Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It has been obvious for some years that the race to the bottom for Irish workers is in full swing but the Government continues to turn a blind eye to it. Workers' hard earned rights and conditions are under attack. We see it with Bus Éireann and Tesco workers, newly qualified teachers, workers in the hospitality sector and part-time workers, as well as with minimum wage and minimum-hour contracts, zero-hour contracts, non-union shops and workers not knowing from one end of the week to the next what will be their hours or pay. They cannot plan a week in advance, never mind plan their future. All of this is happening on the Government's watch. The Government states the economy is in a recovery but there is no recovery for workers. There is a clear policy of busting unions, as can be seen in Tesco and other large retail outlets at present even though these companies make enormous profits in Ireland. Again, the Government turns a blind eye.

This Bill is about unions having access to the workplace and their members. In fact, it is about workers' rights. Under the Bill, workers can ask their union representative to come to their workplace to speak to them. The Government opposes this measure. Why would it oppose a worker's basic right to have his or her union representative come to his or her workplace? Is Fianna Fáil actually opposed to allowing a worker have his or her union representative come to his or her workplace? If that is the case, then in the last week I will have witnessed the hypocrisy of Fianna Fáil Deputies standing on the picket line with Tesco workers and getting their photograph taken. It will be a cheap and hollow photo-opportunity if those Deputies vote against the Bill or abstain in the vote. The vote on this Bill will show up the Members who are talking the talk but will not walk the walk. It will also show up those who are making fools of Irish workers, the same workers who have fought hard for their employment rights and conditions over the years. Those Members will have had a hand in eroding workers' rights even further.

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