UNION RIGHTS STILL 'KEY TO PROGRESS' AS MEMOIRS OF LABOUR FIGURE LAUNCHED

29 Apr 2009

Congress today (April 29) said the occasion of the launch of memoirs of a key figure in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) would be best marked by the Government legislating for the right to union recognition in Ireland.
Speaking ahead of today's launch of the memoirs of Waterford-born Edward Phelan in Dublin's Mansion House - a former director of the ILO and a principal author of its constitution - Congress official Esther Lynch said Mr Phelan had dedicated his life to social justice and saw union rights as essential to progress.
Edward Phelan & the ILO: The Live and Views of an International Social Actor is to be launched by An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, TD in Dublin's Mansion House this evening.
"It is somewhat ironic that Mr Phelan's memoirs are being launched in Dublin at a time when unions do not enjoy legal recognition and Irish workers do not enjoy the right to engage in collective bargaining.
"It is good that we are honouring Mr Phelan's life and achievements. A significant achievement of the ILO under his leadership was the adoption of Convention Number 87 on Freedom of Association & the Right to Organise. Congress is calling on the Taoiseach to honour this legacy by legislating for union recognition, the right to strike, the right to collective bargaining in accordance with the Conventions and the decisions of the Committee on Freedom of Association."