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TUF Guide To Labour Law

  • How To Use This Guide
  • The Irish Legal System & Labour Law – An Overview
  • Contract of Employment
  • Equality
  • Hours, Holidays & General Conditions
  • Industrial Relations
  • Other Leave Entitlements
  • Pensions
  • Safety, Health & Welfare at Work
  • Termination of Employment
  • Worker Participation
  • General Information

    • The TUF Guide To Labour Law For Union Representatives

    First published by the Irish Trade Union Federation (TUF) in May 2003.

    © Copyright, TUF 2003.

    The Guide was written and compiled by education, training and development specialists from the two unions that comprise TUF - the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) and the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU).

    Contributors to developing copy, editing and preparation of the text were Rosheen Callender, Sylvester Cronin, Francis Devine, Michael Halpenny, Seán Heading, John McCartney, Martin Naughton and Michael O’Toole.

    Acknowledgement is given to the published guides and information material produced by the Equality Authority, Health & Safety Authority, Information Rights Section of the Labour Section of the Department Of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, and the Pensions Board. Alex White B.L. is acknowledged for his advice.

    Also acknowledged is the contribution to the devlopment of the Guide by the teams of readers and staff in the education and training services of SIPTU and the TEEU.

    A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library.

    ISNB 0 9544749 0 2

    Printed by Trade Union Members at Elo Press Ltd., Dublin 8.

    Cover design by Mark Daniel.

    The production of the Guide was co-ordinated by Martin Naughton, SIPTU College.


    Foreword

    The Irish Trade Union Federation (TUF) comprises the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) and the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU).The aims and objectives of TUF are –

    - to advance the interests of the constituent Unions,

    - to improve the levels of service to the members of the constituent Unions,

    - to improve levels of trade union organisation,

    - and to foster friendly relations between the constituent Unions at all levels

    by optimising co-operation and synergy between the constituent Unions at national, sectoral and enterprise levels without impinging on the fundamental independence, integrity, ethos or authority of either Union.

    This Guide To Labour Law has been published by TUF to provide practical information and advice to Union Representatives in the constituent Unions in organising workers and providing effective union representation. The publication is timely and reflects the growing body of legal entitlementsand rights available to employees.

    This growth in legally-based entitlements and rights is a measure of the success of the trade union movement in Ireland, and at European level, insecuring a floor of legal, minimum entitlements for all workers.

    However, having rights on paper is one thing. Exercising rights at work is something else. By organising in Unions, working people have a betterchance of knowing what their rights are and benefiting from them. In the hands of Union Representatives this new Guide will make a furthercontribution to ensuring that union members not only have rights butbenefit from them as well.

    On behalf of TUF

    Joe O’Flynn General Secretary SIPTU

    Owen Wills General Secretary  TEEU