Survey reveals six-year decline in wages and security

WORKERS have experienced a significant deterioration in wages and job security over the past six years according to the ESRI.

A survey of over 3,000 employers and 5,100 employees in Ireland was conducted in 2009 and its findings were compared with a similar study in 2003.

The Changing Workplace: A Survey of Employees and Employers Views and Experiences found that over half of the employees surveyed said staff numbers in their organisations had been cut, one-in-three said their own job security had diminished, while more than one-in-five said their hourly wage had been cut.

The survey also found that nearly two thirds of workers are not represented by a trade union or staff association.

The decline of organisation in the workplace is particularly evident among younger workers with only 15.9% of under-25s union members, down from 27.8% when the previous survey was conducted. Of private sector workers 24.9%, are union members, down from 30% in 2003.

But union membership among public sector workers remains strong at 68.7%.

On average workers in semi-state enterprises such as ESB and Bord Gáis are better paid at €808.83, when compared with €792.32 in the public sector and €678.35 in the private sector. However these differences can largely been accounted for due to differing skill and qualification levels between the various sectors.

Scrutiny by the media and freedom of information requests have both become significantly more important as sources of pressure in 2009 compared to 2003 for Public sector workers.

In the wake of the pension levy public servants also reported pay cuts more frequently than private sector workers. Industrial relations consultant Pádraig Yeates said: “There is a co-relation between union membership and workplace security. However if the overall economic situation continues to deteriorate it can be expected that all workplaces will see a decline in pay and conditions as employers continue the race to the bottom.”

He added: “The decline in membership density will be a worry to trade unions but it is usually in times of economic trauma that the benefits of organisation become evident.”

Similar to 2003, employers said they are under pressure from labour costs. However, private sector companies also highlight energy costs and contracting markets.