ICTU’s executive council has decided not to make any recommendation to members on how to vote in the EU fiscal treaty.
ICTU General Secretary David Begg said was not possible to agree on a position on the fiscal treaty referendum – as everyone thinks it’s a bad treaty that Ireland didn’t have a lot of engagement with.
ICTU has decided that it will issue a guide to unions to assist them in taking their own position – but it will neither endorse or reject the treaty.
Three unions; UNITE, Mandate and the TEEU – have already advised their members to vote No in the referendum on May 31st – saying the treaty will reinforce austerity.
Earlier, public expenditure minister Brendan Howlin said the EU fiscal treaty is not a trade union matter – and the government will engage directly with the people
