Minister Kelleher’s Response to SIPTU statement on Lisbon Treaty

30 May 2008

I welcome the support by SIPTU for the contents of the Lisbon Treaty from the point of view of the interests and well-being of workers. In particular, SIPTU note that the Treaty offers the opportunity to continue the EU’s consensual tradition of balancing the demands of the market place and competition with the needs of ordinary working people, through the Charter of Fundamental Rights and other measures. I welcome also the clear position of SIPTU that ratifying the Treaty will not have any implications for the privatisation of public services.

SIPTU stress that the EU, through its balanced Social Market economy and respect for the entitlement to participate in collective bargaining as a key element of its democratic infrastructure, has been central to the security, enhanced standards of living and quality of life of the peoples of Europe.

This is the context in which the Irish Congress of Trade Unions is calling for its members to vote in favour of the Treaty in the Referendum on Thursday week. The same position is held by the Leader of the European Trade Union Confederation, John Monks, who also calls for the support of Irish workers in favour of the Treaty.

I do not share SIPTU’s assessment of the decision to open our labour market to workers from the new member states in 2004, or its consequences. However, I recognise the legitimate concerns that SIPTU have about employment protection in an era of greater labour mobility. We have moved, in partnership, to strengthen significantly the measures to protect conditions of employment and living standards.

I also recognise that SIPTU – and the wider trade union movement – have concerns about the status of collective bargaining here and the capacity of trade unions to be effective in protecting and representing their members. These are issues which are under active discussion in the current social partnership negotiations. As SIPTU acknowledge, these are issues of domestic, not European, law and policy. SIPTU state explicitly that the right to collective bargaining will not be improved by rejecting the Treaty. Accordingly the logic of SIPTU’s position is support for the Treaty, as a basis for enhancing the status of workers’ rights and protection, while issues of concern at domestic level are dealt with through our own arrangements.