Traveller event stresses union role
by Mehak Dugal
 
Fórsa official Lisa Connell will speak on the issue of trade union perspectives on Traveller rights in the workplace.
Fórsa official Lisa Connell will speak on the issue of trade union perspectives on Traveller rights in the workplace.

An event defining the relationship between Irish Travellers and the State in the century up to 2022 is being held in National University of Ireland Galway on 16th and 17th September.

 

It will focus on trade union perspectives.

 

The conference is a full two-day event with sessions on language, culture and heritage; law and justice, human rights, accessing accommodation, education and other important issues.

 

Fórsa official Lisa Connell will speak on the issue of trade union perspectives on Traveller rights in the workplace. She made a presentation to an Oireachtas committee on issues affecting the Traveller community, where she and ICTU official David Joyce highlighted the enormous scale of unemployment among the Traveller community. Just 10,653 Travellers – or 80% of the total in the labour force – are unemployed.

 

“At the Oireachtas hearing I made the point that the public sector is the area where best practice exists in respect to employment standards and where decent pay, pay transparency but robust policies have all been negotiated through collective bargaining.

 

“There is a need for the union movement to play a key role in addressing the systematic inequalities that exist which prohibit travellers from being able to access decent employment opportunities let alone decent pay,” she said.

 

Lisa said it was unacceptable that any group in Irish society see such an enormous unemployment rate amongst its population.

 

“The unions play a key role in ensuring that this inequality is a key aspect of our equality agenda. Fórsa have sought engagement with DPER in respect to engaging with them directly in respect to ensuring that employment opportunities are opened up across the public and civil service which would start to address some of the unacceptable standards in respect to accessing decent work in line with conference motions on this,” she said.

 

The conference will also emphasise the need for cultural training in large employments to ensure that Travellers they are not subjected to discrimination or inequality.

 

Read the event programme HERE.

 

It’s never been more important – or easier – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE.

 

LikeLike (0) | Facebook Twitter