Trade union activity in Ireland goes back as far as the 18th century. They began with craftsmen like bricklayers, butchers, and printers forming local societies.
Towards the end of the 19th century, advances in the industry created a range of new skilled workers like dockers, railwaymen, and general workers.
These began to form better-organised trade unions to represent their interests.
Many Irish unions had connections to British ones. In the 1940s, a split between Irish and British unions led to the establishment of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).
This is an umbrella organisation that consists of over 40 individual unions.
The largest one under the ICTU umbrella is the Service Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU), which represents various public and private sector workers.
As SIPTU represents many public sector workers, trade union actions by SIPTU members have the capacity to disrupt public services.
Types of trade unions in Ireland
There is a variety of Trade Unions operating in Ireland today. Some of these include:
- Association of Higher Civil Public Servants.
- Association of Secondary Teachers.
- Communication Workers Union.
- Energy Services Union.
- Fórsa.
- Irish Taxi Council.
There are more, of course, but these examples display the range of Irish unions currently in operation.
How trade unions work
From a legal point of view, all employees in Ireland receive the same treatment.
Irish employment law looks at the employee’s contract of employment and not whether they’re a member of a trade union.
There’s also no legal obligation for you as an employer to recognise trade unions under Irish employment law.
In addition, strike action by employees can only take place in specific circumstances.
What are the aims of trade unions?
Principally to protect the employment rights of employees. A trade union will also negotiate improved conditions of employment by engaging in collective bargaining.
While you aren’t obliged to recognise unions, employees can use a trade union to negotiate improved terms and conditions of employment.
They can also deal with difficult workplace scenarios like a disciplinary hearing.
What are the main roles of trade unions in Ireland?
In unionised workplaces, a union representative would be the first point of contact for union matters. Employees pay a subscription fee to join.
Once the employee is a paid up member, they can claim assistance from the union on a range of issues.
These can range from settling workplace disputes to looking for better employment conditions.
Dealing with a trade union
You’re not obliged by law to recognise a union. In practice, even though Irish employment law treats union and non-union employees the same, the threat of strike action often means unionised employees are better able to negotiate improved employment terms.
Your employees also have a constitutional right to join a trade union. It’s illegal to dismiss an employee on the basis of their trade union membership.
It’s important to ensure that you’re fully aware of and compliant with your employment law obligations if you’re dealing with trade unions in relation to an employment matter.
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