Collective bargaining key to transferring money from shareholders’ hands to workers’ pockets

April 16th: Addressing Unite’s seventh Irish Policy Conference in Malahide this morning (Tuesday), the union’s general secretary Sharon Graham said that the forthcoming opening of a new Limerick office and the redevelopment of Transport House in Belfast will help drive Unite’s continuing growth throughout the island of Ireland.

“We are just a matter of weeks away now from the opening of the new Limerick office and of course the redevelopment of the Belfast office – and we will continue investing resources in the growth of our union in Ireland.

Highlighting recent victories won on behalf of Unite members in Ireland – including the achievement of union recognition in Seagate in Northern Ireland, and the recent Supreme Court decision vindicating the right of Unite mechanical members in the Republic to take industrial action – Ms Graham said:

“No-one can guarantee victory, but what we can guarantee is a real fight – a campaign that leaves no stone unturned and makes sure employers know Unite will not back down.

“Our industrial wins have protected working class people from the worst impacts of a crisis they did not create but were expected to pay for.

“And the fights continue: throughout Ireland and Britain, we currently have over 300 live disputes, including Translink and over 50 ballots for action, like the one at Balcas Timber in Enniskillen over pay.

“And there are more disputes to come. Today, I am committing that we will bring all resources of our union to fight tooth and nail. Not just a press release. Not a platitude without substance but an industrial, political campaign that will bring maximum pressure.

“Collective strength is the key to pushing employers back. And collective bargaining is still the tried and tested method of driving up pay; the key driver to get the money out of shareholders hands and into the pockets of workers”, Ms Graham concluded to a standing ovation.