Trade Unions
Employees in Ireland have a right under the constitution to join a trade union. Unions are an important source of information in relation to employment issues and can also negotiate with employers for better pay and conditions. However, there is no legal obligation on an employer to negotiate with a trade union on behalf of an employee unless previously agreed. This does not prevent a dispute about trade union recognition from being a lawful dispute
It can be made a condition of employment that you must join a particular union upon accepting a job offer and remain in that union while you remain an employee in that job. This may be unconstitutional but has not been tested in the courts yet. If you are already in a job without being a union member and are then required to join a union by your employer, you can refuse as this is unconstitutional.
The rate of subscription paid to a trade union will depend on the union but is usually at the rate of 0.5% and 1% of gross salary per year. It is possible to claim tax credits at the standard rate for these subscriptions.
Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU)
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is the single umbrella organisation for trade unions in Ireland, representing a range of interests of employees, both in the Republic and Northern Ireland. There are 56 unions affiliated to congress north and south of the border. The role of Congress is to:
The Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) is the largest union in Ireland with over 200,000 members and represents workers from every category of employment across all sectors of the Irish Economy. SIPTU provides a variety of services to assist workers in their dealings with Employers, Government and Industrial Relations Institutions.
The union has about 130 branches of varying sizes. In the larger cities branches specialise in representing workers in particular industries or occupations.
Visit the following website for more information: www.siptu.ie
IMPACT
IMPACT is Ireland’s largest public and services trade union. It has over 57,000 members who work in hundreds of public service occupations in health, local government, education, civil service and community organisations. IMPACT only operates in the 26 counties where they are the second largest union.
Visit the following website for more information: www.impact.ie
Joining a Union
Employees in the community sector receive much lower pay and experience poorer conditions than public sector employees doing similar jobs. While public sector employees are highly unionised, union membership in the community sector is low.
SIPTU and IMPACT are the main unions organising the community sector. The two unions are working closely together to get the best deal for the sector. They have analysed their membership and can advise people on what is the most appropriate union to join for particular organisations.
As a result of lobbying by SIPTU and IMPACT during recent Social Partnership negotiations, the Department of Finance has now agreed, for the first time, to talks with the trade unions on pay and conditions in the community sector.
Employees in Ireland have a right under the constitution to join a trade union. Unions are an important source of information in relation to employment issues and can also negotiate with employers for better pay and conditions. However, there is no legal obligation on an employer to negotiate with a trade union on behalf of an employee unless previously agreed. This does not prevent a dispute about trade union recognition from being a lawful dispute
It can be made a condition of employment that you must join a particular union upon accepting a job offer and remain in that union while you remain an employee in that job. This may be unconstitutional but has not been tested in the courts yet. If you are already in a job without being a union member and are then required to join a union by your employer, you can refuse as this is unconstitutional.
The rate of subscription paid to a trade union will depend on the union but is usually at the rate of 0.5% and 1% of gross salary per year. It is possible to claim tax credits at the standard rate for these subscriptions.
Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU)
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is the single umbrella organisation for trade unions in Ireland, representing a range of interests of employees, both in the Republic and Northern Ireland. There are 56 unions affiliated to congress north and south of the border. The role of Congress is to:
- Represent and advance the interests of working people.
- Negotiate with Government and Employers when mandated to do so by member unions.
- Promote the principles of Trade Unionism.
- Provide Information, Advice and Training to Unions and members.
- Assist with the resolution of disputes between unions and employers.
- Regulate relations between unions and rule on inter union disputes.
The Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) is the largest union in Ireland with over 200,000 members and represents workers from every category of employment across all sectors of the Irish Economy. SIPTU provides a variety of services to assist workers in their dealings with Employers, Government and Industrial Relations Institutions.
The union has about 130 branches of varying sizes. In the larger cities branches specialise in representing workers in particular industries or occupations.
Visit the following website for more information: www.siptu.ie
IMPACT
IMPACT is Ireland’s largest public and services trade union. It has over 57,000 members who work in hundreds of public service occupations in health, local government, education, civil service and community organisations. IMPACT only operates in the 26 counties where they are the second largest union.
Visit the following website for more information: www.impact.ie
Joining a Union
Employees in the community sector receive much lower pay and experience poorer conditions than public sector employees doing similar jobs. While public sector employees are highly unionised, union membership in the community sector is low.
SIPTU and IMPACT are the main unions organising the community sector. The two unions are working closely together to get the best deal for the sector. They have analysed their membership and can advise people on what is the most appropriate union to join for particular organisations.
As a result of lobbying by SIPTU and IMPACT during recent Social Partnership negotiations, the Department of Finance has now agreed, for the first time, to talks with the trade unions on pay and conditions in the community sector.
