Unions finding a new relevance

It is hardly coincidental that the fall in real pay and circumstances faced by so many private-sector workers runs parallel to the decline in trade-union membership. Unions still hold sway in the public sector but, in the private sector, unions are but shadows of the force they once were.

This may be because generations of business leaders embraced a conscience-free, winner-takes-all philosophy. Equally, it may be because generations of public-sector managers were not bargaining with their own money. Neither position is sustainable and it may just be that the first shoots of trade-union rejuvenation are appearing.

This suspicion stands despite the Government report that gardaí should not be afforded trade union status. It stands too despite an implausible acceleration of absenteeism at Bus Éireann. A request from about 350 Ryanair pilots to join a union has received a “significant response”. Once formalities are completed, Ryanair, that great high church of anti-union stonewalling, will face an unprecedented challenge to its business model. Should the pilots join a union other Ryanair workers will not be far behind. Plans to create an 85,000-strong public-sector super-union are gathering momentum.