The biennial conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) opened in Belfast today, bringing together over 600 union delegates from across the island of Ireland to debate a broad range of labour issues — from remote working and artificial intelligence to the introduction of a four-day working week and pay agreements.
Top of the agenda is a motion from the Dublin Council of Trade Unions advocating for a nationwide move to a 32-hour working week, down from the standard 39 hours, with no reduction in pay. The motion urges ICTU to rally government and public support for the change, citing the need for better work-life balance without economic penalty for workers.
Remote and hybrid working is also under scrutiny. The Financial Services Union (FSU) has tabled a motion calling for ICTU to convene a group of relevant unions to assess the effectiveness of Ireland’s current “Right to Request Remote Working” code. The union is seeking improvements to ensure that the policy remains fair, accessible and reflective of evolving work norms.
With artificial intelligence transforming workplace operations, another FSU motion calls on employers to create AI adoption frameworks that involve workers and unions in shaping how the technology is implemented. The resolution seeks to ensure transparency, protect jobs and prevent decision-making from being handed over entirely to algorithms.
Pay and union representation are also key issues. A motion from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) argues that the benefits of future public sector pay deals should apply only to workers represented by signatory trade unions. The union contends that this would strengthen collective bargaining and ensure fair distribution of negotiated benefits.
Other motions on the agenda include demands for greater protection of retail workers from abuse, scrapping sub-minimum wages for younger employees, enhanced pay for apprentices, and increases to statutory redundancy and pension entitlements. The surveillance of journalists and broader support for collective bargaining are also expected to be debated.
In a major policy move, ICTU will launch a new economic model aimed at reducing Ireland’s heavy reliance on volatile corporate tax revenues. Developed by the Nevin Economic Research Institute, the framework is built on four pillars: a productive economy, quality employment, economic security, and resilience.
“We cannot continue with the same risky overreliance on corporation tax receipts,” said ICTU General Secretary Owen Reidy. “Our New Economic Model sets out a clear framework for a productive, stable, and supportive economy — one that places workers at the heart of economic resilience.”
The three-day conference runs until Thursday.
