Low-paid should march on trade union offices

LOW-PAID workers – those whose wages for a 40-hour week start and end below €20,000 – should march on the headquarters and regional offices of their unions and demand a refund of their contributions for the past 10 years.

By accepting percentage pay rises with opt-out clauses, unions have impoverished the low paid.

In the absence of employment legislation many union members have no pensions, no sickness benefit, unpaid overtime and minimum holidays.