Irish workers 'short-changed' by unfair pay – Ictu

Ictu general secretary Owen Reidy: 'People don’t feel they can negotiate with their employers, or that their voice is valued at work.' File picture: Larry Cummins

More than half of Irish workers believe they are not paid fairly for their skills and effort.

Women and young people are less likely to feel they have a voice in their workplace, a new report by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) says.

A poll undertaken by IrelandThinks showed that 52% of workers feel their current pay doesn't match their contribution to their job.

Nearly seven out of 10 (68%) workers polled feel they do not have the same level of power as their employer when negotiating terms of employment, while just one in four workers believe they can negotiate on equal footing with their employer.

Sharp disparities

The polling reveals particularly sharp disparities across groups.

Data shows that women are significantly more likely than men to feel shut out of workplace decisions, with less than half (48%) saying they have a meaningful say, compared to 60% of men.

Younger workers aged 18-34 are least likely to feel they have equal negotiating power with employers (17%), compared to 37% of those aged 65 and over.

Commenting on the findings, Ictu general secretary Owen Reidy said: "Irish workers are being short-changed, and they know it. 

The Government has given big business tax cuts and weaker workers’ rights, while people are struggling with pay that doesn't match the work they do.

“People don’t feel they can negotiate with their employers, or that their voice is valued at work.

The Government "shouldn’t be content with an unambitious, bare-minimum approach to jobs", he said.

"Unfortunately, workers in Ireland are being left behind by their own government.”

Alongside the data, Ictu launched its Good Jobs report, urging the Government to raise employment standards.

Among other measures, the report calls for Government to:

• End the employer veto and ensure workers have a legal right to engage in collective bargaining through a union; 
• Raise minimum employment standards, by increasing statutory sick leave, and bringing the minimum wage into line with the living wage; 
• Provide better work-life balance through pay-related family leave benefits and flexible working arrangements.