The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is calling for the promotion of collective bargaining by the next Government.
In its election manifesto for the forthcoming general election, ICTU said it will be focussing on ensuring that clear commitments are included in the manifestos and programmes of political parties and independent candidates to promote collective bargaining if they form part of or support the next Government.
Collective bargaining is the process of negotiation between employers and a group of employees, usually represented by a trade union.
The EU Adequate Minimum Wages Directive was adopted by the EU Council in 2022 and the deadline for transposition of the directive is 15 November 2024.
It establishes under European law a framework for promoting collective bargaining on wage-setting for Ireland and all other member states.
It provides that member states with less than 80% collective bargaining coverage, which includes Ireland, provide for a framework of enabling conditions for collective bargaining.
ICTU said most of the commitments outlined in its election manifesto are to give effect to measures that Ireland has already agreed at European level over recent years, principally through the Adequate Minimum Wages Directive, but also other European legislation, as well as to the Final Report of the LEEF High-Level Working Group on Collective Bargaining.
"The commitments also seek to anticipate what we consider likely to further European initiatives over the coming years to promote collective bargaining so that the next Government, to quote the High-Level Group report, is 'well-positioned to meet its obligations under EU law'," ICTU said.
"These commitments are also intended to ensure that not only does Ireland live up to its obligations and commitments under European law, but also to enable Ireland attain the widely recognised benefits of higher levels of trade union membership and of rates of collective bargaining coverage," the ICTU manifesto states.
