THE ICTU has been accused of being out of step with the mood of public service workers by senior members of the country's largest Civil Service union. They say their members are now questioning the validity of national agreements.
Six members of the 23 strong executive of the Civil and Public Services Union issued the statement last night. It is the first time in many years that the ICTU has been publicly criticised by senior members of a constituent union.
They also criticise their own union's full time officials and the majority of the CPSU executive for trying to push through a restructuring deal negotiated under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work when it was clear that it faced widespread resistance from ordinary members.
The CPSU executive is meeting tonight to discuss the result of last Monday's ballot, when members rejected the pay deal by 4,278 votes to 3,645. While the executive will probably opt for adjudication on the offer in the hope of gaining enough improvements to win acceptance in a new ballot, Monday's outcome damaged its authority.
It may also call into question the union's stance at the ICTU special delegate conference on September 26th, which is being called to discuss entering a new national agreement. The CPSU has traditionally supported such deals.
The statement from the minority on the CPSU executive said.
"The membership's rejection of the Government's restructuring deal represents a major setback for Government pay policy and a slap in the face for the leadership of the ICTU, who have endorsed the pay package negotiated by the CPSU.
"It also represents widespread rejection of the attempt to introduce a typical [part time] recruitment in the general Civil Service.
"The endorsement of the deal by officials of the union and the majority of the executive committee shows the gulf that has developed between ordinary members and their supposed leadership".
It goes on to criticise the assistant general secretary of the ICTU, Ms Patricia O'Donovan, for endorsing the terms relating to part time staff.
This is described in the statement as "the most blatant interference of Congress in the democratic process of the CPSU. The membership of the CPSU had the good sense, however, to ignore the advice of Congress and rejected the deal.
"The members of the biggest Civil Service union in the country have now made it clear they will not go along with the ICTU policy of accepting widespread change and then attempting to deal with the consequences of it. On pay, members have clearly indicated that they were not prepared to accept a pay deal which would keep them in the low pay trap."
Most members would receive increases worth £5 or less a week, the statement said. "The undersigned executive members will be demanding that the executive committee meeting tomorrow take a fresh approach and the wishes and aspirations of members be listened to."
One of the signatories, Mr Pat Waine, speaking in a personal capacity last night, said he envisaged the reintroduction of last spring's 10 week work to rule as one way of pressurising the Government for a new deal.
While some of the dissident executive members have affiliations with Militant Labour and Democratic Left, it would be wrong to write off their views as left wing rhetoric. Their statement undoubtedly reflects the views of many low paid civil servants who are disillusioned with national agreements.