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Speeches

Are Trade Unions Up for Change? The General President addresses the Progressive Democrates, April 22, 2006

Date Released: 21 Apr 2006

‘Change’ is not a neutral word. It is laden with potential and consequence. It can be employed in the promotion of all sorts of objectives, always conveying an aura of goodness.

The reality is that trade unions have often been the agents of "Change". In Poland and South Africa Solidarity and Cosatu were in the vanguard of the two most extraordinary political events in our lifetimes. At present the one hope of peaceful change in Zimbabwe is the trade unionist, Morgan Tsvangari and his Movement for Democratic Change. And in the week in which we are celebrating the Easter Rising let us reflect upon the key role played by the Citizen Army. Liberty Hall served as headquarters for the 1916 leaders in the week before the Rising. The Proclamation was printed there and the assault on the GPO was launched from there.

There is always resistance to the unknown, genuine fears and concerns. Despite all the demonisation, trade unions are simply organised workers and are the same as everybody else. They will support change if it is consistent with their interests and if it makes sense. We comprise the biggest group in civil society and, as such, reflect its values.

The first pre-requisite for radical change in a unionised environment is that it is consistent with the interests of the people affected and makes sense to them. After that there is no superior alternative to telling the truth, sharing information and dealing with questions comprehensively so that workers are accepted as stakeholders rather than mere factors of production. Trust has to be earned, on both sides, and agreements honoured to the letter. Once betrayed it can never be regained.

There is a high degree of utilisation of recognised forms of new work organisation in both union and non-union employments in Ireland Despite the scepticism major change has been achieved with the co-operation of workers in unions in public sector companies such as, Aer Lingus and Bord na Mona. Few companies can rival the scale of change they have achieved.

We don't have to look beyond the transformation of economy, which has a high proportion of people in unions to recognise the reality that at the end of the day organised workers are 'Up for Change’.

In fact countries with the highest levels of people organised into unions rank at, or very near the top of international productivity league tables, year after year. Ordinary people, through their unions, play an integrated role in their development and have developed strong social infrastructures that support radical change and minimise the risks involved.

I hold diametrically opposing views to the Progressive Democrats on many issues. One key difference is that they see social development as a consequence of economic growth - I see it as an intrinsic and essential component of it.

The rest of the world is not prepared to sustain Ireland with a trade deficit of more than 6% of GDP, as is the case with the United States. Conditions do not exist here for the kind of productivity bounce generated by the so-called 'Walmart effect'.

The Irish response is termed ‘Social Partnership’. Despite its failings, and there are many, it has provided a reasonably successful problem solving mechanism.

There is a great deal of pride in our economic development over the past twenty years. We undoubtedly face further considerable challenges. But they must be borne by all sides of the employment equation, not just workers, and the benefits must be distributed more equitably.

The key to the future rests in innovation and skills enhancement. According to FAS, jobs requiring third level professional and technical qualifications will constitute 60% of employment growth over the next four to five years. Yet, 70% of our workforce lacks any third level education and 30% never completed second level. How is the task of reskilling to be accomplished, whilst maintaining full employment against a background of inadequate provision for childcare and eldercare? Surely we can come up with something better than replacement strategies and consigning those who spent the best part of their lives contributing to the development of this economy to the prospect of ending their days scouring the lower end of the labour market for jobs.

Indeed, I think the Leas Cross scandal brought home to many people that, even if you can afford €48,000 a year, you have no guarantee of being looked after properly in a private system of elder care.

If we are to have decent public services we have to provide the resources to do the job. We are also entitled to efficient and effective delivery of those services. There is no dichotomy between the best possible standard of employment and the highest quality of care.

During the recent past a lazy route to competitiveness through the exploitation of vulnerable migrants has emerged. We campaigned strongly for a ‘yes’ vote in the Nice Referendum. That was the right thing to do but we also sought changes in our labour market policy to combat the exploitation of those coming to work here or placing indigenous workers at a disadvantage. This is what we are trying to achieve in the current Social Partnership talks and it is remarkably hard going – it seems that both the Government and employers are finding it hard to change old attitudes. If we do not succeed it will put back the cause of progressive change management a long way.

If Change is about innovation and skills enhancement, if it's about adapting in a way that prioritises the enhancement of family life and the dignity of human beings while recognising the imperatives of economic reality instead of simply pandering to those who already have far more than they could ever possibly consume, then we are up for that, we'll work for it, defend it, fight for it and play our part in bringing it about. You see our objective is not to oppose change, it is rather to shape and influence it in the interests of our members, in the interest of workers generally and for the public good.

 





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