LABOUR IN GOVERNMENT DRIVING THE AGENDA FOR WORKERS - KENNY

Posted on May 8, 2015 2:30 PM   |   Permanent Link   

Dublin Bay North Labour TD Sean Kenny has said that the new draft legislation on collective bargaining is a major step forward in securing the rights of workers.




"The new legislation will go a long way in improving the rights of workers who seek to negotiate pay and conditions on a collective basis when the employer refuses to engage with the workers. We have seen this most recently with the Dunnes Stores workers, who have effectively been ignored by the Dunnes management."




"I have also heard at first hand stories from Dunnes Stores workers who have been victimised for taking part in recent industrial action, in some cases being let go from their job. The new legislation will protect people who have taken part in industrial action by enabling workers and their trade union to seek a court order to stop what might be done to them because of union activity."




"I am also pleased that legislation has been published today that provides for a system of Registered Employment Agreements (REAs) and Sectoral Employment Orders. This has been done following the legal difficulties that were found to exist with the previous legislation that dealt with this area of industrial relations. This legislation too will be of benefit to both workers and their employers, who can make use of such agreements to resolve industrial disputes or potential disputes in various sectors of the Irish economy - the fast food sector springs to mind here."




"Both these pieces of legislation are a profound step forward for workers in Ireland and shows that the Labour Party has real influence and power in Government and is working extremely hard to get detailed and complex legislation such as this through the political process. It isn't easy and it takes time - but Labour is getting the job done. It is legislation such as this that makes me proud to be a Labour Party TD."