The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has nominated SIPTU Deputy General Secretary Greg Ennis as the representative of the trade union movement to the Government’s recently established National Trade Forum.
The Forum, which will be chaired by the Tánaiste Simon Harris, was established in February to facilitate engagement with key domestic stakeholders on latest and emerging trade developments and opportunities.
Ennis, said: “SIPTU represents thousands of workers across Foreign Direct Investment companies, including many major pharmaceutical manufacturers in Ireland. On the National Trade Forum I will represent the interests of trade union members during a most critical phase in the future of manufacturing and trade in Ireland.
“A trade war is in no one’s interest. However, if such a situation develops I will use my position on the Forum to call for measures including wage subsidy programmes similar to those introduced during the Covid pandemic for companies that experience a considerable fall in turnover due to a reliance on the US market.”
He added: “SIPTU will also be calling for the introduction of a scheme, based upon that operated in Germany, for subsidies for shortened working weeks.”