Betty Tyrrell Collard of Fórsa’s Dublin Central Branch has been elected to represent Ireland’s 16 local trades councils on the executive of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

Betty, who has been active in the trade union movement for almost 45 years, also sits on the union’s civil service division and national executive councils. She represents Fórsa on the Dublin Council of Trade Unions, of which she is president for the 2018-2020 term.

Betty said it was an honour to have been elected to the ICTU executive. “It comes at a crucial time, not only for trades councils but for the movement generally. We need to rejuvenate the movement, and we need to go out and speak to workers in our local communities.

“We need to be seen in our communities and one way in which we can generate much needed support and awareness is through the local trades council network. Having a seat on the executive means that I can ensure that the councils have a voice at that table. I will work closely with the affiliates to grow the movement and make it fit for purpose into the twenty-first century.”