ARTICLE · 16 NOVEMBER 2016

A Move Towards Collective Bargaining?

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Unlike other European jurisdictions, Irish employers are not required to engage with trade unions for the purposes of negotiating pay and conditions of employment.

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Unlike other European jurisdictions, Irish employers are not required to engage with trade unions for the purposes of negotiating pay and conditions of employment. However, in the light of political pressure from the trade union movement, attempts have been made by the legislature to encourage employers to engage in collective bargaining. The latest attempt has seen the introduction of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2015. This means that, in certain circumstances, the Labour Court may make a binding determination in relation to employee pay and conditions in favour of a trade union on behalf of those of its members employed in a non-unionised company.

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