Unions Call For Return To Govt

Trade unionists are calling for a return to devolved government in Northern Ireland.

As cross-party talks continue, the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), the leadership body representing unions in Northern Ireland, is calling for the British and Irish governments to take action on a range of outstanding issues.

The organisation, which is the largest cross community civic society body in NI, affirmed its commitment to the "protection and full implementation" of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, and demanded the following:

• Attention paid to the "unconscionable delays" regarding redress payments for survivors of historical abuse and those injured in the Troubles.

• Action on public sector pay.

• Moves to support the economy, protect rights, jobs, migrant workers and safeguard the wider peace process from an "imminent and damaging Brexit".

• Guidance for those claiming welfare benefits and attention to the absence of an Anti-Poverty strategy.

An ICTU statement released on Thursday 30 May, as political leaders met to continue powersharing negotiations, said: "During the talks process, NIC-ICTU urges the two governments, as co-guarantors of the Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement, as well as the political parties, to urgently address matters of serious concern to our collective membership of over 200,000 workers and the wider public. We seek firm commitments that action will be taken as part of a coherent, progressive and comprehensive Programme for Government, and where necessary, that legislation will be enacted without delay to address persistent and growing problems in our society."

The statement alluded to the "refusal to adequately address public sector pay which has, for the last 10 years, been inadequate and has year on year been setting levels well below the rate of inflation".

The ICTU also called for the formation of a permanent Forum for Social Dialogue, comprised of the power-sharing government and four main representative pillars: trade unions, employers, the community and voluntary sector and the farming industry.

The statement continued: "Such a forum could be modelled on the Welsh Council for Economic Development, and could mitigate the harsh edges of Brexit and propose practical and realistic evidence-based policy solutions to the problems our society and economy faces."

Further issues highlight by the ICTU are as follows:

• The scourge of low pay and insecure work across our private sector and the public sector pay cap.

• The declining levels of public investment which is impacting on all citizens after a decade of austerity.

• Not alone protecting, but improving employment law in our devolved NI Assembly, and ensuring collective bargaining as all the evidence shows that this improves economic performance.

• The absence of affordable childcare and decent public housing.

• An agreed industrial strategy that boosts productivity across the economy.



(JG/CM)