Union gains 1,500 new members this year

A TRADE union representing workers who were among the worst hit by the collapse of the construction sector has recorded an upsurge in members for the first time since the recession began.

The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) said it had signed up 1,500 new members this year following a steady decline in membership since 2008.

The State’s largest engineering union, which says it represents 40,000 workers including electricians and plumbers, has begun a recruitment drive, saying union membership is vital at a time of large-scale redundancies.

“Union density has actually gone up because non-unionised workers have been let go first by employers, who see them as an easy target,” said union general secretary Eamon Devoy.

He said there was a union “premium”, with union members earning more, having better working conditions and a better quality of life.

Unionised workers also fared better in redundancy situations, Mr Devoy said. Some 95 per cent of redundancy and severance cases dealt with by the Labour Court were brought by unionised workers. Workers who were not members of unions were more likely to accept statutory redundancy.

“Even when people are losing their jobs or facing cutbacks they invariably do better when they have a union to represent them in negotiation,” Mr Devoy said.

“That’s not just because we are professional negotiators but the very act of workers coming together to seek their rights sends a very powerful message to employers, as opposed to individuals simple relying on the grace and favour of their boss.”

Some 400 TEEU members have become “inactive” this year due to unemployment, but they remained union members Mr Devoy said.

The 1,500 workers who have joined the TEEU this year were new recruits to the union and were not former members who had reactivated their membership.

“We are only a little more than half-way through the year and already we have 1,500 new members.”