SIPTU representatives have today welcomed a ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ), putting the validity of the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages beyond all doubt.
SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Ethel Buckley, said: “This is key moment for workers across Europe, as the Court has confirmed our fight for fair wages can continue on firm legal ground.”
“Crucially, the Court has upheld all measures to promote collective bargaining, including the requirement for Member States, like Ireland, to produce action plans to increase collective bargaining coverage. This is a vital tool to rebalance power in the workplace and ensure workers have a genuine say in their pay and conditions.
“It is over to us now, in the trade union movement, to ensure that the commitments Ireland’s National Action Plan and its implementation are treated as a priority for this Government and that would see union members win real-life and concrete outcomes, not hollow words.
“The reality is for workers in Ireland, this ruling means the Government must now accelerate its efforts. We need a credible plan to reach the 80% collective bargaining target in the Directive and a commitment that our statutory minimum wage will not just meet, but exceed, the decency thresholds. The legal certainty is here the time for delivery is now.”