Labour Relations Commission calls for ‘binding arbitration’

Speaking at the publication of the LRC’s 2008 annual report, Kieran Mulvey, chief executive, said: “Central to achieving change is the structure for engagement in workplaces and all committed parties must recognise the need for agility in delivering timely change, and to consider the value of voluntary binding arbitration as a mechanism to effect agreement when required.”

According to Mulvey, the only way for Irish employments to confront current and future competitive challenges is for all parties to work together to achieve mutually satisfactory outcomes.

“The public sector, in particular, has no choice but to build on the goodwill that exists to find better ways of working, which will deliver high-quality services at a time when the resources to fund public services are severely curtailed.”

He explained that referrals to the Conciliation Service of the Commission in the first nine months of 2009, which dealt with pay restructuring and redundancy-related disputes, grew by over 100pc in comparison with the same period in 2008.

“Irish competitiveness must be restored through a combination of more efficient work practices, better product cost analysis, in-company training and investment in infrastructure and research and development,” he said.

According to the LRC’s report, 12 strikes were recorded in the Irish economy in 2008. In addition, the report confirmed that referrals to the Rights Commissioner Service of the Commission grew by a record 21pc in 2008 to 11,000. Referrals to September 2009 had already reached over 10,000.

Mulvey stated that, while it appeared the current challenges facing the social partners in terms of cost and reform issues will be difficult to resolve, imaginative steps and sacrifices could be made by all sectors in a medium two- to three-year plan.