asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware that a firm (name supplied) in County Westmeath have dismissed a number of their workers because they joined a trade union; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dismissal of Westmeath Workers.
46.
An officer of the Conciliation Service has been in touch with the firm concerned and with the trade union in an effort to assist in settling this dispute. The union have now requested the Labour Court to investigate the dispute.
Is the Minister aware that this firm have refused to allow a conciliation conference to take place under the Labour Court? Is he further aware that the firm, which seems to have got quite substantial grants from his Department, is German-based and is trying to put into practice procedures which Hitler operated in Germany, that is, to finish the trade unions. These disciples of his have come here with the same idea. Is the Minister further aware that the main reason these people are operating in this way and refusing to allow a trade union into their premises is that wages as low at £4 10s per week for an adult worker are being paid? Would the Minister say if it is the policy of his Department to allow people like that to continue to operate in this country?
I do not know if anybody could say for certain that workers have been fired for joining a union. There is evidence that would tend to point in that direction but there is no reason why this should not be tested where it should be tested by the unions, and I think the court is the proper place to decide whether or not constitutional rights are being infringed.
The Minister is well aware that is a cod of a statement.
It is not. The unions want us to carry out every little bit of a job.
We want you to do something and you are doing nothing.
The question of infringement of constitutional rights is one for the courts.
Is the Minister aware that the Irish manager of this firm who is a German informed me that he had dismissed ten of his employees because they had joined my union?
If the trade union movement asks me to legislate on these matters, I shall consider it.
(Interruptions.)
I shall put it this way: either you want free negotiations and do this yourselves or else allow me to do it. You cannot have it both ways.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Some of the people over there who are saying "hear, hear" would do the same thing with their workers if they thought they would get away with it.
(Interruptions.)
Very few of those who are saying "hear, hear" would employ trade union workers if they could help it. A few weeks ago the Minister tried the same thing.
That is a speech.
Is that the Deputy's maiden speech?
By the Deputy's record, he has just made one.
The Minister suggests that we want him to bring in legislation to deal with this matter. What I am asking him to do in a reasonable way is not to allow non-nationals to come in here and break every regulation that exists. Is it not true that if a man gets a grant to build a house, he must give a guarantee that he will carry out the work under trade union conditions before he gets the grant but these people who come along and fill their pockets with the tax-payers' money are allowed to treat the workers any way they like?
I think I told the House yesterday that our State, Ireland, has 56 per cent of the workers unionised and that this is the highest percentage of any country. It means that there is a fair proportion of workers in organised trade unions. Is the Deputy asking me to prevent anybody engaging in industry or commerce, or setting up a hotel, unless he is willing to bring in the unions—is that what the Deputy is asking?
I am asking the Minister not to allow State money to be given unless the firm concerned agrees to the conditions recognised in respect of workers in this country.
The conditions recognised are that 56 per cent of the workers are organised and the others are not. This is a high percentage in comparison with other countries. Is the Deputy asking that people should not be allowed to give employment here unless that employment is organised under the trade unions?
They should give a fair wage.
I am asking that no firm should be allowed to come in with the aid of State grants unless they are going to pay fair wages and give fair conditions to those employed in the industry.
(Interruptions.)