The country's largest public service union Impact is to campaign for a Yes vote in the forthcoming Lisbon referendum.
The decision was taken this afternoon by the union’s executive committee.
Impact, which represents more than 55,000 public servants, said the union was supporting the Treaty because it would give legal effect to the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, which includes enhanced rights to union representation and workplace protection.
“Although the Lisbon Treaty is not a panacea for improved workers’ rights, it would oblige both the European Court of Justice and the Irish Supreme Court to take account of the very positive European Charter of Fundamental Rights when ruling on collective bargaining rights and a range of other workplace issues,” said Impact generaly secretary, Peter McLoone.
Mr McLoone said Impact would work with other organisations to highlight the importance of the Charter and counter the many misunderstandings and misrepresentations about the Treaty’s impact on workers’ rights that arose during the first referendum.
“Despite the many disagreements we have with Irish Government policy, on employment rights and other issues, the Lisbon Treaty itself would not erode workers’ rights. Indeed, most trade unions, here and across Europe, believe it has the potential to significantly enhance employment rights, and other civil rights, by establishing the European Charter of Fundamental Rights as primary EU law for the first time,” he said.
The union says a large number of specific employment-related rights included in the Charter would have additional legal force at EU level if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified.
Impact also campaigned for a Yes vote in the previous referendum.