TRADE UNION:THE PRESIDENT of Siptu's education branch last night described the union's decision to support the ratification of the treaty as tragic.
Kieran Allen said the union had not consulted with its membership before making the decision and said that it was now on the same side of the debate as employers’ group Ibec, which supported reducing workers’ wages.
Mr Allen said Siptu’s decision to support the treaty, which was in part prompted by a commitment by Labour to legislate on collective bargaining if they were in government, suggested to the Government that the trade union movement was weak and that this was a “very dangerous signal”.
Speaking during a debate on the Lisbon Treaty in Liberty Hall with Siptu general president Jack O’Connor, Mr Allen said the grounds on which Siptu had opted to support the treaty were “entirely spurious” as no legislation on collective bargaining had been presented.
The treaty was a bad deal, Mr Allen said, as it would lead to greater military spending and give the European Court of Justice, which had ruled against workers in the past, extra powers.
In response, Mr O’Connor said the treaty would not create an ideal world he wanted to live in, but rather it was a matter of choosing the best option on the table and that was a Yes vote.
He said the treaty reflected many social democratic values through the introduction of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and multiple social clauses. “It is better to have them enshrined in primary law than not.”
Mr O’Connor said articles 165 and 168 of the treaty make it clear that the responsibility for education and health services would continue to rest with the member states and that privatisation would not be a direct result of Lisbon.
He said the aspects of the treaty relating to defence were of some concern, but that all decisions were based on unanimity and that Ireland had acquired a protocol on defence matters.
