Ireland: Unions Want Radical Changes

Irish unions are calling for dues/payments from all benefiting employees, union access, and Ghent system to boost collective bargaining and membership.

The key points: Irish unions are calling for major changes to industrial relations, including requiring all employees who benefit from collective agreements to pay union dues, expanding union access to workplaces, and introducing a union-administered unemployment insurance scheme.

Why this matters: With collective bargaining coverage in Ireland well below EU targets, these proposals could significantly shift the industrial relations landscape, especially for companies with large Irish operations or headquarters.

What might happen next: The government must publish an action plan by year-end to comply with the EU’s Adequate Minimum Wage Directive. Unions will continue to push for measures to boost collective bargaining and union density.