Unions braced over deal changes

It is now well accepted that the fortunes of the construction industry are on the rise. How firmly this recovery establishes itself and how quickly it will return to healthy employment levels will, however, depend in no small part of the attitude of trade unions in the face of changing labour regulations.

In the past few weeks, a few have chosen a path of conflict and strikes in an attempt to preserve boom-time wage levels. Such action not only flies in the face of recent court judgment but could threaten the industry’s nascent recovery.

In the second half of 2013, there was a 56% increase in the number of construction-related permanent vacancies registered with Hays Ireland and a 198% increase in temporary positions over the same period in 2012. More importantly, construction firms appear optimistic that the signs of improvement will continue.