Reposted by Laura BambrickFinancial Times @financialtimes.com · 20/09/2026New legislation is bringing far more companies into contact with trade unions — but many businesses are unprepared. Read the full story here: ft.trib.al/7MJt9AP 0144
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Wondering if Ireland is among the 22? Yes! The pay transparency bill, bringing new EU equal pay rights into law, didn’t make it onto the list of 32 bills prioritised for publication or other 32 bills prioritised for drafting during the Dáil’s 13‑week autumn session, approved by Cabinet this week. 010
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 05/09/2026‘Mr Reidy urged the Government to accept the proposal, saying: “What’s the point in having a Low Pay Commission if you ignore its recommendations?”’ 000
Reposted by Laura BambrickStephan Köppe @drkoeppe.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Irish policy-makers looking for a crash course in family leave & parenting leave. Join our Open Online Course & in 30mins we cover the basics around take-up and possible solutions to decrease inequalities. www.linkedin.com/posts/sustai... @drbambrick.bsky.social @gerrymccormack.bsky.sociallinkedin.com#parentingleave | Sustainability@Leave COST Action📢 We added two extra dates to our Open Online Course on #ParentingLeave Policies and Inequalities! 🗓️ Tuesday 1 September 2026 (CET) 10:00–10:30 Austria, Eva-Maria Schmidt 11:00–11:30 Ireland,... 131
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Great for the families of the 47,000 children who’ll receive a higher NCS subsidy to cut their childcare fees. But this is just tinkering around the edges to get to the promised €200 monthly fees. There’s around half a million children in the NCS and fees are now up to €187 a week after subsidies. 000
Reposted by Laura BambrickTrades Union Congress @tuc.org.uk · 26/08/2026Reminder that Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 is a film about three women taking over an office and introducing free childcare, paid vacation, and flexible hours, resulting in a 20% increase in productivity. 9839270
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Good news. When this €6.2bn is combined with the surplus carried forward from 2024, the Social Insurance Fund had an accumulative (total) surplus of €15.4bn at the end on 2025. Warning: running a surplus is extremely rare (only in 20 years since the Fund was est. in 1952). Enjoy for now! 100
Reposted by Laura BambrickLabourStart @labourstart.bsky.social · 16/08/2026AUSTRALIA: Gig economy workers guaranteed new minimum pay rate and accident insurance www.news.com.au/finance/mone...news.com.au 052
Reposted by Laura BambrickEoin Hayes TD 🌍 @eoinhayestd.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Op-Ed in the Irish Times today - we need to build an economic model that protects people, and creates a shared prosperity for the many rather than subject to the whims of foreign capital. 021
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 11/08/2026Remember when new auto-enrolment minimum contribution rules had to be introduced at the 11th hour to protect the integrity of My Future Fund ahead of its 1st January start date? Here’s the FOI background to why emergency regulations had to be drafted and signed on Christmas Eve. 000
Reposted by Laura BambrickThe Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 09/08/2026irishtimes.comIctu boss Owen Reidy: My mum was relieved the Provisional IRA took us hostage in the 1970s, not loyalistsIctu general secretary Owen Reidy on his long trade union family pedigree, the time his family fell victim to an IRA bank raid and the problems organised labour faces in Ireland 021
Reposted by Laura BambrickEuronews @euronews.com · 04/08/2026Minimum wages in Europe: Purchasing power versus pay in 2026l.euronews.comMinimum wages in Europe: Purchasing power versus pay in 2026The rankings for minimum wages shift significantly when adjusted for purchasing power across several European countries as of July 2026. High inflation hits minimum wage earners hardest where wages are updated only once a year. 031
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 26/07/2026The minister with responsibility for worker rights, Peter Burke saying the quiet part out loud. 120
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 24/07/2026Inheritance tax is payable by the person who receives the inheritance, not the person providing the inheritance. It doesn’t discriminate against the childless or unmarried. www.rte.ie/news/2026/07...rte.ieCampaign urges Budget inheritance tax reformA campaign group has described Ireland's inheritance tax system as unfair and discriminatory towards childless people, ahead of possible Budget reforms. 063
Reposted by Laura BambrickEuropean Trade Unions @etuc-ces.bsky.social · 10/07/2026🔴Women workers will be 672 Euro a year poorer on average as a result of inaction on the gender pay transparency directive All member states must finally put this law into action and those who don't must be taken to court 📰 www.etuc.org/en/pressrele... 0117
Reposted by Laura BambrickEuronews @euronews.com · 03/07/2026Around 13% of pensioners in the EU continue working. Financial necessity is a significant reason, but experts point to other factors too, such as changing norms, changing demography and enduring labour shortages.l.euronews.comRetired but working: Where is financial necessity the biggest reason?Around 13% of pensioners in the EU continue working. Financial necessity is a significant reason, but experts point to other factors too, such as changing norms, changing demography and enduring labour shortages. 061
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 28/06/2026New legislation introducing five days’ paid leave for early pregnancy loss is due to be discussed by the Cabinet before the summer recess in July. ‘Proposals being brought forward by Mr Burke would operate similar to the model in Northern Ireland, where employers pay for paid leave.’ 111
