Unions fail to multiply numbers

UNIONS have failed to attract enough new members as employment soars to unprecedented levels, Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) general secretary David Begg said yesterday.

With a new round of social partnership talks due to begin towards the end of this month, Mr Begg conceded that unions had not been proactive enough in recruiting new members.

Although union membership is up by 15,000, the rise is a drop in the ocean compared with the number of jobs being created. Consequently, from a peak of more than 60% 25 years ago, the percentage of union members has dropped to below 30% when the public sector is excluded.