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THE FIRST HALF of 2014 saw 8,324 working days lost to industrial disputes, with 8,014 of those lost between April and June alone.
That’s more than double the number for the same quarter last year, when 3,417 days were shed.
According to CSO figures, six new industrial disputes began in Q2 of 2014, and one carried over from Q1.
In total, those seven disputes involved 1,681 workers and seven companies.
The economic sector which accounted for the vast majority of those lost days was industry, with 7,116 out of the 8,014 in total.
Last year, industrial action cost 14,965 days, with 11,924 workers from 12 firms involved.
In 2012, some 8,486 days were lost, an increase on 2011, when disputes cost 3,695 days.
ISME, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, yesterday called on the government to ban strikes involving public utilities and essential services.
The statement came just four days before the first of five planned strikes by Irish Rail workers, which look set to cause travel chaos on both All-Ireland final days.
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Nice to see there are some people still willing to exercise their rights.
In Ireland there is no general right to strike; rather, there is a freedom to strike in certain circumstances which confers immunities from legal restrictions on industrial actions and strikes. I don’t say so, says the constitution.
Workers don’t need legal permission to strike it’s an inalienable right
Seems that you know better than the constitution Boganity. Read before you write is my advice. The fact that it has been tolerated and is part of our way of life doesn’t mean is a god given right. Check article 2,3 and 41.
You cant just decide to strike at a moments notice in Ireland. There is a procedure to follow.
Sack ‘em all
Just like the property market the labour market is moving from supply to demand and then the shoe will be on the other foot for this minority of exploitive employers
The court of public opinion seems to think that striking is never a good thing.
If you were like me and self employed
ISME representatives would have everyone working for the minimum wage with no leave entitlements if they got their way.
The EU introduced rules governing the minimum # of days off across Europe (it’s currently 20 days). ISME can’t break that.
Minimum wage sounds like a win for unions. Can anyone offer other wins??
Genuine question…
Can commentors give me a positive contribution from unions in the last 50 years? Something they have actually added to our rights (that didn’t come from the EU). Something that makes a difference to regular workers?
I struggle to name anything but am open to ideas.
They got good jobs on FAS committees if that helps
They got good jobs on FAS committees if that helps
Sick pay, holiday pay, proper levels of wages, massive improvement in work conditions. Theres 4 things.
Both sick pay and holiday pay are statutory entitlements so unless the unions are writing legislation then I don’t get you point. Wage levels are set by government through minimum wage levels and the free market above that. Please specify which working conditions.
It was union negotiations that made sick and holiday pay statutary entitlements. Again unions were present in negotiating proper wage levels for workers to give a decent living standard. And on working conditions……where do i start….how about the fact that an employer cant just decide on a whim that he wants to fire you for no good reason? Or how about getting breaks during the day so an employer cant work you to death (literally in some cases)? Or an even simpler one, your boss cant take your head off with a thump if he feels like it?
Women in the workplace?
They also made it nearly impossible and very expensive for a employer to get rid of a bad employee which is not always good for the hard working people
I don’t have an issues with people’s right to protest. That’s what democracy is all about.
I do have a problem when the people striking think its ok to use intimidation and violence as part of their solution.
That seems to be more commonplace today and resolves nothing. If you want to be taken seriously then act accordingly.
Let’s see a list of the companies were strokes took place
The HSE have the right idea when striking. Straight up to Newry for the day!
In general probably a good thing.
The absolute crisis has passed and the fighting over who gets what begins. Most people aren’t going to go on strike if the company is about to collapse. It’s different when you are far poorer than 5 years ago and the company is profitable again even if it’s minimal.
Lack of union power has cost the workers their rights.The low wage worker has lost all it all.A passive society is the cause of the return of a Victorian society in Ireland. People are afraid to strike because of the current disposable worker policy.
http://www.sortmydispute.co.uk
………..why not?
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