Agenda - ICTUElection of Tellers (Six) Election of Scrutineers (Six) Adoption of Standing Orders Reports No. 1, and No. 2 Address by Congress President Introduction of Executive Council

Agenda

DUBLIN 2–4 JULY

Irish Congress of Trade Unions Northern Ireland Committee31/32 Parnell Square Irish Congress of Trade UnionsDublin 1, D01 YR92 45–47 Donegall StreetIreland Belfast BT1 2FG, Northern Ireland

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Contents

Notice to Delegates 2

Timetable of Business 3

List of Motions & Amendments to BDC2019 8

Motions & Amendments to BDC2019 12

Standing Orders Committee Report Number 1 39

Nominations to BDC2019 43

Fringe Events at BDC2019 46

Notice to Delegates1. This year, the overall theme of the Conference

is Building a Better Future for All.

Within that overall theme, Conference will debate:

• 55 Motions and one Amendment, including seven Motions from the Executive Council.

• A Report from the Executive Council on Congress Priorities & Strategy, Organisation & Finance over the past two years.

2. This document contains the motions to be debated at Conference, the timetable of business and the first report from the Standing Orders Committee.

3. The timetable of business gives you the order in which the motions will be debated and voted on for each day.

It also gives you the times at which various sections of the Report from the Executive Council will be discussed.

Any changes in the order of business will be notified to the Conference by the Standing Orders Committee.

4. The commencement time for each morning session of the Conference is 09.30hrs on Tuesday 2nd July, Wednesday 3rd July and Thursday 4th July, 2019, and the afternoon sessions will commence at 14.30hrs. The Conference is scheduled to finish at 17.30hrs on Tuesday 2nd July, at 17.00hrs on Wednesday 3rd July, and at 13.30hrs on Thursday 4th July.

You are asked to be in the Conference Hall punctually and to remain throughout the sessions.

5. You must show your Credential/Lanyard Card to gain entrance to the Conference Hall. You should bring Conference documents with you to each session, as additional copies will not be available.

6. If you are moving a motion you will be allowed to speak for five minutes maximum, and each subsequent speaker for three minutes maximum. You should give your name and the name of your organisation when speaking.

If you wish to contact the Standing Orders Committee you may do so by contacting any member of the Congress Secretariat at the entrance to the Conference Hall. The members of Standing Orders Committee are: Kieran Jack McGinley (Chair), Services Industrial Professional & Technical Union, Annette Dolan, Teachers’ Union of Ireland, Joan Gaffney, MANDATE, Denis Keatings, UNISON and Dennis Walshe, Fórsa.

2 Notice to Delegates

Timetable of Business

Tuesday 2nd July

Morning Session

09.30–11.30 OPENING OF CONFERENCE

Address of Welcome: Lord Mayor of Dublin and President of Dublin Council of Trade Unions

Election of Tellers (Six)

Election of Scrutineers (Six)

Adoption of Standing Orders Reports No. 1, and No. 2

Address by Congress President

Introduction of Executive Council Report

11.30–13.00 NORTHERN IRELAND

(Principle EC Report Reference: Section 2, The Work of Congress, (i) Industrial, Legislation and Organising (ii) Northern Ireland, (iii) Equality, Social Policy & the Labour Market, (iv) Education & Training and (v) Public Engagement, Campaigns & Communications)

Motion 1 (Northern Ireland – Executive Council)

Motion 2 (Return of Devolved Government in Northern Ireland within an Equality And Human Rights Framework – UNISON)

Motion 3 (Fair Employment and Nepotism – NASUWT)

Motion 4 (Provision of Publically Owned NHS Healthcare – Fermanagh Trades Council)

(Amendment – UNISON/CSP)

Motion 5 (Welfare Reform in Northern Ireland – Derry Trades Council)

Motion 6 (Corporate Governance – UCU)

Motion 7 (Murder of Lyra McKee – NUJ)

Fraternal Speaker: General Secretary, STUC

13.00–14.30 LUNCH ADJOURNMENT

Afternoon Session

14.30–16.15 EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS

Exchange of Stubs for Voting Cards from 14.30hrs on Tuesday to 11.00am on Wednesday

(Principle Report Reference: Section 2, The Work of Congress, (i) Industrial, Legislation & Organising)

Motion 8 (Collective Bargaining – Executive Council)

Motion 9 (Trade Union Organisation – Fórsa)

Motion 10 (Right to Statutory Collective Bargaining and Trade Union Access Rights –MANDATE)

Motion 11 (Precarious Work – SIPTU)

Motion 12 (Precarious Forms of Employment for Craft Workers and others – OPATSI)

Motion 13 (Public Contracts and Collective Bargaining – CWU)

Motion 14 (Publically Funded Projects – Connect)

Motion 15 (Securing Decent Work and Jobs in Financial Services – FSU)

Motion 16 (Industrial Relations in the Energy Sector – Prospect)

Motion 17 (Industrial Relations Disputes do not Require Legal Approach – IFUT)

Motion 18 (Exploitation of Seafarers – RMT)

Motion 19 (Recognition of Qualifications in the Construction Sector – OPATSI)

Motion 20 (Payment of Wages – Connect)

Motion 21 (Supporting Trade Unionists deal with the Mental Health Crisis – Unite)

Motion 22 (Health of Workers – ASTI)

16.15–16.30 BREAK

Timetable of Business4

Tuesday 2nd July (contd.)

16.30–17.30 FINANCE, ORGANISATION & ORGANISING (PRIVATE SESSION)

(Principle EC Report Reference: Section 2, The Work of Congress (i) Industrial, Legislation & Strategic Organising, (iv) Education & Training, (v) Public Engagement, Campaigns & Communications, Appendix 1 – Accounts, Appendix 2 – Congress Committees, Appendix 3 – Affiliations, Appendix 4 – Staff at Congress 2019, Appendix 5 – Membership of Congress Committees and External Bodies, Appendix 6 – Action on Motions to BDC2017, Appendix 7 – Congress Appeals Board, and Appendix 8 – Disputes Committee Reports).

Motion 23 (Gender Balance Membership – INMO/RCM)

Motion 24 (Engagement with Students – Kildare Council of Trade Unions)

Committee Speaker: Congress Youth Committee

ADJOURNMENT UNTIL WEDNESDAY 3rd JULY

Wednesday 3rd July

Polling Stations open 11.00 – 15.00hrs

Morning Session

09.30–10.15 CLIMATE CHANGE

(Principle Report Reference: Section 2, The Work of Congress, (i) Industrial, Legislation & Strategic Organising)

Guest Speaker: Mrs Mary Robinson

Motion 25 (Climate Action & the Need for a Just Transition – Executive Council)

Motion 26 (Duty to Defend the Environment – Omagh Trades Council)

10.15–11.00 THE ECONOMY

(Principle EC Report Reference: Section 1, The Economy)

Motion 27 (Crisis in the Retail Sector – USDAW)

Motion 28 (Future Potential of Rosslare Europort – Wexford Council of Trade Unions)

Committee Speaker: Congress Centres Network

11.00–12.00 BREXIT

(Principle EC Report Reference: Section 1, The Economy – Brexit)

Fraternal Speaker: Deputy General Secretary, ETUC

Motion 29 (Protecting the Rights of Workers North and South Post-Brexit – UNISON)

Motion 30 (Protection of Workers’ Rights – Equity)

Motion 31 (Workers’ Rights Post-Brexit – NIPSA)

5Congress BDC – Agenda

12.00–13.00 SOCIAL POLICY

(Principle EC Report Reference: Section 1, The Economy, Section 2, The Work of Congress (ii) Northern Ireland, (iii) Equality & Social Policy, (v) Public Engagement Campaigns & Communication)

Motion 32 (Increase in the Qualifying Age for State Pension – Executive Council)

Motion 33 (Participation of Retired Workers – Fermanagh Trades Council)

Motion 34 (Housing – Executive Council)

Motion 35 (Housing Crisis – Dublin Council of Trade Unions)

Motion 36 (Homelessness and the Working Poor – Unite)

Motion 37 (Campaign of Industrial Action in relation to Housing Policy – Waterford Council of Trade Unions)

Motion 38 (Alternative to Rebuilding Ireland Plan – Cork Council of Trade Unions)

Committee Speakers: Retired Workers x 2

LUNCH ADJOURNMENT

Afternoon Session

14.30–15.45 SOCIAL POLICY CONTD…

(Principle EC Report Reference: Section 1, The Economy, Section 2, The Work of Congress (ii) Northern Ireland, (iii) Equality & Social Policy, (v) Public Engagement Campaigns & Communication)

Motion 39 (Equality – Executive Council)

Motion 40 (Anti-Racism Campaign – Waterford Council of Trade Unions)

Motion 41 (Reasonable Adjustments/Accommodations Passport – GMB)

Motion 42 (Reproductive Rights – Belfast & District Trades Union Council)

Motion 43 (Foster Leave – CWU)

Motion 44 (Reverse the Waiting Time for Disability Benefit – Bray Council of Trade Unions)

Motion 45 (Tyred – Old Tyres Kill – GMB)

Committee Speaker: Congress Women’s Committee

15.45–17.00 PUBLIC SERVICES

(Principle EC Report Reference: Section 1, The Economy, Section 2, The Work of Congress (i) Industrial, Legislation & Strategic Organising)

Motion 46 (Building a Better Future through Educational Justice – TUI)

Motion 47 (Primary School Education – INTO)

Motion 48 (Health Services Funding Crisis – INMO/RCM)

Motion 49 (Scoping Enquiry into the Cervical Check Screening Programme – Galway Council of Trade Unions)

Motion 50 (Abuse of Education Workers on Social Media – UTU)

Motion 51 (Free Public Transport – PCS)

Committee Speaker: Congress Disability Committee

ADJOURNMENT UNTIL THURSDAY 4th JULY

Timetable of Business6

Thursday 4th July

Morning Session

09.30–13.00 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

(Principle EC Report Reference: Section 2, The Work of Congress, (vi) European Union & International)

Guest Speaker: Matt Frei, News Journalist/Author

Motion 52 (The Rise of the Far Right and the Need for a Robust Trade Union Response – Executive Council)

Motion 53 (Rise of the Far Right – NIPSA)

Fraternal Speaker: Tim Noonan, ITUC

Motion 54 (Labour Rights – Strengthening the ILO – NUJ)

Motion 55 (Solidarity with Venezuela – Belfast & District Trade Union Council

Committee Speaker: Congress Global Solidarity Committee

13.00 CLOSING CEREMONIES


List of Motions & Amendments to BDC2019

Tuesday 2nd July, 2019

Morning Session, 11.30–13.00hrs — NORTHERN IRELAND

Motion No. Name Mover

1 Northern Ireland Executive Council

2 Return of Devolved Government in Northern Ireland within an Equality and Human Rights Framework

UNISON

3 Fair Employment and Nepotism NASUWT

4 Provision of Publically-Owned NHS Healthcare

Amendment

Fermanagh Trades Council

UNISON/CSP

5 Welfare Reform in Northern Ireland Derry Trades Council

6 Corporate Governance UCU

7 Murder of Lyra McKee NUJ

Afternoon Session, 14.30–16.15hrs — EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS


