Number of days in 2007 lost through industrial unrest lowest on record

THE NUMBER of days lost through industrial disputes in Ireland in 2007 was the lowest on record and the downward trend has continued into this year, Labour Relations Commission (LRC) chief executive Kieran Mulvey said yesterday.

This low level of industrial unrest reflected the highly successful intervention of the LRC's conciliation service in many major potential dispute situations and the robust nature of the Irish social partnership model, said Mr Mulvey.

There were only 6,000 days lost through six industrial disputes last year and major disputes were avoided in 80 per cent of potential disputes in aviation, public transport, the health service, the film industry and the financial, pharmaceutical and energy sectors.

The figures are contained in the annual report of the LRC which was launched in Cork yesterday by Minister of State for Labour Affairs Billy Kelleher.

Employment rights referrals to the commission increased by 26 per cent, compared to 2006, numbering over 9,000 last year, while the commission anticipates over 10,000 referrals to its rights commissioners service this year.

Mr Mulvey said he did not like predicting the future of industrial relations, but it was vital for the country to retain its record of industrial peace.

"It's [industrial peace] a vital selling point for the attraction of foreign inward investment, for our tourism industry and from the point of view of our own domestic industry," he said.

"We should not lose sight of the fact that a country's industrial relations record is regarded as an important economic indicator by investors when they are making a decision on locating in any country." Mr Mulvey said Ireland compared very well with its European competitors in countries like Germany, France and Italy which had been hit by industrial unrest last year and again this year.

However, he said the country could not afford to rest on its laurels and he hoped the talks on a new social partnership agreement would come to a positive end over the next two days.

Mr Mulvey called on the representatives of employers and employees to assist the commission in processing the high level of referrals by seeking less adjournments and by co-operating with scheduling arrangements.

He pointed out that unnecessary delays were being encountered by the unavailability of parties on days assigned for hearings and by last minute objections or requests for rescheduling.

Mr Kelleher said the continuing increase in the number of referrals to the Rights Commissioner Service of the LRC reflected an increased number of people at work and the increasing levels of awareness of employment rights.