Supporting Trade Unionists deal with the Mental Health crisis

Congress recognises that mental health
is increasingly one of the most pressing challenges faced by trade unionists and by workers generally. Many disciplinary cases involve underlying mental health issues and union workplace reps are often the first to be approached by employees suffering from mental health difficulties.

Conference calls on the incoming ICTU Executive Committee to develop a range of courses and support interventions to ensure that all shop stewards and workplace reps receive the necessary support and training to cope with the current Mental health crisis. In particular the trade union movement has a responsibility to ensure that workplace reps are confident in their ability to effectively signpost individuals to relevant support mechanisms.

But conference acknowledges that the trade union movement cannot resolve this alone, employers have a responsibility to take the lead; it mandates the incoming Northern Irish Committee of the ICTU to initiate and resource a campaign in Northern Ireland to encourage employers to sign up to the voluntary mental

health charter which has been developed by the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland. In addition, we call on all trades unions in Northern Ireland, as employers themselves, to sign up to the Mental Health Charter.

In the Republic of Ireland, we call on the Congress to engage with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission to bring forward
an equivalent to the Mental Health Charter which affords a lead role for trade unions and workplace reps in ensuring all workplaces become mentally healthy workplaces.