The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has opened its Global Solidarity Summer School in Wexford, warning of the rise of racist violence and attacks on workers’ rights.
The Summer School, which brings together delegates from across the trade union movement has been running for several years, alternating between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This year’s edition had an extensive two-day programme addressing:
- Colombia, where trade union members are responding to both a rollback of the peace process and the recent earthquake;
- Gaza, where delegates heard moving testimony directly from Palestinian eye surgeon Diana Nazzal;
- The exploitation of migrant workers in Ireland, with the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland presenting its “Tied to Exploitation” survey;
- Afghanistan, marking five years since the Taliban takeover and the ongoing exclusion of women and girls from education, work and public life;
- And the historic ruling by the International Court of Justice confirming workers' right to strike under international law.
Opening the two-day event, ICTU Vice-President Jacqui White said the rise of far-right messaging and influence was being felt directly in communities across the island, pointing to the growing frequency of racially motivated attacks, harassment and intimidation.
“The Global Solidarity Summer School is more important than ever, as we see the growing influence of far-right and anti-democratic forces in Europe and around the world.
“The rise of far-right messaging and influence on our doorsteps is reflected in the incidents of racial attack, harassment and intimidation in towns throughout the island.
“Earlier this summer, a horrendous knife attack in north Belfast, was used a pretext for pure racist thuggery and violence across several days, with people from minority backgrounds targeted and their property destroyed. The trade union movement stands with all those who were victims of such attacks.
The event also examined the ongoing Boycott, Divest, Sanction campaign, and Ireland’s role in responding to the genocide against the Palestinian people.
“Ireland is currently the gateway that allows Israel to raise money on European markets to fund its war,” Ms White said. “The Central Bank of Ireland should decline to transfer approval of a new prospectus to another EU member state, and it should refuse to approve a new prospectus for Israel Bonds in 2026. This is a straightforward, practical step that the Irish authorities can take right now.”
“Our international work is not some kind of extra thing we do, unrelated to what's happening here at home. It is a key element of our desire to create the conditions that hinder the rise of inequality and hate – and that work is ongoing.”
The school also paid tribute paid to its main organiser, Congress Equality officer David Joyce, who will be retiring before the next Summer School, being held in Newry next year.
