PUTTING IN NEW FOUNDATIONS

FIRST STEPS IN A NEW EQUALITY STRATEGY

Presentation to ICTU EQUALITY conference November 2010

CONTEXT

• THE PAST• A service and policy based approach

• THE PRESENT• Transition towards an organising union

• THE FUTURE• A member led Equality Strategy.

FIRST RESPONSE

• Re orientation course for incoming Equality committee• Engagement with Commission for change• Assessment of their positive proposals• Identification of additional mechanisms required

Tools for change established

• Quotas on leading committees-25% minimum

• National, Divisional ,Sectoral committees• Adopted democratically-New rules.

• Additional Intervention Equality Committee

New Rule

• All policies, practices and procedures must be equality proofed.

• A central mechanism to assess all we do.

• A rule more powerful than a policy

ON PAPER BUT IN PRACTICE?

• Three level awareness Training:

• General Officers and Senior Management Team

• Staff stepping forward as Equality Advocates• Lay activists stepping forward as Equality Champions

Next Steps2011

• Building a New National Equality Network

• Utilising existing resources and Skills

• SIPTU College• Achieving External support for next steps.

NEW FOCUS FOR NETWORK

• Strategy for Divisional Collective Bargaining

• Utilising Equality focus as an Organising tool

• Activist development /mentoring

The Challenges

• Economic Recovery

• Joined up Behaviour

• UNION BUILDING .