Biennial Delegate Conference 25-26 March 2020

Organising for change

Northern Ireland Committee Irish Congress of Trade Unions

Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Killyhevlin Hotel, Fermanagh 25th-26th March 2020

3 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Membership

Membership of the Northern Ireland Committee 2018-20

Chairperson G Murphy INTO Vice-Chairperson A Millar NIPSA Members J Pollock UNITE D Harte Craigavon Trades Council J White UTU D Kennedy CWU K Clarke UCU P Wolfe PCS D Walker GMB A Speed UNISON P McKeown UNISON N McNally SIPTU P Mackel GMB J McCamphill NASUWT M Lafferty USDAW T Trainor UNITE J Quinn FBU M Morgan NIPSA Ex-Officio S Nunan President ICTU (July 17 to 2019) P King General Secretary ICTU O Reidy Asst. General Secretary Observers M Galloway Retired Workers Committee S Harvey Youth Committee

Attendance At Meetings At the time of preparing this report 20 meetings were held during the 2018-20 period. The following is the attendance record of the NIC members:

J Pollock 3 M Morgan 12 K Clarke 9 D Kennedy 8 N McNally 16 P Mackel 17 A Millar 17 J Quinn 3 J McCamphill 17 P Wolfe 9 M Lafferty 14 A Speed 20 T Trainor 19 J White 13 P McKeown 16 G Murphy 19 D Harte 16 D Walker 13

4 Contents

SECTION TITLE PAGE TIMETABLE 6 A INTRODUCTION 9 B CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS 13 C TRADE UNION ORGANISATION 19 D TRADE UNION EDUCATION, TRAINING 35 AND LIFELONG LEARNING E POLITICAL & ECONOMIC REPORT 41 F MIGRANT WORKERS 79 G EQUALITY & HUMAN RIGHTS 85 H INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS & EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS 99 I HEALTH AND SAFETY 107

APPENDIX TITLE PAGE 1 Standing Orders 111 2 Motions 117

5 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Timetable

Timetable Motion 4 Age Discrimination Legislation NIC (for Retired Workers Wednesday 25th March 2020 Committee) SESSION 1: 10.30am – 1pm Motion 5 New Decade New Fraternal Greetings Approach Fermanagh Council of Trade Unions PCS Conference Opening Motion 6 New Decade must have Chair of Fermanagh Council genuinely New Approach UNISON Conference Arrangements Committee Motion 7 New Decade New Report no 1 (circulated) Approach Belfast & District Trade Union Conference Arrangements Council Committee Report No. 2 (to be circulated if Guest Speaker appropriate) Deputy First Minister Address Appointment of tellers and Together with Sections C and E of scrutineers the Report

President of ICTU and Chairperson of NIC Address Lunch: 1pm – 2.15pm Gerry Murphy Fringe Meetings General Secretary’s Address (refreshments available) Patricia King 1. ‘Everyone Out’ – the right to Section A of BDC Report strike as a tool for industrial Section B 2018 Conference action. Resolutions 2. A Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland – where to now? Political Situation

Motion 1 Trade Union Relations SESSION 2: 2.15pm – 5.30pm with Devolved Stormont Institutions Employment Rights NIC Motion 2 Congress Input into EU/ Motion 8 Minimum Wage UK Future Relationship Differentials UNISON UNITE Motion 3 Working Without Fear or Motion 9 Repeal Anti Trade Union Threats Laws NUJ Derry Council of Trades Unions

6 Motion 10 Employment Rights Motions on Health PCS Motion 19 Better Mental Health Motion 11 Maintaining and Awareness and Support for Trade improving workers’ entitlements Union Representatives and the right to strike SOR NIC Motion 20 Suicide Prevention Fraternal Greetings from Wales Fermanagh Council of Trades TUC unions

Motions on Employment Rights Motion 21 Challenging the Mental cont. Health and Suicide Crisis UNISON Motion 12 Industrial Relations in Further Education Motion 22 Closing the Gap in the UCU Provision of Perinatal Mental Health Services Motion 13 Retired Workers RCM Fermanagh Council of Trade Unions Together with sections H and I of the Report Motion 14 Exploitation of Seafarers RMT Conference adjourns Motion 15 Right to Disconnect FSU Motion 16 Sexual Harassment NASUWT Motion 17 Tackling Sexual Harassment in the Workplace GMB Motion 18 New Technology in the Retail Sector USDAW

Assistant General Secretary’s Address Owen Reidy

7 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Timetable

Timetable Lunch: 1pm – 2.15pm Fringe meetings: Thursday 26th March 2020 Trade Union Friends of Palestine Session 3: 9.30am – 1pm Just Transition, Nevin Economic Education Research Institute. Motion 23 Safe Staffing INTO Session 4: 2.15pm – 5.30pm Motion 24 Fair Employment for Teachers Economic and Social Rights contd. NASUWT Motion 31 Support Community Motion 25 School Funding Campaigns UTU Craigavon Trades Council Motion 26 Tuition Fees Motion 32 Housing UCU Belfast and District Trades Council Motion 33 Automation Guest Speaker SIPTU ICTU Vice President Kevin Motion 34 Universal Credit for Self Callinan Employed Workers Economic and Social Rights Equity Motion 27 Public Sector Motion 35 Public Sector Pay UNITE NIPSA Motion 28 Climate Change NIPSA Fraternal Greetings from STUC Motion 29 Industrial Relations in the Energy Sector/Just Transition Motion 36 Public Service Prospect Broadcasting NUJ Motion 30 Just Transition UNITE Motion 37 Water Charges Fermanagh Trades Council

Guest Speaker Motion 38 Christmas and New Year Professor John Barry Working USDAW Together with section D of the Report Together with sections F and G of the Report Any remaining motions, which have not been taken elsewhere, will be taken, providing time allows.

8 Section A

Introduction Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section A: Introduction

Section A Introduction

Introduction

Owen Reidy Assistant General Secretary, ICTU

May Day 2018 (This, and most photos, by Kevin Cooper/ Photoline)

This report outlines the work of the Northern Ireland Committee of the ICTU from April 2018 to March 2020. The period has been marked by one of flux and change. In 2018 it looked likely that the UK would find itself crashing out of the EU. Locally in Northern Ireland, things looked bleak with little prospect of a return to devolution with politics becoming more frayed and divided with each election. Workers were also entering their 8th year of Tory austerity with little respite in both the public and the private sector. Northern Ireland, its economy and society was in a state of stagnation and drift. Now as we enter the spring of 2020, the UK has regrettably left the EU albeit with an agreement and not, at this point at least, a crash out. We in the trade union movement have sought to build alliances not just in Northern Ireland with other groups in civic society but also nationally and internationally to seek to ensure that workers do not pay the price of Brexit. We reluctantly supported the latest Withdrawal Agreement even though it was somewhat inferior to the original Withdrawal Agreement that the House of Commons rejected. We have been clear from the start that we want to see no hardening of the border on the island of Ireland, no border within the

10 UK and no economic border between these islands. In many ways the can has merely been kicked down the road until December 2020. But we have made it clear should there been a no tariff, no quotas agreement between the EU and the UK there must also be a watertight no social dumping clause in such an agreement. 2019 and 2020 has seen significant and necessary industrial action in both the public and private sector where workers have stood up and said enough is enough and have defended their jobs and sought to reclaim decent living standards. The Harland and Wolff occupation struck a chord with workers in Northern Ireland and internationally. The leadership from the shop stewards and their unions Unite and GMB combined with the widespread solidarity from the entire trade union movement showed the best of us and showed what is possible. The workers in Wrightbus and their union Unite also displayed a level of grit and determination and never gave up and with a new owner their stand has been vindicated. Right across the public service in health, education the civil service and higher education we have seen unprecedented and well organised industrial action that is winning decent pay increases and terms and conditions for workers. It demonstrates quite clearly to those workers not yet in a union what is possible. That is with good organisation, strong and courageous leadership and a good strategy and by demonstrating solidarity when workers have a go and strike, we can and do win. As we proceed into 2020 devolution has made a welcome return. We have always supported devolution and the spirit and text of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. Of course a return of devolution is not the panacea to all our problems. But having a locally elected government accountable to the people is essential for any democracy. It should also be noted that for a democracy to truly flourish the power has to be shared vertically as well as horizontally. That is why we have through our Better Work Better Lives campaign been advocating for a Forum for Social Dialogue for Northern Ireland whereby we and others can make sure the voice of workers is not just heard but heeded. Finally, I want to thank all affiliate unions, all NIC members, the Chair (and President) Gerry Murphy (INTO) and Vice Chair, Alison Millar (NIPSA) and all of the NIC-ICTU staff for their work and commitment over the last two years. We need to keep our focus and now make sure that some of the quite positive things around workers’ rights and employment rights cited in the New Decade New Approach document is developed and becomes a reality so that working people in Northern Ireland have the right to organise and make their full contribution in work and society and claim their rightful fair share whereby we can make Northern Ireland a Fair Work state.

11 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section A: Introduction

12 Section B

Conference Resolutions Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section B: Conference Resolutions

Section B Conference Resolutions

B1 Introduction • Resolution 3 Decent Pay and Collective The June 2018 meeting of the Bargaining Northern Ireland Committee gave consideration to a paper containing Protecting and defending the recommendations for progressing NHS, including pay and terms and resolutions adopted at the April conditions, is a core part of the 2018 BDC. BWBL campaign. As in previous years, the NIC has • Resolution 4 pursued a wide range of actions Precarious Working in relation to the Resolutions. The following provides a broad outline Campaigning to improve and of the actions taken. More detail is protect employment rights is core contained in the body of the Report. part of NIC work. B2 Resolutions • Resolution 5 Technology and Robotics for Resolutions 1&2 BWBL Better Work Better Lives NERI has produced research into Core work of NIC and ICTU the effect of automation and Secretariat. Full updates published robotics on the decent work agenda via BWBL website and policy which continues to inform the work documents. of Congress.

Delegates voting at BDC 2018

14 Delegates voting at BDC 2018 • Resolutions 6 • Resolution 8 Delivering the Promise of the Implementing the Joint Good Friday Agreement Declaration of Protection Core work of the NIC. NIC and Congress continues to engage with Congress continue to engage with the LRA Roundtable and use every all parties with an emphasis on the opportunity to disseminate the Joint protection and implementation of Declaration to employers. the Belfast/GFA. • Resolution 9 & 10 • Resolution 7 Reproductive Rights Equality and Inequality in the Workplace Congress has been part of the campaign to reform abortion As part of BWBL, produced a policy legislation working with affiliates paper on childcare and gender and civil society campaign groups equality. This has formed the including Alliance for Choice. basis of bilateral meetings with all political parties as well as statutory Congress has facilitated organisations including the Equality the dissemination of the Commission NI. recommendations contained in the Abortion as a Workplace Issue The Secretariat continue to engage report including with political parties in a wide variety of equality issues and statutory organisations at and these are led by the Equality Women’s Committee seminars and Committees incl the Women’s conferences. Committee and the Disability Committee.

15 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section B: Conference Resolutions

• R esolution 11 • Resolution 14&15 Martin O’Hagan Sexual Harassment Little progress has been made on The Women’s Committee has the specific case of Martin O’Hagan, prioritised the issue of sexual mainly due to the absence of a harassment in its work programme devolved Justice Minister. However, and initiated and presented a survey the NIC has taken a prominent role on sexual harassment in work in in the defence of press freedom, work which has formed the basis of in particular in support of Barry a platform for action. McCaffrey and Trevor Bernie. • Resolution 16 • Resolution 12 Bullying, in the entertainment 50 Years of Civil Rights industry and the impact on Campaign freelancers Congress supported an event and The NIC has supported the Prospect publication from Belfast & District campaign to introduce important Trades Council. The NIC also protections for freelance workers. supported a series of Labour History Seminars hosted by the Messines • Resolution 17 Fellowship and the Irish Labour Facility Time History Society. The NIC has supported the NIPSA • Resolution 13 campaign to protect facility time. Warm Homes Discount • Motion 18 & 19 The Retired Workers Committee Safer Workplaces continue to play an active role The Education Trade Union Group in this and other campaigns, in has highlighted a number of health their own unions and in both the and safety issues within education National Pensioners Convention and has co-operated with the and the Age Sector Platform. Health and Safety Committee in relation to this.

Delegates voting at BDC 2018

16 The ETUG undertook a major survey • Resolutions 23 - 25 on violence within educational Brexit settings within this period. The results of the survey were widely As per motion 21, this has formed reported. a core part of the NIC agenda and Officers of the NIC together • Resolution 20 with the ICTU GS and AGS have Maritime Industry campaigned robustly to ensure that workers do not pay the price of The NIC has supported the RMT Brexit. campaign for decent work, pay and conditions in the maritime industry. • Resolution 26 Pay • Resolution 21 Protecting the Peace and The NIC has supported affiliate Challenging a Hard Brexit action in relation to pay. This has included organising briefings on Congress continues to robustly public sector pay, demonstrating campaign against the catastrophic cross movement support at demos, effects of Brexit and No Deal. rallies and strike action. The NIC This has included articulating our remains a forum for sharing best support for the Belfast/GFA and practice and success. protection of the peace process. • Resolution 27 • Resolution 22 Urban Renewal Devolution Little progress on this matter A core demand of BWBL is the due to indecision by Belfast City establishment of a forum for Council and the Department of social dialogue and this has been Infrastructure. articulated at all meetings with political parties, with NGOs and in • Resolution 28 public discussions, meetings etc. The Future of the Retail Sector The ICTU Executive Council The NIC has supported USDAW issued a detailed response to the campaigns to protect and defend New Decade New Approach deal the retail sector and it’s workers, and is fully participating with the including their right not to work on restored institutions of the Belfast Sunday mornings. Agreement, while continuing to deepen and improve rights and fair • Resolution 29 pay for workers. Arts and Cultural Workers The NIC has consistently articulated the importance of the arts and cultural sectors to the NI economy. As part of any development of an industrial strategy, this will be reflected.

17 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section B: Conference Resolutions

Delegates voting at BDC 2018 • Resolutions 30 & 31 • Resolution 34 Industrial and Manufacturing Transport Strategy The NIC supports UNITE’s campaign Congress has worked with NERI to protect public transport and and affiliates to produce research demand proper investment in the and information on manufacturing sector. and in relation to a real industrial strategy for NI. • Motion 35 NHS • Resolution 32 Public Services This motion was defeated. The NIC has consistently defended • Resolutions 36 & 37 the budget and has argued the need Mental Health for it to be increased to tackle the Highlighting the importance of years of Tory imposed austerity and workplace mental health is on attacks of the welfare system. the agenda of the NIC as well as • Resolution 33 ICTU Committees including the Privatisation and Public Services Disability Committee. Congress has also worked with a wide range of The NIC has argued for social organisations including the ECNI to clauses to be included in any public promote practical tools to protect procurement exercise and has also workers’ mental health. lobbied for the recommendations from the NI Human Rights • Resolution 38 Commission and the ECNI to be Green Spaces fully implemented in relation to The NIC supported the Save our public procurement. City Park campaign.

18 Section C

Trade Union Organisation Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section C: Trade Union Organisation

Section C Trade Union Organisation

C1 Officers of the Northern C2 Staff Ireland Committee 2018-20 The following refers to the staff in At its meeting held in April 2018, the the Northern Ireland Office during Committee elected the following 2018-20. Officers: Gerry Murphy, (Chair), Alison Millar (Vice-Chair). Assistant General Secretary Owen Reidy Education, Training & Lifelong Learning Kevin Doherty Finance & Programme Manager Gillian Allen Equality & Social Affairs Clare Moore Policy & Communications John O’Farrell

Chairperson: Project Officers Gerry Murphy (INTO) Julie Gorman Administrative Staff Tony Gallagher Eileen Gorman (Retired 2019)

General Secretary: Patricia King

20 C3 Women’s Committee protest attacks on public services, job losses and low pay. The committee The work of the Women’s was also active in support of various Committee is contained in Section industrial disputes. G of this report, along with the other equality committees. Chair Steven Harvey – NIPSA C4 Youth Committee V.Chair The Youth Committee remains a vital Mike Hamilton – NIPSA part of the work and organisation of Congress and has played an Secretary active role in the anti-cuts campaign Emma Cunningham – USDAW and most recently in the Better Asst Sec Work, Better Lives campaign. The Adam Murray – B&DTUC committee has also been active in addressing a variety of social and Ashton Shield – USDAW economic issues facing young people in Northern Ireland. The committee Karen Burch – North Down & Ards TC Chair is Steven Harvey (NIPSA). Liz Nelson - SIPTU Given the decline in young trade Mark Johnston - FSU union membership of recent years, recruitment remains a priority in Kieran McCann - FSU the youth committees work and Paddy Mackel - CWU a point which is enshrined within their strategic planning document Sean Burns - UNITE published in 2017. Christopher McCullough - UNITE The committee has maintained a high attendance record at various, Brendan O’Reilly - NIPSA rallies, demonstrations and events to

Brendan O’Reilly spoke for the Youth Committee at the 2019 Age Seminar on intergenerational Solidarity 21 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section C: Trade Union Organisation

C5 Global Solidarity A renewed Terms of Reference was drafted after intense consultations The NI Global Solidarity Committee with the ICTU Global Solidarity have been involved in raising Committee, which is aimed at public awareness around, notably improving participation and co- human trafficking, the human operation between the two Global rights situation in Columbia and the Solidarity Committees operating in political and humanitarian crisis in the two jurisdictions. Palestine. The Global Solidarity Committee The following affiliates are was approached by climate activists represented: INTO,UTU, NASUWT, and NGOs for practical advice and Unison, NIPSA, Prospect, Unite, assistance with the School Strike for Equity, Congress Youth committee, Climate Action in November 2019, with nominations from other which involved street protests and a affiliates who were unable to attend larger than expected march through in person. Since 2018, the chair has Belfast and rally at Belfast City Hall. been Kevin Daly (INTO) with Paddy Mackel (Belfast Trades Council) as vice-Chair.

Global Solidarity Summer School opened by Wexford Deputy Mayor Maura Bell

22 Refugees and Asylum Seekers Global Solidarity Summer School NIC-ICTU are represented on the The 2018 Global Solidarity Summer Steering Committee of Belfast School took place in Derry in July City of Sanctuary, whose work 2018 and was themed around ‘ welcoming refugees and asylum Organising for Solidarity’, including seekers has been supported presentations by the ITUC by many affiliates. Many Global organising academy, and Coalition Solidarity activists promoted 2030 on the high level political solidarity events with migrants after forum at the UN (where the Irish the EU membership referendum, Government had recently reported alongside such initiatives as ‘1 Day on its implementation of the Without Us’ and the annual Refugee Sustainable Development Goals). Picnic on Ormeau Park. Workshops on Employment Rights for refugees Other speakers included have also been delivered. representatives of the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland and Belfast City of Sanctuary, along with a particularly powerful address

Delegates at Global Solidarity Summer School

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GSSS support for Hong Kong trade unionists from Dr. Mona El-Farra, Director of Chinese Embassy in relation to Gaza Projects of the Middle East Hong Kong. Children’s Alliance, whose work with children damaged by a lifetimes war A session on Organising against and besiegement is supported by Discrimination and Exclusion several Irish trade unions. followed and included: The 2019 Global Solidarity Summer • A presentation in relation to the School took place in Wexford and Irish Government is presenting was opened by ICTU President its joint Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Gerry Murphy. The main theme was State Report to the CERD marking the ILO Centenary and the (Committee for the Elimination first session heard inputs from David of Racial Discrimination) in Joyce from Congress and Siobhan Geneva in November 2019. O’Carroll from the Department of • Makhosi Sigabade, from the Business Enterprise and Innovation. Housing 4 All group spoke David reflected on the history of the about “A prison without Walls” Workers Group in the ILO and the a publication by the group recent achievements at this year’s campaigning to ensure that all International Labour Conference – people seeking asylum are given the ILO Declaration on the Future the opportunity to lead dignified of Work and a new ILO Convention and secure lives. and Recommendation on Violence and Harassment in the World of On Friday 23 August, Alison Tate, Work. ITUC spoke to delegates about ITUC Frontline Campaigns and There was also a video link to strategic priorities and plans Elizabeth Tang in the Hong Kong including the four pillars of Peace, Council of Trade Unions and Democracy and Rights; Regulating delegates also posed for a solidarity Economic Power; Global Shifts - photo. Congress also wrote to the Just Transitions; and Equality.

24 C6 Trade Union Friends of TUFP distributes frequent reports Palestine and articles on the situation in Palestine and on developments in TUFP was established in Belfast the Palestinian civil society Boycott, with the support of Congress in Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) 2006 in order to promote the campaign. It has hosted numerous implementation of Congress fringe meetings and stalls at union solidarity policy on Palestine. A 2007 conferences, and has organised ICTU BDC motion, which led to the several major conferences with the adoption of the policy of Boycott, aim of promoting BDS in the trade Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), union movement, and an awareness also mandated congress to establish of the conditions of occupation, TUFP in the south. colonialism and apartheid endured In the north TUFP holds open by the Palestinian people. meetings for trade union activists Palestinian Children Conference on a bi-monthly basis in Belfast with – This major conference held in the northern committee meeting on Dublin on the 22-23rd November alternate months. TUFP has a very 2019 was organised by TUFP with active network of trade union activists the support of the ICTU affiliates - who contribute to the work of TUFP INTO, ASTI, TUI, INMO, UNISON, by organising within their affiliate FÓRSA, MANDATE, CWU, UNITE, organisation and their local areas.

