The pledge, which commits politicians to legislation in the next Dáil to strengthen workers’ rights, was signed by more than 250 candidates in every constituency across Ireland.
The campaign is optimistic that this will lead to a new law which “promotes collective bargaining, protects workplace representatives and ensures the right to access a trade union at work.”
Among the signatories were key figures from Fine Gael – Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke TD, and Government Chief Whip, Hildegarde Naughton TD – and Fianna Fáil – Party Chairperson, Brendan Smith TD and Minister of State in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Dara Calleary TD.
The workers’ rights pledge was also signed by seven of the ten TDs from RTÉ’s party leaders’ debate and a range of high-profile independent candidates.
“The widespread support for our General Election pledge demonstrates that there is a new political consensus on workers’ rights,” Communications Workers’ Union Deputy General Secretary, Ian McArdle, said.
“Whatever the outcome of tomorrow’s vote, this pledge commits leading figures from across the political spectrum to pursue legislation in the next Dáil that will give more workers access to collective bargaining and decent, unionised jobs.”
“This is a grassroots campaign,” SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Ethel Buckley, said, “and I want to thank union activists across Ireland whose work secured such an overwhelming mandate for stronger workers’ rights.
“The time for kind words is over. The next Government must now prepare the ground for legislation which will ensure that everyone has the right to organise for better in their workplace.
“We will be reminding all parties after this election of the widespread support for action on workers’ rights, which must be reflected in the next Programme for Government and the forthcoming National Action Plan to Promote Collective Bargaining.”