Social Partnership
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Social Partnership is the term used for the tripartite, triennial national agreements reached in the Republic of Ireland.
The process was initiated in 1987, following a period of high inflation and weak economic growth which led to increased emigration and unsustainable government borrowing and national debt. Strike and wage moderation have been important outcomes of the agreements and this has been seen as a signifant contributor to the Celtic Tiger. Prior to this agreement bargaining was on a local level since 1981, before this, since 1970 national deals were the norm but came under increased pressure.
The voluntarily agreements are agreed between the Government, main employer groups and the trade unions; since 1997 voluntary organisations have taken part. In addition to pay and wage issues, other issues such as tax and welfare are important constituents of the agreements; each agreement tends to be tailored to medium term national economic and social needs and often builds on its predecessor.
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[edit] Past agreements
In 1987 the first agreement was introduced, the Programme for National Recovery, this was followed by the Programme for Economic and Social Progress which was introduced in 1990. The Programme for Competitiveness and Work was introduced in 1993 and in 1997 the Partnership 2000, for Inclusion, Employment and Competitiveness. In 2000 the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness was issued and a year later the Adjusted Pay Terms was agreed as part of the agreement.
[edit] Sustaining Progress
Sustaining Progress is the most recent social partnership agreement. The agreement operates from January 2003 to December 2005 and its successor has recently been announced[1][2]. The agreement is the sixth such corporatist agreement, most of which operate for three years. Apart from setting centralised, national wage increases, they also provide for policy agreements over welfare, education, health and employment issues.
Its core participants are: (1) the Government through the Department of the Taoiseach (Prime Minister's Office); (2) the main employers' unions which are the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) and the Construction Industry Federation (CIF); and (3) the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) which is the umbrella body for over 40 trades unions representing around 550,000 members. They account for about one-third of the number of employees in the state.
[edit] Towards 2016
The seventh social partnership agreement, titled Towards 2016 was concluded in June 2006 with pay terms due to run to early 2008. These provide for cumulative wage increases set at 10.4pc over a 27-month period with minor adjustments for those earning less that €400 a week. The pay and policy pact also includes increased enforcement measures for employment protection and compliance with established labour standards. Its aspirational social and welfare provisions are built around a loose ten-year social democractic-style commitment towards improved provision of welfare and state services.
The trades unions, through the Irish Congress of Trades Unions, voted in early September 2006, by 242 to 84 votes, to accept the agreement with its largest nursing (INO) and retail (Mandate)unions opting not to participate in the vote. On the same day the IBEC employers' union also announced its acceptance of "Towards 2016".
