Industrial Relations

Ibec and ICTU form unlikely bond to build new era of collective bargaining

Patricia King delayed her retirement as head of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions because she was involved in confidential discussions with employers on new ways to negotiate pay rises for up to one million workers. Key to what was achieved was her rapport with Ibec chief Danny McCoy

Patricia King, one of the country’s most prominent trade unionists, was due to retire in May but delayed her departure in order to conclude a deal on a new way of negotiating pay rises for workers

Patricia King, one of the country’s most prominent trade unionists, was due to retire in May. She had reached the end of her seven-year term as general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) that month, but instead of stepping down, delayed her departure by six months.

The reason? King had been involved in lengthy behind-closed-doors talks with employers to come up with a new way of negotiating pay rises for up to ...