8 Collective Bargaining Executive Council

9 Trade Union Organisation Fórsa

10 Right to Statutory Collective Bargaining and Trade Union Access Rights

MANDATE

11 Precarious Work SIPTU

12 Precarious Forms of Employment for Crafts Workers and Others

OPATSI

13 Public Contracts and Collective Bargaining CWU

14 Publically Funded Projects Connect

15 Securing decent work and jobs in financial services FSU

16 Industrial Relations in the Energy Sector Prospect

17 Industrial Relations Disputes do not Require Legal Approach IFUT

18 Exploitation of Seafarers RMT

19 Recognition of Qualifications in the Construction Sector OPATSI

20 Payment of Wages Connect

21 Supporting Trade Unionists deal with the Mental Health Crisis Unite

22 Health of Workers ASTI

16.30–17.30hrs — FINANCE, ORGANISATION & ORGANISING


23 Gender Balance Membership INMO/RCM

24 Engagement with Students Kildare Council of Trade Unions


Wednesday 3rd July, 2019

Morning Session, 09.30–10.15am — CLIMATE ACTION


25 Climate Action & the Need for a Just Transition Executive Council

26 Duty to Defend the Environment Omagh Trades Council

10.15–11.00am — THE ECONOMY


27 Crisis in the Retail Sector USDAW

28 Future Potential of Rosslare Europort Wexford Council of Trade Unions

11.00–12.00noon — BREXIT


29 Protecting The Rights Of Workers North And South Post-Brexit UNISON

30 Protection of Workers’ Rights Equity

31 Workers’ Rights Post-Brexit NIPSA

12.00–13.00hrs — SOCIAL POLICY


32 Increase in the Qualifying Age for State Pension Executive Council

33 Participation of Retired Workers Fermanagh Trades Council

34 Housing Executive Council

35 Housing Crisis Dublin Council of Trade Unions

36 Homelessness and the Working Poor Unite

37 Campaign of Industrial Action in relation to Housing Policy Waterford Council of Trade Unions

38 Alternative to Rebuilding Ireland Plan Cork Council of Trade Unions

Afternoon Session, 14.30–15.45hrs — SOCIAL POLICY CONTINUED


39 Equality Executive Council

40 Anti-Racism Campaign Waterford Council of Trade Unions

41 Reasonable Adjustments/Accommodations Passport GMB

42 Reproductive Rights Belfast & District Trades Union Council

43 Foster Leave CWU

44 Reverse the Waiting Time for Disability Benefit Bray Council of Trade Unions

45 Tyred – Old Tyres Kill GMB

List of Motions & Amendments to BDC 201910

15.45–17.00hrs — PUBLIC SERVICES


46 Building a Better Future through Educational Justice TUI

47 Primary School Education INTO

48 Health Services Funding Crisis INMO/RCM

49 Scoping Enquiry into the Cervical Check Screening Programme Galway Council of Trade Unions

50 Abuse of Education Workers on Social Media UTU

51 Free Public Transport PCS

Thursday 4th July, 2019

Morning Session, 09.30–13.00hrs — INTERNATIONAL


52 The Rise of the Far Right and the Need for a Robust Trade Union Response

Executive Council

53 Rise of the Far Right NIPSA

54 Labour Rights: Strengthening the ILO NUJ

55 Solidarity with Venezuela Belfast & District Trades Union Council


Motions & Amendments to BDC 2019

1. Northern IrelandCongress notes with increasing concern the confluence of events which are undermining the stability of society and the economy in Northern Ireland. Congress notes with severe regret the failure of policy makers to heed the advice of serious stakeholders over many years and reasserts its position, as the largest civic body in both jurisdictions of this Island, to express and progress the interests of our members and wider society.

In these circumstances, Conference affirms its full support for the affiliates and Trades Councils in Northern Ireland and their campaigning against a damaging Brexit, for a rights-based restoration of all of the institutions of the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and for a Forum for Social Dialogue which can address some of the economic consequences of a decade of Tory austerity – low pay in private and public sectors, the 1% pay cap and severe under-investment across society and our economy.

Congress reaffirms its support for the principle of devolution as outlined and enshrined in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and will seek the following from the Executive (or in the absence of an Executive the British Government) in order to make local devolved Government more relevant and responsive to the needs of workers:

• That the parties reaffirm and commit to support the principles and practice of power sharing as envisaged under the terms of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, particularly given the nature of the divided society in Northern Ireland.

• That the will of the people of Northern Ireland who oppose Brexit be respected and that any Assembly subsequently elected agree to transpose future progressive EU directives in the areas/competencies that are devolved, in particular, employment rights.

• That the aims and purpose of the trade union campaign, Better Work Better Lives, be integrated into the work programme of any forthcoming Northern Ireland Executive, or prioritised by Direct Rule ministers using the vehicle of a new Forum for Social Dialogue, which would be comprised of

the key 4 representative pillars, namely the trade union movement, the employers, the community & voluntary sector and the farming community, working with the Government of the day. Such a forum could be modelled on the Welsh Council for Economic Development.

• Congress repeats its demand made each year since the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement that its commitment to a comprehensive Bill of Rights be honoured. There can be no return to the selective interpretation of rights and equality of the collapsed Executive. A Bill of Rights with meaningful ownership for each citizen is necessary for the advancement of a rights-based society and the development of equality as a birth right and a lifelong process.

Executive Council

2. Return of Devolved Government in Northern Ireland within an Equality and Human Rights Framework

Conference notes that at the time of writing, Northern Ireland has been without a devolved power-sharing Government for over 2 years. Conference believes that this represents a damning indictment of the failure of our elected politicians to genuinely share power in the interests of all the people on the basis of equality and human rights as the Good Friday Agreement intended.

Conference believes that our members, their families and their communities deserve better than a peace which represents merely the absence of the violent conflict that damaged countless lives. Conference agrees that since the Good Friday Agreement was reached there has been regression away from its principles and the non-implementation of its provisions (and the provisions of subsequent agreements) relating to equality and human rights. This has been to the detriment of all.

The absence of political devolution in Northern Ireland has coincided with the economic, social, constitutional and political crisis of the UK exit from the EU which has and will continue to undermine the Good Friday Agreement. Conference believes that in the absence of


political leadership, Congress must continue to be a voice for our members, North and South, who will not allow the peace process to represent the collateral damage of the UK’s exit from the EU.

Conference agrees that direct rule from a Tory Government in Westminster must be avoided but that the institutions cannot be re-established on the same basis on which they collapsed before.

Conference supports the re-establishment of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland on the basis of genuine power-sharing as provided for under the Good Friday Agreement which delivers for all in Northern Ireland on the basis of respect and equality.

Conference endorses fully the Equality Coalition ‘Manifesto for a Rights Based Return to Power Sharing’ (2019) on this basis. Conference notes that the Coalition is co-convened by UNISON and the Committee on the Administration of Justice and consists of dozens of civil society organisations, trade unions and the ICTU. Conference notes that this manifesto calls for a rights based return to power sharing centred on three key elements:

• Full implementation of the rights provisions of the peace settlement, including the Bill of Rights.

• Implementing international obligations and addressing ‘rights deficits.’

• Ensuring power is ‘working within the rules’ so as to prohibit discrimination and promote equality of opportunity.

Conference therefore calls on the incoming Executive Council, in line with the objectives of the Northern Ireland Committee’s successful ‘Better Work, Better Lives’ campaign:

• to campaign for a return to devolved Government in Northern Ireland on the basis of equality and human rights for all, as set out in the Equality Coalition ‘Manifesto for a Rights Based Return’ (2019); and

• to ensure that this campaign seeks to exert maximum pressure on not just political parties in Northern Ireland and the UK Government but also the Irish Government in its role as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement.

UNISON

3. Fair Employment and NepotismCongress asserts that nepotism is still a problem across the public sector in Northern Ireland but particularly in Education.

Congress believes that in too many schools, teachers and support staff are not appointed solely on merit but on a ‘who you know’ basis. Congress believes that as a consequence that good teachers and support staff are not appointed to jobs while students are denied the best teachers and support staff.

Conference asserts that nepotism destroys trust in management, breaks staff morale and if not prevented leads to greater levels of adversarial management practices.

Conference is particularly concerned that most nepotism in Northern Ireland schools centres around the use of short-term contracts and the abuse of the fixed-term worker regulations.

Congress calls upon the Executive Council to campaign for:

1. The Department of Education to collect data on the extent of nepotism within grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland for both permanent and temporary positions.

2. Measures to prevent nepotism in any future review of teacher appointments including the deployment of temporary teachers.

3. The employing authorities to review all appointments (permanent or temporary) where a relative is appointed to ensure that no conflict of interest has occurred at any stage including in setting the criteria.

The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of

Women Teachers


4. Provision of Publicly-owned NHS Healthcare

That this conference reasserts its support for a wholly publicly-owned NHS providing locally-accessible healthcare to all, free at the point of delivery and funded adequately through general and progressive taxation – that is for an NHS based on its foundational, 1948 Bevin principles; and following the lead of health campaigners in Britain, including the Labour party, conference calls on the incoming Northern Ireland Committee to bring forward a campaign demanding a NHS Reinstatement Bill for Northern Ireland that will seek to legislate an end to privatisation, healthcare rationing and the internal market.

That this conference asserts its rejection of current Department of Health policies: the Donaldson review, the Bengoa report and Health and Well-being 2026, which provide a framework to advance healthcare rationing, privatisation and outsourcing; and expresses its solidarity with those campaigning against the results of these policies – one example of which being the recent threat to close all but three or four stroke units in Northern Ireland, potentially leaving communities in rural and peripheral areas more than an hour and a half drive away from life-saving treatment.


AmendmentAfter wholly publically-owned, delete ‘‘NHS’’ and replace with ‘‘health and social care system.’’

After ‘‘locally-accessible’’ delete ‘‘healthcare’’ and replace with ‘‘health and social care services.’’

After ‘‘free at the point of delivery’’ insert ‘‘universal, publically provided.’’

Delete all after ‘‘Bevin principles’’ and insert:

Conference calls on the Health Committee of the Northern Ireland Committee of Congress to explore all avenues to end privatisation, healthcare rationing, the internal market and the commissioner/provider split, including possible legislative change drawing on the experience of trade unionists in Britain.

Conference further calls on the Health Committee of the Northern Ireland Committee of Congress to continue to take forward all campaigns to protect a health and social care service based on the core principles of ensuring a publically-funded, publically-provided, universal, free at the point of delivery service, including in any and all campaigns relating the current ‘transformation’ being led by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland following from the Bengoa report and Health and Well-being 2026.

UNISON Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

5. Welfare Reform in Northern Ireland

This conference recognises the disaster that welfare reform has been for the poorest in our communities in Northern Ireland. Low paid workers have been hit particularly hard by Universal Credit and, for them, there have been no mitigations payments available. Disabled workers have been hit by the double whammy of Work Capability Assessments and PIP assessments, carried out by for-profit companies ATOS and CAPITA.

Conference mandates Congress to lead a campaign against these welfare “reforms”. In particular, the trade union movement should take a lead on demanding that Northern Ireland:

• follow Scotland in banning private companies such as ATOS and CAPITA from carrying out medical assessments and in scrapping the Bedroom Tax;

• maintain the mitigations that have paid the Bedroom Tax and protected larger families who are subject to a benefit cap and extend these mitigations to cover low paid workers whose incomes have been slashed under Universal Credit.

Derry Trades Council


6. Corporate GovernanceThe Governing Body of a further education college is responsible for securing the efficient, effective management of the college, determining its strategic direction, appointing senior staff and ensuring that the college acts as a responsible employer.

UCU are concerned by the quality of governance in FE colleges in the Region.

The Governing Body is the employer yet, as evidenced by a recent tribunal decision, they failed to act as a reasonable employer. College Governors fail to challenge the executive of the college and appear to simply rubberstamp decisions brought before them by the senior management team.

UCU believe that real power is held by the Director or Chief Executive and Governors do not fully understand their scrutiny role and serve solely in a capacity to legitimise whatever decisions emanate from senior management.

The current composition of college Governing Bodies does not reflect the communities which the colleges serve. Instead they are populated by accountants and people in the business community. There should be an appropriate balance of skills, experience, and knowledge to enable the Governing Body to discharge its duties effectively.

The staff representatives on the Governing Body are excluded from key committees and are the only Governors who are not paid for attendance at meetings.

UCU believe college governance arrangements would benefit significantly by the Department of the Economy in:

• Providing mandatory training to current and new Governing Body members so they properly understand what is involved in upholding the Nolan Principles for conduct in public life. This training should also include employment relations and how to scrutinise evidence in key areas such as discipline, grievance, redundancy and dismissal.

• Changing the system used to appoint Governors to ensure a wide range of life

experiences and work backgrounds are represented so that new Governing Bodies reflect the diversity of the community and student body.

• Improving Governing Body accountability.

University and College Union

7. Murder of Lyra McKeeCongress notes the murder of NUJ member, journalist and activist Lyra McKee by the self-styled New IRA in Creggan, Derry on 18th April 2019.

The murder of a worker in the line of duty evoked outrage across the world. The fact that Lyra was a young, accomplished journalist and author with a promising career, and an inveterate campaigner for LGBTQ+ rights added to the poignancy of her killing.

