In a cabinet meeting this morning, the Fine Gael / Fianna Fáil government has backtracked on the planned increase of workers’ statutory sick leave entitlement from 5 days a year to 7.
This decision counteracts the plan of their previous government, having committed to a gradual increase of sick leave days up to a maximum of 10 days following the introduction of new legislation in 2022. The increase to seven days was due to take place this year.
This move, which was a campaign promise for FG in the recent election, is a blatant attack on workers, especially those most exploited in precarious industries such as retail and hospitality, in defence of the interests of capital. Workers experiencing illness, who rely on the statutory scheme, will still have to return to work after five days of leave even if still ill. This can cause longer periods of illness for the worker, while also putting their co-workers and the public at risk of the further spread of infection.
The roll back of concessions achieved or promised during the COVID-19 pandemic by employers and the state is a clear attempt to raise profit rates in the face of an emerging crisis of global capitalism. From sick leave to work from home entitlements, there is a renewed assault on the terms and conditions of workers, which will only intensify as the developing crisis becomes more acute.
This is not a surprising development- the capitalist state and the bourgeois parties will always act in the interest of capital. However, it has again exposed the weakness of the current strategy of the trade union movement and their reliance on state altruism.
Workers and trade unions cannot rely on the state to provide adequate entitlements and protections through legislation. While it is possible to achieve some concessions, not only will industrial legislation always protect the position of employers first and foremost, a focus on implementation of statutory rights moves the centre of interest of trade unions from the workplace to government. This not only reduces the capacity and independence of trade unions, it transforms their role into that of lobbying organisations, to which membership bears little relevance for workers.
The most successful method for workers to defend their basic conditions is to organise within their workplaces and to confront their employers directly. This allows not only the defence of basic conditions, but for workers to fight for better conditions.
With more cuts and backtracking on concessions to be expected from this government, an organised working class within a militant and class based trade union movement is the only response.