Social dialogue is the answer


Social dialogue and a revived and renewed peace agreement are the way forward for unions in Northern Ireland, last month’s conference of the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTUNI) heard. 


The unions continue to grapple with a power-sharing vacuum and Brexit turmoil. 


Owen Reidy, ICTU assistant general secretary, outlined ambitious plans for a “robust” social dialogue forum, inspired by the Welsh government’s developing partnership with unions and employers. 


Rather than a “social partnership” or centralised pay bargaining of the kind previously tried in the Republic of Ireland, he said this means working with other representative business and social groups to open up access to decision-making. 


The conference also voted to mobilise for full implementation of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, to counter “regression” from its key principles. Les Allamby, chief commissioner at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, who spoke at the conference, said the UK government must be held to its “no diminution of human rights” promises, up to and beyond Brexit. 


The 20-year old Agreement brought relative peace after years of conflict. But for real power-sharing to work, civic society and representative bodies “must play a more central role”, the unions say.

https://www.ictuni.org