"Mayo workers are stronger in a Trade Union" says Castlebar representative

Traditionally May 1 has been associated as a day of campaigning for workers' rights globally.

"For me International Workers' Day is always a day to promote decency in the workplace. It’s about unity and campaigning for important issues: Housing to mention just one” said Donna Hyland, secretary of the Castlebar & District Trade Union Council.

The need for the organisation of workers is still relevant: "Trade Unions represent the interests of employees" said Hyland: "You as a worker are much stronger organised in a union. We see recognition of union representatives in some sectors but I would like to see recognition across all sectors. We need to have legislation brought in so that collective bargaining becomes the norm” said Hyland.

"Ireland are one of the few countries in the European Union that doesn't have that protection" said "Deirdre Medlar,  representative on the National Executive of the Communication Workers' Union, from Ballina:

"In this country we have a big reliance on multinational companies. They have a huge impact, for example in mayo Coca-Cola, Abbvie and Baxter, they are important but at the same time they need to make sure the workers get the respect and protection they deserve.”

Even union busting is an issue which prevents workers from organising. So Medlar continues to explain, that collective bargaining is not just about money: "It’s more to do about the terms of employment: For example work-life balance, equality and health and safety are matters that unions can help ensure to enforce in companies. We need proper protection for employees in Mayo and across the country".

The Trade Unions call on workers to join the current campaign "Respect at work"

The campaign aims at putting pressure on Irish politicians to put an EU Directive on minimum wages and collective bargaining into effect. The Irish Government must write it into law by November of this year.

But there is also domestic issues that Mayo workers are very concerned about. Deirdre Medlar gives an example from her own line of work:

“My own perspective working for An Post in Mayo: We are a very rural county, one of the things workers are concerned with, is the Universal Social Obligation. It means every household is entitled to one mail delivery a day. If that were to be reduced to maybe one delivery every two days or even less, it would cost jobs. And it has already happened in other European countries" said Medlar.

"And we have proven that we are an essential workforce. During Covid we came to people's houses and that's important especially in a rural county like Mayo. "

Medlar explained that Trade Unions would be able to help put pressure on politicians to protect workers' interests.

More information about the current campaign for Trade Union week called "Better in a Trade union" to find here