Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The position is that collective agreements are negotiated with trade unions, which are recognised as representing staff in the public service. It is normal industrial relations practice in the public service that the decision of the trade union - recognised as holding representative rights for a particular grade or sector - will determine the position for all relevant staff in that grade or sector. That is the practice. Where the ASTI holds the representative rights for a particular school, it is the ASTI's agreement or non-agreement to a collective agreement that determines whether the provisions of that collective agreement apply to the individuals within the school. That is the position. Where a school has mixed or dual union representative rights that are recognised then the policy is different. There is also the other element, as I understand it, which is the fairly established convention where in the course of a dispute people do not switch unions. The ASTI currently holds the representative rights for a particular grade or sector within the teaching area and that approach is the approach right across the public service. It is not just an education approach. It applies to members of affiliate unions and so on with collective agreements. I can send on the note to the Deputy to elaborate. It goes through some additional information.