Trade Union density in Ireland since 2003: what do the statistics tell us?

Trade union density studies tend to spark sharp differences of opinion, but few would disagree that the recent crisis left unions vulnerable because they were unable to protect members from its immediate impact. Subsequent economic recovery and pay restoration didn’t prevent controversy over lower post-2011 starting rates, but the statistics suggest that the decline in density for these lower paid new entrants came before the lower rates were imposed.