The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said it will not “tolerate” workers shouldering the burden of the cost of living crisis.  

Trade union delegates are due to meet today in Kilkenny for its biennial three day conference and Congress President Kevin Callinan has called for pay rises to address soaring levels of inflation.

“The reality is that… bargaining is going to have to address the situation - both in the private and the public sectors,” he said.

“North and south - we’re an all island movement - and what I’m saying to the conference today is we cannot tolerate a further decline in living standards.”

Pictured is Kevin Callinan. Photograph: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

Mr Callinan said young people are being hardest hit by the crisis and need to become more involved in trade unionism to address this.

“This morning, I’m going to announce two initiatives, mainly aimed at younger workers, to promote trade unionism,” he said.

“We’re setting up a digital media unit and we’re also having a major public relations campaign next October to explain what trade unionism is about and to invite workers to join us, so we can achieve better collective responses.”

ICTU will also use its conference to call for the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly, along with “fair pay settlements” to resolve strike action in the North.

Main image: Kevin Callinan at the Irish Congress of Trade Union (ICTU) offices on Parnell Square. Photograph: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie