SIPTU has written to three Government Ministers calling for their urgent intervention to ensure the reappointment under warranty of a Labour Court Deputy Chairman, and warning that failure to do so will seriously diminish that body’s effectiveness and will likely lead to a greater number of industrial disputes.
SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, John King, said: “Today, we have felt it necessary to write to the Government warning it that its failure to re-appoint a key position in the Labour Court is a major blow to the effectiveness of the State’s industrial relations mechanisms and will inevitably lead to more workplace disputes, in both the private and public sectors, in the short and medium term.
“As the largest trade union in the country we are the greatest user of the Labour Court’s services. Last week, the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation blocked the renewal of a serving Labour Court deputy chairman’s warrant of appointment. However, this is not just about that role as its removal will result in the effectively inoperability of one-third of the Labour Court’s work.
“That is why we have written to Jack Chambers, who has responsibility for that Department, and to Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke and Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe. All of whom should have a critical interest in the good functioning of the State’s industrial relations machinery.
“However, this is not just a matter for unions, Government Ministers or the Labour Court, the further diminution of its services will affect thousands of workers across the country who will be denied the right to a prompt resolution of their personal workplace issues under employment law.”
He added: “This Government seems intent on eroding workers’ rights while failing to deliver on any of its commitments to workers including an increase in statutory sick days, collective bargaining rights or pension reform. The Ministers must move quickly to resolve this situation and have the Deputy Chair appointed or there will be a serious deterioration in industrial relations with adverse knock-on effects that that will have on our society and economy.”