The right to union recognition

There’s often a simplistic view of an industrial dispute.  There is a clear winner and clear loser, either Management or the workforce claim victory. But there is sometimes another outcome. There are occasions when ultimately nobody wins.  Often when that happens personal relationships are damaged and in a small workforce, that means that morale can be low for a very long time.  That can damage the workplace long into the future.

That’s what concerns me about the dispute in FDYS in Wexford.  In Wexford Town it provides crèche facilities and cares for young children.  For reasons best known to the board they are refusing to negotiate with their workers as they have joined the trade union SIPTU.

That’s despite the reality that collective bargaining will be law and workers will have the right to be represented by a union.  That’s what is so annoying about the dispute, it’s unnecessary.  My fear is for the organisation and the really important and good work it does in Wexford.  Today on a wet Saturday in the Bull Ring, FDYS workers took their case to the streets where they asked shoppers to sign a petition of support.  Despite the bad weather, they got a very favourable response.  One worker told me that she was 20 years in FDYS.  As another said to me, if there are problems about recognition or adhering to agreements, let’s talk about it, we’re reasonable people and we know FDYS can be reasonable too.

With a track record like that, this dispute can be resolved more quickly than many others.  Why wait any longer to do what will have to be done now?