Support for Palestinian rights from Unison

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NIPSA, ESU, UCU, UTU, CONNECT, organisation to participate in TUFP OPATSI, ICTU. Kairos Palestine, organised delegations to the Academics for Palestine and IPSC Occupied Palestinian Territories. also supported. Unions are asked to nominate officials or activists to become The main theme of this well a TUFP ambassador, and to take attended conference was that the the lead in their organisation in trauma endured by Palestinian developing solidarity work. 16 children, including psychological delegates from a range of unions trauma, is not a by-product of the participated in the winter 2018 occupation but is a deliberate policy delegation, and 17 took part, of the Israeli occupying authorities. including the Presidents of INTO International guest speakers included and NIPSA, in the 2017 visit. TUFP Dr. Samah Jabr, Head of the Mental delegations are now organised on Health Unit, Palestinian Ministry of a yearly basis, and it has proved to Health; Khaled Quzmar, General be one of the most effective ways Director, Defence of Children to develop solidarity work within International-Palestine; Dr. Mona unions. Delegates to BDC are invited El-Farra, Director of Middle East to consider participating in the 2020 Children’s Alliance, Gaza, Dina group due to depart later this year. Nasser from the Augusta Victoria European Trade Union Network Hospital Jerusalem and trade for Justice in Palestine (ETUN) – unionist Mais Jamleh. Israeli Human TUFP has worked with European Rights lawyer Nery Ramati; and trade union colleagues to establish award winning Israeli human rights this network whose aim is to author and journalist Gideon Levy mobilise the European trade union also spoke. Victoria Brittain, former movement to challenge EU associate foreign editor of The complicity, corporate complicity Guardian and founder of Action for and the arms trade with Israel. Palestinian Children also addressed Over 30 European trade union the conference as well as trauma organisations have now endorsed specialists Arlene Healey, Martin this campaign, including ICTU Kemp and Eamon McMahon. There and a number of affiliates. ETUN was a particularly warm welcome for have already played a key role in Palestinian child ex-detainee Ahmed advancing ETUC and EPSU policy Alsoos and his father Sobhi Alsoos. on Palestine. ETUN have also The Israeli authorities prevented one commissioned and published a keynote speaker from leaving Gaza major report on the impact of the to speak at the event, Dr. Yasser occupation on workers’ rights in Abujamei, Director, Gaza Community Palestine. This report was launched Mental Health Programme. in the EU Parliament in December TUFP Ambassadors - TUFP has 2019. ETUN held its second prioritised the formation of a cohort European conference in Barcelona of trade union ‘ambassadors’ in May 2018, with a number of Irish who are sponsored by their union trade union represented. The third ETUN conference will take place in

26 Oslo on June 12-13th 2020 and we For more information see: https:// would encourage representation kairosireland.org/ from all ICTU affiliates. Further information regarding these Gaza – Through 2018 and 2019 developments is available on the TUFP have led the organisation of ETUI web-site: http://www.etun- the protests and marches that took palestine.org/site/ place in Belfast to demonstrate solidarity with the Great March of Kairos Ireland – In 2009 a call Return – the demand by Palestinians went out from Palestinian Christians to end the siege of Gaza and to to people of faith and people of return to the homes from which conscience around the world they were ethnically cleansed to take action, including BDS in 1948. Well over 200 innocent action, to challenge the human civilians have been slaughtered by rights violations and oppression Israeli snipers as they engaged in of Palestinians by the Israeli mass protests against the inhumane occupation. The Kairos Palestine siege, itself a war crime. The dead call replicated a similar call from have included paramedics and South African Christians during reporters as well as dozens of the apartheid era. Together with children. some northern ICTU affiliates TUFP facilitated a response from Ireland to Attempts to suppress Palestine the Palestine call and Kairos Ireland solidarity - The success of the BDS was established in December 2018. movement has led to intensive TUFP recognises that working efforts by the Israeli and other in faith communities here is an governments to suppress and to important way to broaden support criminalise the BDS movement, and to address a misconceived including smearing the campaign sectarian framing of the Palestine as anti-Semitic. TUFP alongside question. other solidarity organisations has recognised the need to campaign As well as producing an important to defend the non-violent BDS pamphlet Kairos Ireland organised campaign, which itself is grounded a very successful tour to Dublin on human rights principles. and Belfast of three leading international advocates for Kairos TUFP Solidarity - It is now very Palestine – Rifat Kassis a Lutheran clear that the Israeli Zionist project, Protestant, co-author of Kairoa supported by the USA, is to make Palestine and founder of Defence a Palestinian state impossible, to of Children International – Palestine, annex the majority of the West Mark Braverman, a Jewish writer Bank, and to corral Palestinians into and Director of Kairos USA, and isolated bantustans. More than the Rev. Brian Brown, a human ever the trade union movement rights activist who endured 13 needs to mobilise against this new years of house arrest in apartheid form of apartheid. In our solidarity South Africa. During this tour a work TUFP emphasises a strong presentation was given to NIC-ICTU. distinction between humanitarian

27 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section C: Trade Union Organisation

support, which doesn’t address the https://www.facebook.com/ underlying causes of Palestinian groups/1434904630117100/ suffering, and active campaigning to promote and support non- Twitter: TUFP@TUFPalestine violent resistance, especially in the Contact: TUFP secretary: Palestinian trade union movement. [email protected] We have adopted the slogan of our Norwegian trade union colleagues: ‘Our solidarity is with the struggle, not with the suffering.’

TUFP extends an invitation to all trade union activists to become involved in the campaign and to ensure a TUFP presence in branches and at conferences. TUFP is also active on social media and has a Facebook and Twitter account. TUFP have also set up a standing order facility for members who wish to contribute to our solidarity work. Childrens Conference

Gaza protest in 2019 at Belfast City Hall

28 In November 2019, TUFP hosted a major Palestinian Children Conference, featuring international speakers and opened by ICTU President Gerry Murphy

29 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section C: Trade Union Organisation

Dooley Harte, who represents Trades Councils on the NIC C7 Trades Council • Better Work Better Lives Consultative Committee campaign. Trades Councils • Welfare Reform. Trades Union Councils bring • Supporting BME migrant workers together union activists and and challenging racism. members to work and campaign Currently there are active trades’ around issues affecting working councils in Ballymena and people in their local workplaces Antrim, Belfast, Craigavon, Derry, and communities. They have been Fermanagh, Newry, North Down the backbone of, and at times the and Ards, Mid Ulster, and Omagh. instigators of, many trade union campaigns that have sought to unite Examples of some of the activities affiliates and communities behind trades’ councils include: common issues. Ballymena and Antrim Trades Union The Trades Councils have assisted Council utilised the BWBL campaign the Northern Ireland Committee by in their work to reduce racial campaigning on a range of issues. tensions in the Ballymena area and These issues have covered: in lobbying politicians around local cuts to services and job losses. • The impact of Austerity policies. Campaigning, culture and education • Campaigns against cuts in have been among the priorities for services. the Belfast & District Trades Union Council with their support for the

30 Alliance for Choice campaign, March 2019 the TCCC, along with hosting a performance of The the ICTU Migrant Worker Support Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Unite, ran a seminar for trades’ and an activist’s education council activists on tackling racism, programme, which included the prejudice and the rise of right wing republication of We Shall Overcome populism. - A History of NICRA. To maintain and develop this work Craigavon Trades Council has been the TCCC appeals to unions to working closely with the ICTU Migrant ensure that they affiliate to, and Workers Support Unit (MWSU) to encourage their members and support migrant workers in their area activists to engage with trades to organise in trade unions and build councils in their local areas or to community relations. contact the Congress Belfast office if they are interested in establishing Opposition to Welfare Reform has a new local Trades Council. been an important aspect of the work of the Derry Trades Council C8 Retired Workers’ along with organising of a Workers Committee Rights and Social Justice Week. The Retired Workers’ Committee Celebrations to mark the centenary (RWC) continues to forge ahead of Fermanagh Trades Council with an ambitious agenda under included an exhibition in the the chair of Margaret Galloway. The Enniskillen Castle entitled, Struggling Committee is actively represented Workers: A History of Fermanagh on the National Pensioners Trade Unionism, and the launch Parliament at a regional and of Labouring Near Lough Erne – a UK-wide level, and its members are Study of the Fermanagh Labour also active in many different arenas, Movement 1826 -1932. including the Age Sector Platform. Other issues Trades Councils have This involved campaigning on key worked on include: providing issues, such as the state pension, solidarity to workers engaged in the winter fuel grant, improved industrial action; supporting trade access to social and long-term union recruitment campaigns; care. Work is ongoing with the engaging with local media; Retired Workers Committee from campaigning against social and the Republic on a number of economic deprivation in local joint strategic initiatives and the communities. north-south Age Seminar, first held in Dublin in February 2016 The Councils come together has become an annual fixture, quarterly at the Trades Councils alternating between Belfast and Consultative Committee (TCCC) Dublin. The Seminar is addressed to share information and initiatives, by trade union leaders, academics and to develop and coordinate joint and age activists from the NPC, campaigns. The TCCC also organise ASP and the NI Older People’s joint seminars for trades’ councils. In Commissioner, Eddie Lynch.

31 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section C: Trade Union Organisation

NIC-ICTU RWC at the 2019 Age Seminar

Eddie Lynch, NI Commissioner for Older People

RWC vice-chair Hugh Rafferty with Unite colleague Taryn Trainor

Owen Reidy welcomes retired activists to the 2019 Age Seminar

Unison’s Victor Murphy makes his point

32 C9 May Festival concerts, talks and debates. Several thousand joined in the largest Working with the Belfast Working non-sectarian public procession in with the Belfast Trades Council and Northern Ireland and the biggest the NIC-ICTU Youth Committee, a May Day event on the island. vibrant programme was presented for May Day 2018 and 2019 which included a range of events such as

Pipers lead the NIPSA marchers

Bombardier workers make their case

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NIC member Justin McCamphill (NASUWT)

Belfast & District Trades Council

The NIC banner nears parade’s end Speakers before the march sets off

The Parade paused at Belfast City Hall to applaud the legacy of Lyra McKee, whose family marched with the NUJ

34 Section D

Trade Union Education, Training and Lifelong Learning Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section D: Trade Union Education, Training and Lifelong Learning

Section D Trade Union Education, Training and Lifelong Learning

D1 The Trade Union Education The programme is delivered in Programme partnership with the South Eastern Regional College (SERC) and our The NIC ICTU Education courses are open to all affiliates of Programme is a vital resource for all ICTU. trade union officials, representatives and members. It provides a forum The NIC ICTU Education for trade unionists to come together Department also designs and to develop their knowledge delivers bespoke courses to meet and skills, and to learn from the the needs of affiliates which can experiences of others. Over one be run in affiliates offices, the thousand learners participate in the workplace and other locations. training and seminars offered by NIC Please contact the NIC ICTU ICTU each year. Education Officer for further details. The programme contains The NIC ICTU Education progression pathways for union Programme continues to develop officials, union representatives, with a number of new courses health and safety representatives, added to the programme reflecting equality representatives, union demand from affiliates and changes learning representatives. All in the workplace and society. The courses are accredited through Programme is flexible and includes Open College Network (OCN). On bespoke courses tailored to the successful completion learners needs of individual affiliates. will obtain level 2, or 3 Awards, Certificates, or Diplomas. The The NIC ICTU TU Education courses are free and are run mainly Programme offers the following on a day release basis over 3, 5, 10 courses: or 32 days depending on the level of Core Skills qualification attached to the course. Trade Union Reps Stage 1 Trade Union Reps Stage 2 Certificate in Employment Law Health and Safety Stage 1 Health and Safety Stage 2 Union Learning Reps Stage 1 Union Learning Reps Stage2 Negotiation and Communication Skills Trade Unions Rep course

36 Pay and Bargaining NIC ICTU also runs a variety of unaccredited seminars with the Handling Grievance and Disciplines Labour Relations Agency and the Social Media for Trade Union Reps Equality Commissions as and when required on various employment Dealing with Redundancies related issues including: Public Sector Pensions Supporting Mental Health in the In addition to the core courses the Workplace programme also offers: Early Conciliation Taking a case to Tribunals Bullying and Harassment Mental health Awareness Redundancy Discrimination and Equality Law Employment Law NI and GB - The Women in Leadership Differences Dealing with Stress, Bullying and Trade Unions - Legal Framework Intimidating Behaviour in the and Case Law Update Workplace Annual Review of Employment Law Disability Champions Introduction to the Disability Equality Reps in the Workplace Discrimination Act 1995 Tackling Prejudice and Introduction to the employment Discrimination anti-discrimination laws Trade Unions and Globalisation Expecting Equality - A short seminar examining the rights of employees Confidence in the Workplace who are pregnant or who are new mothers Introduction to Economics for Trade Unionists An Introduction to the Industrial Tribunal System Diploma Equalities (32 Week Course) Further information regarding the above courses can be found on the Diploma in Employment Law (32 NIC ICTU website at https://www. Week Course) ictuni.org/educationtraining/ Diploma in Health & Safety (32 Week Course)

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D2 Union Learning During the 2017 – 2019 reporting period, 1051 students completed Union Learning Essential Skills courses in Literacy, NIC ICTU continues to have full Numeracy or Information responsibility for the administrative Technology (IT). A further 2018 and financial management of the students completed other Union Learning Fund. The Union accredited courses, such as British Learning Fund currently supports Sign Language, NVQ’s, ESOL, ILM, the following 11 projects: CMI and Open University modules. NIPSA Union Learn Conference BFAWU In March 2018, the annual Union Learning Conference was held in UNITE Construction Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey. Over UNITE – Learn with Unite 90 Union Learning Representatives (ULRs) attended and heard from USDAW key speakers addressing the theme AEGIS of Better Skills, Better Work, Better Lives. INTO Jackie Pollock, Regional Secretary, FSU Unite the Union, opened conference GMB and presented awards to: UNISON • Dwyer Henderson, NIPSA - Union Learning Representative of FBU the Year 2018 • Mark McClean, NIPSA - Essential Skills Trade Union Learner of the Year 2018 • Laura Boyles, FSU - The Open University Trade Union Learner of the Year 2018

Dwyer Henderson NIPSA - Union Learning Laura Boyles FSU - The Open University Representative of the Year 2018 Trade Union Learner of the Year 2018

38 Iulia Pavel USDAW – Union Learning Rep of the Year 2019

Mark McClean NIPSA - Essential Skills Trade Jamie Doherty USDAW – Essential Skills Union Learner of the Year 2018 Trade Union Learner of the Year 2019

In March 2019, the conference The conference heard first hand addressed the theme, Impacting from learners and ULRs who have Lives Through Learning. participated in Union Learning Terry Park, Head of Further projects and in particular, the impact Education Delivery from the it has had on their work and lives. Department for the Economy, opened conference and presented awards to; • Iulia Pavel, USDAW – Union Learning Rep of the Year 2019 • Jamie Doherty, USDAW – Essential Skills Trade Union Learner of the Year 2019. Gerry Murphy, Chair of the NIC, presented the inaugural, Lukasz Karpinski Educational Bursary to Steven Harvey, NIPSA.

ICTU President presents the Lukasz Karpinski Educational Bursary to Steven Harvey NIPSA

39 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section D: Trade Union Education, Training and Lifelong Learning

40 Section E

Political & Economic Report Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section E: Political and Economic Report

Section E: Political & Economic Report

This report on the Economic and Political activities of the past two years was dominated by Brexit and the workplace issues identified as priority concerns through the focused campaigning of the Better Work Better Lives campaign. With the Restoration of the Stormont Institutions, a new phase of campaigning is developing and will carry forward on the mandate of the motions passed at the 2020 BDC and the incoming NI Committee. E1 The Better Work Better 1. R estoring the cuts to the block Lives campaign grant The Better Work Better Lives 2. Strengthening and improving campaign has been active during employment law the years 2018-20. The purpose of the campaign was threefold. 3. Changing the minimum wage settings • Bind both public and private sector affiliates together on key 4. The development of an industrial issues that they can collaborate, strategy that puts innovation at campaign on and work together its core on. 5. Boosting productivity for all • T o seek to involve activists from 6. Addressing the skills deficit a range of affiliates in various elements of the campaign. 7. Apprenticeships for this century • T o have an ongoing serious of 8. Promoting Collective Bargaining activities that are somewhat 9. Investment in Childcare interlinked, a process not a series of one off events. 10.Welfare Reform The specific objectives of the 11. Better Trade union and workers’ campaign were to seek to address, rights 1. The scourge of low pay and 12.Ending the 1% pay cap insecure work across Northern Ireland 13.Equality in the Labour Market 2. To challenge the declining levels 14.Tackling the housing crisis of public investment which is The campaign wanted to build a impacting on all citizens consensus on the setting up of a 3. To demand an end to the 1% Forum for Social Dialogue in Northern pay cap afflicting public service Ireland which could address these workers. issues and which would be comprised of the key 4 representative pillars, We highlighted 14 key areas which namely the trade union movement, we felt were critical in addressing the employers, the community and the above. voluntary sector and the farming

42 Campaign Activity 2018-20 Since the commencement of the campaign in 2018 we have been involved in over 30 distinct initiatives to promote the objectives and interests of the campaign. The form of such initiatives has included lobbying, seminars, conferences, rallies, protests, demonstrations, educational, and meetings. These initiatives have included the ICTU NERI Economist Lisa Wilson with a secretariat, members of the NIC and delegation of low-paid workers giving other affiliate unions and activists evidence to the Low Pay Commission from various affiliate unions to varying degrees. They include the following, community. Such a forum could be modelled on the Welsh Council for 1. Launch and training session with Economic Development. Obviously over 100 activists. the government of the day would also be a participant. We believe such 2. The campaign addressed a a forum could be, number of affiliated regional/ executive committees to 1. Formal and in time being promote the ambition of the underpinned on a statutory basis campaign within the ranks of affiliate senior lay leadership. 2. At least tripartite, (the trade union movement, employers 3. Published a detailed policy paper and government) but ideally the Better Work Better Lives - the community and voluntary sector trade union campaign for a fair and the farming community. share for all. 3. It would deal with some key 4. Established bespoke website social and economic issues www.betterworkbetterlives.org facing NI, (see our 14 priority as a campaign and information policy areas). tool. 4. It would be advisory and 5. Activist meetings in the majority consultative in nature, it would of Westminster political not be involved in collective constituencies. bargaining on pay and terms and conditions of employment of 6. Members of the ICTU secretariat workers. bring the campaign and its ambition to the attention of all 5. It would be permanent and not educational courses taking place ad hoc. in the ICTU premises.

43 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section E: Political and Economic Report

10. All island disability seminar conference had Better Work Better Lives for people with disability as the theme. 11. All island Women’s Conference had Better Work Better Lives campaign as theme of their conference. 12. Representatives of the NIC-ICTU leadership met with the Shadow Secretaries of State for NI, Owen BWBL rally at Stormont Smith MP and Tony Lloyd MP on 7. Engagement at constituency a number of occasions to outline level with over 63 MLAs/MPs and get support for the ambition including members of the ICTU of the campaign. secretariat, NIC members and 13. Campaign supported UCU affiliate activists. pension dispute at rallies and on 8. Met with a number of Trade the picket line. Councils and the NI Trade 14. 2018 NI BDC adopted the Councils consultative body to campaign as the theme of the promote the campaign. conference. 9. Met with over 20 representative 15. Met with the then Prime Minister, bodies/other stakeholders seeking Teresa May. support for our call for a forum for Social Dialogue, including foe 16. Union Learn Conference theme, example the CBI, UFU, NICVA, the Better Skills Better Work Better Equality Commission, the IOD, Lives promoted the campaign to Retail NI etc. over 90 ULR’s.

Patricia McKeown Past President of ICTU at the launch of the BWBL Childcare proposals

Sheila Nunan, ICTU President (2017-19) at the last NIC-ICTU BDC

44 17. The campaign had a protest 24. The NIC’s Health committee outside Derry city EA to demand organised a very successful no cuts to special education, demonstration in Belfast with associated local media celebrating 70 years of the NHS coverage. whilst also demanding more resources for our public health 18. AGS addressed a number of system. union conferences including the INTO (NI), the FSU and 25. Representative of the NIC met the Welsh TUC outlining the with both the Irish Minister for purpose of the Better Work Finance, Paschal Donohoe and Better Lives campaign and the Irish Minister for Foreign seeking to widen support within Affairs, Simon Coveney outlining the movement for it. why Northern Ireland needs a forum for Social Dialogue. 19. The Secretariat have presented and promoted the campaign at 26. Representatives from the NIC a range of third party seminars met with the Secretary of State to which the ICTU have been to outline to requirement for a invited to participate in. forum for Social Dialogue for NI. 20. We have engaged with the 27. Representatives met with the Lord Mayor of Belfast and have Permanent Secretary Andrew ensured that better trade union Mc Cormick in the context rights and rights to collective of the issue of Brexit and its bargaining was included in the implications and outlined why Rights for all charter. a forum for Social Dialogue is necessary for Northern Ireland. 21. The theme of Mayday Rally 2018 was Better Work Better Lives. 28. The campaign met intermittently with a number of affiliate 22. We have promoted the Regional/Executive committees campaign through a number of to outline the progress and the media platforms with opinion work to date with the purpose of pieces in the Belfast Newsletter, re engaging affiliates. the Belfast Telegraph, the Irish News, on local radio including 29. Met the majority of Northern BBCs’ ‘Good Morning Ulster’ and Irelands local government District the drive time show ‘Evening Councils seeking support for the Extra’ as well as U105 and BBC campaign. NI TV. 30. The campaign support and 23. The NIC leadership met with participated in a protest and rally Jeremy Corbyn MP and Leader around Stop Neighbourhood of the UK Labour Party to outline Renewal Budget cuts. the campaign and seek his support.

