BACIK WELCOMES COMMITMENT TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING LEGISLATION

Senator Ivana Bacik today welcomed the announcement that the Government has approved the introduction of legislation to support the right of workers to participate in collective bargaining with their employers.

Speaking in the Seanad today, Senator Bacik said:

“I very much welcome this announcement, which will ensure the fulfilment of an important commitment in the Programme for Government. The promised legislation will provide greater clarity for employees, employers and unions as to the framework for collective bargaining, and will also protect workers against victimisation for seeking to exercise collective bargaining rights.

“The right to collective bargaining is recognised by the International Labour Organisation and the European Court of Human Rights as a human right, but its exercise in Ireland has been undermined through court judgments such as that in the 2007 Ryanair decision. I am really delighted that this Government will now be bringing forward new legislation to ensure protection of this right, and to bring more clarity to our system of industrial relations.”