Fórsa is to continue its campaign for a right to union recognition in workplaces where staff want to be represented by a union. Delegates at the union’s national conference last week backed a motion calling for a statutory guarantee on union recognition for collective bargaining.

The motion also called for referral to third party dispute resolution procedures to be provided where they’re needed.

Proposing the motion on behalf of the union’s executive, Fórsa National Secretary Angela Kirk said that, while recent legislation had improved workers’ right to representation, “it fails to fully facilitate union representation in the workplace.” Critics of the 2015 Industrial Relations Amendment Act say it fails to meet international standards on collective bargaining.

“Employers must respect the decision of workers who want a trade union to represent them in collective bargaining,” said Angela.