Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

When I was 16 and started working in Roches Stores, all I had to do to join Mandate was to tick a box. I never thought any more about it. It was as simple as that. I ticked a box and that was the end of it. Union subscriptions were deducted and I thought no more about it. That is the way it is with good employers. That is the way it is with many employers.

Regarding the cases we are talking about, this is not a phantom. Mandate has direct evidence of more than 1,000 of its members who were impacted by this. What we are talking about here, namely, ceasing to deduct or remit the money without remitting the information of the worker, is actually harder work. There is more involved in that than deducting union subscriptions. It is vexatious and antagonistic behaviour designed to discourage participation in industrial action and membership of a trade union. That is what we are talking about here.

Táimid ag caint faoi fhostóirí atá ag dul as a slí féin chun dualgais bhreise a chur ar oibrithe agus chun é a dhéanamh níos deacra dóibh a bheith páirteach in agóid, i stopadh oibre nó i gceardchumann. Níl sé sin ceart. Ní dhéanann sé ciall ar bith. Ní aontaím leis an loighic atá ag an Rialtas agus é ag cur i gcoinne é seo.

It has always been my view that the best way to guarantee decent work and the best advice I could give to any worker to improve their terms and conditions is to join a trade union. It is welcome that there is now an impetus from Europe. Not everything that comes from Europe is pro worker, but the EU adequate minimum wage directive is positive legislation which requires us to try to encourage a vibrant strong and fairly treated trade union sector. This legislation coheres with that entirely. It is very straightforward, simple and good legislation. I highly commend Deputy Joan Collins, Mandate and all the other trade unions involved in it. This is extremely straightforward. I cannot comprehend why the Government is opposing it. Businesses engaging in these practices are going out of their way to make life difficult for their workers and their trade unions. I do not see any problem in prohibiting that kind of behaviour. It is the easiest thing in the world.

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