Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

This is clearly a crucial section as it is the gun to the head of the unions. It says to union members, and particularly teacher unions that refuse to sign up to the deal because they stood for solidarity across their members and intergenerational solidarity between older and younger workers, that they can have whatever vote they like but we will punish them if they do not sign the deal. It is scandalous and a very deep and significant attack on the right of workers to organise in trade unions and bargain in a free and collective fashion. It is very extreme interference with trade unions and the right of workers to decide. Where workers are presented with a deal, they should have the right to say "Yes" or "No" and not be faced with a position from the State, as an employer, whereby if they say "No", they will be punished significantly. They will lose increments for three years and never catch up again with an equivalent worker in a union that has signed up to what was a very bad deal. New entrants faced with the new pension scheme will lose doubly, as they will lose here and with their pension, which would be based on total earnings.

It is a really rotten section that is part of a rotten approach by the Government. I agree with Deputy Healy that this sends a very dangerous signal of encouragement to ruthless private sector employers to similarly go after workers. We oppose this section.

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