Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Jun 1994

Vol. 444 No. 6

Written Answers. - Workers' Representation.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

52 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the recent study published in Industrial Relations News which shows that over half of the new firms employing more than 100 workers were non-union operations; his views on this development in view of the continuing need to ensure proper representation and protection for Irish workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. Quinn)

I have noted the contents of the article published in Industrial Relations News on 21 April, 1994 concerning employee relations in greenfield sites. I understand that the article was based on research findings from a survey of greenfield operations conducted by the University of Limerick. Further analysis of the survey data forms the basis of one component of a major research project, commissioned by my Department and being carried out by the University of Limerick, on employer-employee relations practices in Ireland. I expect to have the first phase of this project published at an early date.

Of the 53 greenfield companies surveyed, 25 companies, or 47 per cent, recongised trade unions, whereas 28 companies, or 53 per cent, did not. The majority of Irish, European and Japanese companies recognised trade unions, while only a minority of US-owned enterprises did so. I consider that it is important to point out that the survey did not differentiate between those firms which might have actively refused recognition and those which did not have union recognition. Care, therefore, needs to be exercised in interpreting the research findings.

Other research carried out by the University of Limerick for my Department, on the basis of the Price Waterhouse Cranfield Survey of leading companies in the State, demonstrates that 77 per cent of respondents recognised trade unions. This research also shows that country of origin has no significant impact on union recognition. Thus, while some US companies do not have unions, the impact is not significant overall. The research findings indicate that, in general, trade union recognition, density and influence in Irish organisations remains quite robust with high levels of union recognition and density permeating most organisations.

The general position in the State concerning trade union membership is positive. Total trade union membership is estimated at 488,000 members or over 47 per cent of the employee labour force at the end of 1993. This represents a steady increase in membership compared with the 1980s when it was in decline. By the end of that decade trade union density was as low as some 43 per cent of the employee labour force.

The question of whether or not an organisation recognises a trade union is something which must be worked out between both sides of industry in accordance with the voluntarist nature of our free collective bargaining system. There is no legislation enabling or disabling recognition. In the absence of agreement between the social partners, I have no proposals to legislate in this area.

Trade unions have played a significant role in the development of this State and continue to do so. This is particularly evidenced by the active part they have played, through the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, over recent years in national partnership arrangements with the other social partners and the Government, through the Programme for National Recovery, theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress and the current Programme for Competitiveness and Work.