Motion no: 43
Congress welcomes the fact that Northern Ireland again has the highest trade union membership density with 33.8% of workers being in a union. However, this is still 8.4 percentage points below where union density was in 1995. The figures are particularly concerning within the private sector where Office for National Statistics figures show that across Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, 12.3% of employees are in a union.
Congress believes that our movement is only as strong as its members. To be as effective a voice as possible for working people in Northern Ireland, we urgently need to redouble our efforts to increase membership and ensure we have a strong presence in workplaces throughout the country.
Congress notes that there is significant under-representation of groups such as Black workers, women and young workers within the Trade Union Movement, and believes that this must be addressed so that our movement is fully representative of modern Northern Ireland. Engaging all under-represented groups in our work has never been more important at a time of such challenges.
Conference calls on the Northern Ireland ICTU to:
- Develop a strategy for increasing union membership, especially in the private sector, in consultation with affiliated unions.
- Work with affiliated unions to support greater involvement of union members from under-represented groups in union structures and activities.
- Involve the ICTU NI Youth Committee in specific work around the recruitment and development of young workers and reps.
