Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 June 2016
56. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for views on the unresolved dispute at a company (details supplied) and specifically her position on employers unilaterally changing the contracts of employees. [15829/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand the dispute at issue relates to proposed changes to employee contracts that set out their terms and conditions of employment. I also understand that the parties have engaged with the State’s industrial relations machinery and would like to assure the Deputy that the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court if required remain available to assist in this dispute. I welcomed the suspension of the industrial action that was proposed for mid-May. This allowed further talks to take place. Those talks have now adjourned. The parties are considering their positions.
Even what often appears to be the most intractable of disputes is capable of resolution where both sides engage constructively and in good faith in this voluntary process. The principle of good faith implies that both sides in a dispute make every effort to reach an agreement and endeavour, through genuine and constructive negotiations, to resolve their differences.
