The introduction of the National Minimum Wage Act in April 2000 was a breakthrough, setting a legal wage floor in Ireland and challenging the idea that workers should be left to the mercy of market forces. 

As part of their Trade Union Week celebrations, the private sector committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is hosting a symposium to mark the 25th anniversary of Ireland's minimum wage in Nerney’s Court on Thursday 1st May. 

General secretary of Fórsa Kevin Callinan welcomed the event and recalled the significance of the minimum wage campaign. 

“Before 2000, wages were largely left to negotiation between employers and unions, which was fine for organised sectors. But the Celtic Tiger exposed a deep issue of widespread low pay and social inequality. Despite all the talk of boom, too many workers were struggling to make ends meet. But unions, backed by organisations like the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed and the Combat Poverty Agency, pushed back. Through sustained campaigns, strategic organising, and political pressure, they forced the government’s hand and manged to get a commitment through Partnership 2000 that this was going to happen.” 

At the event, a panel of senior union officials will reflect on trade union involvement in the introduction of the minimum wage, its impact on earnings, employment, and employers, and the implications for collective agreements. 

With the government’s implementation of the EU adequate minimum wages directive still on the boil, the symposium is being designed with a forward-looking approach. ICTU has been pressing the government over its failure to transpose the directive into Irish law. This legislation mandates the state to actively promote collective bargaining, enabling workers and employers to negotiate at both workplace and sectoral levels to improve living conditions. 

For Kevin, the day provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on past achievements while looking ahead to future campaigns. 

“It probably sounds unbelievable to people now, but this was a major breakthrough at the time. Evelyn Owens, former President of the Local Government and Public Services Union, which I was a member of and was a forerunner of Fórsa, was the chair of the National Minimum Wage Commission. Her involvement was central to what was a major win for workers.” 

“If there was any big lesson I’d draw from it, it’s that when the union movement works together, we can win major social gains for workers.” 

“At the time employers and neoliberal economists warned the minimum wage would kill jobs. It didn’t. Instead, it lifted wages and helped reduce inequality. Today that battle extends to things like hybrid work and weighing up the social benefits of the four-day week over the old rat race model that has us experiencing a profound housing crisis and teetering on the edge of environmental collapse.  It’s no coincidence this event is on May Day, when we commemorate the battle for the eight-hour day -it’s a timely reminder that the way we work isn’t set in stone, we can keep up the fight to change things!” 

For more information on the event read this flyer. To register to attend the event email unionweek@ictu.ie  

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