45 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section E: Political and Economic Report

Local Northern Ireland political meetings Support for Forum for Social Dialogue

Politician Party Constituency Yes No Maybe D Beattie UUP Upper Bann ∞ J Allister TUV N Antrim ∞ P Frew DUP N Antrim ∞ P Bradshaw Alliance S Belfast ∞ M O’Muilleoir SF S Belfast ∞ C McGrath SDLP S Down ∞ C Lyttle Alliance E Belfast ∞ M O’Neill SF M Ulster ∞ S Dickson Alliance E Antrim ∞ P Bradley DUP N Belfast ∞ S Agnew Greens N Down ∞ F McCann SF W Belfast ∞ O Flynn SF W Belfast ∞ P Maskey MP SF W Belfast ∞ C Murphy SF Newry/Armagh ∞ M Brady MP SF Newry/Armagh ∞ C Hanna SDLP S Belfast ∞ C Stalford DUP S Belfast ∞ S Lynch SF F/S Tyrone ∞ C Gildernew SF F/S Tyrone ∞ J Dolan SF F/S Tyrone ∞ J Buckley DUP Upper Bann ∞ J McNulty SDLP Newry/Armagh ∞ G Carroll PBP W Belfast ∞ R Beggs UUP E Antrim ∞ S Farry Alliance N Down ∞ D Kelly SDLP Upper Bann ∞ M Nesbit UUP Strangford ∞ M Storey DUP N Antrim ∞ R Barton UUP F/S Tyrone ∞ R Newton DUP E Belfast ∞ J Stewart UUP E Antrim * R Swann UUP N Antrim ∞ T Buchanan DUP W Tyrone ∞ N Mallon SDLP N Belfast ∞ C Sugden Ind U E Londonderry ∞ P McGuigan SF N Antrim ∞

46 Politician Party Constituency Yes No Maybe C Lockhart DUP U Bann ∞ J Bunting DUP E Belfast ∞ D McCrossan SDLP W Tyrone ∞ M Boyle SF W Tyrone ∞ D McAleer SF W Tyrone ∞ C Kelly SF W Tyrone ∞ G Lyons DUP E Antrim ∞ D Hilditch DUP E Antrim ∞ C Archibald SF E Londonderry ∞ S Bradley SDLP S Down ∞ J Wells Ind U S Down ∞ K Mullan SF Foyle ∞ R McCartney SF Foyle ∞ P Cagney SDLP Lagan Valley ∞ A Allen UUP E Belfast ∞ I Milne SF M Ulster ∞ A Maskey SF W Belfast ∞ K Armstrong Alliance Strangford ∞ T Lunn Alliance Lagan Valley ∞ N Long Alliance E Belfast ∞ J Blair Alliance E Belfast ∞ D Hargey SF S Belfast ∞

Alliance

DUP

UUP

SDLP

Independent & Others

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

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48 49 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section E: Political and Economic Report

The campaign also launched a Better Work Better Lives policy paper entitled Childcare in Northern Ireland, Cost, Care and Gender Equality in April 2019. The paper analysis the current inadequate childcare provision in Northern Ireland and recommended policy options to improve the situation for working parents, children and childcare workers. We have met with a range of political party spokespersons, the Department of Education and a range of other key stakeholders to seek to build support for our policy. Conclusion With the welcome return of devolved government, we note that there are a number of key provisions in the New Decade Mary Caddell (RCM) welcomes Childcare New Approach document which proposals the five participating government On the issue of Social Dialogue, we parties and both the Irish and UK note the following, government have signed up to, which reflect progress on much of • P .17 under Sustainability of the work the Better Work Better the Institutions it states, “the Lives campaign has been about. parties also agree to introduce reformed measures to put civic engagement and public consultation at the heart of policy making, recognising the vital role that wider society plays in supporting effective and accountable government. • P .14 under Programme for Government states, “the parties agree that the principles of,….. co design will be a key part of the development of the PfG and its supporting strategies.” It also states, “by April 2020, informed by detailed stakeholder engagement the Executive will Childcare launch

50 publish a new strategic level inequalities, building self-efficacy outcomes based PfG.” and combating poverty.” • P .23 refers to the setting up of a These sections provide us with Compact Civic Advisory Panel a critical road map to improve recognising that civic society workers’ in Northern Ireland. We groups have a role in assisting will seek to ensure that these government from time to time to aspirations become policies and resolve complex issues. the government honours these definitive and positive policy • P .29 references, “Engagement commitments. with civic society and the principles of co-design and co- With this BDC this campaign production must underpin the concludes. The NIC will review the development of the PfG, budget campaign and analyse in detail, and strategies.” the things we achieved and the mistakes we made, so that with any All of these references provide future campaign we can learn and scope and an opportunity for the improve. What is clear is that with trade union movement to insist the new government the specific that we have a structured and more provisions in the New Decade New purposeful vehicle whereby we Approach agreement we have can seek to address the interests of created the context whereby we workers. This work has commenced must now seek to make Northern and we must insist that government Ireland a Fair Work region with honour its commitments in full. all of the associated rights and We are also conscious that the entitlements for workers that this agreement very clearly answers entails. This is the key challenge for some of the key demands of the the next two years and beyond. Better Work Better Lives campaign around the issue of workers’ rights and precarious work. On P.41 its states, “the Executive should move to ban zero hours contracts.” P.44 on Workers’ Rights states, “There will be an enhanced focus within the PfG on creating good jobs and protecting workers’ rights. The parties agree that access to good jobs, where workers have a voice that provides a level of autonomy, a decent income, security of tenure, satisfying work in the right quantities and decent working conditions, should be integral to public policy given how this contributes to better health and well-being by tackling

51 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section E: Political and Economic Report

NERI Special Report on Low Pay

The Better Work Better Lives Campaign was helped considerably by the excellent and influential research of the Nevin Eco- nomic Research Institute. Paul MacFlynn NERI

This Research report presents evidence on the extent of low pay in Northern Ireland. It shows that low pay is a prominent feature of the labour market, with more than 1 in 4 earning below the Real Living Wage. Addressing these statistics, from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and the lived reality of working people ought to be a key priority of the restored NI Executive and Assem- bly. The lead author for this research is Lisa Wilson.

• Key Facts that drove this campaign were that in 2018: - 28% or just over 219,000 employees earned below the Real Living Wage of £8.75 per hour.

- 10% or just over 78,000 employees earned below the National Living Wage of £7.83 per hour.

- 23% or 180,000 employees earned below two-thirds of the UK median hourly pay excluding overtime of £8.49 per hour.

· Some workers are more likely to be low paid than others with concentrations of low paying jobs found in particular occupations and industries and among workers with particular characteristics. · The occupations with the highest proportion of low paid workers include those in Sales & Customer service and Elementary occupations. Some 70% of these workers earned below the Real Living Wage, whilst 30% of workers in Elementary occupations and 20% of workers in Sales & Cus- tomer service occupations earned below the National Living Wage. · Younger workers, part-time workers, and female workers had a higher likelihood of being low paid than others. That said, low pay is a particular issue for male workers who are employed on a part-time basis.

52 What is low pay?

There are a number of different ways in which ‘low pay’ can be defined. The most commonly utilised measure of low-pay in the European context defines low wage earners as those who have an hourly wage which is less than two thirds of the median gross hourly wage (Eurostat, 2015). In 2018 two-thirds of the UK median gross hourly wage excluding overtime was £8.49, and so by this measure all workers earning below this level would be classified as low paid.

Another method of assessing the extent of low pay is to examine the percentage of workers who earn below what is termed the ‘Real Living Wage’. The Real Living Wage is calculated by the Living Wage Foundation and takes account of both increases in the cost of living, and applies to all workers over 18, in recognition that young people face the same living costs as everyone else.

The Real Living Wage is based on the cost of a basket of household goods and services considered by the public as necessary to obtain a minimum acceptable standard of living with many analysts agreeing that this is a much more robust indicator of low pay. The Living Wage Foundation put the Real Living Wage at £8.75 in 2018 and at £9 in 2019.

Figure 1: Percentage of all employees below selected low pay thresholds, 2018

0 % below Real Living Wage % below 2/3’s UK median hourly % below National Living Wage earnings excl. overtime

Another way in which we can assess the extent of low pay is to examine the percentage of workers who earn at or below the ‘National Living Wage’. The ‘National Living Wage’ was introduced in the 2015 Summer Budget, as the new national minimum wage rate for workers over the age of 25. The introduction of the Na- tional Living Wage represented a significant shift in policy in terms of how the legal wage floor was defined and implemented. When implemented the Government set a starting wage of £7.20 and an objective for the National Living Wage to reach 60 per cent of a typical (over-25) worker’s hourly wage excluding overtime by 2020. This goal was subject to account being taken of how increases to the level of the wage floor affect economic growth, employment and unemployment levels. In 2018 the National Living Wage rate was set at £7.83.

1 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section E: Political and Economic Report

The extent of low pay

In Figure 1 below we present the percentage of all employees who can be classified as being in low-paid employment using the various different measures of low-pay. From this we see that irrespective of which measure is utilised low-pay is a reality for a significant proportion of workers in Northern Ireland: 28% of employees earn below the Real Living wage; 23% earn below two-thirds of UK median hourly earnings excluding overtime; 10% earn below the National Living Wage - these include those exempted by the structure of the minimum wage including workers aged under 25 years old and apprentices.

Who are the low paid?

Some workers are more likely to be low paid than others and concentrations of low paying jobs are found in particular occupations and industries.

Figure 2: Percentage of employees below selected low pay thresholds, by sector, 2018

Other service activities

Arts, entertainment & recreation

Human health & social work activities

Education

Public administration & defence

Administrative & support service activities

Professional, scientiﬁc & technical activities

Real estate activities

Financial & insurance activities

Information & communication

Accommodation & food service activities

Transportation & storage

Wholesale & retail trade

Construction

Manufacturing

Agriculture, forestry & ﬁshing

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 % below Real Living Wage % earning below National Living Wage

Examination of the sectoral breakdown of low pay shows that the problem of low pay is persistent across almost all sectors, with workers in some sectors at an increasingly higher risk of being low paid. For example, as shown in Figure 2 above, 75% of workers in the accommodation and food sector were paid below the real living wage, and 40% below the national living wage. Other sectors where there is a

54 particular prevalence of low pay include the wholesale and retail trade sector and the administrative and support service sector. 53% earned below the Real Living Wage and 25% earned below the National Living Wage in the wholesale and retail trade sector. 51% in the administrative and support services sector earned below the Real Living Wage and 25% earned below the National Living Wage.

In terms of occupation, as shown in Figure 3 the occupations with the highest proportion of low paid workers include those in Sales & Customer service and Elemen- tary occupations. Some 70% of these workers earned below the Real Living Wage, whilst 30% of workers in Elementary occupations and 20% of workers in Sales & Customer service occupations earned below the National Living Wage.

Figure 3: Percentage below selected low pay thresholds, by occupation, 2018

Elementary occupations

Process, plant & machine operatives

Sales & customer service occupations

Caring, leisure & other service occupations

Skilled trades occupations

Administrative & secretarial occupations

Associate professional & technical occupations

Professional occupations

Managers, directors & senior oﬃcials

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

% below Real Living Wage % earning below National Living Wage

Table 1 overleaf presents the risk of workers with different characteristics experiencing low pay. From this we see that the risk of being low paid declines with age, with 60% of all workers aged between 18-21 earning below the National Living Wage and 80% earning below the Real Living Wage. Whilst middle aged workers are among the least likely to be low paid, around 1 in 5 earn below the Real Living Wage.

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Table 1: Percentage below selected low paid threshold, by workers characteristics, 2018

% earning below % below National Living Wage Real Living Wage Age Age 18-21 60 80 Age 22-29 10 35 Age 30-39 9 21 Age 40-49 8 17 Age 50-59 9 20 Age 60+ 10 26 Gender Male 10 23 Female 10 30 Full-time/Part-time Full-time 10 17 Part-time 25 51 Gender * Full-time/ Part-time Male full-time 9.7 17 Male part-time 30 52 Female full-time 9.7 18 Female part-time 20 45

Part-time workers face a much greater risk of being low-paid, than full-time workers with large proportions of part-time workers low-paid. Specifically, 1 in 4 part-time workers earn below the National Living Wage and just over 1 in 2 earn below the Real Living Wage. Full-time work is not a guaranteed escape from low pay however with 1 in 10 earning below the National Living Wage and close to 1 in 5 earning below the Real Living Wage.

Of all male employees, 23% are low paid when judged against the Real Living Wage threshold. The risk is higher for female employees with 30% earning below this threshold. That said, males who are employed on a part-time basis face a higher likelihood than females who are part-time employed of being low paid. Indeed, 30% males who are part-time employed earn below the National Living Wage, and 52% earn below the Real Living Wage. This compares to 20% and 45% of females respectively.

56 How should policy respond?

Policies directed at increasing the wage levels of those groups of workers who are most likely to be low paid will be particularly beneficial to ensuring that work pays. Legal wage floors do provide one valuable tool for protecting and sustaining the wages of some of the most vulnerable workers. That said, more needs to be done to tackle the problem of low pay.

In particular, efforts must be made to reduce the proportion of workers earning below the Real Living Wage. Moreover, serious consideration needs to be given to using collective bargaining agreements and sectoral orders set through a forum for social dialogue as an avenue to ensure decent pay for all workers.

More editions of this series are available on the institute’s website www.NERInstitute.net

The Nevin Economic Research Institute, • publish and promote research with offices in Dublin and Belfast, is a findings in order to advance research organisation which, at its core, awareness and comprehension of has a vision of the achievement of a economic theory; better, fairer society. • undertake activities to ensure a broad dissemination of the research It aims, through the provision of and analysis; and world-class research and analysis, to • provide education, training and contribute towards the construction capacity building programmes to of alternative perspectives and increase understanding of economic possibilities that will lead to the creation and social science policy among the of a sustainable and inclusive economy general public. that works for everyone in society. It is supported by the unions affiliated to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

The remit of the Institute is to:

• advance knowledge and understanding of economics and the social sciences, with particular reference to the economic and social conditions in or affecting the island of Ireland; • undertake, to the benefit of the public, research and analysis on the impact of economic policy development and its effects towards the attainment of a more equitable and just society; NERI Economist Lisa Wilson

57 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section E: Political and Economic Report

E2 Brexit The challenging issue of Brexit and its consequences for workers across Northern Ireland and these island has consumed much of the last two years. We took the clear view at the outset that if Brexit had to happen it must be the softest possible Brexit with, • No hardening of the border on the island of Ireland • No border within the UK between Northern Ireland and Britain • No economic border between Ireland and Britain We are clearly of the view that Brexit and its long term implications are Owen Reidy welcomes Jeremy Corbyn to negative not just for the people of NIC-ICTU office the island of Ireland but of these

Tanaiste Simon Coveney was hosted at the NIC-ICTU Belfast office for talks on Brexit

58 islands and it must be remembered • NIC-ICTU met with all of the the people of Northern Ireland Northern Ireland parties on voted clearly to remain. several of occasions. We have during the course of the • W e hosted both Jeremy Corbyn, last two years, in conjunction with leader of the British Labour Party, our colleagues in the Republic and the former Tánaiste of the of Ireland, published four papers Republic of Ireland in our offices addressing the consequences in Belfast outlining our approach of Brexit and demanding certain to Brexit and seeking to influence actions to protect our society and the agenda. our economy to make sure that workers don’t bear the brunt of • W e also met with the then Prime Brexit. Minister Teresa May and former Secretaries of State for Northern The fact that we have been without Ireland. a locally devolved NI Assembly and Executive was clearly a setback • W e attended a number of cross in the context of Brexit, as the party MP meetings in the House voice of Northern Ireland was not of Commons. represented coherently by a local • Finally , we had a number of government. In August 2016 the engagements with Michel then First and Deputy First Minister Barnier and his team in Brussels. wrote to the then Prime Minister Teresa May outlining the interests • Thr ough our work in the Equality of Northern Ireland. However, Coalition the ICTU also met with the collapse of Stormont and with senior Congressmen and the subsequent position of the Congresswomen in Washington DUP in the confidence and supply DC, to ensure that the spirit and agreement with the Tories, political letter of the Belfast/Good Friday fragmentation in Northern Ireland Agreement is maintained and over Brexit became the reality. defended. The trade union movement working The voice of workers has been alongside others representing the heard loud and clear and heeded agricultural community, business in many instances. Unfortunately, interests and the community and it has not been heeded by the Tory voluntary sector worked together government. to seek to raise the interests and We took the view that the original voice of the entire community in Withdrawal Agreement brokered Northern Ireland when it came to under Teresa Mays’ stewardship the negotiations on the Withdrawal should be supported. We did Agreement. this, notwithstanding Brexit being We have been extremely active damaging as this version would do seeking to ensure that the interests less damage to the island of Ireland of workers were articulated and and all,.... workers irrespective heard. of their geography and their

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national identity. The alternative the EU and UK should indeed do a crash-out no-deal would have free trade deal but on the basis of been unthinkable. Regrettably, this no quotas, no tariffs and no social version of the WA was rejected on dumping. We will continue to liaise several occasions by the House with the Northern Ireland Executive, of Commons. The subsequent the Irish and British government, as adjustments to this WA took place well as the EU institutions through under Boris Johnsons premiership. our active membership of the ETUC. They unfortunately took the entire UK out of the customs union in E3 Political Engagement the event of the backstop kicking During the last two years the in, but aligned Northern Ireland to NIC-ICTU has sought to leverage EU Single Market to avoid a hard its interest for workers on a range border on the island of Ireland while of matters notwithstanding the keeping Northern Ireland as part of fact that until late January 2020 the UK customs union, and creating we did not have a local devolved some additional checks in the Irish government. We have engaged with Sea. all of the political parties on a range We have met with the EU Trade of matters bilaterally, particularly Commissioner, Phil Hogan along on policy motions agreed at BDC with our colleagues from the TUC 2018. A report on the progress of supporting the contention that these resolutions is elsewhere in this report. In the absence of devolution, we have also sought to ensure that we could raise matters directly with both the UK government and political parties as well as the Irish government. During this time, we had meetings the various Secretaries of State, the Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition and Shadow Secretary of State and Brexit Shadow Secretary. Congress also took the opportunity to appraise the Taoiseach of Ireland of our concerns at the regular LEEF (Labour Employer Economic Forum) meetings in Dublin and have engaged with the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Finance. The Trade Union Movement also sought to build alliances and coalitions on issues with other groups seeking

60 the widest possible support for our NIC-ICTU has sought to engage issues. with The Executive Office on the above important issues and At the time of writing Stormont is to ensure we have a meaningful back and power sharing is back. We bilateral process. The NIC has cannot spend three years asking also sought direct and continue our politicians to compromise and engagement with each of the other when they take the proper decision participants in government and to share power again criticise them. the UK and Irish governments as Nor should this important point be they have a shared responsibility seen as giving our politicians a free in ensuring that the provisions in pass either. Politicians here need to the New Decade New Approach operate like politicians in any normal document are also honoured. One democracy and we need to play way the UK government in particular our part in making this place a more can ensure that this happens is normal functioning democracy. This to once and for all properly fund means politicians being prepared Northern Ireland so we can have to change and to share power good government for all of the vertically as well as horizontally by people of Northern Ireland. developing robust meaningful forms of social dialogue with those of us Public Sector Pensions that represent large sections of the community. Since the passing into law of the Public Sector Pensions (NI) Act in We welcome the return of 2014 by the devolved NI Assembly, power sharing. The New Decade the Collective Consultation New Approach document is a Working Group (CCWG) provides compromise, it had to be. There is an arena for engagement between something in it for everyone, but Management Side and a composite not everything in it will be agreeable representation of Trades Union to everyone. Unions must insist that Sides, under the auspices of the progressive and meaningful NIC-ICTU, for the purpose of commitments on employment information sharing and formal rights and workers’ rights now consultation on matters of public become a meaningful and practical service pensions policy, including reality. The trade union movement new policy requirements as a has a vital and central role to play consequence of the in the 2014 Act. and we must hold the Executive to account on these issue. Other The CCWG consists of not more commitments to the long awaited than ten members nominated by Bill of Rights are also very important Management Side and ten members and we need to see resolved action nominated by Trades union sides, once and for all to ensure we have representing employees affected a robust Bill of Rights that is true to by the 2014 Act under the auspices the origins envisaged in the Belfast/ of the composite TUS grouping of Good Friday Agreement. ‘NIC-ICTU’.