In her own words, Lyra McKee was a child of the Good Friday Agreement. In her work she sought to promote equality, social solidarity and inclusivity and highlighted the failure of political leadership in Northern Ireland. Through her work, Lyra shone a light into issues all too often missing from public discourse, including mental health, suicide and LGBTQ+ inequality in Northern Ireland.

Congress salutes those who stood up to those responsible for the murder of Lyra McKee and commends in particular the union activists who organised vigils and protests in the wake of the murder.

Mindful of the public response to calls for political leadership Conference reaffirms its commitment to the principles underpinning the Good Friday Agreement and resolves to organise protests calling for the disbandment of paramilitary groups.

Congress commends the work of the Northern Ireland committee and the staff of the Belfast office in promoting the Better Work Better Lives campaign and acknowledges the dignified manner in which Lyra’s murder was marked at May Day events in Belfast, Derry and other locations.

Congress resolves that the most appropriate way in which the legacy of Lyra McKee can


be celebrated is through giving priority to the issues which she cherished, including the achievement of equality for LGBTQ+ people, mental health and the provision of adequate resources to tackle the issue of suicide in our communities.

National Union of Journalists

8. Collective BargainingConference notes that international organisations such as the IMF, the World Bank, and the OECD have, over recent years, begun to publicly acknowledge – often in contrast to their previous positions – the negative implications of widening inequality, particularly in terms of economic growth and social cohesion, and the very positive role collective bargaining plays in reducing inequality.

Conference further notes that the new OECD Jobs Strategy (December 2018) concluded that the best performing countries in terms of job quantity, job quality and inclusiveness are Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Germany – countries that are strongly associated with collective bargaining and social dialogue; that one of its ‘detailed policy recommendations’ is to “promote the inclusiveness of collective bargaining systems [which it defines as well-organised social partners based on broad memberships] while providing sufficient flexibility for firms to adapt to aggregate shocks and structural change” (recommendation A.7); and that it explicitly calls on Governments to put in place “a legal framework that promotes social dialogue in large and small firms alike and allows labour relations to adapt to new emerging challenges.”

Conference also notes that the OECD identifies rapid digital transformation, globalisation, population ageing, as well as non-standard forms of work, as trends that are “changing the very nature of jobs and the functioning of the labour market, thus raising new policy challenges.”

Conference accordingly instructs the incoming Executive Council to campaign to strengthen collective bargaining with the aim of ensuring that the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are better able to adapt to traditional

and new challenges, as is increasingly recommended by international commentators.

Executive Council

9. Trade Union OrganisationThis conference:

• Understands the importance of pooling our resources to meet the challenges facing working people, their communities and the unions that represent them.

• Values the unity that exists between workers in the private, public, and community sectors.

• Commends the collaborative work done by Congress and affiliates through the One Cork initiative and the development of One Galway.

• Acknowledges the plans underway to develop local trade union centres.

• Appreciates the need to revitalise local Trades Councils in a way that places the trade union movement at the centre of communities.

• Recognises the significance of the recent appointment of a Congress employee to coordinate this vital work.

Conference therefore resolves to:

• Intensify our cross-union efforts to increase union membership and build union density.

• Continue to tackle non-union and anti-union sectors and employers.

• Strengthen our links with second and third-level students.

• Support initiatives that attract young workers into the trade union movement.

• Develop and implement strategies to organise and protect workers in emerging and precarious sectors, including the so-called ‘gig economy.’

• Promote the visibility and profile of trade unions in the workplace and in our communities.

• Develop joint education and training initiatives, and deepen trade union relationships with community groups.

Fórsa


10. Right to Statutory Collective Bargaining and Trade Union Access Rights

The retail sector is witnessing an increasing number of employers deploying significant resources and energy to ensure their extremely profitable businesses either remain union free or that existing union structures are undermined. This is a coordinated approach by employers through the implementation of union avoidance or de-recognition strategies and in some cases the direct use of union busting companies. Tens of thousands of low paid workers are precariously employed in these highly profitable enterprises. Without the presence of meaningful union representation, workers will be subject to an employer led “race to the bottom” and a corresponding growth of precarious work practices, job losses and savage attacks on current established union negotiated terms and conditions of service.

As a participating union in the concerted joint union led campaign to successfully ensure the adoption in law of the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018, we witnessed first-hand exactly what can be achieved when unions collectively campaign together. When employers are not prepared to listen to the reasonable demands made by employees through their union, the union movement has proved itself more than capable of finding a way around this type of dogged resistance and towards effecting real, sustainable and beneficial work life changes for our wider membership.

Worryingly, there are a growing number of workers across various employment sectors that are now being deliberately denied, by their employers, the human right to have their constitutional entitlement to union association reasonably vindicated. Therefore, we are calling on the incoming Congress Executive to commence an immediate, well-resourced and comprehensive campaign for the legislative introduction of meaningful and robust statutory collective bargaining and trade union access rights to assist unions in organising workers. We call on the incoming Executive Committee to initiate this campaign immediately so that it can be positioned with affiliates as a priority in developing a union led leverage campaign for

the vast improvement of Irish Labour Laws prior to the next general election.

MANDATE

11. Precarious WorkConference notes that since the foundation of our movement, trade unions have had to face down the scourge of precarious work on this Island.

Today exploitative work practices exist in both traditional and newer forms. A significant proportion of the working population experiences precarious working and living conditions and this number is rising. Precariousness stretches into almost every industry, both in the public and private sector, through insecure terms of employment and uncertain living conditions.

Conference acknowledges the progress made to date by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, its affiliates in Northern Ireland by means of the Better Work Better Lives Campaign and in the Republic by achieving new legislation to tackle uncertain hours and campaigning for legislation to combat bogus self-employment.

Conference resolves that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions makes the organisation of precarious workers into trade unions a top priority.

To this end conference mandates Congress to assign the necessary resources to implement a comprehensive strategy which will facilitate:

• Develop cooperation between affiliate unions in both organising and industrial initiatives aimed at organising precarious workers into affiliated trade unions.

• Liaison with trade unions in other jurisdictions in pursuance of international cooperation on union organising and industrial initiatives.

• Prepare detailed mapping of the sectors where precariousness is likely to proliferate giving the changing nature of the labour market as it interacts with new modes of working and technological innovations.

• Conducts research on models and application of international best practice


campaigns in sectors with a propensity for precariousness.

• Facilitates cooperation between unions on digital organising initiatives aimed at connecting with precarious workers and encouraging them to join affiliates.

• Extend and enhance collaboration with civil society groups which share the goal of ending precariousness.

Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union

12. Precarious Forms of Employment for Crafts Workers and Others

Conference acknowledges the work of the Executive Council on the issue of bogus self-employment. This work practice has been bought to the fore in the media and has brought an awareness of the issue to the public in general. This precarious work practice affects all workers throughout all sectors and it denies funding to much needed sectors such as Education, Health and Local Authorities.

Plasterers and other craft workers have suffered at the hands of greedy unscrupulous employers in the construction sector as have their families when being forced to take work on a self-employed basis only.

Recently it was identified that the State is at a loss of up to €240million per year through the Revenue Commissioners facilitated system. Workers in the construction sector are losing out on legal minimums through a number of Sectoral Employment Orders whereby they are entitled to an occupational pension and sick pay. The State is at a further loss in tax on these provisions as employers refuse to comply with the law.

Conference calls upon the Executive Council to continue to highlight and lobby Government to abolish this precarious work practice.

Operative Plasterers and Allied Trades Society of Ireland

13. Public Contracts and Collective Bargaining

Conference believes that awarding public contracts to anti-trade union companies facilitates and encourages anti-worker behaviour on the part of employers.

By awarding contracts to companies which do not respect the right of staff to collectively bargain the State does not respect the role of trade unions as stakeholders in a modern society that it otherwise claims to value.

For example, it is concerning that the Department for Communications awarded the contract for delivering the 999 Emergency Call Answering Service to British Telecom, despite the company’s refusal to recognise the Communications Workers’ Union in the Republic of Ireland while it is prepared to collectively bargain with other unions in the United Kingdom.

Conference instructs the incoming Executive to lead a campaign calling on the State to make it mandatory for companies successfully bidding for public contracts to pay a Living Wage as a minimum, or the recognised union rates where appropriate, and to recognise trade unions for collective bargaining where the staff organise themselves.

Communications Workers’ Union

14. Publicly Funded ProjectsThis conference calls for all publicly funded projects to only be awarded on the basis of total compliance with Sectoral Employment Orders, Registered Employment Agreements and National Collective Employment Agreements where applicable and that any contractor which is proven to be non-complaint should be removed from public project work tender lists.

Connect


15. Securing Decent Work and Jobs in Financial Services

Securing decent jobs in the financial services is the core aim of Financial Services Union (FSU).

A declining traditional retail banking sector has seen the loss of thousands of decent jobs. These jobs had union recognition, good conditions, pensions and transparent pay structures. Factors such as increased competition and digitalisation, as well as the move towards a European banking union, are placing jobs at risk and also challenging hours of work, job quality and working conditions in the sector.

As a union we are committed to defending our members’ jobs in the traditional banking sector but we also see the urgent need to unionise work elsewhere in the sector to ensure a drive to the top rather than a race to the bottom. We have seen new entrants into the market with cool apps like Revolut but appalling working conditions behind their slick façade. Unless unionised, these companies will not provide a better future for all.

To build a better future for all we need to win fairly paid finance jobs across all of the sector. To do this we need to campaign and organise.

We call on affiliate unions and Congress to support FSU’s growth campaigns in the financial services sector to ensure decent secure employment for working people and their families.

In this regard we congratulate our colleagues in Australia on their successful “change the rules” campaign and we call on Congress and its affiliated organisations, North and South, to campaign for legislative changes to provide for:

1. The right to access and organise working people in their workplace.

2. The right to represent, collectively bargain and be recognised for our members.

3. The right to take meaningful industrial action quickly and effectively if it is required to pursue the interests of our members; and

4. That where a company has received any State support or is contracted by any State Department, Body, Agency, Local Authority or State funded project, that a condition of that support be union recognition.

These changes would greatly enhance the ability of unions to organise and therefore to win greater job security, pay and conditions for workers and their families. They would raise the standard for all workers and transform Ireland from being a low paid hub to an island of decent jobs and decent working conditions for all.

Financial Services Union

16. Industrial Relations in the Energy Sector

Conference notes the increasing industrial relations tensions within the energy sector across the Island of Ireland, and in particular the pressures placed on members as a result of uncertainty on employment security and incomes. We believe that many of these issues stem from failures of the Regulators in both countries to engage properly with Trade Unions. This is in stark contrast to their approach to other stakeholders. We also note with concern that instability within the energy sector in either Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, has all-Ireland significance given the cross border working relationships.

Conference calls on the Executive Council to:

• lobby both energy Regulators, in conjunction with relevant trade unions, to establish and maintain regular forums for unions to engage with them on issues concerning their members ahead of decision making which may impact them;

• to raise awareness with politicians, in conjunction with relevant trade unions, on both sides of the border regarding the issues within the sector, and the impact on our members;

• issue, in conjunction with relevant trade unions, a public statement, highlighting the issues facing our members in the energy sector and the impact on both sides of the border which instability in industrial relations will have;

• establish a permanent and appropriate ICTU forum to consider energy sector issues and support the work of trade unions moving forward in this area, on an all-Ireland basis.

Prospect


17. Industrial Relations Disputes do not Require Legal Approach

As a consequence of the changing role of our statutory mechanisms within the newly formed Workplace Relations Commission and their place in the continuum of equality processes, this Conference commits Congress to strengthen the argument for a need for earlier, interest-based involvement in Equality cases, thus requiring university managements to actively avoid entering into legal approaches to resolve industrial relations disputes.

Irish Federation of University Teachers

18. Exploitation of Seafarers Conference remains deeply concerned at the impact on domestic seafarers from ferry operators’ recruitment of foreign crews on rates of pay below legal minimum wage rates on both sides of the Irish Sea.

For example, Conference notes that Seatruck, Irish Ferries and P&O pay Ratings below the legal minimums in Eire and the UK between Liverpool and Dublin, Holyhead and Dublin and Cairnryan to Larne.

Conference is dismayed that nationality-based pay discrimination against seafarers from EU and non-EU countries continues unabated and has been accentuated by the introduction of new, larger vessels by exploitative employers, recognises that this is a political failure to resist the de-regulation of employment and equality law covering seafarers, whatever their nationality.

