Members from Irish trade unions, north and south of the border, came together for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ (ICTU) biennial delegate conference last week in Belfast. 

The conference theme was Winning Our Future in Uncertain Times, which ICTU general secretary Owen Reidy addressed in his speech on the first day. In the wide-ranging speech, he spoke about the “casino” housing market and its impact on workers, rising violence and misogyny in public life, recent rollbacks on workers’ rights, and the uncertain economic and political climate. 

Underlining the need for legislation on collective bargaining rights, he said: “Workers’ rights aren’t some luxury goods, advancing workers’ rights is vital to advancing the economy. The way to put money in people’s pockets is collective bargaining in the workplace, not by narrowing the tax base, and we have to make sure that happens in the future.” 

Over three days delegates debated motions on a range of topics including working time, terms and conditions, surveillance of journalists, AI, and pay. Motions on violence against women saw passionate interventions, with Sally Rees, president of the teacher’s union NASUWT, talking about her own experience of ‘upskirting’ while at work. The international session focused largely on Gaza and the Middle East with delegates denouncing the atrocities committed in recent months.  

Fórsa AGS Hazel Nolan

Fórsa brought forward a motion on health and safety, calling for stronger legal protections, better training, and formal recognition of the role of health and safety representatives. 

Proposing the motion, assistant general secretary Hazel Nolan warned that unsafe and psychologically damaging working environments are becoming more widespread, and that toxic workplace cultures are inflicting real harm on workers. 

She cited figures provided by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) showing that 59% of all work-related ill-health cases in Ireland are linked to stress, depression or anxiety, which comes at an annual cost of €926 million to the economy. She said: “Toxic workplaces, where bullying, misogyny, racism, disablism and cronyism persist, must be tackled by the trade union movement as a health and safety issue. 

“Employers cannot be left to self-police the very risks they are often responsible for. Proper scrutiny and action can only come from empowered, independent health and safety representatives, supported by strong trade unions. That means empowering reps to act without fear and giving workers the tools they need to ensure we are safe at work and not suffering harm from work,” she said.

Speaking in a panel debate on organising in Ireland, Europe and the USA, ETUC general secretary Esther Lynch underlined that workers and unions in the EU and the US are putting forward the same agenda and organising to build the trade union movement. She said: “Don’t defend the status quo – it’s letting too many people down”.  

Liz Schuler, AFL-CIO president, joined the panel by video link.  She told the audience that 90% of Americans under 30 support trade unions and speaking about the current US administration, she said: “There’s nothing scarier to an authoritarian than an organised labour movement fighting back.” 

Phil Ní Sheaghdha was elected as president of ICTU, replacing outgoing president Justin McCamphill, who has been in the role since 2022. She is currently the general secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and has served as a vice-president of Congress for the last three years. 

Speaking after the announcement, Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: 

“At a time of grave global uncertainty, Irish workers will need their trade unions now more than ever. As a trade union movement, we need to be clear that we will not accept the erosion and dilution of workers’ rights. This includes the denial of a living wage, paid sick leave, and flexible working arrangements, particularly as we face the looming threat of tariffs and other economic shocks.” 

Fórsa national secretary Katie Morgan was re-elected as vice president of ICTU, and Jacquie White of the Ulster Teachers Union (UTU) was also elected vice president, marking the first time all three ICTU officers are women. 

Katie Morgan (Fórsa), Phil Ní Sheaghdha (INMO), Jacquie White (UTU)

Speaking about the term ahead, Katie Morgan said: “As trade unionists we aim to give workers a voice and stand with them as they fight for fairness at work. Congress is a really important body and gives each affiliate union greater power when we stand and act together. Over the next two years we will have plenty of work to do to further build trade union power in Ireland, in order to support all of our members.” 

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