Vol. 497 No. 1
31 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress, if any, made in securing workers' constitutional rights to trade union representation in view of the ongoing problem of trade recognition disputes including the dispute in Karavale Enterprises, Ennis, County Clare. [24218/98]
While it has been held that workers have a right to form trade unions it is also the case that the Constitution does not compel an employer to recognise a union.
I have had discussions with ICTU and IBEC with the purpose of reconvening the high level group on trade union recognition established under Chapter 9 of Partnership 2000. It is the intention that the high level group will deliberate three issues — collective representation, individual representation and industrial disputes of special importance. These deliberations will include an attempt to agree a method of addressing the type of disputes referred to in the Deputy's question.