Conference also notes the effect that this exploitation has on major employers in the Irish Sea, particularly the largest employer of Irish seafarers Stena Line, who are consistently undercut by competitors’ low-cost crewing practices, especially on international routes which continue to go unchallenged by Governments.

Congress welcomes the arrival of new roll-on roll-off passenger ferries in the Irish Sea on the condition that employment law, including recognition rights for local trade unions, is fully respected and enforced.

Conference agrees to continue to support the campaign to enforce and, if necessary, amend legislation in support of domestic seafaring skills and calls on the Governments of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to formulate a joint policy approach to eliminating seafarer exploitation in the Irish Sea. This joint policy would be designed to establish a level commercial playing field based on minimum domestic employment, equality, immigration and vessel registration standards above the minimum standards established in the Maritime Labour Convention.

Conference remains concerned that nationality-based exploitation of seafarers if left unchallenged will see merchant passenger and freight ferries crewed entirely with foreign seafarers by the beginning of the next decade, causing profound damage to the economic and social fabric, as well as the strategic future of these Islands which would take a generation to repair.

Finally, Conference wholeheartedly reiterates its support for the RMT’s SOS 2020 campaign, particularly the following aims:

1. Equal rights in employment, equality and immigration law for domestic seafarers.

2. ‘Cabotage’ (transport between domestic ports) protections for domestic crew.

RMT

19. Recognition of Qualifications in the Construction Sector

Conference notes the shortage of apprentices in a number of crafts in the construction sector. This is compounded by the fact that employers in the sector are refusing to recognise qualifications as a requirement to employment. Employers have created an industry that celebrates the idea of training and apprenticeships. However, the same employers are ignoring those qualifications as workers pursue employment in the sector.

Employers are seeking to establish a register of employers, contractors, sub-contractors, sub sub–contractors on a statutory footing and have achieved some notoriety on the issue. This will have the effect of normalising bogus self-employed workers as contractors or sub


sub-contractors without seeking to provide qualifications or proof of skills attained in order to gain entry on their register.

Conference calls upon the Executive Council to support the establishment of a register of qualified crafts people. This will create a valued and incentivised apprenticeship and act as a safe guard to the apprenticeship system.

Operative Plasterers and Allied Trades Society of Ireland

20. Payment of WagesThis conference, in the interest of equality, calls for a campaign for the 6 months limit in the Payment of Wages Act 1991 for claiming unpaid wages be abolished and allow workers to claim all arrears due to them as another step in the battle against wage theft.

Connect

21. 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.

Unite

22. Health of WorkersThis conference calls on the incoming Congress Executive to encourage as a matter of policy, that all productivity measures which form part of proposed pay agreements allow that due recognition be given to the health of workers, as prescribed in legislation.

Association of Secondary School Teachers

23. Gender Balance MembershipIn light of the recent gender breakdown of Trade Union membership North and South, conference is resolved to revise all committees and sub-committees of ICTU to ensure positive gender balance and adequate representation of the now majority gender group.

Likewise, conference resolves that, all agreements entered into by Congress are assessed for gender balance and gender proofed prior to Executive Council approval being sought.

Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation Royal College of Midwives

24. Engagement with StudentsConference notes the recent move by Government to exclude History and Geography from the core curriculum whilst also noting the absence of any trade union reference in subjects such as Politics and Society.

Conference further recognises that the movement must counteract the negative effects


created by such limitations within our education curriculum and seek to re-establish a visible and strong presence within our schools and local communities to develop a strong sense of activism and civic engagement amongst our youth population and communities.

It is incumbent on us to work together to rebuild and strengthen the movement for the next generations who will have to live with our legacy defining their lives such as the future of work, automation and climate change.

Whilst we strive to shift the paradigm for those who are already in the workforce we should seek, with the same passion and enthusiasm, to engage and empower our students, who can then shape a positive future for themselves as members and critical thinkers!

Whilst Conference acknowledges the work already undertaken by Congress in schools and the development of good working relations with student unions, it resolves to:

• continue their engagement with all students in Ireland;

• re-establish our presence in schools;

• commit to work more closely with student unions as campaign partners;

• establish and develop sustainable working relations with student unions on a regional basis;

• adequately resource a multi-union programme directed at student education, engagement and empowerment.

Kildare Council of Trade Unions

25. Climate Action & the Need for a Just Transition

Conference notes that the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement can only be realised by way of a Just Transition that ensures:

“…workers, communities, employers and Government (engage) in social dialogue to drive the concrete plans, policies and investments needed for a fast and fair transformation to a low carbon economy and to ensure that employment jobs in the new economy are as decent and as well-paid as those left behind.”

The Paris Climate Agreement makes climate action a binding international obligation for the Irish Government and demands that the principles and ethos of Just Transition underpin the official, policy response.

To meet these targets the Irish Government must raise its ambition and ensure investment in jobs, communities and Just Transition. Lives and livelihoods are being lost to climate change and a world with a temperature increase of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius will be unsafe and unsustainable for all.

Conference welcomes the work of Congress in highlighting these issues in the context of the report produced in conjunction with NERI, on Bord na Móna and Just Transition. The report highlights specific recommendations on investment in green energy initiatives and other areas, to ensure replacement jobs are created, new opportunities are developed and the workers and communities of the Midlands are not disadvantaged by the transition. The case of Bord na Móna is a litmus test of official capacity to deliver a Just Transition and a failure to do so will make the move to a low carbon economy more difficult.

Social dialogue and collective bargaining must be central to the transition to a carbon free world, as set out in the Paris Agreement.

Conference therefore calls upon the Government to:

• undertake long awaited impact assessments on the distribution of costs and benefits of climate change and energy transition policy measures in the context of drawing up our national Integrated Energy & Climate Action Plan, due to be submitted to the European Commission by end of this year;

• establish a Just Transition Commission that ensures all relevant voices are heard and included;

• ensure that any increase in the carbon tax is progressive and mitigates the impact on those with lowest incomes.

Executive Council


26. Duty to Defend the EnvironmentCongress notes that proposals to mine gold in the Sperrin Mountains would cause massive environmental pollution to an area of outstanding natural beauty, and threaten the entire Foyle River system. Congress notes that, rather than create jobs, the proposed mining would damage existing and future sustainable jobs in agriculture, the food industry and tourism.

Congress believes trade unionists have a duty to defend the environment. We believe that the supposed trade-off between jobs and pollution is a dangerous illusion. Congress welcomes the campaigns of opposition from communities in the Sperrins, and pledges support to all genuine community-based campaigns which stand by trade union principles.

Omagh Trades Union Council

27. Crisis in the Retail SectorICTU Biennial Delegate Conference expresses its concern over the crisis on the high street and in the wider retail sector.

Over the past 12 months, the retail sector has been hit by more shop closures than ever and consumer confidence has still not fully recovered from the impact of the financial crisis, as customers continue to cut back on discretionary spending. These factors are compounded as traditional brick-and-mortar shops are facing increasing competition from online retailers.

Irish retail is the country’s largest industry and private sector employer, with 280,000 jobs accounting for 14% of total employment. In Northern Ireland, the retail sector provides a living to around 70,000 people.

Research revealed staggering job losses across the high street in Ireland in 2018, with over 20,000 jobs axed in the first three months of the year.

Conference believes that retail workers have long been undervalued as contributors to the economies of the Republic and Northern Ireland and action needs to be taken to safeguard the future of retail jobs.

There is a clear link between instability on the high street and the reduction in retail employment.

Conference is clear that retail is a crucial part of the economies of both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and therefore calls upon the ICTU to campaign for:

• Urgent investigation and action from the respective Governments to develop an industrial strategy for retail, with focus on levelling the playing field for the high street and online retailers.

• Local governance to introduce measures focussed on increasing footfall in town centres.

• A robust strategy on how to deal with the short and long-term impact of automation on key sectors such as retail. This must include significant investment in skills for retail workers to help tackle the challenges of automation.

Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers

28. Future Potential of Rosslare Europort

That this Conference notes with concern the failure of successive Governments to maximise the strategic potential for Rosslare Europort in relation to its central position as the nearest Irish port to mainland Europe.

Conference calls for the status of the port to be designated by Government as Tier 1 and that EU assistance be sought to develop the port and surrounding area to reflect the status of Ireland as an Island with the economic implications that it brings.

Conference further calls on Government to resolve the issue of the ownership of Rosslare Europort if necessary through international law.

Conference commits to lobby Government to ensure the issue of ownership and control continues within the public sector and that the future development of the port be linked to best practice in local economic and democratic structures.


This asset must always operate in the interest of the Irish people with full recognition of the local communities and the location in which it exists.

Wexford Council of Trade Unions

29. Protecting the Rights of Workers North and South Post-Brexit

Conference notes that at the time of writing, the UK has missed the deadline of 29th March to leave the EU and that the terms of its exit and whether it will exit at all remains unclear. Conference agrees however that regardless of whether or not the UK has left the EU under the terms of Theresa May’s deal; whether or not Article 50 has been extended for a further period; or whether or not a general election or second referendum in the UK have been called, protecting the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts must remain of paramount importance.

Conference believes that too many people have reduced the impact of the UK exit from the EU on the Island of Ireland to the movement of goods across the border. Conference believes that whilst this represents a serious concern in terms of the economic effects of the UK exit from the EU, the UK exit from the EU also raises grave issues affecting the day-to-day lives of our members, their families, their communities and the continuing operation of public services.

Conference particularly notes that the UK exit from the EU threatens the key aspects of the Good Friday Agreement relating to equality of citizenship and parity of esteem. A core principle of the Good Friday Agreement is equality of citizenship, with the Agreement recognising it as the birth right of ‘‘the people born of Northern Ireland’’ to identify and be accepted as Irish or British or both and, accordingly, to hold British or Irish citizenship or both. When considered in light of the equality and parity of esteem provisions within the Agreement, this provides for equal treatment between British and Irish citizens.

Conference believes that the UK exit from the EU will create numerous different categories of citizenship in Northern Ireland, creating borders

between communities that the Good Friday Agreement was meant to bring down.

Conference is concerned that the Common Travel Area, which has been presented as a solution to maintaining freedom of movement for Irish and British citizens across these Islands after the UK leaves the EU is, in the view of both the NI Human Rights Commission and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, ‘‘written in sand’’.

Conference is further concerned that for non-Irish EU citizens, who work on a cross-border basis, including many that provide vital public services in the areas of health, social care and education, there is uncertainty as to how their right to work in Northern Ireland will be maintained whilst they reside in the Republic of Ireland and vice versa. Conference notes that whilst provision exists for these ‘frontier’ workers within the Withdrawal Agreement and a separate UK Government scheme to secure their right to work has been promised, no details of this scheme have been made publically available.

Conference therefore calls on the incoming Executive Council, in line with the positions articulated by Congress in ‘The Implications of a No-Deal Brexit’ (Spring 2019), to continue to campaign in Dublin, Belfast, London and Brussels, in conjunction with affiliates and our allies in the equality and human rights sectors, the TUC and ETUC for:

• legislation to be passed in the UK and the Republic of Ireland that guarantees full equality for both Irish and British citizens in the rights they can access across these Islands and which recognises the particular status of Irish citizens born in Northern Ireland, to protect equality of citizenship under the Good Friday Agreement;

• an international legally binding treaty between the UK and Ireland to fully clarify and protect the rights of British and Irish citizens under the Common Travel Area, including the right to work and access public services across different jurisdictions;

• a transparent scheme to protect the rights of EU frontier workers in Northern Ireland without delay.

UNISON


30. Protection of Workers’ RightsWe at Equity request that all the sister unions at this year’s ICTU Conference join with us to pursue these aims and any others necessary to protect all of our workers in all industries and professions at this difficult time.

We call upon the ICTU:

1. To join with the TUC, STUC and others to ensure that workers’ employment rights, including those relating to rest periods and holiday pay are protected.

2. To campaign on the existing and essential right of free movement for workers.

3. To fight to ensure that lost audio visual industry funding from the EU is matched and guaranteed by the UK Government.

4. To oppose the imposition of a hard border in Ireland.

5. In the event of a NO-DEAL BREXIT, to campaign to protect workers’ careers, incomes and ability to provide for their families.

