Rose Conway-Walsh backs trade union recognition bill
Rose Conway-Walsh spoke in support of a private members' bill to create a clear legal process for trade union recognition and said Sinn Féin will support its progress to committee stage. She criticised the Government for delaying a range of workers' rights measures and urged action on the EU adequate minimum wage directive and all-island standardisation.
Support for the PMB
The speaker welcomed the bill's aims as honourable and confirmed Sinn Féin's support to advance it to committee stage. She highlighted that the proposed process would require recognition where at least 20 per cent of employees or members seek it, calling it a positive step for workers' rights.
Comparison with Northern legislation
She contrasted the proposal with developments in the North, noting the Economy Minister's Good Jobs Bill. That legislation, she said, enhances unions' rights to request workplace access for recruitment and member engagement, broadens collective bargaining and seeks to reduce the recognition threshold from 21 to 10 employees.
Government delays on workers' rights
Rose Conway-Walsh accused the Government of reneging on election commitments and outlined several delays: the introduction of the living wage moved from 2026 to 2029 at the earliest, pension auto-enrolment paused indefinitely and increases in statutory sick leave delayed. She also criticised the Government for prioritising an increase in junior ministers with a €45,000 top-up payment while opposing the living wage.
EU adequate minimum wage directive and legislative inaction
She pressed the Government on the transposition of the EU adequate minimum wage directive, saying government claims that it negates the need for trade union recognition are undermined by a lack of action. She asked where the committed work plan is, noting it did not appear in the spring legislative programme and that there was no work plan halfway through 2025.
Call for all-island standardisation
Highlighting an increasingly integrated all-island economy, she argued that standardising workers' rights across the island makes sense in the face of global uncertainty. She closed by urging the Government to take actions rather than more delays.
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I want to thank the deputies for bringing forward this really important PMB today. The aims of this bill are honourable, and that is why Sinn Féin is happy to support its progress to committee stage. The establishment of a clear legal process for trade union recognition from employers, if at least 20 per cent of the employees or members, would be a very positive step for workers' rights in this state. The North is forging ahead on workers' rights issues with Economy Minister Dr Keeva Archibald's introduction of the Good Jobs Bill. Under this legislation, unions have enhanced rights to request workplace access for recruitment and members' engagement. It will open up collective bargaining across a wider range of sectors, and it seeks to reduce the threshold for the number of employees before a union can apply for recognition from 21 to 10 employees. Sinn Féin has long stood in support of trade union recognition and the fundamental right of workers to be represented by their trade unions. I want to acknowledge the work done by my colleague Louise O'Reilly in this position, in this space, in terms of support and progression of trade unions and trade union representation. Our position is rooted in the core belief that every worker deserves fair representation, dignity and the ability to collective bargain for better wages, conditions and rights. Unfortunately, the Government is at odds with our progressive stance. Since coming into power, this Government has attempted to renege on workers' rights commitments made during the general election campaign. The introduction of the living wage in 2026 is shelved to 2029 at the earliest. The introduction of pension auto-enrolment is paused indefinitely. The increases in statutory sick leave entitlement delayed as well. Delay, delay, delay. You did not delay, Minister, in increasing the number of junior ministers with their 45,000 top-up payment that was a priority for this Government, while you still argue against the living wage. I want to ask again about the EU adequate minimum wage directive. This is a really, really important piece of legislation, probably one of the most important pieces of legislation that we have come on for a long time. Government speakers may assert that this directive negates the need for trade union recognition, but there has been no action from the Government on the transposition of the EU directive. Where is the work plan committed to in the programme for Government? It was not in your spring legislative programme, and we are half way through 2025 with no sign of a work plan. I urge the Government actions, not more delays. Our all-island economy is becoming more integrated. This is a good thing in the face of such global uncertainty. Going forward, it makes sense that the legislation for workers' rights should be standardised on an all-island basis. Thank you.
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