Unions call on next government to respect workers' rights

A group of trade unions will today launch its General Election pledge calling on the next government to respect workers’ rights.

The 'Respect at Work’ campaign is backed by SIPTU, the Financial Services Union (FSU), the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) and Mandate.

The campaign said it is approaching parties and candidates from across the political spectrum to ask them to pledge their support for legislative change to boost workers’ rights.

The pledge commits politicians to support legislation that promotes collective bargaining, protects workplace representatives and ensures the right to access a trade union at work.

"We have half the European average of workers covered by collective agreements and the flimsiest protections for workplace representatives on the continent," said campaign spokesperson Fionnuala Ní Bhrógáin.

"With over 400,000 workers now low paid across our economy, politicians must commit to legislative change," Ms Fionnuala Ní Bhrógáin said.

Last week, the Government said it expected to meet a deadline to transpose an EU directive on workers' rights.

Unions however accused the State of not fully implementing the rules by failing to pass new legislation.

The EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages seeks to reduce working poverty and inequality by improving statutory minimum wages, as well as the promotion of collective bargaining.

Collective bargaining is the process of negotiation between employers and employee representatives such as trade unions.

Under the directive, member states with less than 80% collective bargaining coverage, which includes Ireland, must establish an action plan to promote collective bargaining.

The Department of Enterprise said it has received legal advice that Ireland’s current minimum wage setting framework, namely the Low Pay Commission, is largely already in compliance with the provisions of the directive, although there will be some amendments to the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 to bring the framework completely into line with the directive.

"No new legislation is required on the collective bargaining side. It is expected that the transposition deadline will be met," a Department spokesperson said.