WORKERS DEMAND BETTER

Conference acknowledges the sacrifices made by thousands of workers during
the Covid pandemic to maintain the economy and to keep us safe. Applause once
a week at our doorsteps was no real reward after years of pay restraint across our
public and private sectors. Quite rightly working people are demanding better and
are taking industrial action in unprecedented numbers to get decent treatment and
a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.
NIC-ICTU, representing the hopes and interests of 200,000 people in Northern
Ireland, have launched the Workers Demand Better campaign. The purpose of the
campaign is to build and lead a progressive movement that demands immediate
and urgent action to tackle the cost-of-living crisis that is likely to get only worse
over the coming months.
We will also, as a collective movement, support our affiliates engaged in lawful
industrial action in the interests of their members and workers.
Conference calls for action on the following issues:
• Government needs to target sufficient and appropriate resources to households,
(prioritising those on fixed incomes and low to middle incomes) to support them
when it comes to the cost of energy over the next number of months.
• Along with pay improvements in each workplace, we need to see the state
address the social wage.
• Governments need to engage with the trade union movement and start
implementing progressive policies that support workers and their families. The
trade union manifesto, No Going Back – A new deal towards a safe and secure
future for all, has serious policies which must be advanced.
• Conference demands a robust NI Employment Bill that promotes workers’
rights and stronger collective bargaining, leading to better pay, which includes
key elements of the recent EU Directive on an Adequate Minimum Wage, as a
centrepiece in any Programme for Government of the NI Executive.