Trade Union Numbers and Amalgamations
The Minister reported 65 registered unions and ongoing amalgamation discussions, which could reduce the number substantially; he said he had been working to encourage consolidation. The Chair then called the next question.
Has the Minister statistics of the number of registered trade unions? Arising out of the development between the FWUI and the ITGWU will the Minister say if he proposes to take any other active steps to encourage further amalgamations between unions?
Comment on this
There are 65 registered trade unions and some of them are affiliated to major unions. There are 74 licences in operation and that represents a drop from 94, the figure 15 years ago. There are about 20 unions involved in talks on amalgamation, formally and informally, and if those talks are successful that figure will be reduced to 11. A number of other groups are either fraternal delegates to or relate to a SIPTU trade union in one form or another or related to other major unions. The figure is reducing rapidly. In the last two years I have been endeavouring to reduce that figure and I believe we are very close to the day when we will have fewer than 50 trade unions. We will be on a declining cycle from there.
