NAPAR launch

National Action Plan against Racism


Congress welcomes todays publication of Ireland’s National Action Plan Against Racism 2023-2027 and the €1 million in funding to be made available for Anti-Racism initiatives. Congress General Secretary, Owen Reidy, commended the work of the independent Anti-Racism Committee who drafted the plan and...
Social Wage Pay Related Benefit for Unemployed Workers

Pay-related welfare benefits for workers


Speaking ahead of the publication of an ICTU policy position paper on pay-related welfare benefits for workers, Irish Congress of Trade Unions president Kevin Callinan said: “Income protection for workers is exceptionally weak in Ireland compared to the rest of the EU. “Despite workers paying pay...

Letter to Minister for Foreign Affairs re Esther Lynch

We have written to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, TD, welcoming his statement unreservedly supporting the rights of trade unions to conduct their important work free from harassment, intimidation and fear and urging him to raise the issue of the expulsion of ETUC...

Women's Seminar

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Dundalk, County Louth

We look forward to welcoming delegates from affiliate unions to our seminar in The Fairways Hotel, Dundalk, County Louth on 23rd and 24th March. Sessions on...
Scan

Healthcare costs for workers


New ESRI research, funded by the Department of Health, estimates the annual cost of extending free GP care to the half of our population (56%) not covered by a medical or GP visit card to be between €381m and €881m. A move to free or low-cost primary healthcare for all would overwhelmingly benefit...
Hospitality sector

No case for retention of temporary VAT rate for hospitality industry - ICTU


ICTU has said that there is no logical case for the retention of the 9% ‘temporary’ reduction in VAT for the hospitality industry as suggested in a report by the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation today. Congress General Secretary Owen Reidy said, “Like all businesses, the hospitality sector...

Irish Trade Unions and the EU (O'Donovan P, July 1999)

On 01 January 2023, Ireland marked 50 years as a member of the EEC (now EU). This followed a referendum on Ireland’s membership of the EEC in which an overwhelming 83% of voters supported the move. But back in 1972 a special delegate conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions had decided, by a...

Sick worker

Everything you need to know about sick pay


Dr Laura Bambrick explains what workers need to know about their new legal right to be paid sick pay if they are too unwell to work. Up until New Year’s Day 2023 Irish employment law did not require employers to pay their staff when absent due to illness or injury. Sick pay was treated as a perk of...
Esther Lynch election

Esther Lynch the first Irish General Secretary of the ETUC


New European trade union leader to prioritise pay rises and solidarity The new General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has said she will prioritise improved pay for workers in the face of the continent-wide cost of living crisis. Esther Lynch, appointed General Secretary...
silence is compliance

16 Days of Action to tackle violence against women


Congress joins with unions around the world in supporting the international day for the elimination of violence against women and the 16 Days of Action up to International Human Rights Day on 10 December - calling on governments to guarantee a world of work free from gender-based violence and...
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