Renewed attempts to find a basis for talks on a new national partnership deal will be made this week by senior union, employer and Government representatives, writes Chris Dooley, Industry and Employment Correspondent
Talks on a successor to Sustaining Progress have been delayed because of the fallout from the dispute at Irish Ferries, which was settled last month.
Unions are seeking assurances from the Government and employers that any new deal will include strong measures to combat exploitation of workers and the displacement of jobs.
Progress was made in informal discussions before Christmas but further work needs to be done to secure a basis for negotiations.
Union leaders say they are not seeking specific commitments in advance of the talks, but need to see the parameters of an agreement on protecting employment standards. If these can be agreed in informal discussions, it is expected Siptu will then reconvene a conference to decide its position on entering talks.
The State's biggest union adjourned the conference in October after delegates voted to put a decision on participation in the talks on hold.
A number of things have happened since then to help clear the way for talks to begin. Two major industrial disputes, at Irish Ferries and An Post, were settled, while the employers' body, Ibec, pledged its support for measures to avoid a "race to the bottom" in employment standards.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has also promised action to address the unions' concerns.
Siptu president Jack O'Connor has said, however, that further progress is needed in preliminary discussions with the Government and employers before he can recommend entry into formal talks.
If talks do eventually get under way, it is understood that union leaders will seek to have the employment standards issue addressed separately before wider talks begin.
One possible scenario is that all of the social partners, including farm bodies and the community and voluntary sector, would meet for a plenary session.
Following that, however, the Government, employers and unions would enter negotiations specifically on measures to underpin employment standards.
A key concern of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and Siptu is that this issue should not become "lost" in talks about pay and other matters.