TRADE UNIONS are at a crossroads. Out of the partnership process for the first time in over two decades, they are faced with unprecedented public hostility over industrial action in the public sector. Against a backdrop where the proportion of workers who are union members has been falling for the past 30 years, the movement now faces inevitable questions over its influence and relevancy into the future.
A debate is going on with the trade union movement about its role and relevance in Irish society in today’s changed circumstances. The participation of unions in partnership played a crucial part in bringing about the most sustained period of economic growth on this island. Yet, there is a feeling within the movement, as Carl O’Brien’s two-part series in this newspaper illustrates, that it has been deeply damaged by the experience.
While trade unions had access to government, many senior officials believe it had little influence on social policy. As a result, unions were perceived, rightly or wrongly, as being compliant with policies which did little to address inequality in society. Their main emphasis on securing pay increases and gains from the benchmarking process meant they lost touch with their roots as a movement grounded in a campaign for a just and fair society.
The trade unions looked after the employed, mainly in the public sector, and were perceived as the protectors of workers’ rights.
But it would be premature to write off the union movement. With 840,000 members, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) remains the largest civil society organisation on the island. Union membership is relatively strong compared to many European countries. It is one of the few actors in the labour market with a genuine interest in achieving social justice or equality.
There are also opportunities for the trade union movement. The economic upheaval of the last 18 months may have been damaging in the short term for unions. However, short-sighted Government policies and risks associated with a loosely regulated liberal market will allow it to campaign for an alternative vision or model of society with renewed vigour.
In an uncertain world of open economies and mobile capital, the role of trade unions remains as relevant as ever. In Ireland, the movement can be proud of its role in protecting workers’ rights, improving employment conditions and contributing to economic growth.
In contrast to other jurisdictions, the pragmatism and flexibility of the trade union movement here has served it well in the past. A healthy democracy requires vigorous debate and competition of ideas. Unions can, and should, be part of this. It is in everyone’s interest that they continue to do so long into the future.
The greater movement should bear this in mind as it contemplates scaling-up industrial action and go-slows in the coming week. It really does not matter a whit whether ASTI refuses to receive the Minister for Education at its annual conference. There is still a role for unions at the Government table – if only they can see it.