Union legislation to benefit workers and employers

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is welcoming the Cabinet decision to legislate for workers whose employers don't recognise unions.

ICTU says "the absence of a proper framework for collective bargaining since the infamous Supreme Court decision in Ryanair has been a major impediment to trade unions trying to advance the pay and conditions of workers."

Ryanair won a case taken by pilots over what was seen as a loophole in the law on collective bargaining.

Junior Jobs Minister Ged Nash says the law will benefit both workers and employers.

"This is about trying to encourage workers and employers to come together to operate collective bargaining type processes on the shop floor, in the office and on the factory floor.

"Ultimately of course cases could end up in the Labour Court, I think that’s the ultimate destination for some but what we want to try to do is encourage good practice right across the economy.

"I think we could do that, I think this legislation can do that, there are serious benefits here for workers but also a lot of positives for businesses," said Nash.