IRRU Seminar - John Geary

'Industrial Relations in Hard Times: Union Responses to the 'Great Recession' in Ireland'

The Irish economy was one of the worst affected by the international financial crisis. The response of the Government has been to impose wage reductions, increase taxes, and cuts in welfare and public service provision, as well as re-forming the delivery of public services. Private sector employers have sought to pressurise the Government to dismantle wage settlement mechanisms in low wage sectors. Yet, unlike some other European economies, Irish unions and workers have not engaged in militant protest or action. The presentation seeks to account for this largely compliant, but yet complex and contradictory, union posture.