Equity

31. Workers’ Rights Post-BrexitCongress notes the risk, in a time of great economic and political uncertainty for the voice of workers, expressed through their trade unions, to become marginalised. This makes it essential that in any discussion of future economic development and trade

“deals” the case for workers’ rights within an economy that is built on tax justice, whether at a local, national or international level is heard and advanced.

Congress reiterates its view that in order to deliver justice in terms of fighting economic inequality a radical reform of our trade union laws North and South, that would empower trade union activity, is essential. Such reform, underpinned by: trade union recognition; sectoral collective bargaining and a real living wage would enhance opposition to those who seek to privatise our public services and re-model the economy for the benefit of shareholders not workers. New trade union laws, by offering full employment rights from

day one of employment, would also support workers’ freedom of movement by undermining any “divide and rule” strategy – sometimes rooted in racism and xenophobia – that attacks migrant workers and deflects from the employers’ responsibility for low pay and poor conditions.

NIPSA calls on the ICTU to ensure that, at this time of economic and political uncertainty, irrespective of the shape of future relationships with the European Union, workers’ rights are protected and advanced through full trade union engagement with employers and within the wider political system.

Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance

32. Increases in the Qualifying Age for State Pension

Conference will be aware that in the Republic of Ireland the age at which workers become eligible for the contributory State pension is increasing to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028. The decision to make this change was taken without consultation with workers’ representatives and without consideration of the implications for workers and their families. While increases in the pension age are taking place in many countries, Ireland is currently on course to have the highest pension age in the OECD in 2028. We are going too far, too fast.

Similarly, in the UK, the State pension age has been gradually increased over the past two decades, with the 2017 decision to increase the pension age to 68 between 2037 and 2039, rather than from 2044 as was originally proposed. Nor should workers forget the treatment of thousands of women born in the 1950s who have been affected by changes proposed by the 1995/2011 Pensions Acts, which included plans to increase women’s State pension age.

Congress calls on both Governments to reverse its decision to implement increases to the pension age and commit to engagement with the trade union movement on steps to address the challenges of population ageing and the financial sustainability of the pension system.

Executive Council


33. Participation of Retired Workers

Conference acknowledges and values the work of its Retired Workers Committees and the significant contributions they make to the work of Congress.

Conference is concerned that these Committees cannot participate in delegate conferences, in respect of their inability to send delegates and submit or amend motions and believes this is inconsistent with the stated Objects and Functions of Congress in the promotion of equality and inclusiveness.

Conference requests that the Congress Executive Council would work with the Congress Retired Workers Committees in order to further their active participation in the decision-making processes of Congress and to ensure their fullest possible participation in the work of Congress.


34. Housing Congress believes that the Right to Housing is a fundamental human right.

It calls for an immediate reversal of the failed official housing policy (Rebuilding Ireland) that has resulted in:

• tens of thousands of workers – especially younger workers – being effectively locked out of the housing market, with little prospect of ever being able to afford their own homes or obtain decent, secure accommodation in the rental sector;

• record levels of homelessness, particularly among children and families, in tandem with record housing waiting lists and thousands of hidden homeless forced to live in unsuitable and cramped accommodation;

• profound and very damaging long term consequences for a whole generation of workers, students, people on low and modest incomes, women with children, travellers, people with disabilities and pensioners.

Congress reaffirms support for the Charter for Housing Rights and the principles it sets out, namely:

• Declare a national housing emergency and begin a major programme of public housing construction.

• Establish a legal Right to Housing.

• End evictions to homelessness.

• Establish security of tenure and rent certainty for tenants and develop the ‘cost rental’ model (as set out by NERI).

• Develop a national land management policy commensurate with the Right to Housing and to bring an end to land hoarding and speculation.

Congress notes that these essential principles were contained in a cross-party motion on housing that was overwhelming passed in the Dáil, on 4th October, 2018 and calls on Government to immediately and fully implement all of the measures contained in that motion.

Local authority led delivery of public housing must be central to the successful resolution of the current emergency and Government must ensure that official policy reflects the primary role of local authorities in that capacity, whilst acknowledging that cooperative and not for profit bodies can also play a positive role in the delivery of affordable housing.

Executive Council

35. Housing CrisisThis conference congratulates the Executive Council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for the initiatives it has taken in relation to the crisis of housing facing our people.

The housing crisis is an all-Ireland one but its worst manifestation is to be found in the Republic of Ireland and in particular in the capital city of Dublin.

The Executive Council is to be applauded for its role in bringing together a broad alliance of the trade union movement, political parties and civil society groups, including housing advocates and campaigns, community organisations, tenants’ groups, students’ unions,


women’s organisations, Traveller, migrant and LGBT+ campaigners, social justice and faith-based groups.

This has culminated in the creation of a new campaigning body on housing entitled RAISE THE ROOF. It has successfully put together mass demonstrations, policy conferences and other initiatives which have validated the Executive Council’s strategy of building a coalition of all forces which are prepared to support a simple and reasonable policy platform to tackle the housing crisis.

There is little argument that significant change in official policy is urgently required. Within months the RAISE THE ROOF policy platform, including a major local authority led investment in public housing, an end to forced evictions into homelessness, the legal right to housing, security of tenure and rent control, had become the democratically decided housing policy of Dáil Éireann and of most of the main local authorities. But despite this support from elected representatives, the current Government and local authority managements remain deeply wedded to a failed policy of reliance on the private sector and private profit for housing provision. Policy change will not happen of its own accord and requires a broad and sustained campaign that is politically robust, sufficiently resourced and properly structured.

One of the most important aspects of RAISE THE ROOF is that it works on the principle of treating all the bodies connected with these initiatives on the basis of equality and by arriving at decisions through consensus while simultaneously accepting the autonomy of all the groups involved.

Conference urges the Executive Council to deepen, to widen and to build a massive campaign of all these forces and of all those who are prepared to work for the housing programme of the RAISE THE ROOF campaign.

Dublin Council of Trade Unions

36. Homelessness and the Working Poor

Conference recognises the growth of homelessness in our society and the increasing numbers of people forced to live and shelter on our streets, in cars and even with friends or family. We also recognise that increasing numbers of those without a home or a permanent shelter over their heads come from the working-poor.

Conference notes that this problem is rooted in the austerity policies adopted by Governments in London, Belfast and Dublin; and the greed of landlords and property speculators who are exclusively focussed on making profits even when it means individuals or families being moved out of their homes.

In Northern Ireland the introduction of the Universal Credit regime, made possible by the Executive parties voting back the legal authority for welfare reform to the Tories, has been a total disaster. As it is progressively rolled-out hundreds more have been forced onto the streets as unscrupulous landlords refuse to accept non-payment for the lead-in period of five weeks. We note further that the promised mitigations package which the Executive parties promised would offset the worst effects of welfare reform has proved worthless for those suffering the impact of this brutal social welfare policy.

In the Republic of Ireland, the housing emergency is driven by the sharp rise in property and rental prices as Government has failed to bring forward public housing projects to meet growing demand. This emergency is putting the productive capacity of the economy at risk, threatening the recovery, and causing untold hardship to the thousands of people who cannot access secure and affordable housing.

In both cases, neoliberalism is resulting in unnecessary and avoidable suffering and death on our streets.

The right to a home, or at the very least a shelter, is a fundamental human right acknowledged by the UN and EU Human Rights Charters, the latter was meant to be incorporated into Northern Ireland law under the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement but never was.


Conference commends the ICTU’s Raise the Roof campaign and calls on the incoming ICTU Executive to establish trade union-led campaigns, North and South, to secure the vindication of the basic right to a home:

• Action to ensure no-one is left on our streets – emergency housing through, if necessary, State-led requisitioning of vacant properties.

• Support to meet the mental and physical health needs of those in need who have been forced to live on our streets.

• Imposition of rent-controls on private sector landlords, North and South, to guarantee the affordability of housing for all.

• Programmes of large-scale, State-led public housing development and land acquisition to meet the growing housing shortage, North and South.

Unite

37. Campaign of Industrial Action in relation to Housing Policy

Noting the hardship caused by the worsening of the housing crisis, the ICTU will initiate a campaign of industrial action at national level similar to the action taken in 2005 in support of workers at Irish Ferries, aimed at achieving:

• the right to housing being enshrined in the constitution;

• the declaration of a housing emergency;

• an increase in the social housing stock by means of a major local authority-led public housing construction programme;

• the development of a national land management policy that will end speculation and hoarding and ensure that public land is reserved for public housing;

• action to ensure security of tenure and rent certainty for tenants; and

• a halt to evictions into homelessness.

Waterford Council of Trade Unions

38. Alternative to Rebuilding Ireland Plan

That Congress devises an alternative plan to the Government’s Rebuilding Ireland, as the present plan by Government is not delivering homes for the citizens of Ireland and is totally reliant on the private sector.

Cork Council of Trade Unions

39. Equality Conference commends the ongoing work of Congress and affiliates in protecting and promoting human rights and equality on the Island of Ireland and in building a culture of respect for human rights and equality in our workplaces and trade unions. Rights violations and inequalities are still a feature of our workplaces and societies and we need to build on recent successes (including the repeal of the 8th Amendment and subsequent introduction of abortion services in the Republic of Ireland; the planned introduction of paid parental leave and…) and to continue our efforts in the following areas, including:

• IHREC Group – continue our engagement with IHREC and employers in the advisory group set up by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission to promote a culture of respect for human rights and equality in our workplaces.

• National Strategy for Women and Girls – participate in the monitoring structures for the Strategy to seek to progress the objectives of particular relevance to working women.

• Family Leaves – seek to ensure the passing of the Family Leave Bill leading to the introduction of paid parental leave and longer breastfeeding breaks for working women.

• Gender Pay Gap – ensure the passing of Gender Pay Gap reporting legislation.

• Sexual harassment – commend the work at the ILO towards a new international labour standard on violence and harassment in the world of work and seek its early ratification; and continue to seek to improve the legal protections for victims of sexual harassment.


• Childcare – continue our advocacy with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to ensure the development of the single affordable childcare system equates quality with an agreed set of terms and conditions for those charged with working in the sector.

Conference notes the progress achieved in implementation of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities and urges all stakeholders to use the next phase of the strategy to remove the remaining barriers to equality in recruitment and retention of people with disabilities in employment.

Equality within our unions – to continue to monitor equality within our trade unions and to develop initiatives to improve the diversity in our leadership structures.

In Northern Ireland, Conference notes, with concern, the continued rollback on Equality protections. Even before the collapse of the NI Executive, Stormont had failed to implement important Equality strategies including, among others, an anti-poverty strategy, a gender equality strategy, a sexual orientation strategy and a properly funded childcare strategy.

The failure to re-establish the institutions has meant that long awaited equality regulations on the gender pay gap are still to be drafted and consulted on, some four years since provision was made in Employment Act 2015.

Conference also notes that Northern Ireland continues to have some of the most restrictive and punitive laws on abortion in the world and that a continued failure to legislate for abortion law reform has been recognised as a gross violation of women’s human rights. Same sex marriage is still not legal, despite having the support of the vast majority of the public and the majority of elected MLAs.

Conference calls for immediate action to be taken to legislate for abortion law reform and same sex marriage. Further action must be taken to ensure that Northern Ireland equality protections are safeguarded.

Executive Council

40. Anti-racism CampaignHaving regard to the ever increasing rise in levels of racism in Irish society, the emerging number of organisations and individuals spreading hate speech, the increasing attacks on individuals because of their skin colour or nationality and the arson attacks on proposed accommodation centres for asylum seekers and refugees etc., and being conscious of the detrimental effect of same on our movement, the Irish working class and society in general, Congress resolves to mount a vigorous anti-racism campaign to include:

a) Advertisements in newspapers and other media, on billboards, alongside press releases with a view to interviews on radio and TV talk shows.

b) A school and college campaign, possibly in conjunction with USI, utilising leaflets, brochures and posters etc.

c) A national Anti-Racism Conference.

d) A major national street protest march and rally this year alongside student organisations, anti-racism groups and political organisations with genuine anti-racism policies.

Waterford Council of Trade Unions

41. Reasonable Adjustments/ Accommodations Passport

Congress acknowledges the significant benefit of quality work for disabled people and recognises the valuable contribution that they make to the workplace.