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Since December 2018 the Court of the discrimination dating back Appeal in England and Wales upheld to 2015. They will allow member claims brought by some Firefighters representatives to share their views and Judges that the transitional at an early policy development stage protections afforded to older helping to inform the proposals. members of those schemes were A formal public consultation unlawfully age discriminatory. On 27 will then follow in due course. June 2019 the UK Supreme Court Although proposals to address the refused permission for a further discrimination are at an early stage, appeal on that ruling. it is confirmed that members who were subject to the discrimination Although devolved, this judgement will be within scope of changes has far-reaching implications for made to public service schemes, every public sector pension, as whether they are deferred, reformed public service schemes in pensioner or active members. Northern Ireland incorporate similar age-based transitional protections, It is anticipated that it could take therefore it is appropriate that this some time, to fully implement discrimination is removed from the commitment to remove the public service schemes made under discrimination from all public the Public Service Pensions Act service pension schemes, whilst (Northern Ireland) 2014. also ensuring that members can keep benefits that they have earned The UK Government has confirmed to date. It will require changes in that any necessary changes to legislation and complex changes to pension arrangements will also administrative processes. apply to all public service scheme pension members with relevant The Local Government Pension service, not just those who have Scheme (Northern Ireland), or lodged legal claims. However, given NILGOSC, contains different that some members will be better transitional protection provisions off in the old schemes, and some and is being considered separately. better off in the new schemes, it is not as simple as putting The work of the CCWG has everyone back in the old schemes. been focused on resolving these The solution will need to ensure complications as they arise, while members can keep their accrued keeping members of the various rights. The same complexities exist schemes informed. More detailed in Northern Ireland schemes as information at scheme level will be those in England and Wales. issued to members when further information becomes available. Technical discussions are underway at the CCWG forum to take initial Welfare ‘Reform’ views on proposals for required The NIC spent considerable scheme changes. The scope of resources campaigning on Welfare these discussions is intended to Cuts, since the radical reform of cover scheme changes addressing the welfare system was imposed.

62 Working closely with NIPSA, the system, and has two seats on NIC campaigned and highlighted the Department of Education’s the harmful cuts that would be Transformation Advisory Group, imposed on working class families while pursuing deeper involvement in NI if the Welfare Reform Bill was in the transformation process to to be introduced here, and as a ensure that education workers are result NI was saved for four years adequately represented. from the worst of the Social Security cuts that has savaged communities Both teaching and support service across Britain. When the Fresh Start staff have been responding to the Agreement enacted the NI Welfare relatively new structures being Reform Act, NIC lobbying resulted established by the Education in the mitigations package that is Authority, with serious concerns now protecting families in NI. Work raised about changes to terms and continues on this with the aim conditions, pensions, outsourcing, of ensuring that the mitigations funding and safe workplaces. are kept in place after April 2020, Working across the ten affiliates with the ultimate aim of devising representing teaching and support a humane, inclusive and effective staff, the ETUG conducted a survey welfare system. in relation to levels of violence in schools in early 2019. E4 Education Trade Union 1427 members of ICTU affiliated Group unions in Northern Ireland responded The ETUG is made up of teaching to the survey. 1133 were members of and support staff unions organising teaching unions and 294 members of in the education sectors. support staff unions. It meets bi-monthly and has a wide Among the findings of the survey and varied programme of work. were that: Denise Walker (GMB) is currently • 1 in 3 education workers the Chair of the ETUG and Maxine experience physical abuse Murphy-Higgins (NASUWT) is vice annually Chair. • 1 on 5 receive physical abuse The ETUG shares information and once a week develops a common strategic approach to issues affecting • 83% have been verbally abused teaching and support staff unions in the classroom and works on the implementation • 45% of verbal abusers are parents of relevant motions from the NIC ICTU BDC. Some education workers receive far more abuse than others. During the period under review, the ETUG met with civil servants • 88% of Special Education in relation to the impact of teachers have received verbal or proposed reforms on the education physical abuse

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• 95% of support staff, such as Vice-chair of NIC-ICTU Education classroom assistants, have been Group Maxine Murphy-Higgins assaulted. added that “the figures in this survey are truly shocking. Just over 55% of The consistent view of all unions primary school teachers have been representing education workers is assaulted at work while almost 90% that it is a reasonable expectation of special school teachers have that schools should be safe places been assaulted. with robust mechanisms to protect all students and those working with “But any discussion of violent and them – teachers and support staff. disruptive behaviour in schools has to be put in the context of the Denise Walker commented that budget cuts that are happening in “Everyone expects and is entitled to Northern Ireland. Schools are losing go to work free from the threat of the specialist support that they physical violence but if you work in did have to work with vulnerable one of Northern Ireland’s schools in younger people, class sizes are a support role, you could be one of getting bigger and there are not the 51% who have been subjected enough resources being put into to a physical incident at work. 43% supporting pupils with special of whom reported having been a educational needs (SEN). victim of physical violence weekly. “In many schools, teachers and “With only 34% of victims receiving support staff receive little or no any form of support and action support when they are assaulted taken in only 22% of incidents, our and in a minority of schools the support staff are feeling exposed first reaction of management is to and unsupported. Classroom blame the staff member for the assistants and support staff work in assault. Attitudes like this lead to schools helping some of the most under-reporting of incidents of vulnerable pupils, yet they receive management and heighten the risk little or no support when they of more serious assaults in future.” need it most. Over 54% of teaching staff felt supported after reporting “The Department of Education as a similar incidents and while this is still matter of priority must ensure that all too low, it demonstrates that the schools are meeting their statutory support structures are just not being obligations to maintain a safe applied adequately or equally. This working environment for all staff.” is totally unacceptable. The survey and its findings shocked “The Education Authority and many observers and received Department of Education must extensive coverage in the press, act now to eradicate the threat of including a dramatic front page in violence in our schools. It’s time the Daily Mirror. (see image). they take responsibility and ensure they carry out the duty of care that the staff they employ deserve.”

64 policy advisory committee where support services and teaching staff jointly plan trade union policy and strategy responses on all major developments. Indeed, immediately after the conclusion of the 2018 BDC, trade unions held a protest at the Derry office of the Education Authority to highlight their common concerns over Special Educational Needs provision. The protest was timed to coincide with the monthly board meeting of the EA. The Education Authority NI had published a consultation ‘Future Provision for Children in the Early The appointment of new EA Years with Special Educational Directors leading on Children and Needs (SEN)’. In addition, material Young People’s services, Finance, appeared in the local media in Operations, Education and Human March 2018 concerning a plan, Resources is changing how trade allegedly being developed by EA, to unions will engage in collective completely re-organise the special bargaining with the EA. All Directors education school provision in the have accountability on policy Belfast area. strategy and budgets and already Speaking on behalf of the NIC-ICTU we see the impact of the crisis in Education Trade Union Group, its the Education budget evolving in outgoing chair Gerry Murphy noted: these new structures. The ETUG “These two issues are related and continues to be an important are a matter of great concern to both the schools communities Strike rally outside Education Authority HQ directly affected and the trade union movement. The children and young people concerned have a right to be heard on this issue. The teachers, classroom assistants, medical personnel, therapists, bus drivers and administrative staff employed in the schools under threat along with their colleagues involved in pre -school provision are equally concerned for the children and young people and their own employment.

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“As trade unionists, we are demands of teachers for decent dissatisfied with the nature of the wages. The situation remains consultation. The proposal itself unresolved. is clearly incomplete and vague, lacking any financial planning In Further and Higher Education, or detail on how the existing there have been a series of disputes, relationships with the various Health most notably in the university Trusts will be adjusted to meet the sector, where UCU members proposed changed provision.” took two periods of strike action to defend their pension scheme, Since 2018, there has been a series facing the sort of ‘reforms’ which of ballots in support of industrial leave workers working longer before action, following the failure to offer receiving a diminished pension. teachers in NI a pay deal similar to that available in Scotland, Wales and There are also significant concerns England. across third-level education about the precarious status of ‘younger’ At the time of writing, the re- academics, being denied tenure for established Stormont Executive years as employers save on the cost means that there are minsters for of employing them full-time with Education and Finance and an proper contracts and secondary expressed willingness to meet the benefits, such as paid holidays.

Mirav Amir from UCU at Queen’s University

66 Concerns are being highlighted E5 Health Committee around the nature of contracts and working conditions in the FE sector. The Health Committee continues Other issues affecting education to provide guidance and make workers include: recommendations to the NIC on matter of development in health • Action on class sizes so each policy and strategies within the child can reach their potential; Department of Health, the Health • Support for children with Special Trusts, HSCB and arms-length Educational Needs, and a sus- bodies. Anne Speed (Unison) is tainable budget to meet these the current Chair of the Health needs; Committee, with Claire Ronald • R etaining teachers and support (CSP) as vice Chair. services staff, not making them redundant; The present mandate of the • Raising the cost of getting to committee started with organising schools with charges for school a large and expansive party in the transport; Belfast sunshine as unions and the • Intr oducing charges for music wider public celebrated the 70th education; birthday of the NHS. Belfast City • Hik es in the cost of nutritious Hall was specially illuminated and school meals; its workforce’s efforts appreciated. • Closing several outdoor Anne Speed commented that: education centres; “We represent the thousands of • Institutionalising the selection of dedicated women and men who pupils by social class at 10 years deliver healthcare to all of the of age. people. This only works because it

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Belfast Mayor launches NHS 70 Birthday events is a universal public service which commissions. These commissions provides the same level of care were invariably at the cost of the and healing to the rich and the workforce, with TUPE arrangements poor alike. Illness and misfortune undermined or ignored, leading to a should not bankrupt anyone, and series of scandals exposed in some the best way to ensure that our Residential care homes for the system remains more just and elderly and vulnerable. A powerful fair than in many other countries presentation on one such are home is to keep the NHS in the care of in Dunmurry was made to the NIC the people. We all own it, and we by Eddie Lynch, the Commissioner should celebrate it.” for Older People who led the investigation into appalling failures That message of a health service for very vulnerable elderly people. owned by and accountable to all of the people was tested by Unions also opposed plans in the increasing involvement of late 2018 by a consortium of private companies seeking a private equity funds and property slice of the public’s money, by developers to ‘reconfigure’ GP pursuing contracts to deliver NHS services in south Belfast, and services and cream off substantial succeeded for a while in getting

68 Health workers celebrate to NHS 70th Birthday

Belfast City Councillors to block the consistently argued that both the planning application (after working taxpayer and the workers providing closely with a health journalist) until these services are always better solemn pledges were made in a off in the public sector, as workers document implying legal action are properly paid and treated well, against the Belfast Telegraph that: all due taxes are paid and where “The proposed King’s Hall Primary patients and their families have Care Centre redevelopment avenues of accountability which will create modern healthcare are absent across too much of the accommodation, but no private private care sector, charitable or not. healthcare provider will be involved in the delivery of services.” “The very business model of the proposed development is not to add The Health Committee will watch value to patients or taxpayers, but with interest this development, if it to cream off the already tightened emerges and can be profitably run budgets of the NHS. The business by the ‘Charity’ lined up to manage plan for this site seems to depend the King’s Hall site. Anne Speed upon the taxpayer at every stage. pointed out the contradiction: Creaming off the waiting lists of our underfunded health service, and “The plans for the proposed then charging an inflated rate to the healthcare campus include a large NHS in the ultimate false economy care home to be run by Abbeyfield, for the taxpayer. The medics which is a registered charity despite providing these services will be being one of the UK’s largest social trained or already employed by the care chains. The trade unions have public health service.

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“The trade unions do not think a publicly funded and publicly or assert that anything illegal is delivered health service model occurring. Nor are we ascribing based on the founding principles anything but honest intentions of the NHS. The Bengoa report was to Abbeyfield, or Benmore, or reviewed by the subsequent Health Octopus. They are merely playing Minister Michelle O’Neill, who the cards which they have been produced a plan with a time scale dealt by the rules of the game. The of ten years for implementation problem we have is with those – ‘Delivering Together’ - based on very rules. We think the game is the principles of co-design and co- rigged.” production with representatives of the workforce at a professional and In January 2016, the then trade union level. Health Minister Simon Hamilton commissioned a review on the The committee made further reconfiguration of the health detailed submissions on Delivering service which led to the Bengoa Together. New oversight structures report. The committee, alongside on policy and implementation several affiliates, made submissions strategies were established within to Professor Bengoa’s panel the Department and led by the emphasising the need to sustain minister. The Health committee

ICTU Vice-President Alison Millar at the NHS celebration

Pickets outside Royal Victoria Hospital Pickets at Beech Hall

70 Support for NHS strikers from all unions succeeded in securing a place at the activities of over 30 ‘Transformation policy table and participates in the Implementation Groups (TIGs)’. The Transformation Advisory Board (TAB) committee is represented on most which strategically oversees the of the TIGs and its TAB envoy, John- Patrick Clayton, provides regular updates to affiliates. The committee led a campaign to re-establish the Health Partnership Forum which had been collapsed by earlier Ministerial and Departmental diktat. Minister O’Neill responded and before her departure with the suspension of Stormont, re-established the Forum which was warmly welcomed by employers and unions alike. The Health committee has called for this Forum to continue to meet, which happened intermittingly - a situation which the committee is keen to resolve now that there is an accountable Health Minister in situ.

Pickets at Mater Hospital

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The committee also vigorously pay issue was the expressed top lobbied on the issues of workforce priority for the NI Executive to settle planning. For the previous two upon resuming devolved powers. At years, Health unions had warned the time of writing, Health unions the lack of focused and resourced are consulting members with workforce planning would led to the dramatically improved offer, staff shortages which have now although there are many remaining detrimentally impacted on delivery issues to resolve for the workforce of service. The current, and in in our largest employer. particular nursing staff and AHP shortages, have clearly evidenced The Health Committee worked health unions’ concerns. closely with affiliates whose members would be directly affected Aside from related crises by the welcome and belated exacerbated by years of decriminalisation of abortion underfunding and recruitment services, and also took guidance problems, the most severe industrial from colleagues across the border relations issue was pay, in particular where similar legal changes the dislocation from the wages paid happened. These consultations to equivalent colleagues in other with the INMO and also with the parts of the UK. NIC-ICTU Women’s Committee and like-minded campaigners such as After years of talks crippled by Alliance4Choice informed a detailed the lack of a minister of Health response to the NIO consultation to lobby a minster for Finance to on abortion guidelines, and a direct approve just pay settlements, the meeting in Stormont House with late autumn of 2019 saw a wave of officials guiding the legal process of strikes and action short of strikes decriminalisation. which was unprecedented in the history of the Health Service in Plans for a Mental Health Seminar Northern Ireland. A photo-essay were at an advanced stage but accompanying this illustrates the it was decided to postpone the scale of the industrial action which planned one-day event for senior included most of the NIC-ICTU’s officials, shop stewards, reps and affiliates in the NHS, with some expert professionals in the field of balloting for the first time ever. Even mental health impacts on trade the (non-affiliated) Royal College of union activists. This will happen Nursing took strike action for the when the ongoing pay disputes first time in over a century. have been resolved, hopefully by summer 2020. The wave of public and political support acted as the final straw which broke open the stalled talks at Stormont. Resolving the NHS

72 Gerry Murphy accepts the ICTU Presidency at the 2019 ICTU BDC in Dublin E6 The ICTU North/South L Broderick (FSU), K Callinan (Fórsa), Committee S Cody (Fórsa), J Cunningham (SIPTU), J Douglas (MANDATE), North/South Committee D Kennedy (CWU UK), M Lafferty The North/South Committee (USDAW), P Mackel (NIPSA), P comprises members of the McKeown (UNISON), A Millar Executive Council and the (NIPSA), M Morgan (NIPSA), G Northern Ireland Committee. The Murphy (INTO), S Nunan (INTO), A membership is in the process Speed (UNISON) of being replenished with The purpose of the committee is to new members to progress the develop key North/South initiatives contributions from: in developing all-island socio- economic initiatives and influence, where possible, the policies originating from all six cross-border bodies under the auspices of the N/S Ministerial Council. Crucial to the work of the committee is the pursuance of the Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland and the Charter of Rights for the Republic, as set out in the Good Friday Agreement (GFA).

NIPSA delegate and Youth Committee observer to NIC Steven Harvey 73 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section E: Political and Economic Report

ICTU General Secretary Patricia King responds to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

Delegates from UTU with NIC member Delegates paid tribute to Lyra McKee Jacqui White

NIC member Paul Wolfe with PCS colleague Gayle Matthews

74 Paddy Mackel from Belfast & District Trades Council

UCU delegate and NIC member Katharine Clarke

USDAW’s Michala Lafferty

Unison’s Anne Speed Unite’s Jackie Pollock

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It is most disappointing that these discusses issues of mutual concern elements of the GFA have not been and examines areas of potential introduced in both jurisdictions cooperation. despite being components of an international agreement. The N/S Meeting in London 15/16 March Committee members had a meeting 2018 with the Joint Oireachtas Working TUC Frances O’Grady – General Group on the Implementation Secretary Mary Bousted – Former of the GFA, which has members President Kevin Rowan – Head of from the Oireachtas, Stormont and Organisation and Services STUC Westminster. Graham Smith – General Secretary E7 The Trade Union Council of Satnam Ner – President WTUC the Isles Martin Mansfield – General Secretary ICTU Patricia King – General The Council of the Isles is the Secretary Owen Reidy – Assistant annual meeting of the leadership General Secretary of the trade union centres on these islands. It comprises the Trade Issues discussed included Brexit, Union Congress (TUC) of England, precarious work, campaigns in the Scottish TUC, the Welsh TUC, each jurisdiction and why the trade and the Irish Congress of Trade union movement needs to embrace Unions. The Council of the Isles technology in how it communicates originated from Strand 3 of the with members. Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and

Owen Reidy and Frances O’Grady with President and Sabrina Higgins at the opening of the Connolly Centre in Belfast in 2019

76 Owen Reidy and Frances O’Grady at the opening of the Connolly Centre in Belfast in 2019

Council of the Isles 2019 Grahame Smith, General Secretary and Jackson Cullinane, President of Dublin was the venue for the the STUC. Council of the Isles on the 16th and 17th May 2019. Those in attendance Martin Mansfield, General Secretary included, and Shavanah Taj, President of the WTUC. Patricia King, General Secretary, Owen Reidy, Assistant General The issues discussed at the 2019 Secretary and Alison Millar, Vice sessions including Brexit and President of the ICTU. Collective Bargaining along with the various active campaigns taking Frances O’Grady, General Secretary place in each jurisdiction. and Kevin Rowan, Head of Administration of the TUC. The 2020 Council of the Isles will be hosted by the STUC.

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E8 Lyra McKee the trade union movement, as the largest truly cross community civic 2019’s Mayday celebration in Belfast society group in Northern Ireland, was made all the more poignant to stand up for peace, pluralism and soon after the callous murder of diversity and all that is good about Lyra McKee, a young worker, a our society. Trades Councils marked journalist, a proud NUJ member, their abhorrence in cities across the and an LGBT activist. Her pointless island, and Lyra’s NUJ comrades led murder is a reminder that we cannot NIC-ICTU’s commemoration to her take the peace process for granted life and work: “It won’t always be like and her life and murder must not this. It’s going to get better.” be in vain. It also motivates us in

Delegates to ICTU BDC 2019 pay silent tribute to Lyra McKee

Unveiling the May Day Banner in honour of Lyra McKee

78 Section F

Migrant Workers Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section F: Migrant Workers

SEUPB Peace IV ‘Crossing Borders Breaking Boundaries’ workshops brought together local and Black and Minority Ethnic Migrant workers in the Portadown area Section F: Migrant Workers

BME Migrant Workers Project organisation, migrant workers have been encouraged to join a trade The NIC ICTU Migrant Workers union and a number of successful Support Unit (MWSU) was union organising campaigns had established in 2007 through their origins in contact through the funding from the Department for MWSU. the Economy. The Unit’s main aim is to pursue the implementation A range of publications and training of Congress policies by working sessions helped to challenge racist towards the elimination of racism, attitudes and break down barriers discrimination, exploitation and between migrant and other workers. barriers in accessing services for migrant workers. The MWSU had strategic responsibilities of policy The Belfast office operated a development and promoting permanent Migrant Workers protections for migrant workers. It Employment Rights Centre as well lobbied government and was invited as providing outreach clinics in to participate in NGOs and state other locations. The unit directly sponsored sub groups. The Unit supported over 400 people per worked with partners both locally year and also ran advice centres, and internationally in support of clinics and information sessions. equality for migrant and minority From the initial contact with our ethnic workers.

