Education

Conference notes that union membership has been steadily increasing over the past number of years and has risen from 199,000 members in 2016 to over 253,000 members in 2023. Recent successful conclusions to several long running industrial disputes have added impetus to this steady growth. It remains concerning that the unionised workforce represents only one third of the total employees in the region.  Conference also notes that there is a gap in the Northern Ireland Curriculum surrounding the teaching of workers’ rights and employment legislation.  To maintain this upward trend in membership, conference calls on the Northern Ireland Committee to:

• Campaign and lobby the Department of Education, CCEA and any other organisation as they see fit, to ensure that the teaching of workers rights and employment law is included as part of the mandatory curriculum to be taught to all children in schools across Northern Ireland
• Liaise with Education Unions and other interested parties to develop clear and detailed guidance for content that they would like to see included in the Northern Ireland Curriculum, with the purpose of increasing awareness and understanding for children on the positive role that unions play in society and in their future lives