Tánaiste seeks to water down workers’ rights
by Bernard Harbor
 
Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan, who is also ICTU vice president, said Irish unions were demanding that EU measures take the form of a directive rather than a recommendation.
Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan, who is also ICTU vice president, said Irish unions were demanding that EU measures take the form of a directive rather than a recommendation.

Irish unions have criticised an attempt by Ireland and eight other EU Governments to gut proposed new EU rules that would strengthen collective bargaining.

 

The reproach came after Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and eight of his counterparts suggested that a proposed European directive on workplace negotiating rights be demoted to the status of a ‘recommendation.’

 

EU recommendations have no legal force, whereas directives must be written into national laws.

 

The EU Commission’s draft directive would require EU member states to take actions to increase the number of workers who benefit from collective bargaining to a minimum of 70%. Coverage in Ireland is currently around 40%, compared to an EU average of 65%.

 

Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) assistant general secretary Owen Reidy said a recommendation would be “useless” in Ireland, which has weak collective bargaining rights compared to many EU states.

 

He also rejected claims that the proposed directive interfered with the EU principle of subsidiarity, which means that decisions should be taken at national level whenever possible.

 

“The relevant Dáil committee looked at this issue in December 2020 and, based on six out of seven independent [legal] opinions settled that there was no issue of subsidiarity,” he said.

 

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan, who is also ICTU vice president, said Irish unions were demanding that EU measures take the form of a directive rather than a recommendation.

 

“Stronger collective bargaining rights mean more protections and better wages for working women and men. If the draft directive falls, it will not be because of Brussels. It will because too many member states – including the Republic of Ireland – have blocked it,” he said.

 

It’s never been more important – or easier – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE. 

LikeLike (12) | Facebook Twitter