ICTU makes no recommendation on upcoming referendum…

Earlier this week it was reported that three major trade unions are actively urging their members to vote no in the upcoming fiscal treaty referendum.

Now the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said that it will make no recommendation on how union members across the country should vote in the referendum which will be held next month.

The Irish Times reports that following a meeting of the ICTU executive committee earlier today, ICTU general secretary David Begg has said that it was not possible to get all members to agree on a common approach.

Mr Begg stated that the ICTU would not come down on any side of the argument or comment on whether union members should vote one way or another. He stated that while the majority of trade unions were not neutral on the issue and that they saw no benefits in the treaty, they were also fearful that Ireland would be denied access to the European Stability Mechanism if a no vote was carried.

Already trade union Unite has said that plans on pressing congress to recommend a no vote, and earlier this week the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) joined Unite and Mandate by encouraging its 40,000 members to vote no.

“Under no circumstances can we embed the draconian Fiscal Compact Treaty in our Constitution,” said Eamon Devoy, the general secretary of the TEEU.

“This would condemn Irish working families to decades of financial servitude to the banks. It would effectively transform a Social Europe into a Financiers Europe permanently,” he added.

Siptu, which is the largest trade union in the country, said that it would only encourage members to vote yes on the fiscal treaty referendum if the Government agreed to a new economic stimulus plan.

Speaking last night, Micheal Martin, the leader of Fianna Fall, said that a yes vote would be best for the country.

“I don’t see any upside in voting no,” he said.

“It’s not about one political party versus another, it’s about the future of the country, what’s best for the Irish people,” he added.

Meanwhile the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, said that the Government parties would soon start “a very vigorous campaign” to promote a yes vote.

Keep your eyes peeled for your handy Government-issued guide to the fiscal treaty referendum – coming to a letterbox near you soon. We can hardly wait…