The SIPTU Private Sector has made five specific policy demands for improvements for workers, with the Respect at Work campaign also launching its General Election pledge with a call for the public to ‘Vote Workers’ Right’.
SIPTU General Secretary, Greg Ennis, said: “When candidates come knocking to your door looking for a vote ensure that they leave knowing that the SIPTU Private Sector has these clear demands for any in-coming Government. It’s simple, don’t vote for a candidate unless they commit to action on the concerns of your Union.”
The 5 demands are:
- New Laws to protect Union Activists, enhance trade union activity and increase collective bargaining
- Increase weekly maximum statutory redundancy level to €1,000
- Establish a Transport Police Service
- Domestic waste collection returns to being a public service
- Equal treatment of TV and Film workers across the island
The Respect at Work campaign is approaching parties and candidates from across the political spectrum to ask them to pledge their support for legislative change that will provide greater protections to trade union activity.
“Ireland is the Wild West when it comes to workers’ rights”, said SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Ethel Buckley.
“We have half the European average of workers covered by collective agreements and the flimsiest protections for workplace representatives on the continent.
“With over 400,000 workers now low-paid across our economy, politicians must commit to legislative change. We’re asking parties and candidates across Ireland to pledge their support for workers’ rights.”
“The time for politicians paying lip service to workers’ issues is over,” community worker and SIPTU national executive member, Lynda Scully, said.
The campaign’s pledge commits politicians to support legislation that “promotes collective bargaining, protects workplace representatives and ensures the right to access a trade union at work.”