Game changers on the right to organise

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions recently held an important seminar on possible “game changers” on the future of collective bargaining in Ireland.

The event, at the CWU head office in Dublin, was chaired by Congress President Kevin Callinan, and was attended by more than 80 trade union officials and organisers from several unions, including a sizeable contingent from SIPTU, the country’s largest union.

General Secretary Owen Reidy gave a detailed presentation on the recent Adequate Minimum Wages directive and the LEEF High Level Group (HLG) report on collective bargaining in Ireland.

Speaking after the seminar, he praised the “participative” nature of the event and pointed out that both the directive and the HLG report were “potential game changers” for Irish workers and unions.

Reidy said: “The directive requires the Government to promote collective bargaining with an aim to get coverage as high as 80%. Currently it’s 35%. The HLG report will do away with the employers’ veto in JLCs and promote the concept of good- faith engagement. What is key is that we ensure the Government implements both the letter and spirit of both instruments.”

The seminar also focused on how unions could best advance their interests in both initiatives.

He continued: “We need a robust campaign involving our allies in civil society also. The Irish governments must move from becoming disinterested bystanders on the issue of collective bargaining to advocates, enablers and supporters of collective bargaining.

“For our movement, the issue of access is key. We need to ensure that workers who wish to be in unions and get the benefit of collective bargaining can do so, and that it is no longer the gift of the employer.”

SIPTU was well-represented at the seminar, and was attended by officials and organisers from four of the union’s five divisions as well from the organising department.

Reidy told Liberty newspaper: “The directive and the HLG report, if implemented correctly, has huge potential for a union like SIPTU. We in Congress are delighted with the level of collaboration we have got from officials and the leadership of SIPTU on this important issue. The issue is the key union priority over the next 18 months.

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do something quite significant and as a movement we are determined to do it.

“The feedback from all affiliates that took part was very positive. We intend to host an annual seminar on collective bargaining, whereby we can all assist one another with best practice,” he added.