Irish Congress of Trade Unions' Biennial Conference 2003 Record
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Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ Biennial Conference 2003 Record of the Proceedings Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ Biennial Conference 2003 Tralee 1st – 4th July, 2003 Record of the Proceedings 1 Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ Biennial Conference 2003 Record of the Proceedings Index Opening of Conference................................................................................................. 3 Pat Rabbitte TD, Leader of the Labour Party, Keynote Address: .............................. 16 Economic Debate (Motions 1 – 5).............................................................................. 24 Social Policy (Motions 9 – 11) ................................................................................... 42 Private Session (Motions A – E)................................................................................. 63 Recruitment and Organisation (Motions 6 – 8) .......................................................... 87 Social Policy (contd.) (Motions 12 – 22).................................................................. 114 Equality Policy (Motions 23 – 26)............................................................................ 154 The Public Realm (Motions 27 – 33 & SIPTU Emergency Motion) ....................... 185 Northern Ireland (Motions 34 – 36 & FBU Emergency Motion)............................. 200 Jerry Zellhoefer, AFL-CIO, Fraternal Address........................................................ 215 John Monks, ETUC General Secretary, Fraternal Address ..................................... 218 Pay, Conditions and Employment Rights ................................................................. 224 (Motions 37 - 60) ...................................................................................................... 224 Trade Union Rights................................................................................................... 282 (Motions 61 - 64) ...................................................................................................... 282 Keynote Address....................................................................................................... 291 An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...................................................................................... 291 Election Results ........................................................................................................ 303 Trade Union Rights (contd.) ..................................................................................... 305 (Motions 65 - 67) ...................................................................................................... 305 International (Motions 68 – 74) ................................................................................ 311 Closing Ceremonies.................................................................................................. 337 Standing Orders Committee Report No. 1................................................................ 347 Ballot Papers ............................................................................................................. 347 Motions and Amendments ........................................................................................ 347 Suspension of Standing Orders................................................................................. 348 Conference Sessions ................................................................................................. 348 Fraternal Addresses................................................................................................... 348 Guest Speakers.......................................................................................................... 349 Standing Orders Committee Report No. 2................................................................ 350 Guest and Fraternal Addresses.................................................................................. 350 Nominations for Elections ........................................................................................ 350 Procedure for Elections......................................................................................... 351 Appointment of Delegates ................................................................................ 351 Standing Orders Committee Report No. 3 (verbal) .................................................. 353 2 Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ Biennial Conference 2003 Record of the Proceedings Tuesday 1st July, 2003 Opening of Conference 9.30 – 11.00 Senator Joe O'Toole, Congress President My name is Joe O'Toole, I'm the President for the year, the year nearly finished, so I'm chairing for the week. I don't expect any points of order or any technical stuff like that, I expect to go through the business in good order. Just to say this, this is a sad note on which to start, but over the last couple of days the President of one of our constituent unions, the President of the Irish Nurses’ Organisation, Claire Spillane, died on the 29th of June. The delegation won't be here today as today is the day of the burial. And also, in the taking of the Annual Report, you will see that we've lost a number of colleagues during the course of the year. And just as a gesture to them, and to her, to mark her funeral today and the passing of other colleagues during the course of year, if you wouldn't mind standing for a moment's silence. Thank you very much, Delegates. Now, to open Conference in the traditional manner, we ask the Chair of the Tralee Urban District Council, John Wall, to address Conference, John, Mayor. John Wall, Chairperson Tralee Urban District Council and Mayor of Tralee, Address of Welcome Uachtaráin, Cathaoirleach, a gleachta agus a cairde, ba mhaith liom céad míle fáilte chur romhaibh go trá lí. Tá athas ar muintir an bhaile gur romhnaigh Trá lí don comhail seo agus tá romha ceart déanta agaibh mar is láthair ceoil, rincigh, agus sport an gach saghas an baile seo agus tá súil agam go mbeidh cúpla lá iontach agaibh go léir. Mr. President, Chairman and Deputy, friends, it is a great pleasure to welcome you all here this morning. This is my last official function as Mayor of Tralee. I was elected the first Mayor of Tralee, since 1590, last year. My first job was to welcome the ISTC Community Union International Conference here to Tralee, that is the Iron, Steel and Trades’ Confederation. They were an English union and they wanted to know why I was the first Mayor since 1590. I told them that at that time Cromwell had a Parliament in England and we returned two MPs to that Parliament, and in 1602 they met in Lincoln's Inn in London and decided to restore the monarchy, and they were so happy here in Tralee that they burned down the castle! He revoked 3 Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ Biennial Conference 2003 Record of the Proceedings the Charter, but like they always say, the truth should never get in the way of a good story! It's great to welcome you all here. The last time Congress was here in Tralee was in 1989 and I happened to be Chairman of the Council at that time, so I must have said something wrong as it's 14 years since you were here! But Peter Cassells was the incoming General Secretary at that time and he went on to do some great things. David Begg is coming in this year as General Secretary and I'd like to welcome him, and I hope that it's not going to take 14 years for him to come back and that you'll all be back shortly again. Seriously though, it's a great honour to have such a prestigious conference come to our town, and I hope you get a chance to sample some of our hospitality and visit our attractions. I do know you have a lot of serious matters to debate, like inter-union membership transfers, and that will focus your minds over the week. Congress, what I want to say is that yourselves and your predecessors have brought us a long way over the last 90 years. Trade unions represent the individual, the community and the nation at large and all I want to say to you is welcome to Tralee and keep up the good work. Thank you. Senator Joe O'Toole, Congress President Thank you very much Mayor, thank you for your address. I am now going to call on the real boss of Tralee, Oliver Mawe, the Chairperson of the Tralee Trades Council. Oliver, thank you. Oliver Mawe, Chairperson Tralee Trades Council A Uachtaráin agus a cairde go léir, ar dtús, ar son comhairle ceard-cumainn Trá Lí, ba mhaith liom fíor fáilte a chur roimh chách go dtí an crunniú speisialta seo i dTrá Lí. Mr. President, Comrades, on behalf of the Trades Council it is my pleasure to welcome you all here for the Biennial Conference of Congress, and in particular if I may, I would like to extend a special welcome to the delegation from my own union, IMPACT. I know that there's important business before you here at Conference, but I'm sure you'll also find the opportunity to enjoy your stay in Tralee, and I'm sure Mr. President, you yourself will enjoy your return to the Kingdom and hopefully get a chance as we say to head back West go dtí bhur áit féin i Daingean ní Chúis. The Tralee Council of Trade Unions commends the Officers and Executives of Congress for the tremendous leadership you have provided to the trade union movement over the past years. We have been extremely fortunate to have people of the calibre of Ruairi Roberts and Peter Cassells at the helm. Already David Begg has shown that he has the same sense of vision and purpose, and the same ability and determination to lead this movement forward. 4 Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ Biennial