Congress President John Douglas addressed delegates and called on trade unions to "grasp the nettle political power" and become more active in shaping and influencing the politics of both states, especially in light of the approaching centenary of 1916. Mr Douglas said unions had successfully changed the public narrative with regard to establishing the centrality of decent work and fair pay as a key theme in economic recovery. Mr Douglas also called on the Irish government to take immediate action to compel employers to engage with the recently re-establsihed Joint Labour Committee (JLC) systems.
BDC 2015 also heard this morning from Dr Tom Healy, Director of the Nevin Institute who said that 'that public debt is not sustainable for the Greeks and it is not sustainable for the Irish."
Delegates debated and passed motions on Wage Led Growth, the Economy, a Charter for Fair Banking and austerity, north and south of the border.
In the afternoon, the Norhern Ireland debate was opened by Assistant General Secretary, Peter Bunting, who told delegates of the union campaign against the Stormont House Agreement: "If it was not for the trade union movement standing strong and united, Northern Ireland would be a far worse place for ordinary workers and their families," he said.
