Latest news with #SusanFitzgerald
Belfast Telegraph
16-06-2025
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Health and safety legislation needs urgent update to handle growing climate crisis and protect at-risk workers
Susan Fitzgerald, regional secretary at Unite the union, writes that NI's health and safety legislation is not doing enough to protect workers In September 2018, during Storm Ali, Unite member and engineer Matthew Campbell was killed by a falling tree after being sent to work in Slieve Gullion Forest Park. In January of this year, two-thirds of Unite members who had to work outdoors during Storm Éowyn did not feel that their employer had taken all reasonable precautions to make work safe.
Belfast Telegraph
04-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Plan to overhaul Northern Ireland employment law ‘does not go far enough'
Susan Fitzgerald said the Good Jobs Bill was 'far from a revolutionary document' and the implementation of the legislation involves a long transitional period. Last week, Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald said the 'ambitious' proposals in the Bill included tackling zero-hour contracts, improvements to family-related leave and strengthened rights for trade unions. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. The proposals also aimed to enhance protections for agency workers, ensure tips were passed on to staff in full and introduce easier access to flexible working arrangements. Ms Fitzgerald, Unite Ireland regional secretary, said the union is discussing the minister's proposals with union representatives and activists. 'We will be guided by the discussions we have with workers, who will be on the receiving end or otherwise of the proposals,' she told BBC NI's Sunday Politics show. 'I suppose our point is it's far from a revolutionary document, to be fair, where it doesn't go far enough from a trading perspective, or hasn't addressed at all. 'But there's no question that, you just take a sample of some of the items – tips, flexible working opportunities, neonatal leave and pay for pregnant workers, protections against unfair redundancy for pregnant workers, movement on zero hour contracts, movement on fire and rehire – I actually don't know how anyone can disagree with any of those areas. 'I think one of the key things for us now is what are – in some cases mostly just headlines – is getting behind the detail of what we need to see implemented. 'But I have to say an area of concern is – maybe it's an attempt to reassure people – but it's the proposal to have what feels like a long transition period, and presumably that would only commence after the process has gone through Stormont. That's not good enough. 'It's actually unconscionable to say to someone, we know your rights are not currently protected, we know you're not currently being treated with respect, You're currently very vulnerable, but bear with, we don't want to scare the horses.' Suzanne Wylie, chief executive of NI Chamber, said that a 'very complex' set of regulations of codes of practice are being proposed. 'It is, as the minister has said, the biggest overhaul in employment law in decades, and so our businesses across Northern Ireland really need to be prepared for that,' she said. 'There's a lot in these, and this is really about putting right these proposals. There's a lot more to the creation of good jobs than just aspect of employee rights.' Ms Wylie said that similar legislation is going through Westminster, which is estimated to cost businesses some £5 billion. 'If we think about the challenges that businesses here are facing at this point with increases in tax, increases in minimum wage, living wage, etc, AI, that's disrupting how we work our days, the cost of energy, etc. Really, really challenging time for business. 'We really do have to think about how these proposals are going to be implemented, and how that balance will be achieved between ensuring that we have viable businesses that can grow and a growing economy that we can really create good jobs for the future.'
