FLEXIBLE LABOUR MARKETWOMEN’S VOICES &

TRADE UNIONS

Trade Union Skillnet

Labour Force QNHS Q1 2012

In Employment 1,786,100

Employees 1,485,600

Self Employed 289,400

Unemployed rate 14.7%

Labour Force QNHS Q1 2012

Employees 1,485,600:

Women 769,200 (52%)

Men 716,400 (48%)

Self employed 80% male

Labour Force QNHS Q1 2012

Women 769,200 Part time 302,200 (35%)

Men 716,400Part time 123,200 (13%)

Gender Pay Gap

Latest official data published 2011 from 2009, CSO NES

Average gross hourly earnings

12.8% pay gap

GAP /Economic Sector NES 2009/QNHS_Q12012

EMPLOYED

Professional 32.4% 36,000 / 59,000

Finance 29.4% 54,000 / 46,000

Education 26.6% 192,000 / 45,000

GAP /Economic Sector NES 2009

Professional €19.33 €27.53Average per hour

950,000 Non Members

Rapid increase in SMIs/service industries

Surge in worker exploitation

Flexibilisation of labour market

Declining Union Density

Erosion of Union Strength

Union Membership

568,525 Members (Congress)

289,466 Women (51%)

279,059 Men (49%)

Density

Number of employees 1,485,000

Congress members 568,525

Congress density 38% ROI.

Estimated all members 39.5%

Employees /Union Membership 1993/2012CSO QHNS/Congress

1,728 1,7611,618 1570 15141485

627 638 623 605 594

881 916 964 9641,017

1,2811,401 1,4421,453

1,564

487 496 497 514 534 542 553 567 597 605628

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Age Profile & Union Density ROI

Age Group

% Union Members2008

% Union Members2009

60-64 42% 43%

45-59 48% 47%

35-44 36% 37%

25-34 26% 27%

20-24 17% 16%

15-19 5% 4%

Economic Sectors and Union Density CSO National Employment Survey

Density levels highest in:Education 70%Public Administration & Defence 66% Health & Social Work 61%. Transport, Storage and Comms 58% Financial Intermediation 40%Wholesale and Retail 34%

Union density lowest in:Hotels & Restaurants 9%. Business Services 14%Other Services 15%.

In Excess Of Three Hundred Thousand Workers Experiencing Extremely Low Pay

•Wholesale and Retail•Hotels and Restaurants•Business Services•Other Services•Construction …

…Employed in sectors with low union density

We Face Major Challenges» Unemployment & underemployment» Erosion of social supports » ‘Competitive devaluation’» Pay thresholds under attack» Persistent pay gaps» Two tiered workforce: ‘Secure’ and ‘Precarious’» Erosion of labour standards – rise of inequality &

discrimination …

920,000 Non Members…

477,000 Women workers not in a Union

FLEXIBLE LABOUR MARKET

Women in Unions

See greater benefit than men in terms of:

» Providing job security;» protecting & furthering terms & conditions;» Improving pay;» Progressing legal rights;» Providing advice and information

But feel less sense of pride in Union…

However, are more likely than men to positively promote union membership

Those researched valued their membership – though not totally satisfied with performance

But they are passively rather than proactively involved

Want unions to be powerful and are open to initiatives that can engage individual members in securing success

Engaging

Want To See:

» Better promotion of what union does;» More engagement with them through work

events;» Active promotion of principles fairness/

solidarity;» Better address the issues they are concerned

about

Importantly…

Shop Steward/Workplace Rep

Over 50% of those undertaking key union role of local representative/shop steward are

women

But not progressing through the democraticstructures to leadership roles

10% Leadership (officials) WomenAn improvement on just 4% three years ago!

30% Congress Executive (minimum quota provides for 24%)

1/3rd Union Officials

85% Administrative positions

Snapshot Women in TUs …

Significant disconnect between union members and their organisations

There is little knowledge or awareness of the union organisation ‘above’ the workplace

   

Challenges Connecting (QUALITATIVE RESEARCH/AMARACH)

Women’s Representation at

LEADERSHIP

levels in Unions

is a continuing

challenge

Gender Balance Critical to Advancing TU Agenda

» Modernising

» Organising

» Achieving an equal society

Are Women’s

Voices

Being Heard?