Motion no: 2
This Conference congratulates the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Northern Ireland Committee) on the launch of the “Better Work Better Lives” campaign which is aimed at bringing better quality work opportunities to the Northern Ireland economy.
In launching this campaign the Northern Ireland committee of the ICTU are demanding:
- An end to the scourge of low pay and the active promotion of decent work.
- Better and improved investment in our public services.
- An end to the 1% public sector pay cap.
The campaign publications have received widespread support across the Northern Ireland communities and the trade union movement including the trade’s council sector and the Northern Ireland Committee of Congress will continue to spread the publicity in the coming months.
Lobbying at local level will also continue to ensure our elected representatives are fully aware of the issues and what is at stage for the labour movement and the Northern Ireland economy.
The CWU fully support the concept of better quality work as contained in the campaign material. This includes buying into their own ‘Close the Gap’ initiative which is aimed at gaining equal pay status for Agency Workers on BT contracts.
The CWU is also fully supportive of the TUC’s campaigns for a ‘New Deal for Workers’, ‘Fair Play for Public Servants’ and their ongoing ‘great jobs agenda’ for young people.
In Northern Ireland the ICTU campaign is therefore crucial for the growth of job opportunities across the province. This show of unity by the trade union movement is certainly welcomed and will once again send out the message ‘there is a better way’.
The CWU believe their ongoing involvement will ensure their campaigns across Northern Ireland are in line with that ICTU agenda. The incoming ICTU Northern Ireland Executive is therefore instructed to ensure the ICTU campaign receives the widest possible support across Northern Ireland.