80 This new project Crossing Borders, Breaking Boundaries, funded under the European Regional Development Fund of the EU and managed by the SEUPB, embraces many of the activities of the MWSU and also aims to build positive relations with people from different communities and backgrounds. The Project will produce research on the profile, cross border dynamics, issues impeding labour market integration of BME workers mainly in the agricultural, food In 2018 the MWSU was relaunched processing and services sectors in when NIC ICTU, in partnership NI and the border area. with Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, A new model of labour market Ulster University and Community integration has been developed Intercultural Programme, and delivered in six border counties successfully applied for Peace IV increasing capacity of 1,025 BME funding to run a project to develop workers to secure their labour rights, a new model of labour market enhanced capacity and leadership integration aimed at BME migrant skills of 200 BMEs and on-going workers that will build positive and 9 specific opportunities for relations with people from different meaningful and sustained contact communities and backgrounds. between 200 BMEs and 140-200 people from PULCRN communities. The workshops tackle myths that exist around migration, cultural competency and community relations

81 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section F: Migrant Workers

Dissemination of the model at a local, regional, National and EU level to over 5,000 people through effective communication, networking, seminars and an all Island conference will be achieved. The Project is developing a charter for fair treatment at work for migrant and other ethnic minorities in Northern Ireland and will be lobbying politicians and others on this charter and to seek a tightening of employment protection legislation to protect BME migrant and other vulnerable workers. A range of actives are being carried out by a team of Project Development Workers to deliver Kevin Doherty at a workshop for BME migrant workers outreach, advocacy, case work, collective community meetings, trust of vulnerable BME migrant workshops, leadership training and worker communities. Once trust the establishment of a Workers is established the Project has Action Group involving BME migrant deepened engagement with them by and other workers. providing ESOL courses, information As challenging exploitation of sessions and linkages with local BME migrant and other vulnerable government and NGO’s who can workers in the workplace must provide support to BME migrant begin with workers joining trade worker communities. The Project unions the Project is working with also works to establish BME migrant affiliates to organise BME migrant community groups and encourage workers in a number of workplaces. interaction between communities. The Project has also assisted The Project intervened effectively affiliates in reaching out to BME with the assistance of the Ballymena migrant workers and helped with and Antrim Trades Council and initiatives to bring migrant and other other local trade unionists to union members together. help reduce racial tensions in that The Project has had to use area in late 2018 that were being novel approaches to gain the whipped by a far Right political

82 group. Through working with and Craigavon councils, the Traces local trade unionists, employers, Council Consultative Committee, community groups, the Mid and other trade union activists and East Antrim Borough Council and affiliates who have participated in other politicians the Project helped the Project’s activities and would reduce the myths that fuelled the welcome the involvement of racial tensions and to de-escalate others to help break down barriers the situation. between communities. This work is essential to defeating the growth The Project would like to thank in prejudice, racial tensions and local trade’s councils, including challenging exploitation of workers. the Belfast, Ballymena and Antrim,

ESOL class for Migrant Workers in Lurgan

ICTU’s Kevin Doherty and Tony Gallagher with Stephen Bloomer, Andrew McCreery, Development Worker (CIP project partner), and Stephen Smith, CEO CIP

83 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section F: Migrant Workers

Employment Rights Seminar for BME Migrant

…

Trades Council Consultative Committee seminar on ‘Tackling Prejudice’ in 2019, facilitated by Mel Corry of TradeMark and Craigavon TC

84 Section G

Equality and Human Rights Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section G: Equality and Human Rights

Section G: Equality and Human Rights

G1 Introduction agencies and others on equality and human rights issues. The following is a report on the work of Congress and the Equality Human Rights Consortium Committees in pursuit of our objectives for a fairer and more Congress is a member of the equal society. Human Rights Consortium which brings together nearly 200 EQUALITY & HUMAN RIGHTS NGO’s, trade unions and other SUB-GROUP (EHRSG) groups to campaign for the full implementation of the Good Friday The EHRSG is a sub-committee of Agreement, in particular for a strong the NI Committee which extends and inclusive a Bill of Rights for it’s membership to the chairs of Northern Ireland. the NIC’s self-organised groups, equality officers of affiliated The Human Rights Consortium unions and trade unionists on the meets on a bi-monthly basis. enforcement bodies. The EHRSG’s function is to develop on behalf of Equality Coalition the Northern Ireland Committee Congress is a member of the a strategy on equality and human Equality Coalition which is a broad rights, and to co-ordinate ICTU’s alliance of non-governmental lobbies, relations and negotiations organisations whose members with Governments, enforcement cover all the categories listed in

Trade Unions support journalists Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Bernie at Belfast High Court

86 Section 75 of the Northern Ireland The constitution of the Committee Act 1998 (‘s75’), as well as other sets out the functions to be: equality strands. It was founded in 1996 by community and voluntary the co-ordination of policy or sector organisations and trade action by affiliated organisations unions. catering for women workers on matters relating to the interests The Equality Coalition continues to of women; the investigation provide a forum for unity between of problems arising from all sectors when campaigning for the employment of women equality, while allowing for the in industry, services and the diversity of its members’ work and professions; the preparation of views. It has regular engagements reports on aspects of women’s with government and the employment, conditions of work, enforcement bodies. remuneration etc. Both the Human Rights consortium A Work programme based on the and the Equality coalition have motions that were passed at the established relations with the 2018 Women’s Conference, the Equality and Human Rights alliance 2018 NIC ICTU Biennial Conference in the Republic. and the 2019 ICTU Biennial conference was adopted by the G2 Women’s Committee committee. The Officers of the NI Women’s Priority issues were identified as: Committee during the period covered by the report: 1. Highlighting the issues affecting women in the workplace Chairperson – including insecure work, gender Geraldine Alexander (NIPSA) pay gap, workplace harassment Vice Chairperson 2. Tackling violence against Margaret McKee (UNISON) women, including domestic Secretary violence and abuse, human Eileen Gorman (FSU) trafficking and combatting sexual harassment at work. The Women’s Committee is one of the longest standing formal 3. Campaigning for reform of committees of Congress and has legislation on reproductive rights, an important to play in identifying including abortion issues that are a priority for working 4. Highlighting the disproportionate women across all sectors and in so impact of austerity on women doing makes a positive contribution and supporting gender to Congress policy. budgeting. 5. Campaigning for a comprehensive, affordable childcare strategy.

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ICTU Women’s Committee Chair J White Standing ovation for Repeal the 8th and Ailbhe Smyth campaign co-ordinator Ailbhe Smyth

The major initiatives of the Women’s Issue, Sling the Mesh and the Committee during the period were Women’s Pledge. the organisation of a National Women’s Conference in 2018 The Women’s Seminar 2019 and National Women’s Seminar The Seminar took place in in 2019 as well as participation in Newcastle, Co Down in March the Women’s Council of the Isles, 2019. The theme of the seminar an initiative that brings together was Women’s Leadership in work the TUC, STUC, WTUC and ICTU and in society – challenges and Women’s Committees on an annual opportunities. basis. Some 150 delegates gathered to The Women’s Conference 2018 listen to keynote speakers including The Women’s Conference took Chidi King, Director of Equality place in Enniskillen in June 2018 at the ITUC and Esther Lynch, and had the theme of Better Work Confederal Secretary with the Better Lives for Women Workers. ETUC. Some 170 delegates gathered to debate 21 motions relating to Women and Work, Women in Unions and Women in Society. Guest speakers included Dr Caitriona Crowe who spoke about the Centenary of the Representation of the People Act which extended the vote to include some women. Fringe meetings were held on topics including Women and Precarious Work, Abortion as a Workplace Esther Lynch at the ETUC Women’s Committee 88 Women’s Council of the Isles huge burden financially, emotionally and logistically for those women. Members of the Committee We know that some people have participated in the Women’s Council been forced to continue unwanted, of the Isles meetings in 2018 and or even medically unviable 2019. pregnancies, because they haven’t In 2018, the Council of the been able to travel. Isles took place in Dublin and Since 2009 the Abortion Support presentations included from the Network has helped women with ICTU Assistant General Secretary travel costs, abortion costs and on Brexit, from the TUC on logistics; even putting women up in stereotyping and violence in work, volunteers’ homes when necessary. from the Wales TUC on hidden Following years of campaigning, disabilities and gender and from the a high profile court case, and a ICTU on the gender pay gap and brilliant political manoeuvre by Stella abortion as a workplace issue. Creasy MP, abortions in England In 2019, the Council of the for women from Northern Ireland Isles took place in London and are now paid for by the NHS, along discussions centred around the with some travel costs. However, rise of the far right, a delegation of for some people travelling is not trade union women who visited an option, for asylum seekers and Palestine as well as focusing on others without the right papers, for the significant equality and human those trapped in domestic violence rights victories gained in Northern situations, for the disabled and for Ireland. Delegates also discussed those (often the young) without the landmark ILO convention on family or partner support, travel has protection against Violence and sometimes been impossible. Harassment at work, particularly Many of those without medical focusing on ratification by the UK complications and still early in and Irish Governments. pregnancy have opted to buy Reform of Abortion Legislation abortion medication online but taking it or providing it in Northern It has been a momentous year for Ireland was illegal and resulted in reproductive rights and justice in prosecutions until 22nd October. Northern Ireland. After decades of campaigning, the speed with which Credit must go to the grassroots the necessary legislation to bring campaigners in Northern Ireland, about both equal marriage and the who have been advocating for decriminalisation of abortion NI abortion rights consistently, loudly came about, was almost difficult to and courageously for decades. comprehend. Alliance for Choice has led powerful campaigns in Northern Ireland and For the past 50 years, women in Westminster, drawing on medical Northern Ireland have had to travel evidence, research, women’s (mainly to England) to have safe, stories, and health and human legal abortions. This has been a

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rights arguments to make their Getting safe, legal, local abortion up case. Credit must also go to the and running in Northern Ireland will trade union movement. For years, not happen overnight. We’ll keep trade union members have raised supporting our friends in Alliance the issue of reform of abortion for Choice to keep up the pressure. legislation within their unions But for the year that’s in it let’s mark – not always a popular subject. this historic moment and celebrate Motions have been brought to toast the tenacity of the campaign affiliate conferences and to ICTU and those who fought so hard to Biennial Delegate Conferences and achieve it. trade union activists and the ICTU Women’s Committee have been Tackling Sexual Harassment at stalwarts in their support of the work campaign. The rise of the #MeToo movement It once seemed impossible that has put a global spotlight on the abortion would be realised in NI issue of violence against women with the draconian and archaic and sexual harassment. However, 1861 the Offences Against the despite considerable media Person Act firmly in place in NI. The attention and continued activism 1967 Abortion Act never applied by women and others, the issue of to Northern Ireland, so abortion in sexual harassment continues to be Northern Ireland has been illegal persistent in the workplace. except in exceptional circumstances The Equality Commission for right up until the 22nd October 2019. Northern Ireland reported in 2017

90 that discrimination on the grounds of experiences of sexual harassment. Gender is the second most reported form of discrimination overall to their The opinion poll surveyed union legal advice team, and within that, members with experience of harassment at work is the second sexual harassment at work and was most common complaint. Numbers conducted online between 01 and of complaints have risen by 31% over 14 November. The survey focused the last five years. exclusively on people’s experience of sexual harassment in the As part of the Committees action for workplace, rather than measuring International Day for the Elimination the scale of the problem. of Violence Against Women, Congress issued a survey to find out Congress wanted to gain a more about trade union members deeper understanding of workers’ experience of sexual harassment at work - the types of incidents Sexual Harassment in the Workplace An anonymous Survey

Members of the NIC ICTU Women’s Committee mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

91 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section G: Equality and Human Rights

experienced, the perpetrators and Menopause and the Workplace location, the barriers to reporting, and the impact sexual harassment The Women’s Committee devised has on the lives of those affected. a survey on the effects of the menopause on the workplace. Of all the alarming statistics thrown The survey was circulated to all up by the polling, perhaps the most affiliated unions in Northern Ireland alarming one was the unacceptably and nearly 2,500 responses were high levels of under-reporting and made. dissatisfaction with their employer’s action among those who had Key findings from the survey reported sexual harassment. included: Key results from the survey included: • 49% of respondents said that the menopause had been treated as Northern Ireland a joke in their workplace; • 75% of workers experiencing • 28% said that the menopause sexual harassment at work do had been treated negatively. not report the incident to their employer Congress is now working with the Labour Relations Agency and • 3 out of 4 (75 %) of respondents the Equality Commission to draft did not report the unwanted guidance which can be used by sexual behaviour to their unions and employers. As part of employer, while of those who this work, consideration will also be did report 62% felt that it was given to pilot training. not dealt with satisfactorily and in some instances reported that they had been treated less favourably as a result of reporting sexual harassment. • 29% reported their most recent experience of sexual harassment had taken place at a work-related social event; while a sizeable minority reported being harassed by phone or text (11%) or by email, online or via social media (9%).

92 Campaigning for universal, Policy interventions included: affordable childcare. • R olling out access to 30 hours As part of the Better Work Better free childcare, as in the rest of Lives campaign, the Northern the UK; making clear that this Ireland Committee prioritised must be properly funded. a number of policy areas. This included the issue of gender • Public spend on childcare equality in the workplace and the should be redirected away provision of properly funded and from individual subsidisation of accessible childcare in Northern childcare supply to investment Ireland. in childcare services and infrastructure. Childcare became the subject of the first BWBL policy paper and • Drastic improvement in the pay Childcare in Northern Ireland: and conditions of the childcare Cost, Care and Gender Equality workforce. Our analysis showed was launched in June 2019 to a full that almost half of the childcare room in the MAC theatre, Belfast. workforce earn below the real living wage – this is not The paper examined a number acceptable nor sustainable. of issues connected with the issue of childcare including how • Unionisa tion and collective childcare is organised in Northern bargaining or a system of Ireland, both household and public sectoral agreements is urgently spend on childcare, issues for needed to address levels of pay the childcare workforce, how the and terms and conditions. issue of having children impacts • The urgent need to review on men and women differently and update parental leave and recommendations for policy systems. Our policy document interventions. Since the launch of urged provision of properly the paper, Congress staff have held remunerated parental leave bilateral meetings with all political reserved for both parents – a ‘use parties in Northern Ireland as well it or lose it’ system. as meeting with statutory bodies including the Equality Commission, NGOs and others.

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These measures, together with G3 Disability Committee proper flexible leave entitlements, could go some way to addressing Officers: the problem whereby women Chairperson: with dependent children are Paul Cobain, NIPSA over represented in part-time employment, more likely to be in Vice Chairperson: temporary employment and much Vivien Holding, CWU less likely to be self-employed than Secretary: men with dependent children. Sally McKee, UTU. See www.ictuni.org for full report. The Committee is represented on

various external groups including: Congress is supporting a major civil society campaign, Childcare for • The All Party Group on Disability All which brings together NGOs, at the NI Assembly childcare organisations together with women’s organisations and • The Employment for People trade unions to campaign for with Disabilities Advisory Group accessible, flexible and high quality convened by the Department for childcare. Employment and Learning • The Welfare Reform Group convened by the Law Centre NI • The Trade Union Disability Alliance (TUDA).

Disability Committee Chair Paul Cobain with Belfast Lord Mayor and Paul Oakes, Equality Commission NI

94 The Committee has jointly • Impr oving the job prospects and organised seminars in Belfast (2019) working careers of people with and in Portlaoise (2018). disabilities in Northern Ireland The seminars and the committee • Developing an Accessible meetings have been addressed by Transport strategy 2025 a number of high profile speakers who have dealt with topics which In relation to the employment have included, the UN Convention strategy, we welcomed the on Persons with Disabilities, autism supported employment approach awareness as well as working to securing and maintaining to ensure that people who are employment and welcomed the disabled can access decent jobs adoption of this model. and careers. However, we expressed our In relation to attacks to the social concern that changes to the security system imposed by the welfare and social security system Westminster Government, the will impact disproportionately on committee has raised serious disabled people and their families. concerns over the issue of Congress urged the Department to the ‘universal credit’, and new ensure that the work opportunities regulations around Incapacity available for disabled people have Benefit and the removal of those the flexibilities built into them that who have previously been awarded allow people to work without it the benefit. affecting their benefit – for example the 16-hour rule. In 2019, the seminar focused on the theme of Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace. Guest speakers included the Equality Commission, Advice NI, the Department for Communities and others. Congress responded to a number of consultations during this period with input from the Disability Committee. These included:

Philip McTaggart delivered a session on suicide awareness to the ICTU Disability Committee

Disability Committee with ICTU Education tutors discussed issued about workplace mental health 95 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section G: Equality and Human Rights

G4 LGBT Committee The Committee continues to help develop relationships within and Members of the Committee between affiliates and organisations continue to: within the LGBT community and • T ake part in the annual Pride has worked hard to raise awareness events in Belfast, Foyle, Newry and effect change for all LGBT and Dublin; members. • a ttend Outburst Queer Arts Campaign for Marriage Equality Festivals; ‘All love is equal’ – one of the • tak e part in the International straplines of Love Equality, the Day Against Homophobia and campaign for marriage equality Transphobia (IDAHOT) week; in Northern Ireland. When Love Equality was established by six Members of the Committee organisations (including the are represented on the LGBT Rainbow Project, HereNI, Cara Consultative Forum, the Trans Friend, the Irish Congress of Trade Forum, and IDAHOT Planning Unions, Amnesty International and Committee cementing the NUS USI) to lead the fight to deliver links between the Trade Union marriage equality to Northern movement and the LGBT Sector Ireland, one thing was patently organisations. clear. In Northern Ireland, all love was not equal. For unique in the UK and Ireland, LGBT+ people in Northern Ireland could not marry the person they loved. And should they choose to marry elsewhere, their marriage

ICTU participated in Foyle Pride

ICTU LGBT banner at Belfast pride Sarah Canning and friends lead the Love Equality march in Belfast in 2019.

96 would only be recognised as a civil purpose was to extend the period partnership on their return. for Northern Ireland Ministers to be appointed, following the Assembly The first Love Equality rally on June election held on 2 March 2017, to 21 2015 saw 20,000 pour onto the October 2019; and to impose a duty streets in Belfast and such was the on the Secretary of State to report popular support that it seemed on progress towards the formation inconceivable that LGBT+ people of an Executive in Northern Ireland. would continue to be discriminated against. Despite this growing The Bill was amended by both popular and political support, Houses of Parliament and became moves to have Marriage Equality the Northern Ireland (Executive delivered by the Northern Ireland Formation etc.) Act 2019 (the Act) Assembly were frustrated by the by Royal Assent on 24 July 2019. DUP’s continued use of the Petition Clause 8 was introduced to the Bill of Concern. Attempts to introduce via an amendment tabled in the Marriage Equality by a cross party Commons by Conor McGinn MP Private Members Bill were derailed and co-sponsored by members when the Assembly collapsed in from a range of parties. It was 2017. passed into the Bill on Tuesday 8 July by a landslide vote in the And so the Love Equality campaign Commons. began to focus on Westminster as the only way to deliver equality. Section 8, Same sex marriage and opposite sex civil partnership, came Four years after that first rally, an into force on 22 October, requiring amendment to a Westminster the Secretary of State to make bill largely intended to extend regulations, to come into force the period for NI Ministers to be on or before 13 January 2020, to appointed became the somewhat provide that, in Northern Ireland, unlikely mechanism to deliver same same sex couples are eligible to sex marriage to Northern Ireland. marry, and opposite sex couples are The Northern Ireland (Executive eligible to register a civil partnership. Formation) Bill (the Bill) was The tabling of the amendment by introduced in the House of Conor McGinn came after many Commons on 4 July 2019. Its months of behind the scenes work by Love Equality to find a suitable vehicle for the introduction of marriage equality with both MPs and Peers including Conor and Lord Robert Hayward deserving special credit. As of 13 January 2020, couples wishing to enter into a new marriage could register their intent with a civil registrar with

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the first marriages due to take Marriage Equality in Northern place from February. However, Ireland is often characterised as a as of writing this report, there are controversial issue. Love Equality still some anomalies to the law. begs to differ. In our opinion, the The regulations brought in by the only controversial thing about it Secretary of State did not allow will be how long it has taken to get for either faith based marriages here. or conversations of existing civil partnerships to marriages. Love Equality has registered dismay at these gaps and has pressed the Northern Ireland Office to rectify this situation as soon as possible. A consultation on both matters was launched in January 2020, with regulations expected to be brought in April 2020 for faith based marriages and shortly thereafter for conversions.

