The share of Irish workers joining trade unions is falling, according to the results of a survey published yesterday by the Central Statistics Office.
Although the number of trade union members is rising, this increase is not keeping pace with growth in overall employment.
As a result, the share of employees belonging to trade unions is declining. This trend is most evident among younger workers early in employment.
According to the latest available data, for spring of 2004, around 34.6 per cent of Irish employees belonged to a trade union.
This compares with participation of 37.6 per cent in the same period of 2003 and 45.8 per cent in 1994.
Amongst those in the 20-24 age bracket, only 21.7 per cent of employees belonged to a union compared with 54.6 per cent in the 55-59 age bracket.
The latest figures also show strong differences between rates of union membership and economic sectors. Trade union participation remains highest in public administration and defence, at 74.7 per cent.
Only 9.9 per cent of employees in hotels and restaurants have trade union representation.
The most dramatic falls in participation rates between 1994 and 2004 occurred in the categories of construction, transport, storage and communication, finance and other production. Participation rates remained steady in public administration and defence and education.
Reacting to the figures, ICTU spokesman Macdara Doyle said the trade union movement was aware of declining participation rates and was taking steps to tackle it.
"Most surveys on this issue show the main reason people give for non-membership is that they haven't been asked. Unions are addressing this and the new Congress strategic plan places recruitment and organising as the number one priority for the Irish trade union movement," said Mr Doyle.
