Minister gives Dunnes workers collective bargaining commitment

In the aftermath of yesterday’s nationwide industrial action by 6,000 Dunnes Stores workers, the Minister for Business and Employment Ged Nash has written to Mandate Trade Union stating he will be enacting collective bargaining legislation by mid-2015.

Prior to the strike, Mandate had written to the Minister seeking an announcement on the likely date for the enactment of meaningful legislation which could have prevented yesterday’s Dunnes Stores strike. The Minister has now responded stating the new legislation will be implemented within months and would “provide a strong and effective remedy where employers refuse to negotiate by way of collective bargaining”.

Mandate welcomes this timely commitment which will give real hope to Dunnes Stores workers and hundreds of thousands of other workers in similar circumstances across the country.

Gerry Light, Mandate Assistant General Secretary said: “The Minister’s commitment would see stronger powers for the Labour Court whereby they could issue determinations which will be enforceable through the Circuit Court. It’s important that this power would specifically be applied where employers such as Dunnes Stores refuse to engage in collective bargaining with workers through their unions.”

He added, “There is also a commitment to protect workers from victimisation for claims lodged by their unions.

“Clearly one of the priorities for our 6,000 members on the picket lines yesterday is to be represented by their union but due to the current lack of collective bargaining legislation they have no way of enforcing that right other than industrial action,” said Mr Light.

“Yesterday our members in Dunnes Stores, who are mostly low paid and in very precarious employment, were forced to sacrifice a day’s pay and stand outside in the cold and rain in order to simply have their voices heard. They want a living wage, secure hours and decent contracts of employment,” said Mr Light.

“Hopefully with the enactment of the proposed robust collective bargaining legislation, workers will not be forced to undertake such drastic measures in the future.”

The Minister says the Attorney General’s Office is drafting the Bill which will be published in this parliamentary session and his objective is to see it enacted in mid-2015.

The Minister’s letter follows a statement made to the Dail by the Tanaiste on the day of the Dunnes Stores dispute that the legislation will be specifically introduced by July of this year.