The second-largest union in Britain, the 750,000-strong Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union (AEEU), has been suspended from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for "poaching" 39 electricians in Cadburys. The electricians had previously belonged to the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU).
As a result of its suspension the AEEU, which has only 20,000 in Northern Ireland and 8,000 in the Republic, is excluded from representation on ICTU trade union groups in many major companies including Bord na Mona, CIE, the Construction Industry Committee, the ESB, Government Departments, health boards, Irish Cement and the local authorities. Also it will not be allowed to participate in public bodies, such as FAS, on which ICTU has representation.
This is the second major "poaching" row ICTU has had to investigate this year. The other concerns 1,375 Aer Lingus cabin crew. Yesterday SIPTU lodged a formal complaint of misconduct against IMPACT because the latter has recruited the cabin crew and begun balloting for strike action while membership was still in dispute.
The disputes reflect growing competition among unions for members, as well as the development of a "consumerist" attitude among members. Workers are no longer willing to stay with a union out of loyalty. They want service and recognition.
The dispute between the AEEU and TEEU arises from a longstanding verbal agreement under which the British-based AEEU was allowed to operate in the Republic on the basis that it recruited only fitters.
ICTU had originally intended suspending the AEEU in July but deferred a decision at the request of the AEEU's general secretary, Mr Ken Jackson. After yesterday's meeting a TEEU spokesman said the AEEU was "in flagrant breach of the well-established spheres of influence agreement between both unions".
He added that the ICTU decision had "resulted from an investigation lasting two years and carried out by no less than six independent senior union officials from other unions, which were agreed in advance by all parties involved."
The AEEU's senior officer in Dublin, Mr Willy Quigley, said he thought "many reasonably minded people will find it hard to understand how, in any democracy, a person does not have the right to join the union of their choice. This ruling bars them from joining this union but they can join any other union."