Is it a right, as an Irish citizen, to become a member of a trade union?

[colin79ie]

Is it a right, as an Irish citizen, to become a member of a trade union?

I have been told that some people in management positions are not permitted by their employer to join a union?

 

[Complainer]

Re: Union membership

You are entitled to join a union. Your employer is not obliged to recognise your union at present.

 

[Mpsox]

Re: Union membership

You have a constitutional right to join a trade union and it is illegal to dismiss someone for being a union member. However your employers have no obligation to recognise the union or discuss anything with a union rep

 

[Caveat]

Re: Union membership

You are entitled to join a union. Your employer is not obliged to recognise your union at present.

How does this generally work in practice - in your view/experience do many employers not recognise a particular union? Would they for example take umbrage against one but recognise another?

 

[Complainer]

Re: Union membership

How does this generally work in practice - in your view/experience do many employers not recognise a particular union? Would they for example take umbrage against one but recognise another?

Mick O'Leary was infamous for not recognising the union(s) to which many of his staff belong, though I think he did commit to recognising the unions at Aer Lingus when he was trying to take over.

In my own small public sector organisation, one union is recognised. I don't think this has been a problem in practice. I think some of the senior management are members of a different union, afaik.

 

[Mpsox]

Re: Union membership

How does this generally work in practice - in your view/experience do many employers not recognise a particular union? Would they for example take umbrage against one but recognise another?

Some employers recognise all unions, some one, some none. However the risk for employers recognising more then one union is that a spat between unions can result in industrial action/issues which has little to do with the employer

 

[ajapale]

Re: Union membership

Moved from Askaboutlaw to Work, Employment Rights, etc.

Please post in the correct forum/subforum.

aj

 

[Purple]

Re: Union membership

An organisation that represents a group of employed or contracted members and negotiates on their behalf with an employer needs a license to do so. This is granted under the Trade Union Act 1941. As such IBEC, the Irish Medical Organisation, the Incorporated Law Society etc are trade unions (here's irony for ya; IBEC is affiliated to the ICTU). Therefore lots of people are in trade unions that don't even know it.