Economy

Trade unions must be part of Government’s response to Trump’s tariffs threat to jobs

Responding to the announcement of 20% tariffs on all EU goods entering the US, Irish Congress of Trade Unions general secretary, Owen Reidy said: “These tariffs are incredibly severe and clearly unwarranted, but unsurprising as they have been well flagged by the Trump administration. “What is clear...

PSU joined a delegation from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Youth Committee in Brussels on 3 and 4 March 2025 to advocate for a strong Traineeship Directive.

Young workers need a Traineeship Directive that protects the most vulnerable

EPSU joined a delegation from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Youth Committee in Brussels on 3 and 4 March 2025 to advocate for a strong T raineeship D irective. On 3 March, the delegation visited the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), where they met with General Secretary Esther...

New government mustn’t renege on commitment to a Living Wage

Speaking ahead of the increase to the minimum wage by 80 cents to €13.50 an hour, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions general secretary, Owen Reidy said: “Around 200,000 low-paid workers will be starting the New Year with a pay rise of 6.3%. A full-time minimum wage worker will now earn an extra €30...

ICTU Private Sector Committee recommend pay increase between 4%-7% for 2025

The Private Sector Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has unanimously agreed to recommend unions organising workers in the private sector should seek pay increases of between 4% and 7%, where affordable for 2025. They should also seek to improve the position of lower paid workers...

ICTU Private Sector Pay Guidance for 2025

04 Dec, 2024

The Congress Private Sector Committee is recommending unions in the private sector seek to secure pay increases in the range of 4% to 7%, where affordable. The full pay claim guidance is available to download here.

A Brighter Future - A Congress Perspective on Energy Policy

21 Nov, 2024

Congress has updated our 2007 energy briefing paper which had sounded the alarm on high and rising energy costs and the causes and cost drivers. This up-to-date trade union perspective is intended to inform public, political and policy debate around this significant issues for families, the economy...

Commitment to end poverty pay by 2026 must be maintained

As part of Budget 2025, Cabinet approved the Low Pay Commission recommendation that the appropriate rate of the minimum wage for 2025 is €13.50 from January 1st – an 80 cents (6.3 per cent) increase on the current €12.70 hourly rate. Welcoming the decision, Irish Congress of Trade Unions general...

A mixed budget – some positives but a lost opportunity to fix the economy’s long-term structural flaws

Budget 2025 is fiscally irresponsible. We are using potentially transitory corporation tax receipts to fuel a pre-election giveaway. This decision risks pushing higher taxes onto younger and future workers and it simultaneously undermines our capacity to improve public services in the future. It is...

A brief history of income tax

As budget day nears, our social policy officer Dr Laura Bambrick explains the background on income tax. In his budget for 1799, the British Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, William Pitt the younger put a tax on people’s income as ‘a temporary measure’ to help pay for Britain’s costly...

Budget 2025 - 'Tax cuts are unwise and unnecessary'

Budget 2025 needs to be a budget that helps us build towards a sustainable, prosperous and inclusive budget for all. We want to avoid the booms and busts that have caused such pain in the past. The recent crises have showed that public services, good employment, and the broader welfare state are the...

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