New year’s wish for the unions

The new year is upon us. Once more we cross the boundary on the calendar and tell ourselves that it represents something in the real world as well as just on the wall chart.
In the spirit of the occasion, I am making a new year’s wish. It is born of a Christmas argument I had on the subject of unions. My wish is that the leaders of Ireland’s unions would take a similar cut to their salaries as those being endured by their members. It is not an unreasonable wish as far as I’m concerned and yet, in reality, I believe that my wish may not be granted.
I’ll start at the beginning. The discussion which led me to my consideration of this issue was an attack, by those in my company, of the very concept of unions. The argument ran along these lines.
“There is enough EU legislation these days to protect workers-rights so there is no need for unions anymore.”
Upon initially hearing this argument, it seems to make sense. Certainly the various aspects of EU legislation that deal with workers’ rights are enshrined in the spirit they should be. They address old inequalities and attempt to hold employers to account but there is a vital ingredient lacking; the physical representative in a position to physically argue your point and wield the collective power of other workers on your behalf.
I’m sure many readers have seen situations in their workplace where a shop steward or union representative has gone, on behalf of a worker, and argued a point in person. This is an informal representation but it is possessed of a number of vital components. The individual grievance is presented in plain, ordinary and direct language by someone who is well-versed in the presentation of such things and, most importantly, the employer or manager is aware that it is the body of the workers and not just the individual who is speaking to the company.
This mix of formal and informal is invaluable to both employer and employee no matter what might be argued to the contrary. If a worker takes a case then the stress, anxiety and isolation for them and the damage to the reputation of the employer are both public and costly. This said, the difficulty and stress for the worker is far greater than that suffered by the company but for the sake of balance the cost to both warrants mention.
Taking a case against an employer is possible and, possibly, encouraged and supported by legislation but the reality of taking such a case is very different and can be an extremely taxing experience for the individual worker.
Small grievances are unlikely to be addressed in this way as the apparatus is overly formal and carries implications that are far too great to be taken lightly. This tips the balance of power radically in favour of the employer and leaves the worker in a position whereby they must endure a major slight or exploitation on a significant scale before they will resort to the law. If the union is in place then the network of representation mentioned above can address the issue perhaps informally and without implications for the worker.
That said, union membership is now viewed with such suspicion that many people fear the consequences of joining. An image of unions as being for the ‘troublesome’ has been propagated in recent years and appears to have taken root.
The Croke Park Agreement is often quoted as an example of the power of unions gone too far but, in fact, what was negotiated on behalf of workers during those talks was the best deal that the unions could make. There was money in the country at the time and they did their best to ensure it was spread a bit more evenly throughout the work force it represented. Decent wages and pension agreements should not be considered a privilege but in the current discourse, tainted by economic collapse, that is what they have come to represent.
The kinds of cuts in wages and pension entitlements that are being endured by Irish workers should, in solidarity at the very least, be also taken by the leaders of Ireland’s unions. To read that they are in receipt of salaries in excess of €100,000 at a time when most people are suffering the effects of austerity is galling to say the least.
There has been an air of mystery around the salaries and renumeration entitlements of some union leaders but in general it is fair to say they are well paid and have very good conditions. To reiterate a point, I do not begrudge anyone a decent wage or standard of living; there is an incongruity in the fact that ordinary workers take the economic pain, while those in the union still receive very significant salaries and do not take the cuts being endured by others.
I am not holding out much hope that my new year’s wish will come true but it is worth wishing anyway. This is a difficult time for unions. Membership is falling and the very concept of collective action and worker solidarity is waning in the consciousness of many people.
At such a time, union bosses should be reclaiming the heritage of a proud movement and celebrating the kind of solidarity that brought the movement its greatest successes by taking a cut in solidarity with those they represent.
There have been many thousands of words written about the fact that politicians continue to pay themselves extremely well, while everyone else takes the hit but somehow, deep down, we don’t really expect anything else. That’s what they do and, you feel, what they will always do.
However, those involved in unions somehow should have more decency and certainly a greater understanding of what the lives of ordinary workers are like. They represent a fight for justice and as such seem at odds with massive salaries. Aside from this, there is the fact that all good leaders lead by example.