98 Section H

Industrial Relations Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section H: Industrial Relations

Section H: Industrial matters relating to employment/ Relations industrial relations. It meets to develop, in partnership H1 Industrial Relations with relevant stakeholders, including DfE, an Employment Relations The NIC has responded to a range strategy that is consistent with of consultations issued by the the Programme for Government, Department for Employment & especially after the restoration of the Learning, in particular the substantial Institutions at Stormont. two stage ‘Review of Employment Law.’ As the laws in the GB are being While the main focus of the changed for the worse, the NIC Roundtable’s work was around decided that protecting the status of the Review of Employment Law working people in Northern Ireland the Roundtable is also working was a priority. A hopeful sign was on developing a new NI dispute the establishment by the Labour resolution system and also a ‘Joint Relations Agency (LRA) of the NI Declaration of Protection’ for the Employment Relations Roundtable. workplace. The Bill passed the final stage with a number of positive amendments, on zero hour contracts, requirements on employers to disclose information on pay by gender and develop actions plans with a view to closing the gender pay gap. Workers in NI are now significantly better off than other workers in GB in terms of employment rights. The NI Employment Relations Roundtable comprises a representative of the four lead employer organisations (Chamber of Commerce, Confederation of British Industry, Federation of Small Businesses and Institute of Directors) and four representatives from NIC ICTU, Patricia McKeown, Alison Millar, Jackie Pollock and Kevin Doherty. It is hosted and facilitated by the LRA. The Roundtable seeks to engage, advise and influence government, principally through the Department for the Economy (DfE), on all

100 The original joint declaration, lawful industrial action whereby they signed in 1993, was between the are standing up for their members CBI and NIC ICTU and focused on and the services they deliver for the sectarianism. The updated declaration public. takes account of the significant changes in the workforce since then 2019 also witnessed an excellent and covers racism and mistreatment industrial campaign that achieved on other grounds, as reflected in international trade union support Section 75 of the Belfast Agreement. at Harland and Wolff. The workers The Declaration has been promoted led by their shop stewards and their across all sectors of the economy, unions Unite and GMB decided and has been incorporated into Trade that they would not be another Union Education Courses. redundancy statistic and took over their yard to defend the jobs and The Joint Declaration has also been conditions of employment they had. utilised in interactions with Migrant They waged an excellent campaign Workers and Refugees, such as the which brought the entire trade PEACE IV Crossing Borders Project union movement together and had and the publication developed with significant media exposure whereby the Belfast City of Sanctuary, ‘A Part the cause of the Harland and Wolff of Belfast Now’. workers became the cause of all workers. After several months on 2019/20 saw unprecedented but the picket line and incredibly strong necessary and very timely industrial lobbying from Unite and GMB a action and strike action across the new owner took over the business public and private sectors. After and the workers proudly went back nearly a decade of austerity our to work. We also witnessed an public sector unions in health, excellent union campaign by Unite education, the Northern Ireland Civil in Wrighbus where they worked Service and in Higher Education assiduously to seek an alternative were forced to take industrial owner and ended up protecting action and in some instances many of the jobs. strike action to seek pay justice and the defence of their terms and All of the above necessary industrial conditions of employment. Many action must demonstrate to the of our public sector trade unions workers in both the public and have demonstrated just what can be private sectors just want can be achieved with the correct strategy achieved when workers come and leverage. We are conscious together, organise themselves that at the time of going to print a collectively in strong unions that are number of these disputes remain un ambitions, courageous and pursue resolved while some are the subject strategic industrial action where of consideration of proposals workers can win. that have been hard won through negotiations. We will continue to support in whatever way we can all our public service unions involved in

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H2 Industrial Disputes • Hovis The NIC supported and assisted • Queen’s, Open & Ulster affiliates in a range of industrial Universities disputes and redundancy or • Allied Bakeries outsourcing situations. Many affiliates have undertaken industrial • Bombardier action, and strike action for the first time in many years. These included: • Harland & Woolf • Royal Mail • NHS • Post Office • Primary & Secondary Schools (Teachers, support staff & • HMRC Principals) • NI Civil Service • SONI • DVLNI • Glen Dimplex • Irwin’s Bakery • FE Colleges • Asda • Balcas • Moy Park • District Councils • McDonalds • Wrightbus • ABP Meats

McDonalds strike Denise Walker, GMB

102 The longer the picket, the shorter the strike!

Health Service strikers December 2019

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Harland & Wolff dispute

Joe Passmore. Pic by Bobbie Hanvey

NIC Chair and ICTU President sends solidarity from the entire trade union movement Matt Wrack, FBU leader, spoke at a support rally at the H&W gates

There was support from Trades Councils across NI Susan Fitzgerald, UNITE

104 Those who work on ships backed those who built them

Group of Workers and retired Workers who came back to the yard to show solidarity

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106 Section I

Health and Safety Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Section I: Health and Safety

Section I: Health and Safety

Health & Safety In 2018 and 2019, the Committee was joined by trade unionists, The Health and Safety Committee politicians and bereaved family continues to engage in a varied members to lay a wreath at the work programme including WMD Tree in the grounds of responding to consultations, Stormont Estate. organizing events, supporting safety representatives and campaigning for Recent research from the Health safer workplaces. and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland has indicated that workplace Committee & Officers ill health is estimated to be costing Geraldine Alexander (NIPSA) was the Northern Ireland economy over re-elected as Chairperson of the £238 million per year. NIC Health & Safety Committee at In Northern Ireland alone it is the reconstitution in 2018, Aidan estimated that 395 people die each McDonnell (Belfast and District year due to work-related disease. Trade’s Council) was elected as Vice Many other occupational ill health Chair, Ray Rafferty (UNISON) was conditions have a serious impact elected as Secretary. upon an individual’s quality of life Workers Memorial Day and that of their family. Workers Memorial Day held all over According to the HSENI, recent the world on 28 April, is intended to statistical estimates, based on GB remember all those killed at or by figures, suggest 15,000 cases of work, and to strengthen our resolve work related stress, anxiety and to reduce risks and protect people depression in Northern Ireland each from injury in the workplace. year. Work-related stress is the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them at work. At the WMD event held in 2019, Principal Inspector Kyle Carrick talked about HSENI’s focus on occupational health priority areas including: • occupational lung diseases • occupational cancers • musculosk eletal disorders & work-related stress

H&S Chair Geraldine Alexander during Workers Memorial Day

108 The Health and Safety Committee, Safety Rep Award together with the ICTU Disability Committee and the Health ICTU continues to partner with the Committee will be jointly HSENI to present the Safety Rep considering how to support Award. In 2019 this was presented union representatives who are to Siobhan Duncan from NIPSA with increasingly dealing with issues commended certificates awarded to relating to stress and mental ill Paul Turner, NIPSA and Emma Jane health in the workplace. Cullen, UNISON. The event was addressed by HSENI CEO Robert Joint Work Kidd and ICTU Vice President Alison Millar. The Officers of the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland Committees met to discuss areas of collaboration including holding a reps survey to inform future workplans as well as sharing information about priority issues for affiliates and safety reps. Relationship with Key Strategic Bodies The Health and Safety Committee continues to have regular meetings with the Health and Safety Executive NI. Safety rep award winner Siobhan Duncan with HSENI CEO Robert Kidd and ICTU Vice President Alison Millar.

Health and Safety Diploma class together with NIC ICTU Chair Gerry Murphy, Education Officer Kevin Doherty and ICTU tutor Barbara Martin

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110 Appendix 1

Standing Orders Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Appendix 1: Standing Orders

Appendix 1: Standing Orders

1. Northern Ireland Conference 1.1 The Northern Ireland Conference shall meet biennially. The place and date shall be decided by the Northern Ireland Committee, subject to the approval of the Executive Council. 1.2 The Chairperson for the Sessions of the Conference shall be the Chairperson of the outgoing Northern Ireland Committee. 1.3 A Conference Arrangements Committee of five persons and two substitutes, elected at the previous Northern Ireland Conference, shall be responsible for the arrangements of the business of Conference, and generally take charge of the meeting place.

2. Representation Only bona fide members or full-time officials who are members of an affiliated trade union and resident in Ireland may be appointed as delegates in accordance with the following scales: a. Trade unions with an affiliated membership in Northern Ireland of less than 1000 members = one delegate Trade unions having an affiliated membership in Northern Ireland of:- 1000 members but less than 2000 = 2 delegates 2000 “ “ “ 3000 = 3 “ 3000 “ “ “ 4000 = 4 “ 4000 “ “ “ 5000 = 5 “ 5000 “ “ “ 6000 = 6 “ 6000 “ “ “ 7000 = 7 “ 7000 “ “ “ 8000 = 8 “ 8000 “ “ “ 9000 = 9 “ 9000 “ “ “ 10000 = 10 “ 10000 “ “ “ 11000 = 11 “ 11000 “ “ “ 12000 = 12 “ 12000 “ “ “ 13500 = 13 “

112 13500 “ “ “ 15000 = 14 “ 15000 “ “ “ 16500 = 15 “ 16500 “ “ “ 18000 = 16 “ 18000 “ “ “ 19500 = 17 “ 19500 “ “ “ 21000 = 18 “ 21000 “ “ “ 22500 = 19 “ 22500 “ “ “ 24000 = 20 “ 24000 “ “ “ 25500 = 21 “ 25500 “ “ “ 27000 = 22 “ 27000 “ “ “ 29000 = 23 “ 29000 “ “ “ 31000 = 24 “ 31000 “ “ “ 33000 = 25 “ 33000 “ “ “ 35000 = 26 “ 35000 “ “ “ 37000 = 27 “ 37000 “ “ “ 39000 = 28 “ 39000 “ “ “ 42000 = 29 “ 42000 “ “ “ 45000 = 30 “ and one delegate for each 3000 members above 45000 and up to 75000 and thereafter in accordance with Paragraph 37 of the Constitution of Congress. Trade Unions must include women delegates in their delegation in accordance with the following scale: b. Trade Unions having an affiliated membership in Northern Ireland of more than 500 but less than 1000 women shall appoint at least one woman delegate. Trade Unions having in Northern Ireland:- Women Membership Women Delegates 1000 but less than 5000 at least 2 5000 but less than 10000 “ 3 10000 but less than 15000 “ 4 15000 but less than 20000 “ 5 and at least one woman delegate for each 5000 women members above 20,000.

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c. Local Councils of Trade Unions may appoint delegates (who must be members of affiliated trade unions) to the Conference in accordance with the following scale:- Up to 6500 affiliated membership 1 delegate Over 6500 affiliated membership 2 delegates

3. Motions 3.1 Affiliated organisations may submit up to three motions for the Conference Agenda. Motions must be signed by the authorised official of the organisation and forwarded to Congress not later than the date specified in the notice to organisations. 3.2 The Northern Ireland Committee may submit up to three motions for the Conference Agenda. 3.3 Motions must be within the scope of the Objects of Congress as set out in the Constitution. They must relate to the matters provided for in Paragraph 37 of the Constitution, viz “matters relating to the internal, industrial, economic and political conditions of Northern Ireland, and of direct concern to Northern Ireland members only”. The Executive Council shall determine whether motions submitted are in order and its decision shall be final.

4. Business of Conference The business of Conference may include the following items: a. The Report of the Northern Ireland Committee b. Special Reports from the Northern Ireland Committee c. Motions from affiliated organisations and the Northern Ireland Committee d. Guest speaker/s invited by the Northern Ireland Committee

114 5. Election of Northern Ireland Committee and Conference Arrangements Committee The election of the Northern Ireland Committee (NIC) will be conducted using the single transferable vote system. The Congress Constitution provides that the election of the Northern Ireland Committee must result in the election of at least four women. In the event that only four women are nominated for election to the Northern Ireland Committee, prior to the vote commencing these candidates will be declared elected and an election will be held to elect a further 14 members of the committee using the single transferable vote system. In the event that there are more than four women nominated for election to the Northern Ireland Committee a single election will be held using the single transferable vote system. If the outcome of the election of the Northern Ireland Committee results in less than four women being elected then the following procedure should apply. The last man to be elected amongst the 18 should be replaced by the last woman to be eliminated. In the event that this does not result in four women being elected then the second last man to be elected shall be replaced by the second last women to be eliminated and so on until the minimum requirement of four women is met. Nominations of persons for election as members of the Northern Ireland Committee (18 members, including four Reserved Seats for Women and one Reserved Seat for Councils of Trade Unions) and of the Conference Arrangements Committee (5 members plus 2 substitutes) may be made by any affiliated trade union entitled to representation at the Conference. Each nomination must be signed by the authorised official of the nominating union and must be forwarded so as to reach Congress not later than four weeks prior to the date of Conference. Nominations must be confined to persons who are delegates to Conference. A nomination shall not be made without the expressed consent of the person nominated. Nominations for the Conference Arrangements Committee must be persons who are delegates to Conference, and may not be a member of the incoming Northern Ireland Committee. A list of persons nominated as members of the Northern Ireland Committee and of the Conference Arrangements Committee will be sent to each affiliated organisation and to delegates not later than two weeks prior to the date of Conference.

115 Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Appendix 1: Standing Orders

6. Methods of Voting on Motions and Reports Voting at Conference shall be confined to delegates and be by a show of hands, each delegate having one vote. Four delegates shall be appointed as Tellers.

7. Limitation of Speeches The Conference Arrangements Committee shall make recommendations to Conference on time limits of speeches. No speaker shall speak more than once on the same question except the mover of a motion replying to the discussion.

8. Executive Council Executive Council members and Congress Officials are entitled to attend Conference. Officials may speak as appropriate on motions or reports.

9. Other Matters Matters not covered by these Standing Orders in principle shall be dealt with in accordance with the Standing Orders of Congress.

116 Appendix 2

Motions by Section Biennial Delegate Conference 2020 Appendix 2: Motions by Section

Appendix 2: BDC 2020 Motions by Section

Political Situation to be developed into a body close to our conception of a Forum for Social Dialogue in Northern Ireland which would be comprised Motion 1 – NIC of the key 4 representative pillars, namely the trade union movement, Trade Union Relations with employers, community and Devolved Stormont Institutions voluntary sector and farming community. It would deal with Conference welcomes the return of some key social and economic devolution at Stormont and power issues facing NI, such as our 14 sharing involving all five major NI priority policy areas outlined in parties, and also notes the positive Better Work Better Lives. It would be provisions and acceptance of the advisory and consultative in nature principles of co-design and co- as we do not envisage it being production in ‘New Decade New involved in collective bargaining on Approach’ which could have a pay and terms and conditions of lasting impact on industrial relations employment of workers. It would be in Northern Ireland. permanent and not ad hoc. Conference also notes that The trade union movement gained the trade union movement has support and goodwill from the campaigned for better more public and then the political parties inclusive civic engagement and with its responsible and justified social dialogue over the last two campaigns of industrial action in the years through our Better Work past year, and that public support Better Lives campaign and clearly has been instrumental in delivering several sections of the New Decade just pay settlements for workers in New Approach document (17, 23, many areas. Conference recognises sections 3.8 and 3.9 along with that the industrial action taken by section 4.6.10) provide scope for the health and social services workers trade union movement and others across a number of affiliates was to develop engagement with The a major catalyst in the return of Executive Office to develop these devolved Government. ideas further to enhance capacity for meaningful social dialogue and ‘New Decade New Approach’ refers meaningful engagement. to a range of other important rights and equality strategies that will be Having campaigned for this developed including in relation to opportunity, we must seize the gender, disability, racial equality, initiative and ensure that the voice of sexual orientation and anti-poverty. working people is not marginalised Congress is clear that we want to in the corridors of power. There are see all of these strategies developed. proposed structures for Structured Congress is committed to play Civic Engagement which ought

118 our part in their co-design and are peace process. Conference agrees equally determined to see them that Congress must remain focused delivered in a way that genuinely on countering and mitigating these promotes equality of opportunity negative impacts. and realises people’s rights. We remain ready and willing to play a Conference is concerned that whilst meaningful and constructive role the UK/EU Withdrawal Agreement with others to make those just aims contains measures to avoid a a reality. border on the island of Ireland via aligning Northern Ireland with EU Conference calls on the NI rules on customs and goods, it will Executive Office to establish cause barriers to trade between a structured Forum for Social Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Dialogue, as laid out by the trade Conference notes that these union movement. Conference arrangements will remain uncertain further calls for the restoration of well into the future, subject to the regular meetings of the Bi-Lateral consent of the Northern Ireland Forum, to ensure that issues Assembly on an ongoing basis. important to the workforce are heard and acted upon at the highest Conference is further concerned level of governance in Northern that the ability of the arrangements Ireland. outlined within the Protocol to prevent the diminution of rights in Northern Ireland is untested, with significant issues remaining Motion 2 – UNISON to be resolved. Conference calls Congress input to EU/UK future on Congress to continue to relationship engage with both the UK and Irish Governments to ensure that Conference notes that ICTU, in outstanding issues around the partnership with affiliates and protection of rights are dealt with via allies across civic society, has effective mechanisms. campaigned tirelessly since the result of the EU Referendum in June Conference believes it is vital in 2016 to protect workers North and defending the interests of our South. members that Congress actively influences the course of the Conference notes that the UK has negotiations on the EU/UK future left the EU from 31st January and relationship. Conference agrees is now in a transition period during that the key objectives of Congress which the EU and UK will negotiate during this process must remain: their future relationship. • Pr otecting the rights of our Conference believes that the UK members from any attempt by exit from the EU will have and has the UK to race to the bottom; already had negative impacts on our members, their families, their • Pr otecting the wider peace communities and on the wider process;

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• Maintaining an open border on • Gain support from the trade the island of Ireland. union movement across the UK (TUC, STUC, Wales TUC), ETUC Conference is also mindful and ITUC for these updated that the UK is seeking to enter positions. into Free Trade Agreements with non-EU member states, particularly the United States of America. Conference notes that Motion 3 – NUJ Congressional leaders, including Working Without Fear & Threats Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have been clear that they will not allow a Conference strongly condemns the free trade deal with the UK that ongoing intimidation of journalists in compromises the Good Friday Northern Ireland, including the vile Agreement. graffiti directed at Leona O’Neill in the Creggan on 5th February 2020. Conference supports the Joint Delegation representing trade The failure of the PSNI to bring unions, rights activists and to justice the murderers of Martin business from Northern Ireland O’Hagan, the killing of Lyra McKee that has already engaged with US in the Creggan on 18th April Congressional leaders. Conference 2019 and the recent attempt to calls for this engagement to be silence journalists by threats and intensified with the clear objective intimidation serve to undermine of protecting the Good Friday journalism and the right to freedom Agreement, our NHS and our rights. of expression in Northern Ireland. Conference therefore calls on The NUJ has been dealing with a ICTU to: disturbingly high level of threats against journalists. Women • Undertak e a full analysis of the journalists have been the target of Withdrawal Agreement and especially vicious abuse. Political Declaration on the Future Relationship and produce Conference acknowledges with an updated policy position paper admiration all who stood up to which outlines the key issues those responsible for the murder of for all our members across the Lyra McKee. island of Ireland; Conference commends in particular • Use these documents to the trade union and community form the basis for renewed activists who organised vigils and campaigning by ICTU on the protests in the wake of the murder. future EU/UK relationship and on Many of those who did so have any free trade negotiations with themselves endured threats and non-EU member states, in order intimidation. to ensure that our members Conference acknowledges with North and South do not pay the pride the dignified manner in which price of exit; Lyra’s murder was marked at May

120 Day 2019 events in Belfast, Derry Platform, which ceased operations and other locations. this year. Conference calls on trade It is appropriate that the pledge unions and the Northern Ireland in New Decade New Approach Committee of ICTU to continue to include this issue as a ‘priority to offer support and solidarity to concern’ in its Programme for those who encounter threats for Government, and doubly so in defending their right to live in peace the section devoted to improving without fear or intimidation and Employment Rights. extends solidarity to media workers targeted for carrying out their The proposed legislation presented professional work. in 2015 for consultation from OFMDFM (now The Executive Office) is far from perfect but it represents an important first step. Motion 4 – NIC (on behalf of the Retired Workers Committee) Conference believes that age discrimination legislation in relation Age discrimination legislation to goods facilities and services Delegates will recall that in 2016 this must: conference passed a motion calling • Be framed with a strong on the NI Executive and Assembly purpose clause containing a to complete the legislation designed series of clearly articulated to outlaw discrimination on the goals; grounds of age a requirement under the 1998 Belfast Agreement and the • Include the public, private and subject of equivalent legislation in voluntary sector in its scope; England, Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. • Include strong protections for older people across all areas of The legislation was almost ready goods facilities and services, in to be passed when the institutions particular health and social care of the Belfast Agreement collapsed and financial services; in January 2017, but there is an opportunity again to finally • Include people of all ages in the complete this unfinished business. scope of the legislation This is not a tokenistic concession This Conference therefore calls to the lobbying and campaigning on the NI Executive to take steps power of older people. Rather, to introduce legislation to address it’s fulfilment would be a suitable this issue without further delay. Our tribute to our citizens who refuse older citizens do not have the time to fade away from public life to wait. upon retirement, many of whom are trade union activists of long standing, still active in their unions, in the National Pensioners’ Convention and the NI Age Sector

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Motion 5 – PCS Motion 6 – UNISON New Decade New Approach New Decade must have genuinely New Approach The first paper from the reformed NI Executive promises much, but Conference notes the recent return the real question is how can they of devolved Government under fund the delivery? The recent strike the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ action over pay, of health care agreement. Conference pays tribute workers, civil servants, teachers to the courageous stand of health etc. was dominated by discussion workers whose sustained industrial on where would the money come action also played a major part in from to pay fair wages and how the return of devolved Government. would that impact other funding? Conference is disturbed by the With NI budgets and spending being failure of the UK Government to primarily dictated by the Barnet clearly support the new institutions Formula and with limited means with the significant funding and to raise revenue in NI, the general investment in public services that is answer is we must cut and reduce required. spending to stay within the Barnet bucket. Conference acknowledges that a significant factor in the previous We know that monies allocated to collapse of our devolved Government NI could be significantly higher if was the failure to implement key the UK government would clamp rights and equality measures. down on tax evasion and avoidance. Conference repeats our demands The Tax Justice Network research for the full implementation of all findings show that the world’s rights and equality commitments. wealthiest hide no less than US$21 Conference agrees, in line with the trillion in tax havens. If the income motion carried by ICTU Biennial from this wealth was charged to Delegate Conference 2019, that tax in the country of origin there Congress should continue to hold would be additional tax revenue of Government to account in line US$190-280 billion annually to fund with the measures outlined within public services. the Equality Coalition ‘Manifesto for a Rights Based Return to Power The NI Executive and MLA’s must Sharing’ (2019). demand action on tax justice, evasion & avoidance measures Conference agrees, further to the and revenue collection from the strategy already pursued through UK Government. This Conference the ‘Better Work, Better Lives’ instructs the incoming NIC to work campaign, that we must seek a with affiliates to lobby all parties, bi-lateral relationship with all parts MLA’s and MP’s on tax justice. of the Executive by which we can significantly influence the direction of the key economic and social policies.

122 Conference therefore calls on the Conference also notes that in Northern Ireland Committee to 2009, the House of Lords Select engage with the newly formed Committee on the Barnett institutions and UK Government on Formula concluded that “the the following terms: Barnett Formula should no longer be used to determine annual • Calling on the UK Government increases in the block grant for to honour its commitments and the United Kingdom’s devolved make the necessary resources administrations... A new system available for our public services; which allocates resources to the • Calling on all parties in the devolved administrations based Executive to genuinely share on an explicit assessment of power and deliver rights and their relative needs should be equality for all within society in introduced.” line with the Equality Coalition It is the normal practice of all ‘Manifesto for a Rights Based developed countries to redistribute Return to Power Sharing’; wealth from richer to poorer • Demanding that all parts of the regions to meet the needs of their Executive develop bi-lateral population. The UK government relationships with ICTU. must be reminded unequivocally of its obligations in this regard, particularly to the people in NI. Motion 7 – Belfast and District Conference calls on the NIC to Trade Union Council work towards building a widely New Decade New Approach supported call for the allocation by the London government of Conference is deeply concerned sufficient financial resources to that the funding from the UK begin to tackle the many issues Government accompanying the blighting our local economy and ‘New Decade, New Approach’ society. agreement is vastly insufficient to address even the most pressing Conference also calls on the NIC to social and economic needs in NI. challenge the narrative originating from the London-centric politicians As the UK is the sixth-largest and media that speaks of ‘hand- national economy in the world, the outs’ when it comes to requests for failure to provide adequate funding proper levels of funding to poorer to NI, Scotland and Wales is purely a regions. matter of political will. Conference notes the wide-ranging evidence which suggests that the UK almost certainly has one of the highest levels of regional inequality of any large wealthy country in the world.