Equality legislation requires employers to make reasonable adjustments or accommodations to enable employees with a disability to carry out their work on an equal footing with others.

A passport system would provide a confidential live record of those adjustments. The passport is for workers to keep and share with anyone they think may need to know about the barriers they face within or outside the workplace and the adjustments that have been agreed to prevent or reduce its impact in the workplace.

A passport system would ensure that everyone is clear about what has been agreed and reduce the


need to reassess these each time an employee changes roles or has a change in line management.

• We call on Congress to establish a model Reasonable Adjustments Passport Policy for use in workplaces and to campaign for the wide use of a passport system.

• Provide training and education for reps on the benefits of the Passport System and equip them with the required tools to negotiate a workplace policy.

• Seek to implement a passport system amongst all public sector employers and amongst affiliates as employers.

GMB

42. Reproductive RightsConference recognises the huge progress in the Republic since the referendum on abortion in May 2018 and welcomes the solidarity shown North and South during the campaign. Conference notes that services and provision of abortion up to 12 weeks have been rolled out since January 2019, is evidence that the Government took the referendum result seriously.

Conference also notes that in England, Scotland and Wales, regulations have been altered so that the prescribed second set of Early Medical Abortion pills can be taken at home, a provision which will positively impact the majority of those in need of a termination, the majority of which occur in the first trimester.

Conference further notes that despite this clear trajectory of progress for reproductive rights, Northern Ireland has been left behind completely. The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) have reiterated once again that devolution should never be a barrier to Human Rights.

Conference calls upon ICTU to fully support the Alliance for Choice campaign calling upon the UK Government to repeal sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Persons Act, to ensure that abortion is free, safe, legal and local for women in Northern Ireland.

Conference further calls on ICTU to lobby Dáil Éireann to remove the barriers to the most marginalised, which include:

• The 3 day wait or ‘cooling off period.’

• The lack of clarity around foetal abnormalities that means there are still abortion seekers travelling to England and beyond.

• The high and prohibitive costs of provision to those in the 6 counties of NI.

Belfast & District Trade Union Council

43. Foster LeaveCongress acknowledges the important service that foster carers play in providing a safe and stable environment for foster children in Ireland. While their role is recognised by the State in terms of fostering allowances, there are no associated leave arrangements in place.

Foster carers must attend meetings and training courses as deemed necessary to meet the requirements of child placements. In that regard leave can only be granted by discretion or is taken in the form of annual or unpaid leave.

Given the urgent need for foster families in the State it is important to recognise their role by providing adequate leave for them to continue this service.

Therefore, conference instructs the incoming National Executive Council to engage with Tusla and the Irish Foster Care Association, as deemed necessary, to campaign for Foster leave legislation to be introduced in the State.

Communications Workers’ Union

44. Reverse the Waiting Time for Disability Benefit

That this Conference calls on the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to reverse the decision in 2015 to increase the waiting time to qualify for disability benefit from three days to six days. This measure was implemented during the financial crisis along with other cuts. It is recognised by all that this financial crisis has ended and, in line with other restorative measures announced in 2018, this decision should be reversed immediately.

Bray Council of Trade Unions


45. Tyred – Old Tyres KillThis Congress notes with sadness that in September 2012, two young people returning from a music festival in England lost their lives when the coach they were travelling in crashed. The driver was also killed.

The crash was caused by a tyre that was nearly 20 years old – this is legal and we must campaign to put an end to it.

There is no legislation in the UK or Ireland to prevent potentially dangerous tyres from being used on coaches, buses or commercial vehicles. Manufacturers recommend tyres should be disposed of after 10 years.

Congress it’s our members driving these vehicles. It’s our comrades, families and friends using coaches without knowing if the tyres are safe or as road users putting themselves at risk if a rogue operator causes an accident. This must end.

Passenger vehicles such as coaches currently operate trust; trust that everything has been done to ensure the safety of their passengers. Passengers have no control over these safety checks, which is why a change in legislation is vital.

Allowing dangerously old tyres to be used endangers countless lives.

We call on ICTU to:

• Develop a campaign to have legislation implemented that would outlaw the use of tyres older than 10 years on commercial and public hire vehicles in all parts of this Island.

• Develop a campaign to encourage all employers, coach operators and authorities to immediately sign up to an ICTU campaign stating that they will not use tyres older than 10 years.

• Encourage affiliates with membership in these areas to ensure that their vehicles are safety checked and ask them to sign up to a Congress pledge that they will not/are not using old tyres.

• Promote amongst affiliates and those hiring coaches to ensure that the operator they are using adheres to strict guidelines around tyre safety.

• Promote awareness of the dangers of old tyres and let people know the steps that they can take to ensure their safety.

The success of this campaign, to ban dangerously old tyres will instantly increase the levels of safety on our roads. Many coach companies do have strict guidelines around tyre safety but rouge operators run dangerous risks. They risk lives to cut costs and only strict legislation will stop them.

GMB

46. Building a Better Future through Educational Justice

In the campaign to build a better future for all, Congress recognises the fundamental importance of public services and, in that context, the centrality and transformative potential of a high-quality public education system informed by principles of justice and equity.

This Biennial Delegate Conference therefore mandates the ICTU to campaign for:

• preservation of the education system at all levels as a public service and public good;

• public investment in education that sustains and improves the quality of the service at all levels;

• specific public investment in higher education by way of application of a levy on corporate profits to generate a dedicated fund;

• deployment of the existing staff and infrastructure of the Education and Training Boards to the provision of new apprenticeships, traineeships and other programmes that meet the economic, social, cultural and developmental needs of learners, communities and other relevant stakeholders;

• targeted, multi-annual investment to address and eradicate educational disadvantage, with a particular emphasis on the disadvantage suffered by learners, primarily children, affected by homelessness;


• customised programmes, interventions and provision to address the needs of marginalised cohorts of learners, including migrants and asylum seekers;

• enhancement of capacity at school, centre and college level to meet the needs of learners with special needs and to achieve meaningful inclusion;

• accessible, free-to-learner progression paths through the various sectors and levels of the public education system;

• curricular provision in compulsory education that is informed by principles of justice and equity;

• meaningful consultation with and involvement of learners (and their parents/guardians, as appropriate) in framing public education policy;

• assessment instruments that enjoy public trust and that are congruent with the objectives of curriculum and with the public good;

• a prohibition on exclusionary practices by any institution that is in receipt of public funds;

• the elimination of gender bias in appointments and in programme provision;

• the elimination of discrimination against teachers appointed on or after 1st January 2011 and the implementation of the measures needed to secure full pay equality between that cohort and their peers who were appointed prior to that date;

• the establishment of an appropriate career structure for those currently referred to as

“tutors” in the Further and Adult sector.

The ICTU is further instructed to pursue these objectives through the Education Sector Committee of Congress, through representatives and/or nominees of Congress on relevant bodies (such as the NCCA, ETBs, governing bodies etc.) and by advocating for an increase in public investment in education at national and EU level.

Teachers’ Union of Ireland

47. Primary School Education1. This Conference recognises the enormous

value of primary education in laying the foundations of learning, and the internationally-acknowledged high quality of the Irish primary education system.

2. However, Conference notes that the most recent comparative report – the OECD’s

“Education at a Glance 2018” – shows that (i) Ireland’s per student expenditure across levels from primary to tertiary education is lowest at primary (Table C1.1); (ii) funding per student at primary level is well below the OECD average (Table C1.1); and (iii) average class size in Irish primary schools is 25, compared with an OECD average of 21 and an EU average of 20 pupils (Table D2.1).

3. Accordingly, Conference demands:

a. A commitment by the Minister for Education and Skills and the Government to reducing primary school class sizes to the EU average within the coming five years by way of annual revision of the staffing schedules.

b. Designated disadvantaged (DEIS) schools to have significantly preferential class size provisions.

c. That class size reductions and teacher supply issues are addressed in consultation with unions in the context of falling enrolments in primary schools from 2019 onwards.

d. The immediate restoration of capitation funding to its 2009 level of €200 per pupil.

e. Provision of required supports for school Principal Teachers and greater investment in all categories of school leadership; and

f. The direct payment by the Department of Education and Skills of all non-teaching staff, such as school secretaries and caretakers.

Irish National Teachers’ Organisation


48. Health Services Funding CrisisHealth Services in Ireland North and South are under extreme pressure, facing a funding crisis and significant difficulties in recruiting and retaining an adequate workforce. Waiting times in ED departments and waiting lists for first outpatient appointments are at unacceptable levels with people continuing to suffer with a range of conditions which deteriorate until they require emergency care. Health services are creaking under the pressure with heavy reliance on the good will of the workforce to ensure that essential public services are able to function. The urgent requirement to transform is clearly recognised but with continuing austerity and lack of political direction this agenda is being hindered.

Calls on Congress to:

a) continue pressure on Governments to guarantee that appropriate long-term funding is made available to ensure that Health and Social Care Services are able to deliver the high-quality care that the people of Ireland deserve, on a need not ability to pay basis;

b) campaign to ensure that Government and employers take urgent action to ensure the recruitment of an appropriately skilled workforce which is supported and retained;

c) build on existing co-operation across our Island for secure delivery.

Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation Royal College of Midwives

49. Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme

The Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme made fifty recommendations to be implemented in light of the failures highlighted by the scandal.

A Review in March 2019 by the report’s author Dr Gabriel Scally noted that the “deeply flawed” open disclosure policy that existed prior to the scandal remains in place despite the Scally investigation recommendation that the HSE open disclosure policy and guidance be revised in line with the Report recommendations as a matter of urgency.

This Conference calls on the ICTU Executive Council:

• To support the implementation of a full disclosure policy whereby women - as patients - have the right to full knowledge about their health care, as and when they wish and most particularly, the right to be informed about any failings in that care process as soon as health staff are so aware, as recommended by the Scally Report.

• To lobby for the cessation of outsourcing of the cervical smear testing to out-of-Ireland jurisdictions and support Irish based laboratories – preferably public – to handle the screening tests.

• To lobby Government to recommence the offer to have an expedited or early free second test – with results available within a short timescale – for women who may be worried or concerned.

• To lobby Government to adequately resource the screening programme with the necessary medical staff and administrative supports to deliver a quality service to Irish women.

Galway Council of Trade Unions


50. Abuse of Education Workers on Social Media

Conference despairs at the extreme rise in the abuse of schools and individual teachers and support staff on social media. Conference further despairs at the apparent refusal of the Employing Authorities to provide clear support and guidance to Boards of Governors when members of staff are faced with such damaging and harmful situations and to address this issue in a serious and robust manner. Conference demands that strict measures are put in place as a matter of urgency to protect the mental health and reputations of teachers, principals and support staff subjected to such behaviour. Conference further demands that the ICTU Executive exerts pressure where necessary to ensure that accountability for such behaviour is enshrined in legislation.

Ulster Teachers’ Union

51. Free Public TransportConference notes the many societal problems across the Island of Ireland; from unemployment, job insecurity, and homelessness, rural isolation to ghettoisation, deprivation, poverty and inequality. This conference agrees that urbanisation and centralisation of public services and employment, without consideration of public transport infrastructure further compounds these problems. The importance of free public transport to alleviate these issues cannot be underestimated.

Fully funded, free public transport, provided by the public sector would remove the significant barriers to social and economic inclusion of the Island’s citizens from the elderly to the young, those in rural areas to cities. It will provide secure employment. It will connect communities. It will help create a greener environment and tackle climate change.

Conference recognises the excellent work of ICTU and affiliates to tackle these issues through extensive campaign work; Better Work, Better Lives, Housing as a Right, Working Time Rights etc.

Conference instructs the incoming Executive Council to develop an All-Ireland campaign; for an expanded, fully integrated, green, publicly owned, fully accessible public transport system that is ultimately free for all at the point of use, to include:

• To expand access to free public transport, for the elderly, young, disabled and unemployed.

• Public ownership of the public transport system.

• Green investment into public transport infrastructure.

• Expansion of the public transport system, to include new much needed routes to connect to and from the North West of Ireland.

• Provide research of the benefits of free public transport from NERI.

• Decent pay and working conditions for all workers in public transport.

