The People’s Congress for a Better & Fairer Way

The Octagon Room, King’s Hall, Belfast

10am - 2pm, Saturday, 5^th February 2011

 Organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions

On Saturday, 23rd October 2010, thousands of working people and community activists from all parts of Northern Ireland sent a clear message to the UK Coalition Government – the cuts which they plan to impose on the people, their jobs, their services, their community life, are not necessary and will cause lasting damage to the economic and social fabric of our society.

As a follow up to that event, the trade union movement is hosting a conference dedicated to finding the best way forward for those of us who are fundamentally opposed to the economic strategy being forced upon us by this government, a deeply ideological policy which no-one in Northern Ireland voted for, and which makes a mockery of devolved democracy.

Instead, we believe that these times can be the stimulus for realistic discussions on what a better and fairer society would look like. This special conference aims to examine inclusive alternatives to the diet of austerity and cuts being offered, and will explore strategies with which civil society organisations can build together that better and fairer society

We are inviting grassroots activists from across the trade unions and from communities which represent the very people which will be most affected by the cuts – students, young people, women, the working poor, people with disabilities, the long-term unemployed, migrant workers and the socially excluded.

Trade union activists and shop stewards from large and small businesses in the private sector and across the public services are encouraged to attend and contribute alongside community workers.  The point of the event is to stimulate fresh thinking and it is being formatted so as to encourage as much interaction and real engagement as possible.

We have invited some keynote speakers, but their role as specialists and experts is solely to stimulate discussion and not to deliver lectures. Discussions will be lead by panels consisting of representative  cross-sections from civil society. It is imperative that your voice and the voices of the people you represent are heard.

We appreciate that you all have busy schedules, especially these days, but I urge that you or someone from your organisation attend this event. The time for promoting alternatives to the cruelty and madness of these cuts is very short. Already great damage has been done, and worse is to come if we stand idly by and watch our futures being sacrificed in the name of a failed ideology.

AGENDA 

Registration: 9:30

Conference Chair: Avril Hall-Callaghan, Chair NIC-ICTU

10:00

First Session: The Facts of the Real Economy and the Myths used to Justify Cuts.

Introduced by Peter Bunting, ICTU (5 mins)

Overview by Dr Andrew Baker, Economist, Queen’s University Belfast (15 mins)

10:30

Second Session: Towards an Economy which serves Society, and not vice-versa

Introduced by Eugene McGlone, Unite & Vice-President, ICTU (5 mins)

Overview by Paul Nowak, Head of Organisation and Services, TUC (15 mins)

Panel Discussion and open mic for questions and statements.

11:15 Break

11:30

Third Session: Big Society, Small Future: The Assault on the Welfare State

Introduced by Maria Morgan, NIPSA member on NIC-ICTU (5 mins)

Overview by Prof Eileen Evason, University of Ulster & BBC’s On Your Behalf (15 mins)

Panel Discussion and open mic for questions and statements.

12:00

Fourth Session: Rights in a Time of Recession

Introduced by Pamela Dooley, Vice-Chair, NIC-ICTU (5 mins)

Overview by (TBC) (15 mins)

Panel Discussion and open mic for questions and statements.

13:00

Conclusion

13:30

Working Lunch & End of Conference.