Pringle: Workers need protection now more than ever

By Thomas Pringle
Updated: 28th February 2024

Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, criticised Government’s failure to support a bill that would make it easier for workers to join a trade union, saying, “Workers need protection now more than ever.”

Addressing the Dáil today, Deputy Pringle said: “I fully support this legislation to oblige employers to make contributions from the wages of an employee to a trade union of their choice if requested, just like they already do with pension payments and other voluntary contributions.”

Calling it, “a very simple bill that would make it much easier for employees to join a trade union,” he said, “I am extremely disappointed that the government is choosing to vote this bill down and it makes clear exactly where the government stands when it comes to supporting and facilitating trade unions in this country and it gives a clear indication on this government’s stance on union busting as well, I believe.”

The deputy was speaking on Protection of Employees (Trade Union Subscriptions) Bill 2024 and thanked his Independent colleague Deputy Joan Collins for bringing it forward.

Deputy Pringle said: “This legislation would allow us to meet some of the obligations under the new EU adequate minimum wage directive and the fact that meeting these obligations is clearly not a priority for this government is very concerning. The directive seeks to reduce working poverty and inequality by improving the adequacy of statutory minimum wages, as well as the promotion of collective bargaining. The directive aims to give recognition to the important role that social actors and collective bargaining institutions play in building social market economies in EU countries and it has to be transferred into Irish law by November this year.

“The Protection of Employees (Trade Union Subscriptions) Bill 2024 would help to achieve the goals of this EU directive and so it doesn’t make sense for the government not to support this legislation,” he said.

Deputy Pringle said: “Workers need protection now more than ever. We have heard many reports recently of multinational retailers and companies utilising union-busting tactics. Companies like Amazon and Starbucks are known for their anti-union practices. These companies make it very difficult for workers to unionise and to fight for better working conditions. It is evident that legislation is badly needed in this country to address this issue.

“We’re seeing the same situation time and time again, workers going up against billionaires and billion-dollar companies with an endless amount of resources while labour laws are too weak. We have seen it here with Debenhams workers and Iceland workers. I raised the issues faced by Iceland workers in the Dáil in July last year, but unfortunately when it comes to looking after the rights of the workers, the government has been very slow to intervene. And here they are again, dragging their heels on this very important legislation and refusing to look after workers’ rights. This is something that workers won’t forget, hopefully, come election time.

“Trade unions play a very important role in Irish society and employers should be supportive of employees’ rights to join a trade union should they wish to do so. The Irish Constitution protects the right of all employees to access trade union membership and employers should be obliged to facilitate this right,” he said.

Deputy Pringle said: “I think what we are missing in this country is the realisation that workers are as important to employers as the tax system, as a favourable environment and a so-called pro-business environment.”