The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said that the proposed TTIP and CETA trade deals "pose an insidious threat to democratic institutions and were less about creating a trade deal than clearing obstacles for investors."
The CETA and TTIP trade deals are currently being negotiated between the European Union and Canada and the EU and the United States, respectively.
Speaking at a seminar to launch a new Congress briefing paper on the proposed deals - No Deal: Why Unions Oppose TTIP & CETA - Congress President Brian Campfield said: 'these propositions are being sold to the public as simple trade deals with exaggerated claims about boosting job creation and economic growth.
"But their real purpose is to clear obstacles and impediments that might stand in the way of investors, such as workers rights, human rights and environmental concerns.
'through the Investor State Dispute Resolution (ISDS) mechanism these deals pose an insidious threat to all democratic and collective institutions, giving investors secret courts to ensure their rights take precedence over all other social and civic concerns."
Addressing the likely impact of the proposed deals on public services, Congress vice-president and deputy General Secretary of Impact, Kevin Callinan said: 'these deals will lock in privatisation and liberalisation of public services, preventing elected governments from changing or reversing policies pursued by previous administrations. That is fundamentally undemocratic.
"Overall, we will see a major shrinking of the public space and an increase in paid for, privately-provided services."
Also speaking at the launch, Unite Regional Secretary Jimmy Kelly said the proposed deals should be put to a popular vote in Ireland and across the European Union. 'these deals are so far reaching in their implications that they should be subject to a popular vote and the verdict of the people.
"All the evidence to date is of massive public opposition to these deals. They should not be allowed to come into effect by sleight of hand or by ignoring the popular will."