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Employment Rights Motion 9 – Derry Trades Council Repeal Anti TU Laws

Motion 8 – UNITE This conference calls on Congress to campaign for the NI Assembly to Minimum Wage Differentials repeal anti-union legislation and to give trade unionists back the rights It is a central tenet of trade they had under the 1906 Trade unionism that workers seek a fair Union Act. day’s pay for a fair day’s work. That means workers should receive basic pay equality regardless of their gender, ethnicity or age. Motion 10 – PCS At present it is legal for employers Employment Rights to pay younger workers significantly Conference notes with concern, less for performing the exact same the removal of the clauses which work at that performed by those would protect EU derived worker’s only months older than them. In rights, from the European Union 2020 while the minimum legal (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill threshold for pay per hour is £8.72 2019-20. The prospect of a Tory for those aged 25 and over – it is Government Employment Law Bill, only £8.20 for those aged 21 to 24, does not bode well for workers £6.45 for those aged between 18 or the trade union movement in and 20, and a mere £4.55 per hour GB. Our position is clear; the trade for those below 18. Apprentices are union movement will not accept subject to even lower pay rates. any attempts to lessen worker’s This is totally unacceptable and rights in N Ireland. must be challenged by the trade NI workers were saved from the union movement. Particularly in horrors of the Trade Union Act 2016, light of commitments under the by effective lobbying of ICTU and draft priority actions for a future affiliates of Stormont ministers and Programme for Government agreed parties, which was a major victory. by the parties for “An age, goods However we still have significant and facilities and services bill should anti-trade union legislation in place, also be brought forward by the in the Trade Union and Labour Executive as a basis for ensuring Relations (NI) Order 1995 and the that no one is discriminated against Industrial Relations (NI) Order 1992, because of their age”. Employment Relations (NI) Order Conference mandates the incoming 1999 as amended and others. NI committee to fully resource This Conference instructs the and deliver a campaign to end age incoming NIC, to campaign for differentials in relation to the legal the repeal of all anti-trade union minimum threshold for workers’ legislation and the introduction on pay. There is equality at all if there is new legislation to enhance workers’ not equality for all! rights.

124 Motion 11 – NIC agreement between all five major political parties in over 3 years that Maintaining and improving workers’ the workers’ cause was just and was entitlements, and the right to strike a major factor in the restoration of Conference notes the series devolved Government. Conference of industrial actions, protests, believes that this proves that occupations, rallies and strikes significant industrial action by which have marked the period since our members can result in major the 2018 BDC, across the private positive change for all the people. and public sectors. Conference, however, also notes Conference congratulates those that despite ongoing industrial unions in the private and public action in other sectors the same sectors who exhibited remarkable political pressure has not been patience and fortitude in negotiations forthcoming in seeking to urgently and then, with no options left, resolve the dispute in education and balloted and gained the large and the Northern Ireland Civil Service. solid mandates for strike action and/ Conference reiterates its support to or actions short of strike action. all affiliates to ensure that urgent and acceptable resolutions are found for Conference adds its fulsome all workers who have been engaged praise to those officials and lay in significant and sustained action representatives who formulated over the previous 12 months. innovative ways of exercising their mandates, ensuring the maximum Conference remembers its impact of those actions while commitments made at past BDCs protecting as far as possible their to the development of a sustainable membership and those service users industrial strategy, and expects that who would have been vulnerable to unions across all sectors of the a less carefully targeted approach. economy will have their rightful place at the tables where relevant decisions Conference congratulates workers are being taken which will impact in health, education and the on the lives of our members and our civil service for their respective families. No worker will be left behind. industrial action campaigns and demands that the NI Executive Conference welcomes the resolve the current civil service and commitment in ‘New Decade teachers’ pay disputes. In particular New Approach’ to “enhanced Conference pays tribute to the focus within the Programme for sustained industrial action of health Government on creating good jobs workers and their unions which and protecting workers’ rights.” received unprecedented levels of Conference agrees fully that: public support and reflected the “…access to good jobs, where deep frustration of the public at workers have a voice that the failure of political parties to provides a level of autonomy, collectively serve all of the people. a decent income, security of This action resulted in the first joint tenure, satisfying work in the right

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quantities and decent working by the more recent 14 days strike conditions, should be integral action in a concerted effort to force to public policy given how this employers to make a realistic offer contributes to better health and to resolve these pay, terms and wellbeing by tackling inequalities, conditions and pension disputes. building self-efficacy and combating poverty.” Conference also notes with dismay the ongoing deterioration of Conference calls on the restored industrial relations in the Further NI Executive and the NI Assembly Education (FE) Sector where to ensure that workers’ rights are workers continue their fight for a protected and enhanced, that the decent pay rise from 2019, with devolved status of Employment Law industrial action in early spring-time be defended in order to protect the increasingly likely. NI workforce from any race to the bottom which may be attempted by Conference condemns the actions the UK government in Westminster of FE employers to link a decent pay in post-Brexit GB, that improvements rise with attempts to force through to workers’ rights in the EU be detrimental changes to a range of dynamically aligned with in NI and terms and conditions and working that the succession of Tory anti-trade hours, as well as withdrawing access union acts passed in Westminster to the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) since the 1980s be repealed and for Independent Appeals. Given reversed. the recent changes to employment legislation which now obliges workers to go through a conciliation process with the LRA before they are Motion 12 – UCU able to lodge an Industrial Tribunal Industrial Relations in Further complaint, it is shocking that Further Education Education Colleges are now trying to remove the contractual right Conference congratulates all of members to have access to those workers across a range an Independent Appeal process, of employment areas who have facilitated by the LRA. been involved in strike action and industrial action over the last Conference fully supports the few months in pursuit of decent actions of UCU members to date pay rises, protection of terms on all of these matters and affirms and conditions, fair pension its continued commitment to the contributions, safe staffing and pay use of the LRA Independent Appeal justice and equality. In particular, process for workers. Conference applauds those UCU members in Queens, Ulster University, St Mary’s College and the Open University who participated in 8 consecutive days of strike action at the end of 2019, followed

126 Motion 13 – Fermanagh TC employed on a contract for up to Retired members ten months for basic pay of $2.12 per hour and an overtime rate of Retired Workers $3.73 per hour. The MV Maris was Conference welcomes the adoption chartered to work on a route calling and overwhelming support for at Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland. motion 33 of the 2019 Biennial Conference also notes the effect Delegate Conference. that this exploitation has on major This commitment to improve and employers in the Irish Sea, by develop the active participation of the competitors’ low-cost crewing ICTU Retired Workers Committees, practices, particularly on international in the decision-making and other routes which continue to go processes of Congress, can only unchallenged by Governments. advance our stated Objects in respect Conference notes that as result of equality, inclusiveness and rights. of RMT campaigning the UK Conference further welcomes government committed in 2019 to the commitment of the Executive introduce legislation which would Council to advance the goals apply and enforce the National contained in the motion and Minimum Wage on ships working Conference hopes that they can between UK ports and from UK open early discussions with its ports to offshore energy installations Retired Workers Committees, to on the UK Continental Shelf. seek and ensure a positive outcome. Conference is concerned however Conference instructs the NIC that this legislation has still not been to fully support the aspirations introduced in the UK Parliament contained in BDC motion 33 and and calls for this to happen as soon hopes it can support and work as possible. Conference is further closely with Congress in achieving concerned that this legislation these going forward. would still not cover routes between the UK and the continent. Motion 14 – RMT Therefore, conference also Exploitation of seafarers continues to wholeheartedly Conference is appalled that it reiterate its support for the RMT’s remains lawful to pay crews below SOS 2020 campaign, particularly the the National Minimum wage on following aims. both sides of the Irish Sea and 1. Equal rights in employment, nationality pay discrimination is equality and immigration law for legally permissible as well. domestic seafarers. For example, an inspection of the 2. ‘ Cabotage’ (transport between Cyprus registered MV Maris carried domestic ports) protections for out by the International Transport domestic crew Workers Federation (ITF) found Filipino Ordinary Seafarers (Ratings)

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Motion 15 – Finance Service Union extension of the working week and the over-use of technology for work Right to Disconnect purposes. Securing decent jobs in the financial We also call on affiliates to change services is the core aim of FSU. To the rules by which we organise build a better future for all we need workers. We are calling for to win fairly paid finance jobs across legislative changes to provide for: all of the sector. To do this we need to campaign and organise. 1. The right to access and organise working people in their We call on affiliate unions and workplace; Congress to support FSU’s campaigns in the financial services 2. The right to take meaningful sector to ensure decent secure industrial action quickly and employment for working people effectively if it is required to and their families in this sector. In pursue the interests of our particular, we call out our ‘right to members; and disconnect’ campaign which aims to provide protection for workers 3. Tha t where a company has from the ‘always on’ culture. We also received any state support/ note that many workers in the private contract that a condition of that sector in Northern Ireland suffer support be union recognition. wages lower than their counterparts These changes would greatly in the Republic of Ireland and/ enhance the ability of unions or the island of Britain. This is best to organise and therefore to addressed by strengthening the role win greater job security, pay of trade unions in wage setting in and conditions for workers and workplaces. their families. They would raise The digital revolution is dramatically the standard for all workers and changing the business environment in transform the economy in Northern Northern Ireland. While digitalisation Ireland. will potentially bring employers vast new profits in the form of reduced costs, global labour arbitrage and Motion 16 – NASUWT commodification of data, for workers Sexual Harassment it threatens to bring redundancies, job insecurity, job precarity, workplace Conference is deeply concerned monitoring and surveillance, by the compelling evidence of increased work intensification and the increasing incidence of sexual ‘techno stress’. Conference supports harassment in the workplace, ICTU and affiliate unions in their including sexist ‘jokes’ and ‘banter’, work to protect workers from the unwanted touching and the negative impacts of future technology growing objectification of women on work, which includes legislation and girls. to provide workers for the right to disconnect and to end the informal

128 Congress notes that the NASUWT’s (iii) increased awareness among research indicates that one in five employers that sexual members has experienced sexual harassment can intersect harassment in the workplace by a with other forms of prejudice colleague, manager, parent or pupil and discrimination, including since becoming a teacher. on grounds of age, class, community background, Conference is concerned by the disability, gender identity, race/ widespread reluctance among ethnicity, religion/belief or teachers and other staff to report sexuality; harassment for fear of not being believed by employers and that (iv) affiliates to work with other even when this abuse is reported, civil society organisations to in the majority of cases, little end sexual harassment in the or no effective action is taken workplace and wider society and to by employers to address the harassment. (v) the introduction of legislation to give wider protection from Conference asserts that this is not third party harassment to all only having a damaging impact on employees with protected the physical and mental health and characteristics. wellbeing of women teachers, but is also creating a climate of premature sexualisation of children, and in Motion 17 – GMB particular young girls. Tackling Sexual Harassment in the Conference affirms that schools Workplace should be places of safety and must be supported in tackling the This congress congratulates the problem of sexual harassment or ICTU Women’s committee for violence towards either pupils or their excellent research into Sexual staff. Harassment at work in 2019. Conference therefore calls upon the The findings of this research have ICTU to campaign for: indicated that Sexual Harassment is still an ongoing issue that impacts (i) a mandatory requirement on on trade union members at work. employers to record and report Over 75% of those who experienced incidents of sexual harassment this harassment did not report it and abuse against staff in and 67% of those who did report schools; felt that it had not been dealt with (ii) schools to foster an environment satisfactorily. in which individuals can be Sexual Harassment has and is confident that when reporting having a negative impact on the incidents of sexual harassment, members we represent with some such complaints will be taken 33% stating that the harassment seriously and acted upon; impacted on their mental health

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and 13% reporting an impact on Motion 18 – USDAW their physical health. New Technology in the Retail We cannot ignore the data and Sector we must act as a trade union movement to tackle this grotesque Congress notes that the rapid harassment. We therefore call deployment of workplace upon Congress to launch a technology is a cause of concern comprehensive campaign in for retail workers in Northern conjunction with the Women’s Ireland. committee to address the root All too often, new workplace causes of sexual harassment that technology is being introduced includes; without appropriate consultation • Ensuring that the Northern or consideration of the impact on Ireland Executive produces a customers. Where technology is robust Gender Equality Strategy implemented without consultation, which tackles gender related this can bring about fears of job workplace issues, including insecurity, significant changes sexual harassment. to individual job roles and requirements for new digital skills. • Ensur e the UK Government ratifies the ILO Convention 190 At the same time, customers lose which mandates government out on human contact, feeling to take proactive steps to forced to use systems such as self- address violence against women service checkouts or scan and go including in the world of work. options, where they would prefer to see more cashier operated tills • Campaign for the introduction of available. Congress wholeheartedly proactive duties on employers, supports the positive interaction supported by a Code of Practice between retail staff and customers which outlines employer and therefore believes that responsibility to ensure that employers should not introduce workplaces are harassment free technology such as self-service zones. To include, among other checkouts in an attempt to cut areas of action, mandatory and staffing hours. comprehensive training for all staff, particularly managers and Congress acknowledges that Human Resource personnel. technology can, if used correctly, enhance productivity and contribute • Develop and deliver effective to better job design. However, trade union training for reps without proper consultation, to equip them tackling sexual investment in skills and training and harassment in the workplace and full consideration of the impact on an understanding of the impacts consumers, new technology can on victims. bring about detrimental impacts for the workforce and consumers.

130 Conference calls on the ICTU to highlighted the Northern Ireland campaign for: region as having the greatest percentage of employees who are • Enhanc ed rights to ensure experiencing stress as a result of that employers must work, with 85% saying they have felt consult the workforce on stress while at work. the implementation of new technology in the workplace. Trade union representatives and Officers are dealing with more • L ong-term investment in skills members than ever before who through union learning and high have mental health problems which quality apprenticeships. may be further exacerbated by • All workers to be entitled to fully employment issues and processes funded digital skills training, up to such as workplace investigations, and including Level 2, ensuring disciplinary processes and stressful that the workforce can access or traumatic events at work. the benefits of new technology. Conference asks: Who and what is there to help our trade union representatives and officers in Health Northern Ireland? Motion 19 – Society of We want to ensure that our trade Radiographers union and health and safety representatives feel confident and Better Mental Health Awareness at ease helping and supporting and Support for Trade Union members with a mental health Representatives problem, and that they can also identify where to signpost members Conference recognises that mental for further support. This not only health problems are becoming protects the representative but also more prevalent in society. The the member. statistics are shocking; 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health We must also remember that problem in their lifetime and over under health and safety legislation, the past 20 years, suicide has killed employers have a duty of care more people than the troubles in to ensure that the health, safety Northern Ireland. Workplace stress, and welfare of their workforce is which can lead to mental health protected. This must include risk problems, is also on the rise. assessments to identify health and safety hazards, including factors The Health and Safety Executive for which give rise to workplace stress. Northern Ireland estimates, based on GB figures, that there are 15,000 We request as a collective trade cases of work related stress, anxiety union movement that more and depression in Northern Ireland support and care is provided for our each year. While a 2018 UK-wide representatives, who themselves report from Investors in People (IIP) may have mental health issues

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that could be triggered by dealing deprived areas – both urban and with member cases. We need to rural – is very significantly higher than be proactive rather than reactive in that in more affluent districts. And protecting our representatives. while it can affect all age groups, it is particularly concerning to see the We call on conference to: large numbers of young people who • Ensur e that workplace stress lose their lives by their own hand. and managing mental health We acknowledge that there are is highlighted to the Northern a range of services and supports Ireland Executive in the context available to those with suicidal of the new Mental Health tendencies, most obviously the strategy; Samaritans, Child line and the likes of • r eview what is in place for trade Papyrus. union representatives regarding Government must do more to deal managing stress at work and with this rising social problem. It mental health awareness and is a complex area and requires a support; multi-faceted approach. Conference • pr ovide sufficient resources to mandates NIC-ICTU and its affiliates the NIC-ICTU Health Committee, to resource a campaign to ensure working in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Executive the NIC ICTU Health and Safety brings forward a Suicide Prevention Committee, to organise seminars Strategy, which should include, at a on workplace stress and mental minimum, the following elements: health for representatives. - An anti-poverty strategy including Seminars should include the target of sufficient wealth employer involvement and draw redistribution fiscal policies to on best practice from statutory end absolute poverty which is bodies including the HSENI and leaving working-class people in a the Equality Commission. situation of hopelessness; - Measur es to compensate Motion 20 – Fermanagh Trades claimants for the impact of the Council Tory ‘benefit reform’ policy, the inadequate Executive mitigations Suicide Prevention package notwithstanding; That this conference expresses - A properly-funded initiative its sorrow and concern over the involving the police, judiciary and worrying increase in the numbers of probation services, etc. to work people, of all walks of life and ages, in genuine partnership with local who take their own lives in Ireland, communities to tackle the supply, north and south. consumption and promotion of While suicide does not respect any drugs, both legal and illegal, and distinctions, it is an undeniable fact excessive alcohol consumption; that the proportions of victims in

132 - The establishment of a Northern killed during the conflict itself. It is Ireland-wide investigation into estimated that incidences of poor child sexual abuse as the failure to mental health in Northern Ireland properly deal with this major issue are 25% higher than in England. has left many victims isolated and struggling to cope; Rates of suicide and self-harm are three and half times higher in the - F unding for local councils to most deprived areas compared bring forward outreach services to the least deprived areas, with to meet the needs of those living people in those communities on the streets or in housing need, that experienced the worst of and their dependants, as a result the conflict suffering from trans- of drink or drug dependencies; generational trauma. Conference agrees that sustained austerity - L egislation to mandate employers and underfunding and a lack of to bring forward workplace adequate supports are further suicide prevention policies – driving this crisis. including mandatory measures to provide workers with a work-life Conference is particularly aware balance and a living income (both that within our own movement a living wage and living hours); protecting the mental health and wellbeing of our own members - Ring-f enced mental health must be a key priority. Our funding adequate to meet rising members are expected to work need – including the provision under sustained stress and pressure, of mental health services and often to care for others suffering supporting living options for those from a mental health crisis. Our presenting with suicidal feelings; activists regularly support members - A study of the options to through their own trauma, but this mainstream the promotion of experience is taking an increasing good mental health and suicide toll on them. awareness in the secondary Conference believes that in the face school curriculum. of this sustained crisis the Northern Ireland Committee should:

Motion 21 – UNISON • Campaign in conjunction with our allies across civic society Challenging the mental health and (such as the PPR 123 GP suicide crisis campaign) for increased funding Conference notes with deep for suicide prevention measures, concern the ongoing public health counselling, early intervention crisis of poor mental health, suicide and prevention measures; and self-harm in Northern Ireland. • Ensur e that all Congress It is unacceptable that more people campaigns, such as Better Work, have taken their own lives since the Better Lives and against welfare Good Friday Agreement than were cuts highlight the negative

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impact that low pay and poverty health networks in Scotland and can have on mental health a new model of care for Ireland. outcomes; However, in Northern Ireland women who require these services • Plan a series of initiatives and still face unacceptable inequality programmes for trade union within our health and social care activists through which they services. can receive practical advice on supporting workers with mental Conference, for the last two health issues in the workplace, decades there has been a robust and through which they can be call for the development of supported to protect their own specialist perinatal mental health mental health. services in Northern Ireland. Despite this there has been a lack of any meaningful investment or Motion 22 – Royal College of progress. In the rest of the United Midwives Kingdom and Ireland significant financial investment and service Closing the gap in the provision of development has occurred, perinatal mental health services meaning that women and their Conference, on the 9th May family’s lives have been changed. 2019 the Maternal Mental Health All political parties in Northern Alliance published a ground- Ireland have now officially signed breaking Consensus Statement. the consensus statement agreeing All the political parties in Northern to work together to change things. Ireland have co-signed the statement committing to close Conference therefore calls on the the gap in specialist mental health NI executive to identify and release provision for women during the funds needed to establish pregnancy and the first year after specialist community perinatal giving birth. mental health services in every Health Trust along with a Mother Confidential enquires in maternal and Baby unit for Northern Ireland mortality have, for over 20 years, as a matter of urgency. identified maternal mental illness as a significant cause of mortality and have clearly identified learning which must be applied to improve Education maternal outcomes. The most Motion 23 – INTO recent MBRRACE report, released in November 2018, tragically identifies Safe Staffing that suicide remains a leading cause of maternal deaths. The latest Conference notes with concern the report identifies the widespread lack of adequate cover available to development of specialist perinatal schools when support staff are absent mental health services in England due to illness or other reasons. and Wales, new perinatal mental

