Republican News · Thursday 28 March 2002

New union challenges ICTU

BY ROBBIE MacGABHANN

One of the worst kept secrets but also the most anticipated and potentially far-reaching development in the Irish Trade Union Movement is the emergence of a new radical trade union in Ireland. The Irish Workers' Union (IWU) is set to add a new dynamic to trade union activism throughout the island.

The IWU's literature describes itself as a group of Irish trade unionists who are now, "convinced that the Trade Union Movement in its present structure has become an arm of the State. Its function is now more to control workers rather than to advance their interests. People had worked for many years to reform the structure from within and had felt that the voices advocating radical trade unionism would eventually win. Given the ease with which his critics could silence Mick O'Reilly of the AT&GWU in recent times, it is now fair to conclude that the existing movement cannot be reformed."

Noel Murphy, a spokesperson for the new venture, told An Phoblacht that he believed it was time for a "fresh start". Murphy said that that people inside and outside of the trade union movement no longer see it as "a great movement of workers". This has "discouraged workers", he said.

Murphy described the work of the new union as wanting "to bring back an old message", where you might not see benefits of union membership yourself but your contributions and your membership could help to improve the conditions of someone else.

The lack of democracy within the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) was an issue for the new union. Murphy gave the example of support for the Nice Treaty from within the executive of the ICTU, particularly from former general secretary Peter Cassells. Murphy and other IWU members spoke to by An Phoblacht believe that this support is in direct contradiction of the ICTU's stated policy of supporting neutrality.

The question of votes from member unions for and against partnership agreements has also been an issue, with the IWU supporting an end to the practice where votes against partnership are not counted if a union has an overall majority in favour. In the case of the larger unions having significant no votes, it is possible that an overall majority of workers are against partnership but this would not be reflected in the delegate votes.

Noel Murphy said that there is a need for "an aggregate vote of all union members" on these agreements

Asked what the IWU will be active on, Murphy cited the issues of wages, living standards, and the cost of housing. There was he said, "no control on other prices, even though unions are in a centralised wage agreement".

Privatisation was also an issue and the IWU would be opposed to the ongoing taking away collective ownership of resources.

Murphy said, "Everything that workers fought for in order to have a say is being given away. The official trade movement is compliant in this".

The IWU realistically hope for 10,000 members from the first year in operation and will launch the union once the new membership rules have been accepted by the Registrar of Friendly Societies. Already, they have signed up members in "Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Dublin, Louth and Belfast".

Could it be that we are finally seeing signs of the leadership that the Left in Ireland has been waiting on for far too long?