Employment Rights

This Biennial Delegate Conference notes the failure of the Fianna Fáil/Green Party coalition to honour solemn commitments made in the national partnership agreements, Towards 2016 in relation to employment rights. The failure to introduce legislation recognising the right of freelance and so-called atypical workers to collective representation by trade unions means that the right to collective bargaining is still being denied to thousands of so-called atypical workers through the use of competition law. The interpretation of competition law by the Competition Authority means that trade unions are prevented from setting minimum rates or providing guidance on fees for workers including freelance journalists, voice-over actors and session musicians. Conference calls on the Executive Council to give immediate priority to a campaign aimed at securing the right of collective representation for freelance workers