BreakingNews.ie
04-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Plan to overhaul Northern Ireland employment law ‘does not go far enough'
A trade unionist has said that aspects of the plan to update employment law in Northern Ireland 'doesn't go far enough'. Susan Fitzgerald said the Good Jobs Bill was 'far from a revolutionary document' and the implementation of the legislation involves a long transitional period. Advertisement Last week, Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald said the 'ambitious' proposals in the Bill included tackling zero-hour contracts, improvements to family-related leave and strengthened rights for trade unions. I set out my Good Jobs proposals this week - the biggest upgrade to our employment legislation since the GFA. Good to have the chance to talk to @MarkCarruthers7 on @bbctheview yesterday about how the ambitious proposals will benefit both workers and employers. Catch up👇🏻 — Caoimhe Archibald MLA (@CArchibald_SF) May 2, 2025 The proposals also aimed to enhance protections for agency workers, ensure tips were passed on to staff in full and introduce easier access to flexible working arrangements. Ms Fitzgerald, Unite Ireland regional secretary, said the union is discussing the minister's proposals with union representatives and activists. 'We will be guided by the discussions we have with workers, who will be on the receiving end or otherwise of the proposals,' she told BBC NI's Sunday Politics show. Advertisement 'I suppose our point is it's far from a revolutionary document, to be fair, where it doesn't go far enough from a trading perspective, or hasn't addressed at all. 'But there's no question that, you just take a sample of some of the items – tips, flexible working opportunities, neonatal leave and pay for pregnant workers, protections against unfair redundancy for pregnant workers, movement on zero hour contracts, movement on fire and rehire – I actually don't know how anyone can disagree with any of those areas. 'I think one of the key things for us now is what are – in some cases mostly just headlines – is getting behind the detail of what we need to see implemented. 'But I have to say an area of concern is – maybe it's an attempt to reassure people – but it's the proposal to have what feels like a long transition period, and presumably that would only commence after the process has gone through Stormont. That's not good enough. Advertisement 'It's actually unconscionable to say to someone, we know your rights are not currently protected, we know you're not currently being treated with respect, You're currently very vulnerable, but bear with, we don't want to scare the horses.' Suzanne Wylie, chief executive of NI Chamber, said that a 'very complex' set of regulations of codes of practice are being proposed. 'It is, as the minister has said, the biggest overhaul in employment law in decades, and so our businesses across Northern Ireland really need to be prepared for that,' she said. 'There's a lot in these, and this is really about putting right these proposals. There's a lot more to the creation of good jobs than just aspect of employee rights.' Advertisement Ms Wylie said that similar legislation is going through Westminster, which is estimated to cost businesses some £5 billion. 'If we think about the challenges that businesses here are facing at this point with increases in tax, increases in minimum wage, living wage, etc, AI, that's disrupting how we work our days, the cost of energy, etc. Really, really challenging time for business. 'We really do have to think about how these proposals are going to be implemented, and how that balance will be achieved between ensuring that we have viable businesses that can grow and a growing economy that we can really create good jobs for the future.'
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spirit workers urge UK government to secure jobs
Spirit Aerosystems workers and union officials met with Westminster politicians on Wednesday to try and secure the future of the aerospace sector in Northern Ireland. It comes days after Airbus finalised a deal to take over part of the Spirit AeroSystems operation in Belfast. The deal was first announced in July last year as part of a wider break up of the Spirit business. Spirit is Northern Ireland's most significant manufacturing employer, with about 3,500 staff but there is uncertainty for the non-Airbus parts of the Belfast business, with Spirit saying it will sell them separately. Susan Fitzgerald from Unite said that "clarity" is needed for all employees but especially those working in non-Airbus sections of the business. She accused the UK government of not having "done enough" to impact a different outcome and ensure the company isn't broken up. Fitzgerald rejected the government's response that the matter is "commercial" and therefore it can't interfere. Speaking outside the Houses of Parliament, Alan Perry from GMB union said it was "vital" politicians with influence within the British government "act upon the situation." "The aerospace industry in Northern Ireland is worth over £10 million to the Northern Ireland economy, over 3,500 workers work there, the factory has been there for over 135 years, this is clearly something we are not prepared to let go off without a fight," he added. Airbus confirms deal for Spirit operations in Belfast Airbus to take over some Spirit operations in Belfast
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Spirit Aerosystems workers urge UK government to secure jobs
Spirit Aerosystems workers and union officials will meet with Westminster politicians on Wednesday to try and secure the future of the aerospace sector in Northern comes days after Airbus finalised a deal to take over part of the Spirit AeroSystems operation in deal was first announced in July last year as part of a wider break up of the Spirit is Northern Ireland's most significant manufacturing employer, with about 3,500 staff but there is uncertainty for the non-Airbus parts of the Belfast business, with Spirit saying it will sell them separately. Susan Fitzgerald from Unite said that "clarity" is needed for all employees but especially those working in non-Airbus sections of the accused the UK government of not having "done enough" to impact a different outcome and ensure the company isn't broken rejected the government's response that the matter is "commercial" and therefore it can't interfere. Speaking outside the Houses of Parliament, Alan Perry from GMB union said it was "vital" politicians with influence within the British government "act upon the situation.""The aerospace industry in Northern Ireland is worth over £10 million to the Northern Ireland economy, over 3,500 workers work there, the factory has been there for over 135 years, this is clearly something we are not prepared to let go off without a fight," he added.
