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High drama in the House of Commons - but Boris Johnston is not the first PM to confront rebel Tories.
Posted on September 04, 2019
Last night saw extraordinary events in Westminister, 21 Tory rebels taking a stand, one of them even crossing the floor in front of Prime Minister Boris Johnston to join the Liberal Democrats, and a crushing defeat for the British Government.
In a few hours of high drama, MP’s voted by 328 to 301 to seize control of the parliamentary agenda in an effort to avoid a no-deal Brexit. In a night of historic proportions, even Charles Stewart Parnell was invoked by pro-Brexit MP Jacob Rees-Mogg during a fractious debate.
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Partnership between ICTU and NUI Galway to explore Labour Movement’s Revolutionary role in the struggle for Irish Independence
Posted on August 08, 2019
The ICTU has established a partnership with NUIG this year to mark the Labour Movement’s role in the Struggle for Independence. A number of satellite events will be held in Athy, Belfast, Cork and Dublin. These are being organised in conjunction with local trades councils and other organisations, including University College Cork and Ulster University.
The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is part funding events and promoting them as part of its Decade of Centenaries programme.
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My new life as a young Syrian refugee in Ireland
Posted on May 08, 2019
My name is Taqwa Alhariry. I am a 27-year-old student, who escaped the savage war in Syria to live in Ireland with my mother and sisters.
I came here with my two sisters, Sarra (19), Maisa (22) and my mother Fatima. We were later joined by my third sister Amira (17), who came from Turkey, and we now live together in Enniscorthy, County Wexford. A fourth sister, Shaima is living in Belgium. We are originally from Daraa city in Syria and I am currently studying Cambridge English in Dublin so as I can enter a university in Ireland.
I originally came from Syria and used to live with my family in Daraa city.
Permanent link | Categories: Human Rights
Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019 - What does it all mean?
Posted on April 10, 2019
Earlier this week, the Government published the long awaited Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019. The Act will amend the Employment Equality Act 1998 to require regulations to be made that will require certain employers to publish information in relation to the gender pay gap in their organisations.
The issue of mandatory reporting of gender pay gaps within organisations has been on the Congress agenda for a number of years now:
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10th Global Solidarity Summer School
Posted on July 23, 2018
Building our Power – Organising for Global Solidarity
10th Annual Global Solidarity Summer School
Congress looks forward to welcoming everyone to Derry for our 10th annual Global Solidarity Summer School – Building our Power – Organising for Global Solidarity
Over 80 trade union delegates from right across the island, North and South will gather to discuss the movement’s global solidarity work and to hear from a range of national and international speakers. Kevin Callinan, Congress Vice President, will welcome people to Derry and give the Opening Address.
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Address by Michael D.Higgins, President of Ireland - At the World of Work Summit held at the 107th Session of the International Labour Conference
Posted on June 14, 2018
'The International Labour Orgainsation - its noble origins, its new challenges, and its potential global role as catalyst'
Address by Michael D Higgins, President of Ireland - At the World of Work Summit held at the 107th Session of the International Labour Conference Geneva, Switerland
7th June, 2018
Please see the version of the speech given by President Higgins here
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Workers' Rights in Ireland under Scrutiny at International Labour Forum
Posted on May 25, 2018
International Labour Organisation
David Joyce outlines the key issues that Congress will be raising at the forthcoming 107th Session of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). David will represent Congress at the ILO’s annual gathering
Some reflections from the 107th International Labour Conference (ILC) (added 12 June)
Permanent link | Categories: ILO • Decent Work
‘Remember the Dead, Fight Like Hell for the Living’
Posted on April 10, 2018
Frank Vaughan of Congress reflects on the importance of Workers’ Memorial Day and what unions can do to help mark the event this year
It was the passing of the Occupational Safety & Health Act in the United States more than 45 years ago that paved the way for what we now know as Workers’ Memorial Day.
The ground-breaking legislation sought to ensure that employers provided workers with an environment free from recognised hazards, such as exposure to toxic chemicals, excessive noise levels, mechanical dangers, heat or cold stress, or unsanitary conditions.
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Removing Barriers to Progress for People with Disabilities
Posted on January 30, 2018
Ahead of the annual Congress Disability Seminar, Fergus Finlay - chair of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy Implementation Group - looks at how we can make decent work a reality for people with disabilities
Just over two years ago the Government announced a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities. It was very far-reaching and extensive and was designed to be implemented over a period of years. Ever since then, I have been chairing an implementation group, which consists of representatives of government departments, the disability sector, and the world of work – especially the Irish Congress of Trade unions.
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The Business of Human Rights
Posted on December 19, 2017
Protest at Qatar's failure to uphold workers rights
David Joyce looks a closer look at Ireland's first National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights
The first National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights finally saw the light of day, in late 2017. The Human Rights Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs is to be commended for its work in developing the plan and getting Government approval. You can view a range of civil society responses to the plan here but for a trade union perspective on it read on…
The National Plan’s stated aim is:
Permanent link | Categories: human rights • global solidarity