Irish forces union applies to Congress


The body representing armed forces personnel in Ireland, PDFORRA, has formally asked to affiliate to Ireland’s sole trade union confederation, the ICTU.


PDFORRA represents enlisted personnel — there is a separate body for officers — and has around 6,500 members. 


It has been in existence since 1990 when legislation provided for the establishment of representative bodies for armed forces members. The union estimates that 90% of enlisted personnel are PDFORRA members. 


PDFORRA has a right to be involved in setting pay and conditions, as well as taking up the concerns of members at local level. 


However, armed forces personnel in Ireland do not have the right to strike. PDFORRA is also required under the legislation to ask permission from the government before it can join the ICTU.


This permission is now being sought, and Irish defence minister Paul Kehoe has said that the request is being “carefully” considered. In the past, the government was reluctant to agree to ICTU affiliation because it feared this could cause difficulties if military personnel were called upon to maintain public services during periods of industrial action.


Ireland is by no means the only EU country where the armed forces have unions or other similar organisations. 


At least 15 other countries in the EU have bodies representing military personnel, including, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Poland and Sweden.