Union backs Sinn Féin bill on collective bargaining
3 June 2008
The Unite trade union, the second largest in
Ireland, has come out in support of Sinn Féin’s bill seeking to
enshrine workers rights to collective bargaining as part of the
Irish constitution. Current protections for workers were dealt
a major blow following a 2007 Supreme Court ruling in a case
involving Ryanair. Across Europe and in the United States,
workers have a legal right to collective bargaining as listed in
the conventions of the ILO to which Ireland is a signatory despite
currently being non compliant.
“The last and current governments have done
nothing in reaction to the Ryanair case. We urgently need to
shore up the industrial relations institutions upon which workers
had previously relied,” said Unite Irish Regional Secretary Jimmy
Kelly speaking after a meeting with Sinn Féin Workers Rights
spokesman Arthur Morgan at Dáil Eireann today.
“This is a critical period for workers
rights. Despite claiming to have a model social partnership,
it is one in which employers are considered more equal than
workers. We have been badly let down by this government on
issues of union recognition and collective bargaining. Now we
are asked to trust them again ahead of the vote on the Lisbon
Treaty.”
“We prefer to look at action rather than
promises. Without the constitutional amendment which Sinn
Féin has brought forward, the Charter of Fundamental Rights which
others in the union movement claim is significant, will in fact be
of no use to Irish workers.”
“We have asked our 60,000 members in the
Republic of Ireland to stand up for their own rights and those of
colleagues across Europe by voting No to Lisbon next week.
Once we have made our voice clear, we can then look towards the
inclusion of a social progress clause in any future attempts to
change the relationship between our European partners.”
For further information or to arrange an
interview with Jimmy Kelly this afternoon, please call:
Rob Hartnett – Hartnett McClure PR on 086
3851955 or Arlene Crean – Hartnett McClure PR on 01 6401821 /
087 6613259
Note to Editors
Unite will hold a meeting for officials and
shop stewards representing 60,000 workers at Transport House, 55/56
Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1 on Wednesday June 4th at
11am.
All media are invited to attend the meeting
and interview members of the union from 10.45am.
Please contact Arlene Crean on 01 640 1821 to
indicate whether you or a representative would like to attend.
