The Citizens Information Services in Ireland: Protecting the Nonunionized Employee?

Michelle O'Sullivan
Ciara Hartigan

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DOI: 10.2190/WR.15.1.e

Abstract

With declining unionization levels in many countries, there has been an increasing focus on alternative forms of representation. Commentators have noted the growth in civil society organizations, such as the Citizens Advice Bureaux in the UK, which can provide information, advice, and support to nonunionized employees. In this context, we examine the role of the Irish Citizens Information Services (CISs) in the area of employment. The CISs are state-funded services that provide information and advice to members of the public on their legal and social entitlements. We find that the CISs are an important mechanism by which nonunionized employees can self-empower. The advocacy role of CISs could go some way to protecting unionized employees but is in its infancy, and an expansion of the advocacy service would increase protection for nonunionized employees.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.