Ireland’s Labour Court made a pay recommendation which Unite members rejected as being totally inadequate – and once again members prepared to take to the picket lines to defend their living standards.
The threat of a strike which would bring Ireland’s massive construction sector to a halt forced employers to come to the table in November and negotiate a deal which – in a significant improvement on the Labour Court recommendation rejected by members – will see mechanical workers’ pay increase by 12.7per cent from January 2023 out to 2026.
Unite regional officer James McCabe has no doubt that strong workplace organisation, backed by a powerful union, was key to this win. “Employers knew that our members were determined to secure cost-of- living pay increases, and a vote for action would be followed by strong and unbreakable picket lines,” he said. “They also knew that Unite would back our members every step of the way.
“Once again, we saw that a strong mandate for industrial action is the best negotiating tool in our arsenal. The more workers are prepared to stand solidly together, the more employers are prepared to talk.”
While 2023 ended with a significant pay victory for mechanical workers, there was still one outstanding battle to be won – the interim injunction obtained by the Jones Engineering companies remained in place and Unite was awaiting the outcome of our appeal to Ireland’s Supreme Court.
Towards the end of January – 10 months after the original High Court decision granting HA O’Neil an interim injunction – the Supreme Court lifted the injunction.
Regional coordinating officer Tom Fitzgerald takes up the story.
“This injunction was not only an attack on the fundamental right of workers to take strike action – it was also an attack on the three shop stewards named in the action brought by employers. Attacks on union reps are straight out of the bad bosses’ union-busting playbook, and there was no way Unite could allow this injunction to stand.
“Although we’re still awaiting the full Supreme Court judgement, this decision is good news for the entire trade union movement. It also removes an obstacle to Unite workers in the mechanical sector taking strike action. Employers must take note and engage with unions at the negotiating table, rather than attacking workers
15 Unite buildingWORKER Spring 2024
and their shop stewards in the courts.”
The industrial and legal wins scored by workers in the mechanical sector lay a strong foundation for continued organisation and growth – and send a powerful message to construction bosses throughout Ireland. Unite will always defend our members, whether on the picket line or in the courts.
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Although we’re still awaiting the full Supreme Court judgement, this decision is good news for the entire trade union movement. It also removes an obstacle to Unite workers in the mechanical sector taking strike action. Employers must take note and engage with unions at the negotiating table, rather than attacking [them] in the courts
Tom Fitzgerald, Unite regional coordinating officer
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