Public and Commercial Services Union

52. The Rise of the Far Right and the Need for a Robust Trade Union Response

Conference notes with some alarm the rise of the far right across the world. The emergence of these political forces indicates a growing disenchantment with the idea of globalisation, a democratic deficit and has resulted in declining respect for international norms, as is evidenced by the level of external interference in countries democracies, such as Venezuela in 2019. Self-interest, lack of solidarity, greed, xenophobia and racism combine to create an environment for the rise of right-wing political parties and populism, as well as a retreat into nationalism.

In this important year marking the centenary of the ILO, Congress and affiliate trade unions need to promote the social justice objective of this important international institution, including through its tripartite mechanisms, supervisory role and crucial work in respect of other international institutions. We need to join our colleagues worldwide in seeking to improve its functioning in the interests of working


people. Priority must be given to the ILO within the global governance system in order to make full use of its potential to address the real concerns of workers and their trade unions.

Conference calls for reform of the multilateral system to ensure human rights, shared prosperity through implementation of the sustainable development goals, and an end to the orthodox conditionality of international institutions that have driven austerity with attacks on collective bargaining, minimum wages, public services and social protection – something which we are all too familiar with on this Island.

The flow of migrants is related to many structural causes including climate change, demographic trends, urbanisation, lack of decent jobs, poverty, persecution, war, social and political unrest. Many people do not leave their homelands seeking prosperity, but rather survival. The right to seek asylum is a fundamental human right that must be safeguarded. For migrant workers and refugees, the xenophobia being amplified by the extremes of politics is putting at risk the lives and the livelihoods of 150 million people who just want safe haven and the right to work. Despite the contribution to their new countries, many face exploitation, discrimination and violence and lack even the most basic protections.

Conference commends the work of affiliates organising migrant workers and for supporting the campaign to get asylum seekers here the right to work and will continue to campaign against abuse and oppression of migrants. We will continue to take the fight against racism to every workplace.

The Migrant Worker Conventions C97 and C143 and the UN Convention on the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families are key instruments for the organisation and protection of migrant workers, and Conference urges Congress and affiliate trade unions to actively campaign for their ratification.

Conference also notes the significant 2018 agreement of the Global Compacts on Migration and Refugees. Their implementation includes commitments to do so in cooperation and partnership with migrants, civil society, trade unions and other relevant stakeholders.

Member States are also encouraged to develop ambitious national responses and to conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national level. Conference requests Congress and affiliate unions to ensure that such actions are taken here.

Executive Council

53. Rise of Far RightCongress notes that across the world Far Right political parties have made major gains at all political levels. The Far Right Movement has cynically fed off the fallout from the worldwide recessions and the refugee crisis with thousands fleeing war torn countries in search of a better life. They have sought to mobilise across the UK and Ireland on the back of fears surrounding immigration and shaped the most toxic elements of the Brexit debate.

It is important that the Trade Union Movement unite against the rise of the Far Right ensuring that all citizens, irrespective of where they were born are welcomed and have the same right (to access jobs, services etc.) and call Ireland North and South their home.

Congress calls on all affiliates to ensure that there is a united opposition to all Far Right groups. This means not only trade union opposition to the presence of the Far Right on the streets but also a determined challenge to the poison of Far Right propaganda in

‘mainstream’ debate.

This Congress also calls for a training programme to be developed and delivered both North and South to educate all representatives on the issues which have given rise to the causes and growth in racism and how to challenge it in the workplace and wider society.

Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance


54. Labour Rights: Strengthening the ILO

This BDC notes that 2019 marks the centenary of the foundation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The founding principle of the ILO: that universal, lasting peace can be established only if it is based on social justice is as relevant today as it was 100 years ago.

The ILO was born out of a desire for global peace in the aftermath of World War Two.

In celebrating the centenary, we note with alarm the growing threat to social justice from the rise of extreme right parties and those who seek to undermine human rights, including the rights of all workers.

BDC commends the ILO’s seven Centenary Initiatives, set out under the headings:

• The future of work initiative.

• The end of poverty initiative.

• The women at work initiative.

• The green initiative;

• The stands initiatives.

• The enterprise initiative.

• The governance initiative.

BDC notes that the four pillars of the UN’s Decent Work Agenda – employment creation, social protection, rights at work, and social dialogue are recognised as integral elements of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Goal 8 of that Agenda calls for the promotion of sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work.

While the Organisation has played a significant role in seeking to defend workers throughout its history, the parameters within which it is required to operate undermine the ability of the ILO to hold to account multinational companies with vast resources who exercise far greater economic power than most Governments in the world.

Currently the ILO can only make determinations in respect of Governments. This severely limits

the ability of the ILO to promote social justice, with reference to social protection, wages, secure work and gender equality.

Conference calls on the ICTU, in conjunction with the ITUC and affiliates, to:

• Campaign for fundamental reforms which would allow the ILO to make determinations in respect of employers and not only Governments.

• Examine how best the ILO may be used to further campaigns for the achievement of gender equality and the elimination of workplace discrimination.

• Support the campaign of the ITUC and European Trade Union Congress for inclusion of Health and Safety standards in the list of labour rights.

• Campaign for ILO action on the outcome of the ILO Global Dialogue Forum 2014, with special reference to the abuse of unpaid workers and interns in the media industry.

National Union of Journalists

55. Solidarity with VenezuelaConference rejects the Trump administration’s position of ‘regime change’ in Venezuela, which is illegal under international law. Comments from Trump himself, VP Pence, and Secretary of State Pompeo amongst others have included threats of military action, and invoked the possibility of a right-wing military coup. There are increasingly harsh US sanctions on Venezuela, described by former United Nations rapporteur Alfredo de Zayas as ‘economic warfare,’ that hit ordinary Venezuelans the hardest.

Since 1998, Venezuela has had more democratic elections than any country in the world. President Chavez’s and his successor Maduro’s policies have won each time. Those policies have accelerated progress, devolved power to communities and re-distributed wealth. The economic war imposed by the US and others on the Venezuelan Government and people are aimed at undermining these advances.

The future of Venezuela is a matter for Venezuelans alone to determine. The far-right Governments of Trump and Brazil’s Bolsonaro


offer no hope to Venezuela or to the majority of people in Latin America. Whatever views people hold on Venezuela, there is no justification for backing the US attempt at regime change under way, which, if successful, could go the way of the disastrous interventions in Iraq and Libya. US interventions also have a bloody history in Latin America itself, including with previous US backed coups and military juntas, such as in Chile under Pinochet.

The way forward in Venezuela is the call for dialogue from Mexico, Bolivia, Uruguay and others, and a negotiated peaceful settlement endorsed by the people of Venezuela.

Therefore conference calls on ICTU to:

• Campaign against US intervention in Venezuela for ‘regime change’ whether through military action or support for a right-wing coup.

• Campaign for the lifting of the illegal and inhuman economic sanctions on Venezuela.

• Lobby the Irish and British Governments to recognise the legitimacy of the democratically elected President Nicolas Maduro’s Government and to reject the attempted coup by Guaidó and his supporters in the Trump regime. Both Governments should be called upon to reject Guaidó as interim president and to refuse to engage with his diplomatic mission.

• Raise awareness of the true situation in Venezuela across the trade union movement through the ICTU Global Solidarity Committee.

Belfast & District Trade Union Council


Standing Orders Committee Report Number 1

Tuesday 2nd July, 2019 Opening Session

Opening Session of Conference

1. Time of Sessions 1.1 The time of the various conference

sessions will be as follows:

• Tuesday 2 July 2019 from 09:30 to 17:30hrs;

• Wednesday 3 July 2019 from 09:30 to 17:00hrs;

• Thursday 4 July 2019 from 09:30 to 13:30hrs unless the business of Conference is concluded earlier.

Conference will adjourn at 13:00 on each day for lunch and will recommence at 14:30.

2. The Election of Officers and Ordinary Members of the Congress Executive Council and the Congress Standing Orders Committee.

2.1 The Standing Orders Committee notes that Congress has received nominations for the Officer positions as follows:

• Congress has received 1 nomination for the positon of President and Gerry Murphy is therefore deemed elected.

• Congress has received 2 nominations for the two Vice-President positions. Kevin Callinan and Alison Millar are therefore deemed elected.

• Congress has received 1 nomination for the position of Treasurer and Joe Cunningham is therefore deemed elected.

2.2 The Standing Orders Committee notes that Congress has received 34 nominations for election as ordinary members of the Congress Executive Council. There are 30 seats to be filled. The election of the ordinary members of the Executive Council will be conducted using the single transferable vote system. The Congress Constitution requires that this election must result in the election of at least eight women. In the event that the outcome of the election of the 30 ordinary members of the Executive Council results in less than eight women being elected then

the following procedure shall apply. The last man to be ‘elected’ amongst the 30 should be replaced by the last woman to be 'eliminated'. In the event that this does not result in eight women being elected then the second last man to be ‘elected’ should be replaced by the second last woman to be ‘eliminated’ and so on until the minimum requirement of eight women members is met.

2.3 The Standing Orders Committee notes that Congress has received 2 nominations for the position on the Congress Executive Council reserved for a person to represent Trades Councils. An election will be held to fill this seat.

2.4 The Standing Orders Committee notes that Congress has received 6 nominations for the Congress Standing Orders Committee. There are 5 seats to be filled. One of the nominees, Alison Regan, was nominated by the Dublin Council of Trade Unions. Paragraph 4(ii) of the Standing Orders of Congress provides that only a Trade Union entitled to representation at Biennial Delegate Conference can nominate persons for election to the Standing Orders Committee, therefore, Alison Regan cannot contest this election as she has not been nominated by a Trade Union entitled to do so. The remaining nominees, Joan Gaffney, Kieran Jack McGinley, Michael Gillespie, Billy Hannigan and Denis Keatings are therefore deemed elected.

The Congress Constitution and Standing Orders provide that two people may be elected as substitute members of the Standing Orders Committee. The filling of these substitute positions will be a matter for the incoming Executive Council.

3. Ballot Papers 3.1 The arrangements for the exchange of

credential stubs and the issuing of voting cards and ballot papers will be as follows:

• Credential stubs will be exchanged for voting cards commencing from 14:30 on Tuesday 2 July 2019 until 11.00 on


Wednesday 3 July 2019. Each delegate must personally exchange his or her credential stub for a voting card.

• Ballot Papers for the election of Ordinary Members of the Executive Council and for the Local Reserved Panel will be issued on Wednesday 3 July 2019 from 11:00 to 15:00.

• Each union will be asked to nominate a principal delegate who, in exchange for the voting cards, will collect the ballot papers from a polling station situated away from the main conference hall.

• On completion, ballot papers should be returned to the ballot boxes in the polling station by the individual delegates or by the principal delegate in accordance with union practice, before 15:00 hours on Wednesday 3 July 2019.

• The results of the election will be announced during the conference proceedings during the morning of Thursday 4 July 2019.

4. Motions and Amendments 4.1 The Standing Orders Committee has

examined the motions and the amendment submitted by affiliated organisations.

4.2 The Standing Orders Committee wishes to draw attention to motion number 7 Murder of Lyra McKee standing in the name of the National Union of Journalists. We wish to advise that this motion was received by Congress following the deadline for the submission of motions. The motion was submitted as an emergency motion as the events referred to in the motion occurred following the closing date for the submissions on motions. The motion is in order. The Standing Orders Committee is of the view that because this motion is a motion of consequence, we have taken the unusual step of including this emergency motion in the agenda for conference. It is proposed that this motion be taken as the last motion on the morning of the 2 July 2019 and if any organisation would like to propose an amendment to this motion they should submit same to Standing Orders before 11:45 on 2 July 2019.

4.3 The Standing Orders Committee rules that Motion 37 standing in the name of

the Waterford Trades Council (Campaign of Industrial Action in Relation to Housing Policy) is not in order as it not possible for Congress to organise a campaign of industrial action as required by the motion.

4.4 The Standing Orders Committee rules that all the remaining motions and amendment in the final agenda are in order.

4.5 The Standing Orders Committee wishes to draw to the attention of delegates the rules relating to speaking time as set out in the Standing Orders of Congress. The proposer of a motion or amendment shall be allowed five minutes maximum and each subsequent speaker three minutes maximum. The Standing Orders Committee may seek the agreement of the Chairperson to further limit speaking time in order that the business of conference can be concluded.

