Bruton eases SME fears of mandatory trade union recognition

Jobs and Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton has assuaged SME fears over a perceived threat of mandatory trade union recognition and collective bargaining rules for their sector.

Addressing yesterday’s Small Firms Association annual conference, Mr Bruton said that while an agreed system for working conditions reconciliation is needed among the small business community, mandatory trade union involvement is not being planned and collective bargaining would always be voluntary.

He added that his department was open to submissions from interested parties, including the SFA.