Paul Murphy backs Corrib Oil workers striking over union recognition
Paul Murphy expressed solidarity with workers at the Corrib Oil filling station in Ballinasloe who are due to strike after their employer refused to recognise their union. He urged recognition of the union and encouraged staff at other Corrib Oil and H2 group outlets to join, saying a victory would improve pay, training and conditions.
Strike and union recognition
The speaker highlighted that the Ballinasloe workers have already been on strike on 22 December and are due to strike again on Saturday because the employer will not recognise their union of choice mandate. He said the so-called voluntarist model of industrial relations means there is no legal mechanism to force the employer to engage with the union, leaving strike action as the workers' main recourse.
Potential wider impact across outlets
He described the Ballinasloe dispute as very important, arguing that a successful strike would make it easier for every Corrib Oil and H2 outlet to secure a union contract. He said such contracts would lead to better terms and conditions, pay for training, realistic pay scales and an improved environment, and he encouraged workers at the 20 other Corrib Oil outlets and the 14 other H2 group outlets to join the union.
Exchange with the Minister and partnership approach
Paul Murphy asked the Minister whether he agreed the employer should recognise the union. The Minister replied that the country works on a partnership basis, pointing to engagement through the National Economic and Social Council and LEAF meetings and saying there has been a positive development in trade union recognition over the last year. The Minister acknowledged mechanisms may not be perfect and said he had no details of the specific filling station dispute. Paul Murphy closed by thanking the Minister and reiterating "That's what we will deliver on."
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solidarity to the workers at the Corrib Oil Filling Station in Ballinasloe. They are due to strike this Saturday after having been on strike on the 22nd of December before Christmas. The workers have been driven to strike because of the refusal of their employer to recognise their union of choice mandate. Because of the so-called voluntarist model of industrial relations here, there is no legal mechanism to force the employer to engage with their union except by exercising their right to strike. It is a very important strike for that reason. It is a strike that, if it won, would make it easier for every Corrib Oil and H2 outlet to have a union contract leading to better terms and conditions, pay for training, realistic pay scales and a better environment for everyone. I would encourage the workers at the 20 other Corrib Oil outlets and the 14 other H2 group outlets to join the union too. I ask the Minister whether he agrees that the employer should recognise the union. Minister? This country works in a partnership basis. I mentioned government earlier on, but government listens through the National Economic and Social Council, but through the LEAF meetings where we need both employers and unions. And I think one of the most positive and progressive developments in the last year is the willingness of both employers and unions to advance and improve this issue of recognition of trade unions within our country, within our system. And the mechanisms to facilitate that, while I'm no doubt not perfect, may not meet every particular circumstance, I don't have details of the dispute in this particular filling station, but there was a real advance, in my mind, in trade union recognition in the last year through that partnership approach. Thank you, Minister. And that's what we will deliver on. And that's what we will deliver on. Thank you, Minister.
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