Reposted by Laura BambrickThe Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 26/06/2026‘Don’t join Zoom from the beach’: Workers reminded of right to switch off on summer leaveirishtimes.com‘Don’t join Zoom from the beach’: Workers reminded of right to switch off on summer leaveWorkplace Relations Committee code of practice acknowledges right not to work outside normal working hours 043
Reposted by Laura BambrickRTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 26/06/2026The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has reminded workers that their right to disconnect from work applies while on annual leave this summerrte.ieWorkers reminded of right to disconnect on summer leaveThe Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has reminded workers that their right to disconnect from work applies while on annual leave this summer. 1182
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 22/06/2026Opting out would be the equivalent of giving up a 2pc pay rise, said Dr Laura Bambrick, social policy officer at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. “It would be walking away from free money,” she said. 010
Reposted by Laura BambrickRTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 22/06/2026The Government has announced that new retirement age rights for employees will come into force from Monday 29 Junerte.ieNew retirement age rights to come into force next weekThe Government has announced that new retirement age rights for employees will come into force from Monday 29 June. 071
Reposted by Laura BambrickThe Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 15/06/2026Public sector pay must keep pace with private sector trends as population grows and agesirishtimes.comPublic sector pay must keep pace with private sector trends as population grows and agesPublic sector pay premium has fallen from Celtic Tiger high of 50% to 40% post-crash in 2014, and to 30% by 2021 031
Reposted by Laura BambrickRTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 15/06/2026Employers, trade unions and Government ministers are due to meet in Dublin Castle to discuss their priorities for the Budget in Octoberrte.ieMinisters, trade unions and employers to discuss BudgetEmployers, trade unions and Government ministers are due to meet in Dublin Castle to discuss their priorities for the Budget in October. 031
Reposted by Laura BambrickEuropean Trade Unions @etuc-ces.bsky.social · 08/06/2026Women workers need a ban on the pay secrecy clauses which have allowed unequal pay to persist almost 50 years after the EU enshrined equal pay in law. 133
Reposted by Laura BambrickEuropean Trade Unions @etuc-ces.bsky.social · 05/06/2026🟣Just three countries meet pay transparency deadline The failure to meet Sunday’s deadline is a betrayal of working women. Governments must deliver equal pay instead of folding to aggressive corporate lobbying. www.etuc.org/en/pressrele... 095
Reposted by Laura BambrickVirgin Media News @virginmedianews.bsky.social · 05/06/2026Irish Congress of Trade Unions says delays in introducing gender pay parity legislation will cost working women in Ireland €570 million a year. The Government says it will miss the EU deadline, along with many other member states. #VMNews 021
Reposted by Laura BambrickRTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 05/06/2026The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has branded delays in implementing new EU rules on pay transparency as unacceptablerte.ieICTU says pay transparency rules delay 'unacceptable'The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has branded delays in implementing new EU rules on pay transparency as unacceptable. 062
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 14/05/2026Delighted to attend the #Forsa2026 national conference in Killarney to chair the launch of two significant research reports on the employee experience of remote and hybrid working, commissioned by Fórsa and conducted by independent research agencies: amarách research and Ireland Thinks. 000
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 09/05/2026Happy Europe Day 🇪🇺 From equal pay for women doing equal work to a living wage for our lowest paid workers, a shorter working week, family leave and safer workplaces. On any objective analysis membership of the EU has enhanced the range and robustness of labour law protection in Ireland. 010
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 01/05/2026Fifty years ago this week, the Irish Government received formal notification the European Commission had rejected Ireland’s request for a two-year derogation from an Equal Pay Directive. Happy May Day. Privileged to spend my days upholding workers’ rights to fair treatment. 111
Reposted by Laura BambrickThe Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 01/05/2026Census 1926 shows how work has changed in Ireland over a centuryirishtimes.comCensus 1926 shows how work has changed in Ireland over a centuryWhat would the drovers, coopers and gatekeepers of a century ago make of the air travel assistants and environmental services managers of today? 021
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 01/05/2026Happy May Day fellow wage slaves 🚩 It’s better in a union. 000
Reposted by Laura BambrickThe Journal @thejournal.ie · 21/04/2026Trade Union Fórsa has written to the Department of Public Expenditure calling for increased access to remote working for civil service staff due to the impact of the fuel crisis and continued congestion on Irish roads. jrnl.ie/7019025jrnl.ieThousands of civil servants should be allowed work from home more due to fuel prices and congestion, says union“We only need to see the tailbacks coming into Dublin City early in the morning to understand that there’s an awful lot of people spending an awful lot of time on the road.” 0126
