A special delegate conference of TUI members today reaffirmed the union’s opposition to the Public Service Agreement. The union affirmed that it is willing to engage with the Department of Education and Skills through the normal industrial relations machinery.

Resolution of Special Delegate Conference

1.   This conference reaffirms TUI’s opposition to the Public Service Agreement.

2.   This Conference instructs the Executive Committee to maximise co-operation with other unions opposed to the Public Service Agreement and immediately to initiate meetings to take place before the budget in 2010 of our Executive with the Executives of these unions.

3.   This Conference instructs the Executive Committee to maintain the current Directives until and unless our members agree to a settlement of the related grievances following consideration at a special or annual congress.

4.   TUI declares that it will respond to any proposal for change put down by the employer side solely through the C&A scheme/IOT IR forum in the normal way. The framework for negotiation, facilitation and arbitration shall not be the provisions of the Public Service Agreement (Croke Park Deal). Under no circumstances shall binding arbitration be accepted by TUI.

5.   Participation in any such discussion does not imply TUI’s acceptance of the Public Service Agreement.

6.   The result to be put to a special congress for consideration before being put to a ballot of the appropriate members after the budget in 2010.

7.   Further the Executive Committee is instructed to prepare a contingency plan to deal with any attempt to unilaterally impose the Public Service Agreement through circular letters.