Prospect backs Better Work Better Lives

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Building Prospect in Ireland - Positive First Steps

As most members in Ireland will know that this summer, Negotiations Officer Angela Moffatt became Prospect's first permanent member of staff based in Ireland, she's been working hard to build Prospects profile both amongst members, but also with other Unions and across civic society. As part of the process Prospect recently held a meeting with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Deputy General Secretary Owen Reidy who heads up the ICTU's operations in Northern Ireland, and due to the generosity of the ICTU in helping Prospect out with office space to help us get set up is also currently our landlord !

Prospect at Work campaign logo

The meeting was hugely positive, and it's clear that Owen and the ICTU share many of Prospects visions for a 21st century Trade Union.

"I'd really like to thank Owen and the ICTU for giving us a base from which Angela can operate as she starts to build Prospect's presence in Ireland" explained Richard Hardy, Prospect's National Secretary for Ireland and Scotland "meeting Owen it's clear that the ICTU's aims and values align very closely with those of Prospect and I'm really looking forward to working with him in the future"

Currently the ICTU in Northern Ireland is running a campaign called "Better Work Better Lives", the core aims of the Campaign are

  • We must develop and implement policies that tackle the scourge of low pay and insecure work across NI;
  • We must campaign for improved investment in our public services to meet the needs of all of our citizens;
  • We must end the 1% pay cap imposed unfairly on public sector workers which is driving public sector workers into poverty.

The Campaign also seeks to create the foundations of a positive social dialogue between Unions and MLAs when the Assembly returns to full functionality, Prospect has seen how important and crucial that is to delivering for members through are work with both the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Government.

"I'm really enjoying getting round to workplaces and meeting members and reps, and building my understanding of the issues they face" said Negotiator Angela Moffatt "we'd really like it if members could take a few minutes to support the ICTU Better Work Better Lives campaign, by signing up to show support and then sending an electronic note to their MLA and MP, they can do this here"