The CWU is encouraging members to support the Public Procurement Rally being organised by UNI Europa, with the support of CWU and SIPTU.
Rally Details
Date: Wednesday, 1st July 2026
Time: 1.00pm
Location: Office of Government Procurement, Mayor Street, Dublin 1
At first glance, public procurement may seem like a technical issue. In reality, it is one of the most powerful tools available to government to influence employment standards and workers’ rights.
Every year, governments spend billions of euro on contracts for services and infrastructure. The question is simple: should public money be awarded solely on the basis of cost, or should it also support employers who respect workers’ rights, engage in collective bargaining and provide decent terms and conditions?
This issue sits at the heart of our union’s Respect at Work campaign. Workers should have a genuine voice in the workplace and the ability to bargain collectively through their union. Public policy should actively support that objective, not undermine it.
The importance of this principle has also been recognised by Government through its Action Plan on Collective Bargaining, which includes commitments to examine how public procurement can be used to support collective bargaining and good industrial relations practices.
The rally on 1st July is an opportunity to send a clear message that public money should support fair employment practices and collective bargaining, not a race to the bottom. Members who are available are encouraged to attend and support this important mobilisation.
