asked the Minister for Labour if he will introduce legislation providing for worker democracy whereby there will be full participation by them in decision making relating to the utilisation of the resources of an enterprise or organisation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Worker Democracy.
33.
I am not at present contemplating legislation on the lines envisaged in the Deputy's question.
Does the Minister not believe in industrial democracy?
I believe in participation, and we have a good deal of participation. We have collective bargaining, and an evolution will no doubt take place——
What has that got to do with industrial democracy? Does the Minister not appreciate that in countries that practise industrial democracy or have a code for workers the number of strike days or lock-out days is very small indeed? Would he not agree that the introduction of such a code would obviate many of the disputes that now take place between workers and employers?
We have collective bargaining and the fixing of conditions.
That has nothing to do with it.
That is participation.
It is not.