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 there of, 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.’

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READ THE RULES

since I don't have the time to read the whole of Towards 2016 could you tell me which sections will weaken unions? And the sections failing young people if there are any but I assume that's about omissions from it rather than something in it?

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"She'll hold together. Hear me, baby? Hold together!"

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. ,


It took 6 months to negotiate this agreement, rather a long time to express unwavering willingness to accept any scraps. Rejection comes easy to Provo's, I'd like to hear what their alternative strategy would have been ,one that is that would have been accepted in a national ballot.This stipulation might rule out certain solutions that are close to their hearts when confronted with any issue.

That is a complete copy of the OSF press release.
Is this not against the guidelines of posting on the P.ie?
If not I'll be sticking Labour Youth's up shortly.

Otherwise I think the T16 is a complete farse that shows how unambicous the Unions are today.

Please, people, enough with the press releases. They've grown tiresome!

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MJ Coughlan,
Waterford City.

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Alot of the word oppose in there.

Whats OSFs alternative proposal?

Great to see OSF and YFG have something in common, besides being totally out of touch with ordinary young people!

Didn’t the National Youth Council, the body that represents young people in Ireland actually pass T16????