Pledge to review law on collective bargaining
A Government action plan to promote collective bargaining includes commitments to reviews of legislation to safeguard workers’ rights and strengthen protections for trade-union representatives.
An EU directive on adequate minimum wages required member states to develop an action plan where collective-bargaining coverage was below 80% of workers.
The Industrial Relations Act 2015 defines ‘collective bargaining’ as comprising voluntary engagements or negotiations between any employer or employers’ organisation, and a trade union of workers or excepted body, with the object of reaching agreement on working conditions or terms of employment.
‘No lacuna’ on protection
says that a working group on the issue had found “no lacuna in law” in relation to protections for workers or employers.
It adds, however, that further action is needed to strengthen the collective-bargaining framework in line with .
“A series of targeted actions are proposed to review, provide clarity and, where necessary, amend existing legislative protections that support workers’ rights to organise and bargain collectively,” the plan states.
Among the recommended actions is to “assess the feasibility and impact” of introducing a mandatory mediation process between notification and industrial action.
The report also states that the Unfair Dismissals Acts will be reviewed through the Employment Law Review Group.
Digitalisation
There is also a commitment to examining legal protections, or the scope of legal protections, for trade-union representatives.
The plan also calls for investment in the digitalisation and modernisation of institutions such as the Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court.
It also contains a commitment to review and strengthen the enforcement of Employment Regulation Orders (EROs) and Sectoral Employment Orders (SROs), which set minimum rates of pay and other conditions.
‘Relentless’ on implementation
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke described the plan as “a balanced, forward-looking approach to industrial relations”.
ICTU general secretary Owen Reidy said that the plan contained some “important steps forward” but warned that the benefits for workers would be determined by its implementation.
“The trade union movement will be relentless in ensuring that the commitments made are honoured in spirit and deed,” he stated.