Irish unions going cold on Europe

In this month's Union Post ICTU general secretary David Begg warns of a “growing disaffection” with the European project within the trade union movement. Speaking to a gathering of EU officials and diplomats in Dublin last month, he said: “It is imperative that confidence in Social Europe be rebuilt. Expecting workers and social welfare recipients to carry the burden of maro-economic adjustment is unfair and unreasonable."

Troika should be in sackcloth & ashes for their sins

ICTU general secretary David Begg has accused the Troika’s “neoliberal zealots” of causing untold misery to the Irish people by wrecking Ireland's economy. The Troika of the European Commission, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank are wedded to a strict neoliberal approach to dealing with the deficit, he tells this issue of Union Post. The magazine also covers the 20 October rally, a UNISON survey showing nurses are under huge workload pressures and Dave Prentis's demolition of regional pay. http://www.ictu.ie/publications/fulllist/union-post-october-2012/

How quickly angels turn to devils

"One day [health workers] are angels but when they exercise their rights, they are devils – how quickly angels turn to devils”, warns UNISON’s Patricia McKeown in the latest issue of the ICTU Union Post, as a 'hostile' press gears up for 30 November. http://www.ictu.ie/publications/fulllist/union-post-november-2011/

Troika warning in Ireland

ICTU general secretary David Begg has warned Taoiseach Enda Kenny that the EU/ECB/IMF Troika is using Ireland as a "social laboratory” to test out its economic policies. See more Congress stories in the special issue of 'Union Post'. http://www.ictu.ie/publications/fulllist/union-post-august-2011/

ICTU: 'Vote for Jobs and Growth'

The ICTU sets out key poll issues in February's Union Post which also covers privatisation, nurses campaign and the struggle in Wisconsin http://www.ictu.ie/publications/fulllist/union-post-february-2011/

Time for a new paradigm - by S. Burrow, GS of ITUC

'The world is barely re-emerging from the deepest economic crisis in a century, yet the very policies and mindset that caused the problem in the first place are back with a vengeance', laments Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

Irish Congress calls pre-Budget demonstration on 27 November‏

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is holding a major national demonstration in Dublin on Saturday 27th November in support of its demands for a better, fairer approach to the economic crisis and a firm focus on jobs, investment and growth. http://www.impact.ie/iopen24/-t-90_602.html

Union Post - September 2010 Issue Out Now‏

The September edition of The Union Post, produced in association with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, is available for download and online viewing now:  Click here to download PDF version (1.2MB) »
Click here to view online version » Please feel free to send The Union Post on to any friends, family members or work colleagues who you think may be interested in the content.

ICTU Union Post June: McKeown welcomes 51 per cent women

NIC-ICTU CONFERENCE 2010: UNISON's Patricia McKeown, welcoming the report on equality: “There is one other cause for celebration. It's official. Since the Executive Council met last Wednesday, for the first time in our history the general composition of the Irish trade union movement has gone 51 per cent female.” ICTU's Union Post June edition out now. http://www.ictu.ie/publications/fulllist/union-post-june-2010/