Minister for Business and Employment Ged Nash has written to Mandate Trade Union stating he will be enacting collective bargaining legislation by mid-2015.

It comes after up to 6,000 Dunnes Stores workers held a strike day yesterday in a row over pay and conditions.

The staff say management have refused to engage with them through their union.

The union wrote to the Minister asking for an indication of a likely date for the enactment of legislation to prevent issues such as Thursday’s strike.

Mr Nash has responded, telling the union that new legislation, arriving in the middle of this year, will “provide a strong and effective remedy where employers refuse to negotiate by way of collective bargaining.”

The Minister told Mandate that the Attorney General’s Office is drafting the Bill.

On Thursday Tánaiste Joan Burton stated in the Dáil that this legislation will be introduced in July.

The new legislation would give stronger powers to the Labour Court and allow them issue recommendations which would be enforceable through the Circuit Court.

Mandate Assistant General Secretary Gerry Light says this commitment from government is very timely.

“There was also a statement in the Dail yesterday by the Tánaiste who clearly indicated that it would be July of this year, so again we welcome that and that type of protective legislation, which enables us to go to a labour court and for a Labour Court to issue a recommendation that has some teeth.

“That type of legislation can’t come quick enough, particularly for our members in Dunnes Stores,” he added.