Protecting the Peace Process

Conference congratulates the Northern Ireland Committee on its strategic response to the Fresh Start Agreement which recognises the political pressure exerted on parties in NI while rejecting all aspects of the Agreement which run counter to trade union principles and policies. This includes our rejection of all austerity measures and welfare cuts, the failure to implement commitments and equality and human rights, and the betrayal of victims and survivors of the conflict by unacceptable arrangements to deal with the past.

The tactics deployed by the UK Government as signatory to the Peace Agreement are a betrayal of its obligations to that Agreement. The general response of the Irish Government as co-signatory fell far short of its obligations.

However nothing in that unfortunate process absolves those political parties in Northern Ireland which precipitated the crisis, from their failure to work collaboratively in the best interests of the People. They must now learn the lesson that playing party politics with the core Peace Agreement commitments destabilises the Peace Process itself.

Consequently this Conference reaffirms our commitment to campaign for a just, equal and peaceful society based on the centrality of equality and human rights. To this end we call for the inclusion of core trade union demands in the forthcoming Programme for Government including:

1. a) The implementation of the 2-tier workforce agreement.

1. b) The Programme for Government to have at its core an anti-poverty strategy based on objective need

1. c) That all NI public sector procurement utilises the provisions of the EU Procurement social and environmental clauses

1. d) The Programme for Government to include a sustainable public health model

1. e) The Programme for Government to seek to place education at the heart of social and economic policy

1. f) That pay increases owed to those public sector workers be honoured and scheduled under the PfG

1. g) A commitment to the non-privatisation of public service delivery

1. h) The PfG to include a core element of equality centred on objective need in terms of employment and infrastructure policies

1. i) The establishment of a manufacturing cross-departmental and stakeholder body to draft a sustainable and Northern Ireland-wide economic development and manufacturing strategy which maintains and grows skilled employment and develops the Green economy

1. j) That an Economic & Social Council, comprising stakeholders and relevant Ministries, be established to develop a growing economy which aims to address the persistent social problems of Northern Ireland

1. k) That the membership of the trade union movement, as the largest civil society organisation in NI, be reflected in the composition of public bodies proposed under the Fresh Start Agreement.