Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)

I am proud to stand here today as a member of the Social Democrats but also as a trade union member and activist for decades at this stage. I thank People Before Profit for introducing this Bill. At its heart, it is about fairness, dignity in the workplace and the fundamental right of workers to a collective voice. This is not a radical idea, but a democratic one. When workers organise, they are not just protecting wages or conditions. They are advocating for a safer, more sustainable and more equitable workplace for everyone. In the education sector, which I have a particular passion for, unions have been vital in defending not just teachers, SNAs, school secretaries, school caretakers and school completion programme workers, but also the quality of education itself.

I welcome the school group in the Public Gallery, and I hope they enjoy their visit.

Unions also fight for reasonable class sizes and supports for students with additional needs, and to ensure every worker has proper conditions such as parity of pay and a right to pension parity. Education unions have always looked beyond their own members' welfare, and yet too often their voice is sidelined. We have seen in our schools that temporary contracts and precarious work still exist. We have seen it during pay restoration struggles. We have seen it when Government have tried to divide teachers into tiers. If unions had not stood strong and been organised, their voice would not have been heard and there would not have been any progress. In further and higher education, staff are battling against precarious contracts, not being paid equitably and not having fair conditions. Lecturers are not being treated fairly and equitably and they have the responsibility of educating our next generation for the great creative thinkers and the people who will bring our economy forward. That was talked about extensively yesterday as being one purpose of education. I would argue that is one element, but not the be all and end all. In further education, teachers are on hourly contracts that do not recognise the hours of preparation put into every one of those classes, as well as marking assignments and work that comes back. These sorts of contracts are outmoded and should not be allowed. Those educators not only have to fight for their students but for pay parity and respect. It is deeply disrespectful and actually insulting. We will vote in support of this Bill. We are voting for the future of workers, so they do not have to beg for recognition they should have a right to. The Social Democrats believe in a republic where dignity in the workplace is not negotiable and where people in every sector, including education, healthcare, retail and transport, are not treated as cost lines, but as the backbone of the country. That is why I will be supporting this Bill.

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