Labour Party candidate for Galway-West, Cllr Helen Ogbu, has welcomed the release of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU ) General Election Manifesto, which sets out a comprehensive plan for advancing workers’ rights and protections. The manifesto’s commitments include strengthened collective bargaining rights, fair wages, and greater social dialogue to support fair and equitable treatment of workers across all sectors.
Speaking on the manifesto, Cllr Ogbu stated, “The ICTU’s call for stronger worker protections resonates deeply with our Labour values and with the real issues faced by workers and families across Galway and Ireland. The need for fair wages, decent working conditions, and the right to collective bargaining is critical to safeguarding the livelihoods of those who keep our economy moving.”
Cllr Ogbu emphasised her own commitment to affordable housing as a key component of improving living standards, explaining, “While the ICTU manifesto rightly focuses on wage and workplace protections, we must also tackle housing as a core factor in people’s quality of life. Housing, fair wages, and worker protections are all essential parts of the solution for a more just society.”
Additionally, she highlighted the manifesto’s focus on regulating emerging work conditions, particularly under the Platform Work and Pay Transparency Directives. “As more workers are engaged through digital platforms, robust protections are essential to ensure fair pay and treatment,” Cllr Ogbu noted. “The ICTU’s emphasis on collective bargaining in this area ensures that workers’ rights are safeguarded in our changing economy.”
Cllr Ogbu concluded by affirming her commitment to championing the rights of workers and families in Galway-West, pledging, “I look forward to supporting the ICTU’s vision, alongside Labour’s policies, to build a fairer, more resilient Ireland that prioritises the well-being of every resident.”
