ICTU Acceptance of Partnership Disenfranchises Irish Youth

Ógra Shinn Féin notes with disappointment the acceptance of the Towards 2016 partnership agreement by ICTU yesterday. We feel that this agreement, and indeed the very concept of the social partnership model, fails young people. It will only serve to weaken unions, leading to the ability of unscrupulous employers to exploit young workers.

Ógra Shinn Féin spokesperson Brian Keane said,

“Ógra members were asked to oppose this agreement within their respective unions, but the unwavering willingness of some of the larger union leaderships to accept any scraps from the table led to the acceptance by those unions. This agreement gives very little benefit to young people, but allows business to keep young people underpaid.”

“Ógra used its vote as a member of the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) to oppose the acceptance of the agreement by that organisation, but most of the other member organisations voted for acceptance. The main argument forwarded in the NYCI and within those unions that support the agreement was a fear that not to accept the agreement would exclude them from the corridors of power. The benefits, or lack thereof, seemed to be very much side issues. These organisations should be providing strong leadership to young people, empowering them, rather than encouraging them to accept inadequate deals for fear of exclusion. Weak leadership will achieve nothing for young people.”