Two-thirds of trade unionists believe their organisation does a good job representing them but only 9 per cent describe themselves as "actively involved", according to an Omnibus survey carried out for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). The survey, which is based on a sample of 1,000 respondents throughout the Republic, also found that 45 per cent of people who ceased membership of a union did so because of a change in employment. Another 16 per cent did so because they became self-employed.

Only 3 per cent of those leaving their union did so because of a "bad experience" of union membership and none gave "employer hostility" as a reason.

The figures confirm what many union officials already know - that failure by their organisations to keep up with jobs growth reflects a failure to adapt to changes in social life and employment patterns rather than the growing anti-union stance of some employers.

People no longer have time for union activities, and unions are finding it harder to recruit and retain people in growth sectors such as services.

However, ICTU general secretary Mr Peter Cassells says in a commentary accompanying the survey that unions can take some satisfaction in the generally positive public attitude to them. People's behaviour is not always reflected by what they say in opinion polls. For instance, 72 per cent of respondents were very "positive" about the impact of the Republic's EU membership on working conditions. That did not make them vote Yes to Nice on June 7th, despite a ringing ICTU endorsement for the treaty.

Similarly, when asked to put a number of workplace issues in order of priority, respondents put health and safety third, immediately after better pay and more job security. Workplace stress came sixth, after better pensions.

But shorter hours of work came bottom of the list at 15th, even though excessive working hours are known to pose major risks to health and safety.

Research by the European Industrial Relations Observatory shows employees in the Republic work some of the longest hours in the EU. Profit sharing, only came 14th on the list of priorities. By contrast, there was strong interest reflected in family-friendly issues - within which emergency leave and extra holidays came first and second, with bereavement and maternity leave third and fourth priorities. Much-hyped initiatives such as term-time working and working from home came 14th and 15th respectively. Childcare came eighth. Among workers outside unions, only 6 per cent expressed no interest in joining.