ICTU urges Unite to recruit selected members back to SIPTU
Unite Faced with Instructions to Terminate Crane Operator Membership Amid Allegations of Union Infringement
In a recent development, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions' (ICTU) Disputes Committee has found the Unite trade union in breach of its rules for recruiting crane operators who were already members of SIPTU. The committee's findings, detailed in a report, have led to instructions for Unite to terminate the membership of its crane operator members.
The report, however, does not seem to address the issue of SIPTU's representation in certain specific geographical areas in the construction sector.
Tom Fitzgerald, the regional officer of Unite, has expressed his intention to appeal the committee's findings. He asserts that it should be the decision of the workers which union they want to be a member of.
Unite currently represents approximately 173 crane operators, which accounts for over 90% of the total number of such workers. The committee, however, has stated that Unite should not seek to organise or represent crane operators, banksmen, or related grades.
SIPTU, the representative union for the general operative grades in the construction sector nationally, except for certain specific geographical areas, has made a complaint that Unite had signed up workers who were already SIPTU members.
The committee found Unite to have contravened Article 46 of the Congress constitution. The implications for Unite if they do not comply with the committee's recommendations are not clear.
Greg Ennis, SIPTU's divisional organizer, has expressed support for the committee's findings. Ennis has stated that SIPTU will continue to work towards improving the terms and conditions of all construction workers, including crane operators.
Fitzgerald has categorized the committee's findings as a "sideshow" in relation to the list of concerns construction workers have. He maintains that the committee's report does not address the core issues that construction workers are facing.
For those seeking detailed and up-to-date information about this dispute, it is recommended to check recent news reports from major Irish news sources, official union communications, or workplace relations bodies in Ireland.
In light of the committee's findings against Unite, the industrial sector may face tension as the union asserts the right of workers to choose their representation. The business implications for Unite, should they fail to adhere to the committee's recommendations, remain unclear in the finance realm.