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 20/04/2026Missed a trick in not calling a #Census1926 bank holiday. I can’t be alone in having got just 4 hours sleep this weekend. 020
Reposted by Laura BambrickFinancial Times @financialtimes.com · 19/04/2026Brussels pushes remote working to ease energy crisis ft.trib.al/zFJxMUjft.trib.alBrussels pushes remote working to ease energy crisisEuropean Commission also recommends heat pumps and public transport subsidies 38626
Reposted by Laura BambrickLabourStart @labourstart.bsky.social · 19/04/2026IRELAND: Government must protect workers, not business interests www.ictu.ie/news/governm...ictu.ieGovernment must protect workers, not business interestsThe Irish Congress of Trade Unions has today met with Government, warning it to stop capitulating to business interests and focus on maintaining workers’ living standards. 076
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 19/04/2026“Government treat fiscal restraint as a principle that applies only when workers ask for something, and govern in the interests of those who shout the loudest.” Our @ictu.bsky.social general secretary writing in today’s Mail on Sunday on the last weekend’s half-billion euro business handout. 021
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 12/04/2026Fanboys of scaling back our ‘Big State’ took one hell of a beating tonight. Or does tax expenditure and yet another multimillion euro corporate welfare handout not count?!? 020
Reposted by Laura BambrickThe Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 12/04/2026Why the failure of Noël Browne’s mother and child scheme still matters 75 years lateririshtimes.comWhy the failure of Noël Browne’s mother and child scheme still matters 75 years laterProposals for free, universal healthcare were successfully blocked by the medical profession with support from the Catholic Church 041
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 11/04/2026Forget that. Unlike in other member states, we’re guaranteed a substitute day if a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday. What Ireland does need is more annual leave. No improvement on the 20 days entitlement in 30 years. 100
Reposted by Laura BambrickJen Keane @zenbuffy.bsky.social · 10/04/2026I might not have the regular Irish Times column that Steen has, but I do have quite a bit more than a few anecdotes to back up what I say. Maria Steen thinks the #genderPayGap is a myth but that is a hopelessly basic and naive take. Here is why. paygap.ie/posts/maria-...paygap.ieMaria Steen thinks the gender pay gap is made up.Maria Steen believes that the gender pay gap is made up. I respectfully disagree, and so does the four years of data that I have collected. 55135
Reposted by Laura BambrickLabourStart @labourstart.bsky.social · 04/04/2026IRELAND: Flexibility from employers needed in response to fuel prices pressure – unions www.ictu.ie/news/flexibi...ictu.ieFlexibility from employers needed in response to fuel prices pressure – unionsResponding to the Government announcement on fuel costs, Irish Congress of Trade Unions general secretary Owen Reidy said: 032
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 04/04/2026Why isn’t this front page news??? There’s no gender pay gap! It’s just a lot of hocus pocus and individual choices. Could it be because to reach this conclusion you have to ignore minor details like what and who the GPG is actually measuring? 020
Reposted by Laura BambrickThe Journal @thejournal.ie · 01/04/2026Despite the EU Commissioner for Energy advising people to work from home and drive less to save fuel , the Tánaiste says the government has no plans to alter its advice around remote working. jrnl.ie/7000419jrnl.iePeople should work from home and drive less to save fuel - EU Commissioner for EnergyEnergy Minister Darragh O’Brien said government advice on conserving energy will be delivered in the coming weeks. 111
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 30/03/2026More than 6,600 employers have not yet signed up to the pensions auto-enrolment scheme, but the vast majority have – 108,894 eligible employers. 768,381 eligible employees have been auto-enrolled. Savings contributions from employers, employees and the State stood at a combined €158m last week. 001
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 28/03/2026More remote working as a partial solution to price hikes at the pumps is supported by trade unions to protect the living standards of many employees. “It would be cost neutral to employers and the Exchequer, and reduce unnecessary car journeys where jobs can be done from home,” says Bambrick. 032
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 24/03/2026Facilitating more remote and flexible working arrangements would mean fewer expensive fills at the forecourt for workers, and is a cost-free response to fuel prices pressure by employers and for the Exchequer – our Irish Congress of Trade Unions statement www.ictu.ie/news/flexibi...ictu.ieFlexibility from employers needed in response to fuel prices pressure – unionsResponding to the Government announcement on fuel costs, Irish Congress of Trade Unions general secretary Owen Reidy said: 030
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 22/03/2026Think an inheritance tax cut will benefit you and yours? Not unless you’re one of the small number who receives an inheritance over the current tax-free limits (around 60,000 people over 5yrs): 14,006 in 2024 13,055 in 2023 12,197 in 2022 12,530 in 2021 11,376 in 2020 (Revenue) 120
Laura Bambrick @drbambrick.bsky.social · 22/03/2026If death-in-service benefits are the best thing about your occupational pension, it doesn’t pass the smell test of a ‘high-quality pension plan’. The first and foremost purpose of a pension is to give you a decent income in retirement, it’s not to insure the income of widows and orphans. 101