5. Suspension of Standing Orders5.1 In the interest of orderly and effective

conduct of business, the Standing Orders Committee draws the attention of delegates and affiliated organisations to the provisions of paragraph 12 of Standing Orders, as follows,

• “A motion to suspend Standing Orders must be submitted in writing to the Chairperson by the proposer and seconder who are delegates to Conference. It must specify the Standing Orders to be suspended and the period of suspension. It must state reasons of urgency and importance, and if the suspension is sought for the purpose of giving consideration to a matter not on the Agenda, the reason for not submitting such matter by way of a motion in accordance with Standing Orders. A Motion to suspend Standing Orders may not be adopted except:

a. with the permission of the Chairperson; and

b. with the consent of two thirds of the delegates voting on the motion.”

6. Conference Sessions 6.1 Time periods have been allocated in the

agenda for BDC for the consideration of specific topics as detailed in the Executive Council Report. Motions related to these


topics will be taken during these time periods. If there is any time left over after the completion of the specified business, Conference will proceed to deal with other business as appropriate.

6.2 Motions have been grouped and votes on motions will be taken as indicated in the Timetable of Business.

6.3 Delegates are asked to especially note that there is a private session scheduled during BDC. During this session only accredited delegates will be admitted to the conference hall. The Private Session is scheduled to be held on Tuesday 2nd July, 2019 from 16.30 to 17.30. Conference will break at 16.15 on Tuesday 2nd July, 2019 for 15 minutes to facilitate participation in this session of Conference by accredited delegates.

7. Distribution of Materials at BDC 7.1 Affiliates and delegates to BDC are

reminded of the requirement to seek the permission of the Standing Orders Committee in advance of the distribution of any material to delegates during the course of the BDC. Particular attention is drawn to the prohibition in the conference venue of the display of banners, posters and of other material that may cause offence.

8. General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)

8.1 There will be a photographer present and the Biennial Delegate Conference taking photos of guest speakers, delegates and observers. These photographs will be stored by Congress in the cloud and on our servers, and may be uploaded to our website and our Flickr account. We may use these images in publications and to promote the work that Congress is involved in. If you have any objection to having your photograph taken, stored or used in this manner please contact [email protected] and speak to a member of the Congress staff at the Biennial Delegate Conference.

9. Fraternal Guests and Speakers9.1 The following people have been invited to

address Conference:

• The Lord Mayor of Dublin.

• The President of Dublin Trades Council.

• An Taoiseach, Mr Leo Varadkar, TD.

• The General Secretary of the STUC.

• A speaker on behalf of the Congress Youth Committee.

• Mrs Mary Robinson.

• A speaker on behalf of the Congress Centres Network.

• The Deputy General Secretary of the ETUC.

• Speakers on behalf of the Congress Retired Workers Committee.

• A speaker on behalf of the Congress Women’s Committee.

• A speaker on behalf of the Congress Disability Committee.

• Mr. Matt Frei.

• The Director of Campaigns and Communications ITUC.

• A speaker on behalf of the Congress Global Solidarity Committee.

9.2 Affiliates and delegates to conference are reminded that guest speakers are attending conference at the invitation of Congress and therefore should be afforded the same respect as any other speaker at the BDC.

Standing Orders Committee, L to R: Dennis Walshe, (Fórsa), Annette Dolan, (TUI), Kieran Jack McGinley, Chair (SIPTU) and Joan Gaffney, (Mandate). Missing from photo is Denis Keatings, (Unison)


Nominations to BDC2019

POSITION NOMINEE MEMBER OF NOMINATED BY

President Gerry Murphy INTO INTO

Vice President (Two Positions)

Kevin Callinan FÓRSA FÓRSA/INTO/SIPTU

Alison Millar NIPSA NIPSA

Treasurer Joe Cunningham SIPTU SIPTU

Executive Council Ordinary Panel

Ciaran Rohan AHCPS AHCPS

Kieran Christie ASTI ASTI

Sean Heading Connect Connect

Paddy Kavanagh Connect Connect

Steve Fitzpatrick CWU CWU

Fionnuala Ní Bhrógáin CWU CWU

David Kennedy CWU UK CWU UK

Gareth Murphy FSU FSU

Bernard Harbor FÓRSA FÓRSA

Angela Kirk FÓRSA FÓRSA

Eoin Ronayne FÓRSA FÓRSA

David Hughes INMO INMO

Phil Ní Sheaghdha INMO INMO

John Boyle INTO INTO

Mary Magner INTO INTO

Deirdre O’Connor INTO INTO

Noel Ward INTO INTO

John Douglas MANDATE MANDATE

Joan Gaffney MANDATE MANDATE

Gerry Light MANDATE MANDATE

Justin McCamphill NASUWT NASUWT

Brian Booth NIPSA NIPSA

Séamus Dooley NUJ NUJ

John Clinton POA POA

Ethel Buckley SIPTU SIPTU

John King SIPTU SIPTU

Gerry McCormack SIPTU SIPTU

Annette Dolan TUI TUI

Patricia McKeown UNISON UNISON

Anne Speed UNISON UNISON

Brendan Ogle UNITE UNITE

Jackie Pollock UNITE UNITE

Nominations to BDC201944

POSITION NOMINEE MEMBER OF NOMINATED BY

Michala Lafferty USDAW USDAW

Jacquie White UTU UTU

Executive Council Local Reserved Panel

Paddy MackelBelfast & District Trades Union Council

Belfast & District Trades Union Council

Betty Tyrrell-CollardDublin Council of Trade Unions


Standing Orders Alison ReganDublin Council of Trade Unions


Billy Hannigan FÓRSA FÓRSA

Joan Gaffney MANDATE MANDATE

Kieran Jack McGinley SIPTU SIPTU

Michael Gillespie TUI TUI

Denis Keatings UNISON UNISON


Fringe Events at BDC2019

TUESDAY 2nd JULY, 2019

Tuesday – Lunchtime – 1.00pm

VENUE – SALMON THEATRE , HAMILTON BUILDING, TRINITY COLLEGE

Co-Operation within Communities in the 21st CenturyCo-operatives are people-centred enterprises jointly owned and democratically controlled by and for their members to realise their common socio-economic needs and aspirations. As enterprises based on values and principles, similar to those which we espouse within the trade union movement, they put fairness and equality first allowing people to create sustainable enterprises that generate long-term jobs and prosperity. Managed by producers, users or workers, cooperatives are run according to the ‘one member, one vote’ rule. The most well-known co-operative organisation in Ireland is the credit union.

The aim of this workshop is to raise awareness about the importance of co-operatives as an alternative to current economic organisation and service provision, highlight the work of this movement in Ireland and outline the impact co-operatives can have on local communities. As part of our work to reconnect the trade union movement locally, it is hoped that this workshop will stimulate ideas about how the Trades Councils network can engage with both the co-operative movement and their local community.

Speakers: Panel speakers will include a researcher from the UCC Centre for Co-operative Studies, the Policy and Communications Manager from Co-Operative Housing and a member of a Worker Co-operative.

Refreshments will be available and limited to 40 people.

Tuesday – Lunchtime – 1.00pm

VENUE – SYNGE THEATRE, HAMILTON BUILDING, TRINITY COLLEGE

Trade Union Friends of PalestineCampaigning in solidarity with the Palestinian people

What about the Children?This meeting addresses the multiple ways in which Palestinian children are victims of well-designed measures of control and repression by the Israeli state. This disturbing aspect of the occupation is now being increasingly highlighted by influential NGOs and by inter-state bodies like UNICEF. In 2013 UNICEF declared that ‘Ill-treatment of Palestinian children in the Israeli military detention system appears to be wide-spread, systematic and institutionalised’.

Presentations will focus on how TUFP facilitates a trade union response to this – by organising delegations to Palestine, by learning about the barriers to education and healthy development under military occupation, and by bringing this information back to the trade union movement.

The meeting will be chaired by Patricia McKeown, chairperson of TUFP, and Regional Secretary, UNISON.

Refreshments will be available and limited to 40 people.


WEDNESDAY 3rd JULY, 2019

Wednesday – Lunchtime – 1.00pm

VENUE – SALMON THEATRE, HAMILTON BUILDING, TRINITY COLLEGE

Speaking Up Safely in the Workplace – Transparency InternationalThe Protected Disclosures Act 2014 introduced greater protection for workers who raise concerns of wrongdoing in the workplace. However, making the decision to speak up is still extremely difficult for many people. Under the legislation, Trade Union officials may receive disclosures from workers. Facilitated by Transparency International Ireland, this practical workshop will outline the key protections afforded to workers under the legislation and provide information on support available through the Speak Up Helpline and the Integrity at Work programme, a multi-stakeholder initiative helping to create supportive working environments for anyone to raise concerns of wrongdoing.

Speakers: Stephanie Casey, Integrity at Work Programme Manager, Transparency International Ireland.

Lauren Kierans (Barrister-at-Law), Transparency International Ireland Associate.

Light lunch will be served on a first come first served basis and limited to 40 people.


VENUE – LIBERTY HALL

EU Militarisation, PESCO and Irish NeutralityFrank Keoghan, President of Connect Trade Union will make a presentation to this Fringe event which will take place in Room 207 in Liberty Hall. He may be assisted by Professor John Maguire.


VENUE – MAXWELL THEATRE, HAMILTON BUILDING, TRINITY COLLEGE

A new Social Contract for the Future of Work – Global Solidarity CommitteeThe Future of Work is a major topic for the 2019 Centenary Conference of the ILO 10–21 June.

Trade unions will be fighting for a strong and relevant ILO Declaration to include:

• The renewal of the social contract and endorsement of a Universal Labour Guarantee;

• Reaffirming that full, sustainable and decent employment must be a central policy objective nationally and internationally;

• Recognition of safety and health at work as a fundamental principle and right at work.

Come along and hear the results of the discussions and how the Irish Trade Union movement can use the outcome to seek a better

“Future of Work” here in Ireland.

Speaker: Tim Noonan, ITUC Director and leader of programme of work on the Future of Work.

Light lunch will be served on a first come first served basis and limited to 40 people.

Wednesday Lunchtime – 1.00pm

VENUE – TRINITY CITY HOTEL, PEARSE STREET (5 MINS FROM CONFERENCE CENTRE)

To a Fairer Future – NERI Following the publication of his book: ‘An Ireland Worth Working For’, Dr Tom Healy will offer some thoughts on how economic policy, education and training in the movement and awareness might develop in the future.

Speaker: Tom Healy

Refreshments will be provided.

Fringe Events at BDC201948

O’Reilly

Institute

LloydInstitute

SNIAM

S

SportsCentre

ScienceG

allery

BusinessSchool

TrinityC

ity Hotel

Watts

Building

PanozInstitute

Chemistry

The Pavilion

Moyne Institute

Samuel

BeckettCentre

PARLIAMEN

TSQ

UARE

Dublin

Dental

Hospital

Zoology

Smurfit

Institute

James

Ussher

Library

BerkeleyLibrary

LeckyLibrary

Old Library

LongRoom

H

ub

ArtsBuilding

Dining

Hall

Gate

Museum

Building Áras anPhiarsaigh

Gate

PEARSE STREET

NAUSSAU STREET

GRAFTON STREET

WESTMORELAND STREET

SUFFOLK STREET

COLLEGE STREET

WESTLAND ROW

Pearse StD

ARTStation

FrontG

ate

DAWSON STREET

KILDARE STREET

Ham

iltonBuilding

Rugby G

round

College Park

New

Square

Library

Square

Botany

Tennis C

ourtsB

ay

Fellows’

Square

Trinity College and Surrounding Area

Agenda

DUBLIN 2–4 JULY

Irish Congress of Trade Unions Northern Ireland Committee31/32 Parnell Square Irish Congress of Trade UnionsDublin 1, D01 YR92 45–47 Donegall StreetIreland Belfast BT1 2FG, Northern Ireland

Tel: +353 1 8897777 Tel: 02890 247940Fax: + 353 1 8872012 Fax: 02890 246898Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]: www.ictu.ie Web: www.ictuni.org

PRINTED BY TRADE UNION LABOUR

Follow us @irishcongress #BDC19

Documents

Agenda - ICTUElection of Tellers (Six) Election of Scrutineers (Six) Adoption of Standing Orders Reports No. 1, and No. 2 Address by Congress President Introduction of Executive Council