Tipperary SIPTU members call for collective bargaining legislation

SIPTU members employed in the Boston Scientific plant in Clonmel have called on the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, to legislate for the right to collective bargaining for workers in Ireland, highlighting their long running battle for union recognition.

SIPTU Organiser, Allen Dillon, said: “The SIPTU Boston Scientific Clonmel Plant Workplace Committee made a submission to the public consultation process on Ireland’s action plan to promote collective bargaining, earlier this month. The EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages calls on the governments of EU Member States to draw up an action plan to increase collective bargaining coverage in their economies if it is currently under 80%, in Ireland it is estimated to be under 35%.”

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He added: “Collective bargaining, which is the process whereby workers negotiate with their employer as a group, has been fought for by our members employed in Boston Scientific in Clonmel for many years. Our members secured a Labour Court Recommendation in November 2017 which stated that Boston Scientific should recognise SIPTU for individual members’ representation purposes and collective bargaining, including on matters which relate to pay. However, the company has ignored this recommendation.”

SIPTU Manufacturing Divisional Organiser, Neil McGowan, said: “In their submission our members have called on the Government to heed the instruction of the EU Commission and draw up an action plan which includes realistic measures to increase the level of collective bargaining in Ireland, in line with the spirt of the EU Directive of Adequate Minimum Wages. This is also what Peter Burke committed to when he signed the Respect at Work pledge in the run up to the 2024 General Election.”

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He added: “In order to achieve this aim SIPTU is calling for new legislation which will provide workers with a right to engage in collective bargaining at enterprise level, a statutory requirement for good faith engagement on all sides and ban the use of union busting tactics by employers.”