134 Conference calls on NIC to work Treatment (NI) Order (FETO) 1998 is with those unions involved in outdated and needs to be removed. Education and the Education Authority to create a database, Conference calls on the ICTU to similar to that used to employ lobby whichever administration substitute teaching staff on a daily is in place to remove Article 71 of basis (NISTR), that would facilitate the Employment and Treatment the appointment of support staff (NI) Order (FETO) 1998 and ensure on a temporary/daily basis to cover that every teacher has equality of staffing absences, to ensure the opportunity. safe running of schools and that the needs of pupils are fully catered for. Motion 25 – UTU School Funding Motion 24 – NASUWT Congress is well aware of the Fair Employment for Teachers current ongoing crisis in education Conference notes that there is in Northern Ireland in terms of comprehensive legislation in Northern funding and resources. Ireland governing discrimination on Congress is also well aware of the the grounds of race, gender, special impact that this situation is having educational needs (SEN) and disability, on our most vulnerable children and sexual orientation, age, religious belief the staff in our schools who strive and political opinion. to provide adequate education and One of the most important pieces support to them. of equalities legislation in Northern The recently-appointed Minister Ireland is the Fair Employment and for Education has, in his early Treatment (NI) Order (FETO) 1998. engagement with various However, the Fair Employment and stakeholders, highlighted his wish Treatment (NI) Order (FETO) 1998 to address the huge issues which Article 71 provides an exemption currently exist in the provision of for the employment of teachers in support for children with Special schools in relation to equality of Educational Needs and mental opportunity and fair participation in health concerns. employment for members of the Protestant and Roman Catholic Securing appropriate support for communities in Northern Ireland. these children in our schools in The practical outworking of this is terms of adequate provision of that it is not unlawful to discriminate external support, proper levels against someone in an appointment of staffing and appropriate and process on the basis of their accessible training for these religious belief. members of staff would have a huge beneficial impact not only Conference believes that Article on the children who would receive 71 of the Fair Employment and such support, but also for teaching

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and support staff who are suffering Conference welcomes the return great detriment in terms of their of devolved government at own health by being deprived of Stormont after a three-year hiatus the resources and support to make but is disappointed by the First the education process relevant and Minister’s unilateral and unprompted productive for those in their care. suggestion that higher tuition fees should once again be on the Congress calls on ICTU to use all agenda for debate. Student fees means possible to keep the issues are currently £4,275 per annum. of SEN and mental health at the Conference notes that students top of the lobbying agenda moving borrowing money to pay these forward into the New Decade. fees have interest added from day Proper and appropriate funding one. Once the student graduates and resources in these areas for and earns about 2/3 of the median our children and young people not full-time wage, that loan has be paid only leads to Better Work Better back at the rate of 9% of income Lives for our young people as they above the threshold. move forward to take their place in society, but also for all of our Conference agrees that lifting or education workers as they strive to abolishing the cap on tuition fees support them in doing so is not a fair way to fund university education and any proposal to raise fees will make things worse for Motion 26 – UCU existing and prospective students. Conference notes the numerous Tuition Fees reports over recent years which Conference notes that one of have highlighted the fact that the great benefits of devolution the introduction of tuition fees in Scotland, Wales and Northern discourages young people from Ireland has been the ability to lower socio-economic backgrounds improve access to third level and those from marginalised education. In this, Scotland led communities and areas of multiple the way by abolishing student deprivation. Research has also fees, something which UCU fully demonstrated the growing problem supports for all regions. Here in of educational underachievement Northern Ireland, proposals to of working class protestant boys. remove the cap on student fees Any attempt to raise tuition fees were resisted by UCU Branches at will only add a further financial the two universities and Training obstacle against attempts to reach Colleges and rejected by an out to everyone across the whole independent inquiry in 2010. community, regardless of their UCU, along with NUS/USI and the background. Third level education students’ unions in both Universities should never be the preserve of the led the successful campaign to elite. ‘keep the Cap on fees’.

136 Conference notes that the – whether that by Government industrial base that once sustained Departments, local authorities or employment for many in Northern public bodies. In recent years we Ireland is largely gone. If we have witnessed the transfer of leisure want to construct a shared and centres by Belfast City Council prosperous future for young to Greenwich Leisure Limited people we must equip them with resulting in a sharp increase to prices the education and skills they need charged to the public for access, the without crippling them with debt. establishment of a two-tier workforce Compared to other European and increased pressures on the countries, fees in Northern Ireland remaining workforce. are already high. Conference accepts that the largely English Similarly, Antrim and system of lending students Newtownabbey Borough Council relatively large amounts of money have increasingly handed over to to pay high fees is neither fair private sector providers a range of nor efficient, and seeks only to waste collection streams – resulting create the space for private ‘for in the undermining of service profit’ providers who care little quality, health and safety and about the educational welfare or workers’ pay and conditions. Other achievement of young people and local councils are considering their students. options for similar moves. Conference applauds the work The trade union movement has had undertaken to date by the NUS/USI to mobilise to defeat moves to hand and others, including UCU, to protect over control over leisure services at access to university education for Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon all and fully supports the ongoing Borough Council but the fears that campaign to resist any attempts the council could reverse course by the Assembly to impose greater remains. financial burden on students through In many Departments, public abolishing the cap on tuition fees. services have been handed over to Conference reiterates its support for private agencies, businesses and free third level education for all. many facilities have been effectively transferred over to the private sector through Private-Finance Initiative and Public-Private Partnerships Economic and Social where profits are clearly sought Rights through attacking members’ pay and conditions, and rationing access to vital public services. Motion 27 – UNITE Conference calls on the incoming Public Sector Northern Ireland committee of Congress notes with concern the the ICTU to properly resource and moves for public services to be deliver a campaign to demand the outsourced to private sector providers handing back of public services to

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the public sector and the ending that thwart such attempts. This of the outsourcing agenda. The has ranged from the US-led military private sector has no role to play interventions of the “wars for oil” in the delivery of core public to the funding of climate change services which should be provided denying think tanks that oppose any to all equally on the basis of full state imposed limitations on their democratic accountability and transnational “profit at any cost” participation. neo-liberal policies that have driven the planet to this cliff-edge. Of course, as a movement we Motion 28 – NIPSA demand a “just and fair transition” to Climate Change a “green” economy but this cannot be about mere tinkering. We have Every Congress agenda is full of to recognise that by strategically motions demanding action on a addressing the climate crisis we hugely diverse range of issues. While pose a direct challenge to the very there will always be debate about economic, militaristic and neo- how best to prioritise resources in imperialist model that has created it. order to meet key objectives on As a consequence, it is imperative these subjects, in terms of both Congress bring in the measures scale and importance, the question detailed in order to affect change of action on climate change and for the scale of intervention – how its needs must shape all policy democratically accountable public has to top any priority list. How ownership, planning and long-term could it not when it has to address investment that will be required to the long-term political failure at a avert this catastrophe. global level that has led us to a crisis involving no less than the extinction of species, including our own, and Motion 29 – Prospect the survival of the planet on which we exist? This priority is spelt out by Industrial Relations in the Energy the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel Sector/Just Transition on Climate Change (IPCC) reporting the catastrophic consequences of Prospect notes the excellent a failure to impose a 1.5°C limit to ongoing work of ICTU and NERI to global warming by 2050. date, on promoting and securing a Just Transition for workers as move The fact that the current US towards a low carbon economy. Government has withdrawn from the Paris Climate Agreement targets Prospect calls on ICTU NIC to: (on carbon emission reduction) • lobby both energy Regulators, in emphasises that the need to take conjunction with relevant trade strategic action to deal with this unions, to establish and maintain crisis must be international and will regular forums for unions to involve challenging the nature and engage with them on this issue tactics of the corporate interests concerning their members

138 ahead of decision making which Wrightbus demonstrated the way may impact them; in which the fight for jobs, skills and investment is increasingly tied to the • to raise awareness with demand for a sustainable economy politicians, in conjunction with that meets the needs of working-class relevant trade unions, regarding people. Workers cannot be side- the issue within the sector, and lined from shaping the economic the impact on our members; transition, instead they must play a • utilise a permanent and central and deciding role. It is vital appropriate ICTU forum, approved that the trade union movement, in at ICTU BDC 2019 to consider particular those representing the this issue and support the work of trade unions representing workers in trade unions moving forward in industries which will face the greatest this area, on an all-Ireland basis. change, is centrally involved in securing a truly Just Transition. Workers cannot and will not bear Motion 30 – UNITE the cost of climate change or Just Transition regressive taxes which are driven in the interests of the few but Awareness of the scale and urgency justified on their environmental of the climate crisis and the wider necessity. Real environmental and environmental threats faced as a economic change must start with result of unsustainable capitalist a recognition of the role of the economics is growing among all rapacious and inherently chaotic sections of the community, most capitalist economy on a global especially the young. scale as a driver of unsustainable exploitation of both nature and Trade unionists have joined and workers. been inspired by the vigorous approach adopted by young Conference mandates the incoming Climate Strike protesters. The role NI committee to bring forward a of the trade union movement #JustTransition campaign to engage in securing real movement by politicians, academics and decision- governments both domestically and makers at all levels to demand a seat globally is a vital one. for workers and their trade unions at every table where decisions are Workers need to be empowered being made affecting workers or in the process of change that delivering the new economy. is needed to transition to a sustainable, post-carbon economy. There are huge opportunities – in terms of jobs and skills from such a Motion 31 – Craigavon Trades transition – but there are also huge Council risks and threats. Support Community Campaigns The recent historic struggles by Conference notes that there workers in Harland & Wolff and are numerous community-led

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campaigns opposing fracking, standard, with affordable rents and gold-mining and oil exploration security of tenure has significant as well as campaigns to protect benefits to tenants and families. access to local nature and historic This goes far beyond having a roof sites such as Save the Craigavon over your head, but has an impact City Park and Save Knock Iveagh. of better health outcomes, in terms Conference calls on the incoming of both physical and mental health, NI Committee, affiliate unions and better educational attainment for trades councils to engage with children and young people and these campaigns and offer whatever creating the conditions for better support possible. These campaigns prospect of employment for many work to protect local working class people. The corollary is of course communities and publicly owned also the case. resources from exploitation and we should both promote and support Conference welcomes the success them through our union structures. of NIPSA’s campaign since the last BDC, through working directly with local residents and local activists in defeating the now failed and Motion 32 – B&DTC much discredited Stock Transfer Housing Programme. This sent a clear message to government that when Conference notes the return of the the union movement works with Stormont Assembly and Executive others it can affect significant change. and welcomes the opportunity However, it is also accepted that this this provides for accountable victory is but one in a wider much government and enhances the broader assault in the provision of ability of Trade Unions and society social housing for citizens. generally to scrutinise decisions taken and to hold Ministers to In addition, Conference account for their decisions. acknowledges the changes announced recently by the new Conference agrees that one of the Minster in respect of ameliorations areas which requires immediate regarding the imposition of attention is housing, an area which Bedroom Tax and urges her to has been neglected for many years, introduce urgent legislation to even before the collapse of the ensure that the other mitigations will Assembly in early 2017. The number be maintained indefinitely beyond of people registered as homeless, 31st March 2020. or in housing stress, continues to grow and will continue to do so Conference reiterates its public unless a fundamental change of commitment to campaign to fight direction is implemented which for the retention of the Northern puts the interests of citizens and Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) as tenants at its core, and not property the sole publicly owned, controlled developers. It is well documented and accountable housing authority that a safe home, built to a decent in this jurisdiction. Conference

140 acknowledges that with the Conference accepts that the retention of the NIHE comes the Minister for Communities must now necessity to ensure that it can undertake a fundamental review of once again be provided with the all aspects of Housing and revisit right and the means to borrow the previous Social Housing Reform against its assets to enable it to Programme to ensure that the commence a comprehensive and provision of Social Housing remains ambitious programme of new in public hands, is open to scrutiny builds and upgrades to existing and continues to be a matter of homes. Such a programme would public accountability to the Minister create thousands of much needed and Assembly. This society suffered construction jobs and hundreds of for too long through, sectarianism apprenticeships for young people. at the heart of allocation of housing, In doing so Conference accepts the efforts over many years to undo that the proposals contained in the the good work of the Housing draft Programme for Government Executive and downright bad (PfG), published in late 2016, are ideologically driven decisions by not sufficient to tackle this growing previous ministers and government housing emergency and that the around dismantling the Housing PfG therefore needs to be radically Executive and attempts to privatise reviewed and revised to meet the social housing. It is important that needs of citizens. provision of public housing remains the responsibility of government Conference recognises that in and not some other “not for profit”, order to tackle this complex mutual or housing association type issues around the provision of model. Experience in England and public housing there is a need to elsewhere has clearly demonstrated be mindful of the close linkages that all of these models are driven which exist with a wide range of by market forces and profit making housing related reviews undertaken for an unaccountable elite, much by government in recent times removed from the needs of tenants and which remain outstanding, and their families. including the Fundamental Review of Social Housing Allocations, the As was demonstrated more than a Definition of Affordable Housing, decade ago when this movement the Stock Transfer Programme, brought unions and wider society the Review of the Private Rental together in the Water coalition to sector and the Reclassification of defeat attempts to privatise water Housing Associations. In addition, provision and impose separate government must bring forward water charges, Conference proposals on how to release public recognises that the same victory land for public house building, and outcome can be achieved which will assist in tackling the by working with other to save scandalous number of people who the Housing Executive and keep are declared homeless, currently in public housing provision in public excess of 13,000. ownership. There is power in the union.

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Motion 33 – SIPTU In a world where technology creates few jobs but enormous wealth (the Automation period of AI has become one of Automation is not a new challenge labour replacement), the challenge to the Trade Union movement, is a distributional one. Regardless however, the pace of change of what the future of technology posed by new technologies such holds, it is up to us in the trade union as Artificial Intelligence (AI) & movement to shape its economic digitalisation is staggering with some and societal impact. It is for our estimates putting jobs effected as movement to make technology high as 35% in the UK and 47% in enabling for workers and their the US. This has radical and long families and for this technological reaching consequences for the advance not to be exploited in the world of work, TU members and interests of employers. communities. We must demand a fair share in Northern Ireland is particularly at the form of higher wages, decent risk from the adverse effects of new jobs, less time at work and most technologies, such as automation, importantly that those most affected due to its reliance on service sector by technological change should be jobs, those sectors deemed to the ones that benefit most from it. be most affected by replacement Conference calls on NIC-ICTU: and displacement of existing jobs. Of course, its effects will be felt • T o explore and map out potential across all sectors with transport, areas of risk posed by new retail and finance being the at the technologies across sectors. cutting edge of change at present, however, all occupations and • This should also include new sectors will be impacted. jobs, activities and areas of production which would enable We should also recognise that the creation of decent job new technologies also present growth and job options new us with opportunities to organise technologies may enable. This and gain real benefits for workers. should be carried out on an NI Key to this will be our ability to and all island basis, especially in collectively organise and bargain, the context of Brexit. without changes to legislation and a campaign of renewal in the • L obbying for new legislation TU’s, workers voice in the new to protect workers faced with technological transition will be technological displacement/ lost, in the parlance of the time replacement. collective bargaining is key to any • T o lobby the NI Assembly to just transition. AI and respective form an institutional framework technologies have the capacity to to assist workers displaced by make workers lives better, we must digitalisation/automation which ensure that large swathes of citizens would give intensive support are not left behind. and training to workers. To

142 seek best practice and models causing many to struggle below the in an international context e.g. poverty line & forced further into Swedish “Job Security Councils”, financial debt. which include employers and unions. This model sees This motion calls for the ICTU to over 90% of those affected by acknowledge that Universal Credit technological displacement does not function as a benefit return to employment within system for self-employed workers. 12 months. NIC-ICTU could We call on The Northern Ireland progress via Better Work Better Assembly to push for further Lives Campaign. devolution of Social Security powers in relation to Universal Credit overall • Incr eased rights to Collectively and in the interim to commission an Bargain & Organise as any just independent report on the effects of transition posed by automation Universal Credit in Northern Ireland is meaningless without workers including the impact of the benefit voice within that process. cap; the two child limit; the 5 week Collective bargaining will be wait and the effect of the minimum central to bargaining for job income floor on self-employed security and new technology workers. agreements. People in need of Universal Credit • 4 day working week with no loss deserve to be treated with dignity & of pay, along with worker friendly support, not ignored. flexible working arrangements via any productivity gains which new technologies engender. Motion 35 – NIPSA • Educa tion and training in skills Public Sector Pay needed for the future, including quality apprenticeship schemes. Congress notes that pay in the public sector has been stagnant since 2010 and members pay has Motion 34 – Equity fallen in real terms by between 15-20% during that period. It is Universal Credit for Self Employed not acceptable that public sector Workers workers have borne the brunt of austerity with no or very minimal Despite many trade unions across increases over the past 10 years. the UK already campaigning for the The Teachers Dispute has been abolition of Universal Credit, the running for many years and in UK Government continue to roll the past year we have had the it out across the country. Roughly majority of public sector workers on one sixth of the UK’s workforce are industrial action. registered as self-employed & pay their taxes annually. Self-employed January 13, saw the publication of workers UK-wide are unable to rely the New Decade, New Approach on Universal Credit in times of need and the restoration of the NI

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Assembly. It is regrettable that while Motion 36 – NUJ reference was made to the Health Workers Dispute and the Teachers Public Service Broadcasting Dispute no reference was made Conference notes with concern the to the dispute which had been threat to public service broadcasting ongoing since July 2019 for civil in Northern Ireland. servants and their colleagues on civil service terms and conditions Media plurality is of vital importance working in Arms Length Bodies. It is of democracy. The existence of important that all workers, whether public service broadcasting is that be public or private sector do especially important in reflecting the not continue to suffer at the hands complex economic, social, cultural of the austerity agenda and the and economic diversity of Northern restored NI Executive and Assembly Ireland. treat all workers with the respect Conference views with alarm the they deserve to ensure they receive threat posed by the British Prime a decent pay rise and income for Minister and his government to the them and their families. funding of the BBC. It is appalling that thousands of The decision to open a consultation public sector workers have to rely process on the decriminalisation on state handouts to ‘top up’ their of evasion of the BBC TV licence, income. Surely it is not too much just five years after a similar to expect that Government workers inquiry, headed by David Perry should set the example to all QC, concluded the current regime employers and that their staff should represented a “broadly fair and receive enough income that they do proportionate response” to the not have to rely on state benefits. problem of evasion and provided For too long now the trade union good value for money for licence movement has stayed silent on fee payers and taxpayers is political this issue. The recent disputes motivated and reflects a hostility have shown that workers whether towards the BBC and the principles they be public or private have had of public service broadcasting. enough and demand they receive a Conference is alarmed at the decent pay increase after 10 years proposed cut of 500 jobs in the of austerity. BBC announced in January 2020 Congress calls on the Trade Union and supports the strong stand taken Movement to unite against any by ICTU affiliates in opposing these further attacks on workers, both measures. public and private and pursue Conference calls on the ICTU through industrial action strategies a Executive Council to work with just outcome for all. affiliate unions and, as appropriate with the British TUC in opposing

144 threats to the viability of the BBC, Seventeen years ago, trade unionists including measures aimed at built a strong and cross-community undermining the financial position grassroots campaign which forced of the Corporation. a U-turn from the then Stormont Ministers who were promoting this as necessary. Unfortunately, Motion 37 – Fermanagh Trades conference notes that in the Council intervening period that water meters have been included by stealth in Water Charges new builds indicating the long-term That this conference notes that it plans for the return of this tax. has been 17 years since the last time Should any moves be made the threat of water charges was to introduce water charges, raised and defeated by the trades conference mandates NIC-ICTU, union movement but it has recently and its affiliate unions, to properly reappeared as a serious suggestion resource a people-power campaign as a consequence of the way to defeat the introduction of this the New Decade, New Approach highly regressive and unfair double agreement was adopted. taxation. No way, we won’t pay! We express our disappointment that the political parties could sign up to a deal crafted by the Conservative Motion 38 – USDAW party and Fine Gael without any Christmas and New Year Working hard and fast guarantees on funding for public services or the range of Congress is concerned that many commitments which were included workers in a wide range of different in the document. sectors are not receiving a decent break from work over the Christmas This situation has led to the and New Year holiday period. government of Boris Johnson pressurising the newly established Congress notes the results of the Executive to raise additional funds Christmas and New Year working from the populace of Northern surveys by Usdaw, which show Ireland, despite the fact that we that in Northern Ireland, 80% of have objectively higher need and respondents said that they spend lower incomes and therefore too little time at Christmas with cannot afford to pay on an equal family and friends. basis with residents in other UK regions. Christmas Day trading legislation means that nearly all shops do not This conference categorically trade on Christmas Day. However, expresses its opposition to the many retail workers report that for threat to impose water charges them, Christmas is just a day off, not in Northern Ireland. Ratepayers in a holiday. Long hours in the run-up Northern Ireland already pay for to Christmas and shops re-opening water through the domestic rates – early on Boxing Day leaves many we will not be paying twice! retail workers too exhausted and

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with insufficient time off to enjoy the Christmas holiday. Congress is clear that there is no need for excessive working hours in retail over the festive period. Usdaw’s survey showed that over half of retail workers in Northern Ireland who worked on Boxing Day reported that their store was either fairly or very quiet. Congress commits to supporting Usdaw’s campaign to allow retail workers to have quality time with family and enjoy the benefit of the break in the way so many of us do rather than use Christmas Day as a day of recuperation. This campaign is calling for: • Early closure on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. • Closur e on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. • No loss of pay for retail workers when stores are closed.

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