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Trade Unions
Employees in Ireland have a right under the constitution to join a
trade union. Unions are an important source of information in relation
to employment issues and can also negotiate with employers for better
pay and conditions. However, there is no legal obligation on an
employer to negotiate with a trade union on behalf of an employee
unless previously agreed. This does not prevent a dispute about trade
union recognition from being a lawful dispute
It can be made a condition of employment that you must join a
particular union upon accepting a job offer and remain in that union
while you remain an employee in that job. This may be unconstitutional
but has not been tested in the courts yet. If you are already in a job
without being a union member and are then required to join a union by
your employer, you can refuse as this is unconstitutional.
The rate of subscription paid to a trade union will depend on the
union but is usually at the rate of 0.5% and 1% of gross salary per
year. It is possible to claim tax credits at the standard rate for
these subscriptions.
Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU)
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is the single umbrella
organisation for trade unions in Ireland, representing a range of
interests of employees, both in the Republic and Northern Ireland.
There are 56 unions affiliated to congress north and south of the
border. The role of Congress is to:
- Represent and advance the interests of working people.
- Negotiate with Government and Employers when mandated to do so by member unions.
- Promote the principles of Trade Unionism.
- Provide Information, Advice and Training to Unions and members.
- Assist with the resolution of disputes between unions and employers.
- Regulate relations between unions and rule on inter union disputes.
SIPTU
The Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU)
is the largest union in Ireland with over 200,000 members and
represents workers from every category of employment across all sectors
of the Irish Economy. SIPTU provides a variety of services to assist
workers in their dealings with Employers, Government and Industrial
Relations Institutions.
The union has about 130 branches of varying sizes. In the larger
cities branches specialise in representing workers in particular
industries or occupations.
For more information in relation to this union contact Gerry Flanagan gflanagan@siptu.ie.
IMPACT
IMPACT is Ireland’s largest public and services trade union. It has
over 57,000 members who work in hundreds of public service occupations
in health, local government, education, civil service and community
organisations. IMPACT only operates in the 26 counties where they are
the second largest union. For more information contact Dessie Robinson
at drobinson@impact.ie.
Joining a Union
Employees in the community sector receive much lower pay and experience
poorer conditions than public sector employees doing similar jobs.
While public sector employees are highly unionised, union membership in
the community sector is low.
SIPTU and IMPACT are the main unions organising the community
sector. The two unions are working closely together to get the best
deal for the sector. They have analysed their membership and can advise
people on what is the most appropriate union to join for particular
organisations.
As a result of lobbying by SIPTU and IMPACT during recent Social
Partnership negotiations, the Department of Finance has now agreed, for
the first time, to talks with the trade unions on pay and conditions in
the community sector.
