Largest general and craft unions plan 'federation'

In a move that stops short of a merger, two of Ireland's most powerful trade unions, the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) and the Technical Electrical and Engineering Union (TEEU), are on the verge of establishing a 'federation' by the end of 2002.

The Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) - Ireland's largest general trade union - and the Technical Electrical and Engineering Union (TEEU) - the largest craft union - have proposed the establishment of a 'Trade Union Federation' (TUF), building on already close links between the two unions. The move, which is expected to be completed before the end of 2002, has been likely since the two unions established a joint cooperation body in mid-2001, aimed at exploring a wide range of issues of mutual interest.

The proposed development has not been unexpected since the signing of a 2001 agreement on 'enhanced cooperation', which identified opportunities to improve cooperation between SIPTU and TEEU at all levels 'without impinging on the independence, integrity, ethos or authority of either union.'

A full biennial conference of the TEEU – to be held in early November 2002 – is to be asked to endorse the plan, which has already been given the formal backing of the union’s national executive. SIPTU, which represents over 200,000 members, is also expected to back the plan. However, as TEEU is the smaller of the two unions, with just 32,000 members, some resistance from its rank-and-file membership is expected. It is believed that some within the union fear an outright merger.

The establishment of a federation, however, does not involve a change in the unions' legal position. Therefore, no ballot of their memberships is required. The federation is expected to involve loose national and regional 'structures' and opens up the prospect of further cooperation. TUF is to have six top 'positions', three from each union. Further down the organisational chain, there will be federal structures at key 'organisation points', such as regional and local levels. The joint use of some facilities is also planned and a biennial conference will be held.

Regarding the key issue of trade union membership, there will be three clear 'spheres of influence': (i) TEEU-only employments; (ii) SIPTU-only employments; and (iii) workplaces involving joint cooperation.

The change may, however, have an impact on the traditional stance of TEEU regarding the issue of centralised bargaining and social partnership. While SIPTU is a longstanding supporter of Ireland's current social partnership model, TEEU has generally rejected such national agreements.