taxpayers, in particular, feel utterly betrayed - not just by the tax cheats but also by the people in public positions who are meant to watch out for the interests of ordinary people. The public's sense of injustice has been sharpened.
Clearly, the "little people" were the only ones who paid their taxes, accepted pay moderation and worked for the common good. They were also the ones to pay the price of economic failure, through unemployment, poor housing, crime, drug abuse, and inadequate health and social welfare provisions.
Their pay demands were always characterised as inflationary, while profiteering, over-charging, exploitation, low pay or tax evasion were implicitly accepted as normal business practices. Here was a classic case of one section of society writing the rules and ethics for the others, but not for themselves.
Ireland is at a crossroads. We must now move positively and decisively or we will not be able to sustain either the economic success or solidarity that has been so carefully nurtured in recent years.
This means insisting on a genuine sharing of economic rewards, a fundamental reform of our unfair taxation system, a separation of big business from politics, and a demonstration that we have an effective criminal justice system. Nothing less will suffice. The alternative route is back to the bad old days of the 1980s, to despondency and despair.
SIPTU is approaching the future with a clear recognition of what has been achieved over the past 12 years, combined with an acute awareness of the wrongs that have yet to be righted.
The declining living standards and plummeting employment levels of the mid-1980s were reversed by a process based on achieving a consensus on how to move forward.
That process facilitated a growth in employment of almost half a million since the pre-programme period. Over the same period, workers' living standards have improved by one-third. Of course, capital has benefited to an even greater extent, as have corporate profits, due to the exceptional rates of economic growth that workers have helped to generate.
SIPTU has deplored the fact that the potential for a more creative approach during Partnership 2000 was not fully exploited, but this would have required a greater willingness on the part of employers to recognise that in a period of soaring profits, their employees should have a share in the gains.
Some entered into local partnership arrangements to this end - but far too few. For such arrangements to succeed and become widespread, there must be far greater trust, and the management must be willing to share rewards. Partnership 2000 delivered significant benefits to workers. However, the stark reality is that only a small minority of agreements provided for profit sharing and other forms of financial participation. This failure on the part of most Irish employers has in fact been subject to sharp criticism in the latest Quarterly Economic Commentary.
Nevertheless we must not ignore the small but significant number of progressive employers who, together with the unions, are making progress in this area. They are developing a local consensus on effective strategies to deal with the key issues of competitiveness, productivity and enhanced reward systems.
I believe these will be fundamental to our long-term economic advancement. Here's one thing that gives us real hope for future progress at enterprise level.
Workers will naturally be seeking a greater share of the benefits of economic growth as Partnership 2000 comes to an end. Our thirst for justice in relation to taxation is now felt more than ever. We cannot accept a budget for 2000 that gives even more tax concessions to the wealthy if it fails to remove low-paid workers from the tax net and to ensure that no average-paid worker pays above the standard tax rate.
We are also insisting that Government delivers fully on its commitment that 80 per cent of PAYE workers should be paying no more than the standard rate of tax. This proposition has actually fallen to a mere 56 per cent; ; it is probably the commitment that is furthest from being honoured and should therefore receive the greatest attention.
TRADE unionists have been participating in the management of economic and improvements in living standards while seeking to maintain competitiveness as well as social development. Our focus for the future is on achieving equity, equality and justice in our society and not simply rewarding greed.
All of us in the trade union movement have a difficult task ahead. Neither the delinquent antics of the super-rich, nor the shortcomings of some employers or elements of the political establishment, must be all owed to divert our resolve away from the complex issues we face.
Certainly, justice must be done, but we must also move the agenda forward to sustain a successful economy, rebuild social solidarity, negotiate better pay and working conditions and spearhead a national drive for equity, equality social progress.
What is urgently required is a shared analysis of where Ireland stands at this critical time, of what now needs to be done. That must be built around a commitment to securing and sustaining better living standards for all our people, not just a select few in the golden circle. Otherwise, in the words of Sean O'Casey, "The blinds are down, Joxer, the blinds are down."
Des Geraghty is vice-president of SIPTU
