CONGRESS PRESIDENT WELCOMES EQUAL PAY FOR AGENCY WORKERS
5 Dec 2011
The President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Mr Eugene McGlone, has welcomed the coming into force of the Agency Workers Directive today and said it "brings an end to the days of exploiting workers based on how they are employed."
Mr McGlone said: "This is another milestone in the battle for equality in the workplace. From Monday, workers employed through an agency will be entitled to the same pay as other workers in the same employment."
He explained that Congress had made it clear to both the Minister for Enterprise, Richard Bruton and employer representatives that they would not consent or agree to any measures that would undermine the rights of agency workers.
Mr McGlone said it was a matter of deep concern that the Northern Ireland Assembly was intent on imposing an agreement that had been reached between unions and employers in the UK, with regard to agency workers.He said Congress had repeatedly voiced objections to the imposition of this agreement in Northern Ireland.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions represents some 800,000 working people in both jurisdictions, across the island of Ireland.
"Congress believes that any such agreement is contrary to the purpose of the Agency Workers Directive and has sought legal advice with a view to mounting a challenge to the intention to impose this serious disadvantage on agency workers in Northern Ireland," Mr McGlone said.