SIPTU urged to recruit as 30% of workers unionised

WITH just over 30% of the country’s l.18 million workforce unionised, the country’s biggest trade union is being urged to make a greater effort to recruit young workers.

The call will come at the national delegate conference of the 200,000 strong SIPTU trade union at the NUI in Galway from August 26 to 29. More than 500 trade unionists will attend.

At the fore of the campaign to have more workers recruited into union membership is the Newry branch of SIPTU.

They have submitted a motion warning that unless urgent action is taken there will be a severe decrease in membership over the next 20 years.

A SIPTU spokesperson said that while union membership had increased, figures had not kept pace with the rise in employment.

The public service has a 90% union membership but in the wider context of the private sector the numbers represented by trade unions is just over 30%.

According to the union, the large number of young people in service industries such as finance and IT sectors are not being recruited and are largely ignorant of the need to join and the benefits available.

A number of motions are down for debate on pension schemes suggesting the union should ensure there is no weakening of existing pension schemes by the introduction of the Government sponsored PRSAs.