asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that, despite repeated representations made in the matter by the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union, the Land Commission have refused to pay the proper trade union rate of wages to the building workers employed by them in the area of Ashford, County Wicklow; whether he is aware that their failure to do so is contrary to general practice whereby manual employees of the State or of local authorities are paid rates of wages not less favourable than those recognised by trade unions in respect of similar workers employed in the same area by private persons; and whether he will take the necessary steps to have the workers concerned paid the appropriate rate from the date on which they entered the employment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Commission Workers' Wages.
In the employment of labour the normal practice of the Land Commission is to relate the basic wages of its unskilled labourers to the local agricultural rates. The men employed at Ashford are engaged in the simpler type of building work, calling for no special skill or experience, and are paid 12/- per week more than the agricultural rate by virtue of being engaged temporarily on work of a slightly higher nature.